Union’s Telstra job cuts tip-off

THE union representing Telstra staff believes 30 Tasmanian jobs will be lost this year and more could follow as part of nationwide cutbacks.

The $38bn telco giant last week announced 1400 workers across the country and at international locations would be sacked as the company “continues to transform”. The cuts are part of Telstra’s T22 initiative to reduce its overall workforce by 8000 net roles by July.

Community and Public Sector Union Tasmania regional secretary Zac Batchelor said union analysis showed 31 Tasmanian jobs would go as part of the latest cuts. He said the decision would be disappointing for staff and customers.

“What is additionally disappointing is to see more jobs going in Tasmanian regional communities including Burnie, Youngtown and Ulverstone.

“One of the consequences of Telstra’s cuts will be to direct customers to use digital channels, making it more difficult for Telstra customers to reach staff by phone when they need assistance.

“This is a move that is likely to prove unpopular with Tasmanian Telstra customers.”

A Telstra letter to the CPSU, seen by the Mercury, said: “We will need to continue making organisational changes, which will likely include role reductions beyond T22 as our business changes.

“This is because the makeup of our workforce will continue to change as customer needs change, more go online and NBN volumes reduce further, and as we realise the benefits of our significant investments to digitise and simplify our business.”

Telstra on Sunday said the company put job reductions on hold a year ago when COVID hit, to give staff as much certainty as possible “during a very challenging time”.

“While these role reductions have always been part of our existing T22 commitments, decisions like this are always difficult and we understand the impacts on those involved and their families,” a spokesman said.

“We’ll also work with those impacted to help them secure another role at Telstra.

“Where that’s not possible, they’ll be supported by our career transition program and industry-leading retrenchment benefits.”