Telstra's copper line contractors strike
The union representing workers employed to fix faults on Telstra's ageing copper network says up to 80 contractors have gone on strike amid claims of workplace bullying and unsafe working conditions.
The Communication Workers Union said the contractors, who are employed by Melbourne-based services provider ISGM, downed tools on Tuesday following a disagreement over week- end work.
ISGM has questioned the number provided by the union, claiming only 10 workers had gone on strike.
The contractors are employed to repair faults on the network, which connects most homes to the internet and home phones, and take on between seven and 15 jobs a day.
The union claims up to 1000 jobs a day will continue to be cancelled during the strike action unless its concerns are resolved.
CWU WA branch president John O'Donnell told _WestBusiness _the workers were due to meet this morning.
"We just want Telstra to guarantee us a workplace that is safe," Mr O'Donnell said.
He said the disagreement stemmed from workers being told to take an unpaid week off work if they could not work weekends they had already booked off.
He said the strike was also in response to what the union claimed were heavy workloads and unsafe work environments.
A Telstra spokesman said the row was a matter for ISGM to solve.
An ISGM spokeswoman said it had a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, harassment and discrimination of employees and subcontractors.
