Union officials have tackled Optus's decision to slash a further 561 staff, demanding to be told how the decision to target specific workers was reached.
-We have some concerns about the process used to determine who was made redundant," Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) organiser Mark Brownlow told ZDNet Australia.
The Union said it is looking for -fairness and transparency" in Optus's retrenchment process, and if it turns out that it wasn't fair, or if the telco fails to disclose how decisions were made, it will refer the matter to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (IRC), Brownlow said.
The Union said it also had concerns regarding specific workers who were targeted for retrenchment, something that Optus said it would investigate, according to Brownlow.
A further principal concern of the Union was the telco's failure to offer voluntary redundancies. -Some people have been quite traumatised by the decision," Brownlow said, adding that although workers were aware that layoffs were imminent, some of those picked for removal -had been told they were doing well...then were tapped on the shoulder".
The CEPU met with Optus yesterday, at which time the country's number two telco said it would endeavour to respond to the Union's concerns by close of business today.
Optus's latest retrenchment wave follows the sacking of about 350 staff last month.
Following Union intervention the IRC yesterday ordered Vodafone to consult with Union officials over looming layoffs.
