The nation's incumbent carrier will kick-start the trials, which come under the TASM (Telstra Area Service Management) banner, by the end of the month, according to Telstra spokesperson Julie Stragalinos.
It will trial a -completely internal model" with its service operation on the Gold Coast in Queensland, which will be entirely run by Telstra itself. However, the second trial, to be carried out in Melbourne's Bayside area, will bring external contractors from Melbourne-based Visionsteam into the game, working alongside both Telstra management and field staff.
Stragalinos stressed that sub contractors would assist Telstra staff and be responsible to Telstra team leaders. -That won't mean any of our staff will be displaced," she said. -Part of process has been informing and briefing staff...giving them a choice whether or not they want to participate in it, according to Stragalinos. -Nearly 100 percent of staff affected want to participate," she said, adding that the Communications and Public Sector Union (CEPU) -agree it's a good idea to trial and are recommending staff participate".
However, when ZDNet Australia contacted Union official Marc Brownlow, he said the CEPU had -some concerns".
-We believe this is just a smoke screen to arrive at a decision to contract out that work," he said. -In our view the trial will drive down cost, and the wages and conditions of Telstra employees," he added. -We're concerned to make sure the workers in Telstra are not worse off."
When asked if staff were concerned about the trials, first reported by ZDNet Australia in January, Brownlow said: -Absolutely, we're expressing their concerns." Furthermore, when asked if staff had really had a choice in their participation in the trials, Brownlow said: -In a lot of respects, no." With specific regards to the outsourced element to the project, Brownlow said -staff see that as a threat to their jobs" and of the trials in general he said workers considered them to be a -threat to their wage".
Telstra describes TASM as a -patch management" concept, giving accountability for the performance of a particular -patch" -- or geopgraphic region -- to a single work group. According to Stragalinos, the implementation of such as scheme would give -great satisfaction" back to the staff. -It really makes for a hugely more accountable group, one where customers and staff are served better," she said.
Brownlow pointed out that the Telstra has already canned one trial, which would have have seen services outsourced entirely in Penrith. -We'll be monitoring the trials particularly to ensure there is no impact or loss of salaries for people taking part in the internal trial," Brownlow said. And that no staff involved in the Melbourne trial are displaced, he added.
-It they've [Telstra] got concerns about productivity or processes enabling them to get work done, we're happy to talk to them about it."
Having been a Telstra employee since 1968 (technician) and having been displaced by them in their outsourcing form known as NDC and now being engaged as an employee of a subcontractor to Telstra, I know too well what's in store for the few technical employees left ... get another job now!
I personally have to thank;
1. The Liberal / Labour idiots.
2. Telstra Management.
3. ATEA/CEPU f***wits.
For reduced wages, no job security and a complete neglect of customer service also no future for our children.