The decision by Telstra to eliminate up to 2800 jobs was widely condemned, with many of the cuts happening by the end of the year.
The company released a notice to the ASX on Tuesday morning, revealing that consultation on 377 of the job cuts would begin immediately.
The cuts will mainly affect the company’s B2B businesses, and will contribute to its goal of achieving $350 million in savings by 2025.
According to James Perkins, the Communication Workers Union had no idea about the cuts before they were announced on the ASX.
He questioned how the company could maintain its service level after the cuts, which amounted to around nine percent of its workforce.
He noted that workers were already struggling with the cost of living, and these attacks on their jobs are just the latest example of this.
He called the company’s decision to cut thousands of jobs a national disgrace.
The CWU will be meeting with representatives from Telstra on Wednesday to talk about the details of the cuts.
He said that the cuts were very distressing for the workers and their families.
He noted that the CWU would work with the company to ensure that the services it provides don’t suffer due to the changes.
The CWU will also be seeking advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about the company’s claims about the role of the National broadband Network.