Hundreds of Australian broadband technicians stop work
Hundreds of Australian broadband technicians have walked off the job in recent days in protest over low pay, “pyramid” contracting and an unworkable job scheduling platform.
The Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) has staged a series of protests in an effort to divert the anger of workers behind the corporatised unions and the Labor Party in the lead-up to the next federal election. The aim is to prevent a broader movement of workers across the logistics and telecommunications sectors amid stepped-up pro-business restructuring, and to direct the contractors back behind union-company negotiations.
Aussie MVNO services on the rise amid overall market decline
Aussie MVNO services on the rise amid overall market decline
MVNO services grew by 13 per cent during the last year. Credit: Dreamstime
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in Australia saw a burst of popularity amid COVID-19, recording growth in services in operation (SIO) of 13 per cent during the last year, while SIO with mobile network operators (MNOs) telco carriers dipped during the same period.
This is according to technology analyst firm Telsyte’s
Australian Mobile Services Market Study 2021, which claimed MVNO SIO growth came down to consumers looking for better deals, resulting in the operator type making up 16 per cent of all SIO during the year up 2 per cent from 2019.
Last modified on Wed 12 May 2021 01.11 EDT
Josh Frydenberg is banking on a post-Covid economic surge to fund big personal income tax cuts for the rich and a modest infrastructure program while at the same time pushing the budget back towards balance.
The treasurer finds himself in a similar situation to Wayne Swan in 2009, tasked with rebuilding the economy after a global downturn.
Swan went for a big spend on infrastructure â not just roads and rail but also the national broadband network, initially budgeted at $43bn over eight years (it ended up costing a lot more).
But in this budget, instead of spending, Frydenberg thinks the booming iron ore price and a recovery in consumer confidence after the Covid recession will drive the economy back into growth.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
7 May 2021
Korea: Renault Samsung autoworkers locked out
Renault Samsung Motors management locked out 1,900 workers at its Busan plant, 450 kilometres south of Seoul, on Tuesday morning. Management initiated the lockout in response to strike action the previous Friday, again on Monday and a planned eight-hour walk out on Tuesday.
The unionised workers voted to take strike action in February, in protest against management demands for a voluntary retirement program, a wage freeze and reduced bonus of 3 million won ($2,700), citing reduced sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workers are demanding a 70,000-won increase in basic pay, a 7 million won bonus and are opposed to the company’s restructuring plans.