Telecom workers need your support

[dogsnbikes]

Now some of you will be affected or know someone affected by this situation

after a MUNZ meeting last night this was passed on to me and we support their fight

" Right now nearly 600 Telecom lines engineers in Auckland and north are faced with being made redundant and then having to buy their jobs back.

Thats because Telecom's new Austrailian contractor Visionstrem has decided to remove there employment rights and make them dependant contractors.

that means they'd need to stump up with $60,000 to buy their own vans and tools and face a loss of income of up to 50-65% or leave the industry.they'd also have no garrenteed work and would have to take on huge bussiness risks.

but they are fighting back through strike action and by refusing to sign up to the contracts.together.

thats not easy to do and it means many of them are facing serious financial hardship.

YOU can help them win their fight against Telecom and Visionstream by donating to the support fund.

All you need to do is to ring 0900 STAND TALL to make a $10 donation

for more information about the campaign and what you can do to help visit www.epmu.org.nz/telecom

0900STAND TALL
CALLS COST $10.PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE THE BILL PAYER BEFORE MAKING THE CALL

[riffer]

Hang on. Let's hear the whole story.

If they're taking a 50-65% pay cut, what are they getting paid at present? A lot of these guys are on some amazing penal rates at present.

As for the purchase of equipment, what makes this any different to a taxi driver working for a taxi company?

epmu have a bad habit of selectively telling the story in order to make their members look like victims.

More info please.

[dogsnbikes]

Hang on. Let's hear the whole story.

If they're taking a 50-65% pay cut, what are they getting paid at present? A lot of these guys are on some amazing penal rates at present.

As for the purchase of equipment, what makes this any different to a taxi driver working for a taxi company?

epmu have a bad habit of selectively telling the story in order to make their members look like victims.

More info please.

Typo error should of read of up to 50 - 65 % edited now

really the case is about them being forced into a self employed contractors role or face being made redundant thats the choice they have been giving some of them may be in a postion to take up the offer but many are not so they are all saying no in unity

we have just secured a 3+3% with the gareentee of no redundancies over the next 2 years and the company is happy to carry that cost despite having to spend 33% more last year than it made

So if a kiwi own company can carry that loss and support it workers in this so call hard times

then why can't a company like telecom do the same

share holders and profits before workers ????

[riffer]

Still haven't answered a single one of my questions mate.

[Ixion]

Well done! And guess what company will be well positioned to take advantage of opportunities as the economy recovers, with a loyal well trained work force raring for action.

[MattRSK]

You want me to give you money??

[dogsnbikes]

You want me to give you money??
not at all...if you want to give money thats up to you you may just want to give them moral support

MUNZ(maritime union NZ) is giving there support too,I support them too not because Im a munz member because I want too



As for the purchase of equipment, what makes this any different to a taxi driver working for a taxi company?like any contractor buying your own equipment is part of it...but its a choice they make and want too do it...no one should be force into it wouldn't you like make that decission in your own time rather than being told to make it

[MaxB]

Now some of you will be affected or know someone affected by this situation

after a MUNZ meeting last night this was passed on to me and we support their fight

" Right now nearly 600 Telecom lines engineers in Auckland and north are faced with being made redundant and then having to buy their jobs back.

Thats because Telecom's new Austrailian contractor Visionstrem has decided to remove there employment rights and make them dependant contractors.

that means they'd need to stump up with $60,000 to buy their own vans and tools and face a loss of income of up to 50-65% or leave the industry.they'd also have no garrenteed work and would have to take on huge bussiness risks.

but they are fighting back through strike action and by refusing to sign up to the contracts.together.

thats not easy to do and it means many of them are facing serious financial hardship.

YOU can help them win their fight against Telecom and Visionstream by donating to the support fund.

All you need to do is to ring 0900 STAND TALL to make a $10 donation

for more information about the campaign and what you can do to help visit www.epmu.org.nz/telecom

0900STAND TALL
CALLS COST $10.PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE THE BILL PAYER BEFORE MAKING THE CALL

Where were the Telecom engineers when my company was on the skids? Did I get $10 from any of them?

Did they go out on strike when the Employment Contracts Act kicked in? At that time they were in a position of power but stood by while the average worker without a strong bargaining position had most of their rights stripped away.

