Telstra moves more technical work offshore
Telstra plans to move more technical jobs offshore as part of its increasing orientation towards the Asia Pacific region.
The CWU has been advised of proposed changes in Telstra Service Operations, Network Infrastructure Operations (NIO) that would see what Telstra defines as lower level functions performed within Data Network Operations (DNO) outsourced to Infosys.
Some seven existing Telstra jobs will be lost as a result although it is proposed that four new ones will be created in the same area.
Under the proposal DNO in Asia perform “high volume, well defined release and management work” while DNO in Australia would focus on more complex work.
This is a familiar formula .. but does it work? CWU members in areas where such an international division of labour has been introduced report a rise in problems due to coordination difficulties, lack of shared understandings and language issues.
The CWU opposes the off-shoring of any and all Australian jobs and has put this issue on the agenda for the current round of EA negotiations. But it also remains to be convinced that, on balance, such moves produce efficiencies for Telstra, let alone a higher quality of service for its customers.
