A labour contracting firm working on Telstra's copper network for the NBN has gone under, leaving 55 technicians without a job, according to the communications union.
The Communications Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU) said that staff across NSW and the ACT were today let go from Trilogie Resourcing, a company owned by labour consulting services firm Celemetrix.
The CEPU took aim at Celemetrix, calling the company part of a "sham pyramid contracting scheme." Trilogie has only existed for less than a year, according to documents filed to ASIC.
"The Federal Government and NBN Co are turning a blind eye to these dodgy employment set-ups. This company has been the subject of a number of worker complaints including the failure to provide adequate training, unlawful withholding of overtime payments and unfair dismissals," CEPU's NSW and ACT branch secretary Shane Murphy said.
"NBN Co and the Federal Government know the way their contractors are operating, but they don't seem to care. They've got a lot to answer for."
The CEPU added: "The CEPU will be doing everything we can to ensure these workers get all their entitlements and are engaging with other industry employers to see if we can find them employment elsewhere."
CRN has contacted Celemetrix for comment.