If they hang tough they have the power to bring Telecom to its knees. But IMHO they can't expect much help.

[Zerker]

if this is the same service company that I think it is, then it's a known fact that the company has failed to meat the contract requirements for many years.

Telecom has had the legal right to terminate the contract for many years, and has been in constant negotiations in an attempt to help the service companies meat their contractual obligations.

I feel sorry for the servicemen being made redundant, it's not their fault.

[RantyDave]

share holders and profits before workers ????
Yes. And what's wrong with that?

Dave

[JimO]

i have at least a 100k in work gear and no guranteed work plus telecon get around $200 a month out of me now

[dogsnbikes]

Yes. And what's wrong with that?

Dave

nothing wrong with making a profit and paying your shareholders

but at what price..... the choices given to the linesmen to have a job I dont agree with.....

there have been far too many people laid off thoughout the country as it is over the past 12 months

[Dave Lobster]

Why did Telecom decide to give them the flick and take on a third contractor?

Anything to do with the standard of the sites they built for the 3G rollout?

[Mom]

The very last number I would ring, is 0900 anything. Want to have a guess which company takes a cut off those numbers? I cant ring one anyway, I have barred them from my landline and cell phone.

[nadroj]

Once you become an individual contractor to them it's dog eat dog with your old workmates for the work & if you rock the boat Telescumm can break you by not giving you enough work to survive.
I got out as soon as contracting came in but some stayed & lost their rights to redundacy on so called lucrative rates to be made redundant 12 months down the line.
Telescumm are no different to bullies, with the resources to break anyone.

[Mom]

Telecom shareholders are the root of all evil. They are the ones that have to be satisfied of a return on their investment.

Did anyone pick up on the story about 154 Transfield workers being made redundant this week? That company contract to Telecom, they compete with Chorus I think. Both of them contract to Telecom. See it gets muddy and confused. This latest round of what ever the name for it is, is just another example of a big brother company screwing the shit out of whoever they can find to satisfy the greed of their shareholders.

[pete376403]

But Telecom are virtually on the bones of their corporate arse, they only made $398 million profit last year - of course they have to slash workers pay where they can.

[birdhandler]

seems rather short sighted to me
as a contractor do i want to shell out the costs of a van and gear
or do i want to make the move to aussi the uk or usa like i have been thinking of to up my skills and do my OE etc
you choose
NZ is the loser

[dogsnbikes]

Why did Telecom decide to give them the flick and take on a third contractor?

Anything to do with the standard of the sites they built for the 3G rollout?
yes they did cancel contracts with Transfield and Downer EDI for the Auckland and Northland regions and the new contracts have gone to visionstream..

all this is being driving by telecoms lines company Chorus,but at the end of the day its a telecom network and they decide what happens

and now the line engineers are being told they will only get work if they transfer as dependant contractors to visionstream with no gareentee of work and no minimum levels of income

for more info www.epmu.org.nz/telcom-about

reality is if Telecom,chorus and Visionstream are successful in this, how long before its used in other industries

[MisterD]

Did anyone pick up on the story about 154 Transfield workers being made redundant this week? That company contract to Telecom, they compete with Chorus I think. Both of them contract to Telecom. See it gets muddy and confused. This latest round of what ever the name for it is, is just another example of a big brother company screwing the shit out of whoever they can find to satisfy the greed of their shareholders.

Chorus is the division of Telecom that owns the fixed network - Transfield have lost the West Auckland (to Visionstream) and Wellington (to Downer) patches. Most of these redundancies are designers and the like, for whom it will be a "change of shirt" and an automatic job with whoever is picking up the patch they work in.

[CookMySock]

If you work for a corrupt organisation like telecon, you deserve what you get.

Wake up and smell the roses - telecon are cunts. Quit bleating and ditch the fuckers, and go work elsewhere before they destroy not only your income, but your peaceful family life and marriage too.

Steve

[RantyDave]

Telecom shareholders are the root of all evil.
How the hell do you figure that? All Telecom's shareholders have done is buy some shares. All Telecom's directors are doing is their fucking jobs. If you're going to pay someone north of a million dollars a year to make you as much money as possible, they had better be damn good at it and it appears that they are.

