The Australian Services Union (ASU) said 50 workers in New South Wales (NSW), representing 90 percent of the state's technicians, 30 in South Australia and 20 in Queensland, have stopped work. Meanwhile, staff in Victoria and Western Australia are also considering strike action for later in the week.

ASU secretary Sally McManus said companies feeling the impact represent 90 percent of the ATM market as well as Qantas Airways Ltd., KFC Corp., and Apple Computer Inc.

"This industrial action has a big impact on all public schools which have Apple computers and the major universities," McManus said. "The strike is happening because management has no plans to negotiate and is not moving from offer of 3 percent wage increase, a reduction in some conditions including the allowance for driving their cars. [Technicians] can also be forced to change hours of work.

"They haven't had a decent pay increase in the last five years;, their wages have gone backwards against the CPI. The average wage rate is A$33,000 (US$24,200) which is bad money for the skills they have to have and they feel the only way to move large, multinational companies is this sort of industrial actions -- discussions haven't got them any further.

"If the companies don't move, the members are talking about an indefinite stoppage. If it [the company] is prepared to negotiate we are prepared to sit down at any time."