Fed: Dispute threatens Telstra phone and data network

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2000
Fed: Dispute threatens Telstra phone and data network

Telstra's national telephone and data networks will be under threat if workers at a
key network control centre take strike action later this week.

The workers, members of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, will meet
on Thursday and Friday over the suspension of 29 staff accused of misusing Telstra computers.

CEPU Victorian secretary LEN COOPER says that another 35 staff are under investigation
after an internal Telstra review of computer use.

He says Telstra was supposed to negotiate under the enterprise agreement covering the
staff at the Clayton centre, in Melbourne's east, but has not done so.

He says his members are very angry about the way this has been handled and they will
most likely seek to take some industrial action to defend their jobs.

Telstra could not be contacted for comment.

AAP RTV sjg/er/wz/jn n

KEYWORD: TELSTRA (MELBOURNE)

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