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Issue No. 328 | 13 October 2006 |
Straw Men
Interview: Australia�s Most Wanted Industrial: The Fox and the Contractor Unions: Industrial Wasteland International: Two Bob's Worth Economics: National Interest Environment: The Real Dinosaur History: Only In Spain? Review: Clerk Off
Classifieds the New IR Attack Dog States Keep Stakes in IR Blueprint Meatworkers Boned by WorkChoices Democracy Overboard in Bass Strait Unionist Targeted for Deportation Taxpayers Taken to the Cleaners Workers Lose Right to Choose Lawyers
Legends The Soapbox Obituary Fiction
The Unpromised Land
Labor Council of NSW |
News Staff Sunk By Float
Monday's launch of the T3 share offer was delayed as Telstra and the Government locked horns over the appointment of ex-Howard advisor Geoff Cousins to the company's board. The previous Friday as American CEO Sol Trujillo launched the much-vaunted 3G network, the sprinkler system malfunctioned, leaving Sol and a crowd of financial analysts soaking wet. However it was workers in Queensland who found themselves high and dry when Telstra announced the closure of call centres in Cairns and Maroochydore, leaving 160 people out of work just in time for Christmas. CPSU spokesperson Louise Persse said the company had "hung up on its own staff while floating T3 shares." "Telstra claims its all part of their plan to improve customer service. Both these call centres are winners of excellence awards. If you want customer service, you need customer service operators," Persse said. Government MP Warren Entsch, whose electorate covers the Cairns call centre, said he was 'furious' with Telstra. "There was no absolutely no consultation. The first I heard of it was when an employee called me in tears after being told they were being given a redundancy," Entsch told Workers Online. "I put in a call to the Minister's office and they hadn't heard anything either. Telstra claimed that their failure to consult with us was an oversight. I don't believe them." "These call centre workers have been extremely loyal to Telstra. It's a pity that Telstra didn't show any loyalty to them," he said. Entsch said that there was a missed opportunity for Telstra to sit down with local stakeholders, workers and their union to explore alternative arrangements in order keep the jobs in Cairns - allowing Telstra to fulfil their community obligations as one of the largest local employers. "Sadly, Telstra never gave us that chance," he said.
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