There are hopeful signs tonight (Sun Jan 7) that Phonetec management are willing to negotiate with the union about the unfair dismissal. Consequently all planned action directed at Phonetec and Masterlink will cease until further notice. We do however have a strategy and resources in place to put great pressure on Phonetec if negotiations are not satisfactory. We will assess the situation late Monday early Tuesday.

Thank you for all your support over the last week.

Union Solidarity.

Labels: Phonetec

Ongoing Assembly
@ Phonetec Nunawading
All day. every day from 8.45am
Starts Monday 8/1/07
370 Whitehorse Rd
Nunawading. (near crn of Springvale Rd)


Optus World shop shut early by protest

Community action in support of a union member unfairly dismissed at Phonetec continued today (Fri Jan 5) on three fronts. There was an assembly at the Phonetec repair centre in Nunawading. OptusWorld in Footscray was disrupted for a couple of hours. Finally a planned protest at 4pm in the city shut down one store directed by Gary Chan (Optus World, Elizabeth St) and saw the early closure of another. An ongoing assembly at Nunawading will kick off Monday (Jan 8) and remain until the issue is resolved.

All the actions are part of a campaign to reinstate a worker who was sacked unfairly three days before Christmas. The worker went to the union and complained over a number of issues include the non-payment of overtime. Rather than resolve the issues fairly her boss raised spurious claims of poor work performance and sacked her.

Protesters in the city were pleasantly surprised when the shop in Elizabeth Street was already shut. The logical decision was made to move to another store directed by Phonetec's manager, 'Yes' Optus in Russell St. After an hour of leafleting that shop also closed early. Next week will see a range of activities kicking off with an ongoing community assembly at Phonetec in Nunawadding.

More info: Phonetec Website

Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Community Assembly - Nunawadding
@ Phonetec
Fri 8.45am, January 5.
370 Whitehorse Rd
Nunawading. (near crn of Springvale Rd)

Leafleting - Western Suburbs
Fri 10am, Jan 5.
OptusWorld
183 Barkly St, Footscray

Rally - City
4pm Fri, Jan 5
OptusWorld
253 Elizabeth St
City. (crn of Elizabeth & Lonsdale)

Action against to against Phonetec is set escalate tomorrow in the fight against the unfair dismissal of Maggi Li. Maggi was sacked unfairly two days before Christmas. More community members assembled today (4 Jan) at Nunawading and several customers expressed their dissatisfaction with Phonetec's service, high prices and treatment of their employees.

CEPU officials served papers on Phonetec today for unfair dismissal of Maggi Li. Again Garry Chan reacted by throwing union flags across the nature strip.

If you can't make it out to Nunawading there are two activities to get involved in. Leafleting Optus World in Footscray (10.30am) and a Rally in the City (4pm) against Maggi Li's unfair dismissal.

Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Community Assembly
@ Phonetec
Thurs & Fri 8.45am
January 4 and 5.
370 Whitehorse Rd
Nunawading. (near corner of Springvale Rd)

Community action to reinstate a sacked telecommunications worker in Nunawading is planned to continue for the rest of the week. If you haven't been to the assembly yet please make the effort to go. There is a lot at stake in this dispute.

The victimisation and unfair dismissal of a union member is a classic example of what any employer can do under Howard's IR laws. It’s now up to the community and union movement to show what we can do. If you can't attend the actions at Phonetec in Nunawading please find another way to get involved in the fight to reinstate Maggi Li.

There are a number of Optus dealerships that are in fact connected to Phonetec operating under the name of Masterlink. They are:

• OptusWorld, 253 Elizabeth St, City.
  
• ‘yes’ Optus, 195 Russell St, City
• OptusWorld, 580 Station St, Box Hill.
• OptusWorld, Shop 3, 275 Springvale Rd, Springvale.
• OptusWorld, 183 Barkly St, Footscray.

