Telstra to axe 108 regional jobs

Telstra's plans to axe 108 regional jobs within its Grafton call centre have drawn the ire of the Community and Public Sector Union, which dubbed the move a "national disgrace".

Telstra spokesperson Rod Bruem told ZDNet Australia today that the telco has slated the possible closure of its Grafton-based business call centre within two months. The telco had notified staff yesterday.

The Daily Examiner reported a call centre source claiming that Telstra senior management had frozen hires since 2007, leading to a retention loss of some 100 staff.

Union assistant national secretary Louise Persse said the impact on Grafton will be "massive".

"This decision is a direct attack upon Telstra workers, their families and the services they provide to the Australian community, particularly in regional Australia," Persse said.

"There is growing community anger about Telstra's ongoing slashing of Australian jobs and the devastating effect these cuts have on regional areas.

"[It] is a national disgrace for Telstra to be slashing more jobs in regional Australia."

Bruem said that Telstra is looking to hire staff for positions in Lismore and Newcastle, and has created some 93 new permanent positions in sites across Brisbane and Melbourne.

"Telstra has undertaken to do all it can to help find employment or alternative suitable options for all affected staff. Staff choosing to relocate for other positions can claim relocation costs," Bruem said.

"We are in a two-week consultation period, listening to staff, unions and the community."

Yet Persse said relocating for work is impractical for many affected staff: "They have families and commitments in the local area."

The union said that the termination of the Grafton site follows a spate of call centre closures in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Maroochydore and Cairns since 2007.

Local MP for Page, Janelle Saffin, has launched a petition against the job cuts.