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Visionstream has extended by a week the exit date for 49 employees whose jobs are being cut due to changes in the wideband market and reduced work volumes.
On 13 June, the Fair Work Commission granted the Communications Workers Union's (CWU) application for an urgent hearing into its dispute concerning Visionstream’s job cutting campaign.
According to the CWU it has attempted to talk to Visionstream since the cuts were announced on 16 May.
Visionstream offers contractors for companies including NBN Co, Optus and Chorus and also offers services including network construction, design and engineering and operations and maintenance.
It announced that those seeking redeployment would have their exit date extended until 21 June to allow further time to seek opportunities.
"Visionstream claim this decision was not related to our dispute notification to the FWC – members can draw their own conclusions on that one," CWU said in a statement.
CWU and Visionstream are meeting with the union on 17 June to maximise a transparent redeployment process for those members who have indicated they would like to continue being employed – ahead of any external applicants, CWU said.
The union alleges that there are numerous vacancies being advertised externally by both Visionstream, and its parent Ventia, in areas that have been affected by the redundancies and numerous contractors being retained by the company.
The CWU also showed concerns over information received from members that they were working at capacity and that significant overflow of work was being directed to contractors and that interviews were being conducted with external applicants whilst 30 impacted members are presently sitting at home seeking redeployment.
Both the Union and Visionstream are required to report back to the FWC on Wednesday.