Background: Jan 2 Assembly | Phonetec reneges on deal | December 22 Assembly

Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Community Assembly
@ Phonetec
8.45am Weds
January 3, 2007
370 Whitehorse Rd
Nunawading. (near corner of Springvale Rd)

A community assembly today [Tue Jan 2 2007] was once again set up outside Phonetec in Nunawading to fight for Maggi Li’s job. Maggi, who has worked for Phonetec for 6-years was sacked just before Christmas. Gary Chan only hours after agreeing to reinstate Maggi on December 22 told CEPU officials that the deal was off. The union tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to negotiate with Chan to reemploy Maggi.

Phonetec’s work practices leave a lot to be desired. Only a quarter of the workforce is in the union. Most workers are paid $12 an hour, in fact the basic wage. Many workers come to work early and work unpaid to keep up with quotas. Phonetec employs many workers on dodgy traineeships (some only get paid $10 an hour) that grossly underpay workers.

Up to 30 members of the community and members from a range of unions assembled from 8.45am only to meet by an agitated Chan who a hurled union flag, spear like, onto the footpath. Many of Phonetec’s customers decided to go elsewhere and some delivery drivers also supported the assembly.

There are a number of Optus dealerships that are in fact connected to Phonetec operating under the name of Masterlink. They are:

• OptusWorld, 253 Elizabeth St, City.
  
• ‘yes’ Optus, 195 Russell St, City
• OptusWorld, 580 Station St, Box Hill.
• OptusWorld, Shop 3, 275 Springvale Rd, Springvale.
• OptusWorld, 183 Barkly St, Footscray.

To continue the pressure on Phonetec a community assembly is scheduled for tomorrow [Wednesday Jan 3]. Please show your support by attending the assembly and not doing any business with Phonetec. Stay in contact with website for future actions.

Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Community Assembly
@ Phonetec
8.45am Tues
January 2, 2007
370 Whitehorse Rd
Nunawading. (near corner of Springvale Rd)

In a disappointing development Garry Chan, manager of Phonetec, has backed out of a deal to reinstate sacked worker Maggi Li. On Friday December 22 Garry Chan agreed to reinstate Maggi and the union (CEPU) agreed to work constructively with Phonetec to resolve issues around training. Chan initially backed down after a community assembly forced him into negotiations with ACTU president Sharon Barrow and the CEPU.

It now appears that with the pressure off Phonetec, management feel they have a free hand with their workforce. Some people could come to the conclusion that Phonetec is planning to put all their employees on Australian Workplace Agreements. Getting rid of union members who stand up for their rights would be the first step.

Please come and support this assembly, on the 22 Dec [2006] we forced Phonetec to back down, we can do it again.

Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

A community assembly successfully won a workers job back at today (Fri 22 Dec) at the Phonetec repair centre in Nunawading. Maggi Li who has worked for the company for 6 years was sacked last night. She didn’t even have time to say goodbye to her fellow workers. We believe she was sacked because she resisted a proposed pay cut.

The assembly got underway a 9am and was disbanded at around 2pm, after management agreed to reinstate Maggi. ACTU president Sharron Barrow addressed the assembly and together with a CEPU official entered into discussion with Garry Chan manager of PhoneTec.

Garry Chan agreed to reinstate Maggi and the union agreed to work constructively with the PhoneTec to resolve issues around training. This is a fantastic development given that Mr Chan had previously boosted that Howard’s new IR law gave him the power to sack any worker without due process.

Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec

Community Assembly
Phonetec
9am Friday
22 December
370 Whitehorse Rd
Nunawading. (near corner of Springvale Rd)

On the eve of Christmas telecommunication company Phonetec has sacked a worker with 6 years service unfairly. The worker was given written notice today (Thurs 21 Dec) and told not to turn up tomorrow. Please show your support and attend the community assembly. A media conference will get underway from 10am. Workers in the telecommunications industry especially those in small and medium companies need our solidarity.

Labels: Community Assemblies, Phonetec