Optus sacks 70 technicians

12.04.2006
Optus Ltd. has sacked 70 field technicians and asked them to re-apply for jobs as independent contractors on lower wages and conditions, according to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

After meeting with sacked Optus workers at a union office in Melbourne today, ACTU president Sharan Burrow said in a media statement that it is a sign that big business is starting to take advantage of the Howard government's new industrial relations (IR) laws.

"The new IR laws will help big businesses like Optus, but they are already starting to hurt ordinary working families," she said.

The 70 Optus technicians have received letters of termination and will be offered a free seminar on how to write a CV and apply for jobs as independent contractors with Optus, according to ACTU.

Thirty of the technicians are from Melbourne, 20 from Sydney, seven from Brisbane; the others are from Adelaide, Perth and other locations.

"The Optus workers are currently employed as permanent full-time workers on average earnings of around A$45,000 (US$32,900) per year. Some of them have been with the company for nine years," Burrow said.