News

Hundreds of workers across New Zealand are taking action against NZ Telecom’s decision to sell a contract for network maintenance services on the North Island to VisionStream.



VisionStream is an Australian company which operates on a “dependent contractor” model.  This means that the company does not employ its staff, but forces them to operate as “contractors”.  VisionStream requires staff to purchase their own equipment and transport vehicles, to pay for their own holiday and sick leave entitlements and to accept all of the other financial obligations associated with their own employment.



The companies which currently provide network maintenance services to NZ Telecom are Transfield and Downer. Both of these companies employ their staff directly and pay their financial obligations like other responsible employers throughout New Zealand.



NZ Telecom and VisionStream are shamelessly and deceptively denying their fundamental responsibilities as employers by putting the working conditions of Telecom’s workers at risk.  This contract threatens the well-being of hundreds of engineers, administration staff and call centre workers working for NZ Telecom, as well as the quality of services provided to its clients.



Engineers with the EPMU took action last week in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Whakatane, Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson and Christchurch, to bring attention to the issue.  A further series of stop-work meetings and a full day of action are planned in the coming weeks.



UNI, along with its affiliates around the world, demand that NZ Telecom and VisionStream, along with its owners Leighton Holdings and Hochtief, accept their responsibilities to their workers.



For more information, see: www.epmu.org.nz