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.