Workers: Telecom is killing us

Northland Downer workers drew cheers of support as their convoy of tooting vans passed through the streets of Whangarei in protest  at what they see as Telecom's "killing" of the telecommunications industry.
Australian company Visionstream won a contract, formerly held by Downer EDI and Transfield Services, from Telecom's fixed-line network arm Chorus to install and repair customers' phone lines for the next 10 years in Auckland and Northland.
A total of 150 technicians employed by Downer to maintain the Northland network have the opportunity to move to Visionstream but say it would cost them thousands in set-up fees if they signed the independent contract on offer. Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union  industry organiser Joe Gallagher said the contract  loaded  costs on to  technicians.
"Deep in a recession, people can't afford to be laden with $30-$50,000 in debt with no sick pay, no holiday pay and the expectation they buy their own van, tools and boots," he said.
At a meeting in Whangarei yesterday, around 60 Downer  staff reaffirmed their decision to allow the EPMU to negotiate on their behalf, before taking to the streets in a convoy of vans in protest.
During the meeting, Mr Gallagher said a "telco war summit"would be held in Auckland next Wednesday to plan the details of their campaign to stop Visionstream's dependent contractor model.
He said Telecom was killing the industry. "If we bring in this model it will dilute the industry so there's no regulated or co-ordinated approach - it'll be a case of every man for himself.
"Their actions don't demonstrate they support the workers, and their skills and consumers don't benefit customers either ... your bill won't go down and your broadband won't run any faster."
 Telecom media relations executive Ian Bonnar said the claim Telecom was killing the industry was nonsense, with the company investing more than  $1billion  every year.
Visionstream's New Zealand manager, Andrew Stevens,  said the EPMU's assessment of set-up costs was "wildly exaggerated".
 "We're doing things like having a cash grant component and tailoring lease-type deals that cover the expensive items like tools and equipment."
The owner-operator based scheme was not designed to marginalise the workforce, he said.
"It's a tried and true way of working that allows us to deliver excellent services to consumers, and it gives workers the control and flexibility over the way they work and the opportunity to succeed in their own right."
Telecom's Chorus spokesman, Robin Kelly, said the Northland contract was worth  more than $1billion  over 10 years and it would give people and businesses confidence and certainty for the future.
Another EPMU meeting is planned for Downer  staff in the Far North at Kerikeri on Tuesday.