The peak body for working people condemns an announcement that Telstra will cut 10,000 contracting jobs over the next two years.
This comes on top of news in 2018, that Telstra would cut 8,000 permanent staff - bringing the total number of workers made jobless at the company to 18,000 by the end of 2022.
This is one of the largest sets of corporate cuts in Australian history. Contractors working in customer service, call centre and technical roles who often have limited access to redundancy and commercial protections will now also face the uncertainty of losing their jobs.
Telstra made $1.2 billion profit in the last six months of 2018. The fact that such an iconic and profitable Australian business is able to embark on widespread cuts to increase its profit margin shows that the pendulum has swung too far towards big business and there is an urgent need to change the rules.
As stated by ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam O'Brien
"These mass sackings will leave record numbers of working people and their families without an income.
"We need good secure jobs for working people in this country. A choice to cut a total of 18,000 workers will not only destabilise an entire workforce but result in poorer customer service.
"Telstra have chosen to put profits ahead of people, jobs and service. This is a betrayal of the people who work for them and those that rely on their services.
"The company will also pay a price for these job cuts as their reputation disintegrates, their service will be eroded and their standing as an iconic Australian company is irrevocably damaged.
"The end result of privatisation is joblessness, insecure work, reduced service quality and the enrichment of a small group of senior managers at the expense of working people and customers."
