Yahoo Finance Telstra to cut another 10,000 workers in mass sacking
Telstra has announced plans to reduce the number of contractors it employs by around 10,000 in a new attempt to cut costs.
The chief executive Andrew Penn announced the move today (Tuesday 4 June), explaining the cuts would occur over the coming two years.
"The human dimension of these numbers is very challenging, that is why we have an extensive program of support in place,” Penn said.
"Given the uncertainty this creates I have therefore been keen to get most of the changes and most of the reductions behind us as quickly as possible.”
Telstra also recently announced plans to cut 8,000 direct roles at the telecommunications firm.
Unions respond: “This is one of the largest sets of corporate cuts in Australian history.”
“The peak body for working people condemns an announcement that Telstra will cut 10,000 contracting jobs over the next two years,” the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) said today.
“This comes on top of news in 2018, that Telstra would cut 8,000 permanent staff – bringing the total number of workers made jobless at the company to 18,000 by the end of 2022.”
The union described is as “one of the largest sets of corporate cuts in Australian history”.
ACTU assistant secretary Liam O’Brien warned the “mass sackings” will leave Australian workers and their families without incomes, and said the total loss of 18,000 jobs will destabilise the workforce and lead to poorer customer service.
“Telstra have chosen to put profits ahead of people, jobs and service. This is a betrayal of the people who work for them and those that rely on their services,” he continued.
With AAP.
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