
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

New evidence on Telstra staffing backs union claims that massive job cuts mean diminished services.

CPSU Communications Union assistant secretary Stephen Jones said that was the "obvious lesson to be drawn" from revelations that the telecommunciations giant had replaced 1000 laid-off workers with an equal number of casuals.

The information was revealed by company general manager of employee relations, Rob Cartwright, in an internal document which fell into the hands of the Australian Financial Review.

The paper quoted chief executive, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, telling fellow executives to expect "blood on the floor" if Telstra couldn't meet its plan to axe another 10,000 jobs.

Jones said the apparently-surreptitious replacement of permanent staff with contract labour which doesn't show up in the carrier's official staff tally, was a grim warning to consumers.

"It appears there is a massive fraud going on with employees being made redundant while new staff are smuggled in the back door," Jones said.

Details of Telstra's hidden labour force came as the company attempted to woo investors as part of its drive to convince the Government it should be given the green light for full privatisation.

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

» Bitter Dispute Ends With Joyful Tidings

» Bodgy Telemarketers Face Union Wrath

» Another Bastard Bank On Rampage

» Employers Reject Individual Contracts

» Time To Come Clean

» Child Care Workers Tell Kim How Howard Nicked Their Money

» Reith Must Apologise Say Hotel Workers

» Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

» Primed To Win

» Payday Nightmare Follows AFFA Outsourcing

» Palestinian Community Seeks Union Support

» Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

» WorkCover Goes For Gold In Paralympics