Around 55 telecommunications technicians working on the Telstra copper network connecting and maintaining the NBN have been sacked on the spot today, leaving workers, their families and regional communities devastated.
Trilogie Resourcing, a labour-hire shell company with ownership connections to NBN and Telstra backed training provider Celemetrix, told the workers from the Port Macquarie, Newcastle & Hunter, Greater Sydney and ACT regions that the company was folding and they no longer have a job today, effective immediately.
CEPU NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Shane Murphy, said the news is a devastating blow and is further proof the NBN pyramid contracting structure is not working.
“These workers were called to a meeting, told they no longer have a job, then ushered over to a storage facility where they had to hand over their phones, car keys and other items and then shoved into taxis and sent home,” Mr Murphy said.
“Workers are currently heading home to tell their families they no longer have a job to pay the bills. It’s a devastating position to be in.
“These are a mixture of younger workers, mature-aged workers and workers living with disability. This company has turfed them out with no regard for their future.
“The CEPU will be doing everything we can to ensure these workers get all their entitlements and are engaging with other industry employers to see if we can find them employment elsewhere.”
Mr Murphy said the sackings are the result of the failed, sham pyramid contracting scheme employed by Telstra and their contracting partners.
“The Federal Government and NBN Co are turning a blind eye to these dodgy employment set-ups. This company has been the subject of a number of worker complaints including the failure to provide adequate training, unlawful withholding of overtime payments and unfair dismissals. NBN Co and the Federal Government know the way their contractors are operating, but they don’t seem to care. They’ve got a lot to answer for.
“Today’s job losses are a devastating blow for these workers and their families, and also the predominately regional areas they work in. It’s also a devastating blow to residents and business who are struggling to have their NBN services connected and outstanding faults repaired.
“The NBN contracting pyramid is seriously flawed. Industry skills are disappearing; wages are dropping and workers are being left vulnerable. These 80 workers are the faces of a system that’s simply not working.”
Media contact: Alana Mew 0419 929 722
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