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Downer workers in Auckland and Christchurch will stop work for two hours on Wednesday to protest outside Telecom's head offices against the telco's failure to properly fund maintenance on its network.

Downer is contracted to do Telecom work including its high-speed broadband project but has not offered its workers a fair pay deal due to systematic underfunding by Telecom.

EPMU organiser Kelvin Ellis says members at Downer have been negotiating with the company for months without a result. "There's a huge skills-shortage in this industry but our members are still getting up to fifty percent less than they would in Australia because Telecom won't put the money up for decent rates."

"Our members voted unanimously for industrial action when they rejected the last pay offer," says Ellis, "but they know the issue has to be taken to Telecom if they are to get the deal they deserve."

"The employer might be Downer but they are just the contractor and Telecom can't just wash its hands of responsibility for wages and investment in skills in the industry."

Members of the public are welcome to come along and show their support at the protests which will be held at 12.30pm on Wednesday outside Telecom's Auckland and Christchurch headquarters (8 Hereford St, Auckland and 109 Hereford St Christchurch). 

The EPMU represents 300 members at Downer.