Telecom behave like arseholes because we (being both New Zealanders and our gutless government) make it possible for them to do so.

Dave

[Fatjim]

Is that your professional opinion DB?

[CookMySock]

Telecom behave like arseholes because we (being both New Zealanders and our gutless government) make it possible for them to do so.So vote with your feet. Everyone. Customers, employees, contractors, investors, the lot.

WALK!

Steve

[Ixion]

yes they did cancel contracts with Transfield and Downer EDI for the Auckland and Northland regions and the new contracts have gone to visionstream..

all this is being driving by telecoms lines company Chorus,but at the end of the day its a telecom network and they decide what happens

and now the line engineers are being told they will only get work if they transfer as dependant contractors to visionstream with no gareentee of work and no minimum levels of income

for more info www.epu.org.nz/telcom-about (http://www.epu.org.nz/telcom-about)

reality is if Telecom,chorus and Visionstream are successful in this, how long before its used in other industries

It already is and Telescum have done it before. Question, do Visionstream already have a contractor team ?

[MisterD]

Question, do Visionstream already have a contractor team ?

Well they're one of the two Telstra contractors in Aussie and this is the business model they use (successfully) there - the argument that what works in a big Aussie city isn't neccessarily going to work in provincial NZ is valid though.

I believe that a reasonable number of ex-Transfield guys have signed on with them (some seem to think they'll do quite well, but that's second-hand information), most of the Visionstream organisation here so far is over from Aussie on a temp basis and I think that does include some field guys...

[MisterD]

So vote with your feet. Everyone. Customers, employees, contractors, investors, the lot.

WALK!

Steve

At least you didn't included "suppliers" in that list...:whistle:

[Pixie]

if this is the same service company that I think it is, then it's a known fact that the company has failed to meat the contract requirements for many years.

Telecom has had the legal right to terminate the contract for many years, and has been in constant negotiations in an attempt to help the service companies meat their contractual obligations.

I feel sorry for the servicemen being made redundant, it's not their fault.

"the company has failed to meat the contract requirements"-I'm curious,how is this act performed?

[Gubb]

I'll ring that number sometime between 8am and 10pm. Please make sure someone is on the other end to answer my call.

[Fatjim]

Tell you what, I'd rather get my business telecoms of Telecom, than some second rate wireless outfit run out the back of a Mr Whimpy van.

[Pex Adams]

Tell you what, I'd rather get my business telecoms of Telecom, than some second rate wireless outfit run out the back of a Mr Whimpy van.

and for all your Ice Cream and other telco issues please call 0508 888 800

[cambridgedan]

Still haven't answered a single one of my questions mate.

hmm i would like the answers to them to

[dogsnbikes]

hmm i would like the answers to them to


Hang on. Let's hear the whole story.

If they're taking a 50-65% pay cut, what are they getting paid at present? A lot of these guys are on some amazing penal rates at present.

As for the purchase of equipment, what makes this any different to a taxi driver working for a taxi company?

epmu have a bad habit of selectively telling the story in order to make their members look like victims.

More info please.

hope this helps

http://www.epmu.org.nz/assets/Visionstream/Telecom-FAQ.pdf

Now the Unions dont need to stand up for these people as they are not union members, but do believe every worker is entitle to a fair deal

[riffer]

Doesn't really tell me a lot other than their "independent" accountant and lawyer's interpretation and speculation.

My advice to them would be to say no to Telecom. If there is a genuine shortage of their skills then Telecom won't get their way.

But don't try to play the victim card here if you really have all the power.

[Swoop]

... guess what company will be well positioned to take advantage of opportunities as the economy recovers, with a loyal well trained work force raring for action.
The India Telecomunications Co, Ltd?

[mitchilin]

This whole situation is a bit fucked.The owner/operator model was brought about because of the Post Office mentality.Work for life or 40 years.This created a sheltered workshop mentality amongst all their so called "techs".Under C+M we had our fun,but got some work done.Today,I don't know.Sit around and talk about how much work you do.It seems to me,and I'm only talking about the lazy one's here.You have dug yourself a hole and don't know to stop digging.