Workers rally against Telstra fat cats

Workers rally against Telstra fat cats

BY CLARA CONNOLLY

BRISBANE — Fifty Telstra workers rallied outside the telecommunications giants' Roma Street offices on May 10 to protest against 10,000 planned redundancies and the scheduled privatisation of a Telstra subsidiary, Network Design and Construction.

Alongside Telstra workers at the rally were other members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) from the tax office and Centrelink.

One Telstra worker told the rally, organised by Members First, a rank-and-file group inside the CPSU, "This campaign needs workers' unity against government onslaughts. Whether it's under a Labor or Liberal government, you can't trust them or the bosses."

A tax office worker, there to show solidarity, said, "If they can do it here, they can do it anywhere. This fight is our fight. One union, one fight for all of us."

Another Telstra call centre worker reminded those at the rally of working conditions inside the company. "Workers are already under extreme pressure to meet targets and keep the customer happy. Things will get even worse if they get rid of 10,000 people, many of them from call centres."

This rally was the second such protest in Brisbane in recent weeks and Members First is planning a major rally in King George Square in coming weeks.

From GLW issue 405