What Is Joyce Going To Do To Protect Telecom Jobs?

What Is Joyce Going To Do To Protect Telecom Jobs?

Labour Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran says Steven Joyce must start talking to Telecom about its plan which could see hundreds of Kiwi IT jobs shipped offshore.

“Reports today confirm the murmurings I had been hearing from sources in the industry about Telecom planning to shift some its services and leaving Kiwi workers without jobs,” Clare Curran said.

“Communications Minister Steven Joyce needs to start asking Telecom serious questions about these proposed radical structural changes.

“Steven Joyce has a responsibility to ensure that New Zealand has a solid and suitable communications network that is backed up with the ability to maintain and develop it to the standards Kiwis require.

“Recently Telecom hasn’t met that test and now we are told it is thinking of sending specialist jobs overseas and cutting hundreds of Kiwi jobs. That just doesn’t sound right.”

Clare Curran said at a time when Telecom is tendering for work to roll out the Government’s taxpayer funded $1.5 broadband network, it also needs to show a commitment to New Zealand.

“Steven Joyce should use every tool he has to ensure Telecom keeps the jobs that are currently under a cloud here in New Zealand,” Clare Curran said.

“New Zealand’s XT experience showed us that Telecom has plenty of work to do to ensure Kiwis it cares about it customers and investment in infrastructure.

“Headlines that up to 1500 Kiwi jobs are going from Telecom would only serve to compound the lack of confidence Kiwis currently have in our largest telco.”

ENDS