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Telstra workers to start industrial action from the weekend


10 Dec 2008 4:17 PM

MELBOURNE, Dec 10 AAP - Telstra workers will refuse to do overtime over the weekend as part of their industrial action in support of a collective agreement.

The Communications Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU) said the ban on overtime and call-outs would start at 12.01am (AEDT) on Saturday morning and will finish at midnight on Sunday.

The move follows a secret ballot of nearly 4,400 Telstra employees which voted for industrial action against Telstra because of the company's refusal to negotiate a collective agreement.

CEPU National President Ed Husic said the industrial action was the first element of their campaign.

"As we've stated all along, we'd prefer not be taking any industrial action, but Telstra is forcing the issue by refusing to negotiate with us in good faith," Mr Husic said.