Telstra workers show their bottle

Date: 06 June 2003

Hundreds of Telstra workers staged a noisy rally yesterday outside the telco's head office in Melbourne to protest plans to cut a further 3000 jobs.

To get their message across, CPSU members delivered a specially prepared bottle of "Bin 3000" wine to CEO Ziggy Switkowski.

Bin 3000 is described on the label as rather harsh drop with '...a coldness of heart, matured in an oak boardroom and featuring a lack of compassion, consideration and vision.'

The CPSU's Stephen Jones says the rally was part of a growing campaign of opposition to Telstra's rampant job slashing.

"Telstra staff are saying enough is enough. How can a company which continues to make record profits, $3.6 billion last year, justify these cuts. Apart from the effect on employees and their families, the cuts have impacted on Telstra's services to customers. And they're increasing charges" said Jones.

As part of the campaign, CPSU activists are targeting footy fans at tonight's Kangaroos v Richmond game at Telstra Dome in Melbourne.

"The Telstra Dome holds more than 45,000 - which is 5,000 less than the number of people Telstra have axed over the last decade. So as punters look out across at the stadium tonight, we hope they'll get a sense of the scale of Telstra's relentless job-cutting program.

More info: www.cpsu.org/telstra_campaign

For further information

Contact:	Stephen Jones
Union:	CPSU - National Office
Phone:	0417 261 152
Contact Mobile:	Trevor Veenendaal
Fax:	0417 681 619
WWW:	www.cpsu.org/telstra_campaign

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]