Strike allows free toll calls

Press, 28 October 1977, Page 9

Strike allows free toll calls

NZPA Sydney Telephone technicians in three Australian states have voted to support industrial bans which have allowed tens of thousands of telephone subscribers to make free S.T.D. (subscriber toll dialling) calls. The Australian Telecommunications Employees’ Association imposed bans on repairing telephone revenuerecording equipment three weeks ago, in opposition to plans to computerise telephone exchanges.

As a result of the bans, one-quarter of al! Melbourne subscribers are able to make free S.T.D. calls. About 100.000 Victorian subscribers as well as more than 10,000 Sydney subscribers are in a similar situation.

Meetings of A.T.E.A. members in New South Wales,

I Tasmania, and Victoria voted i yesterday to continue the bans and to reject a settlement formula worked out before an Australian Arbitration Commissioner, Mr Justice Isaac.

In Sydney, a meeting of about 1100 technicians at the Sydney Town Hall voted to endorse a voluntary $5 levy to aid union members who could be stood down during the dispute.

In Melbourne, the Australian Arbitration Commission continued hearing the application from Telecom, the Government body running the telephone service, to allow it stand down technicians.

A Telecom spokesman said the hearing was adjourned late today until tomorrow so that reports could be received from the association about whether it would continue with the bans.