Union ‘ has come out swinging’ on Telstra

IN response to Ken Knuth’s letter “Unions silent while Telstra offloads jobs”, I had to scratch my head. The Bulletin, and TV news, have run numerous stories following the unions’ condemnation of 9500 ( not 8000) Telstra job cuts.

In what is one of the biggest job cut announcements in Australia’s corporate history the slashing of these jobs seems more about quick money for shareholders and little about employing locals and providing quality and reliable service to Australians.

The Community and Public Sector Union has been working with other unions as a united front and were the first to come out swinging following the announcement. Telstra has refused to consult unions and on Monday Telstra executives flew all the way to Townsville on a PR mission which resulted in new information and staff being terrified to demand answers.

The union has worked with local MP Cathy O’Toole who demanded answers. Unions have worked with Queensland and Victorian premiers to call on Malcolm Turnbull to call a stakeholder meeting to demand a better solution and continue to negotiate Telstra’s EA but have quickly adapted focus on these job losses.

If Ken or any other Townsville resident would like to join the unions in fighting for every last Townsville job we’d love your assistance and suggestions. If ever there was a time for Telstra workers to join their union, it’s now. We are the last line of defence.