Union fears Visionstream is preparing to shed up to 80 jobs
Visionstream, the company responsible for Tasmania's NBN rollout, is remaining silent regarding union claims it is preparing mass sackings.
Unions are investigating reports that up to half of Visionstream's workforce could be cut.
On Thursday about 20 employees in Hobart and Launceston were laid off.
Visionstream will not rule out more job losses, refusing to comment on employee numbers.
The workers sacked yesterday were involved in pit remediation.
The NBN rollout ran into trouble around the country last year because of asbestos remediation works in cement pits owned by Telstra.
NBN Co said it had made up lost ground since the asbestos crisis but Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) organiser Emma Gill believes up to 60 more jobs may be in the firing line.
"We have very grave concerns given the rumours that are circulating very strongly that up to 70 or 80 workers are going to be sacked," she said.
"Potentially, these workers will be out of work by October."
"They also know that the company has been put up for sale and we are also hearing unconfirmed rumours that Visionstream has been sold to an overseas private equity firm.
"So, we're not sure if potential job losses are a result of a sale or what the state of play is."
Visionstream's silence is 'fuelling job fears'
Ms Gill says the company's silence is making the process harder.
"Quite a number of workers are feeling very uneasy, very insecure. They're fearful for their jobs," she said.
NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow said the pace of the rollout had accelerated significantly.
"Our plan is to provide one in 10 Australian homes and businesses the ability to connect to the National Broadband Network in [the next financial year]," he said. But the industry is wondering how the NBN rollout will continue in the state and TasICT executive officer Dean Winter wants answers.
"Unfortunately, Visionstream are now notorious for never commenting about Tasmania's most important infrastructure project," he said.
Mr Winter believes federal politicians are apathetic towards Tasmania's troubled NBN project and wants Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull to address the matter personally.
"Where are the new federal MPs? They have been absolutely nowhere on the NBN.
"They're making no comment. The Minister [Turnbull] is completely absent from Tasmania, doesn't appear to care. It's about time he came to Tasmania and outlined what the problems are here and what he plans to do to fix it."
"Unfortunately this has all been led to by a complete lack of communication from the Federal Government, NBN Co and Visionstream."
The fibre optic cable has been been laid outside 122 properties in the last three months.
