Telecom service workers in Canterbury have agreed to their union's call for a ban on overtime and callout work, in protest at what they say are unfair contract demands.
Downer EDI is about to take over the region's contract for Telecom's subsidiary, Chorus.
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says the company wants technicians to accept deals at piece-meal rates rather than having a guaranteed level of income.
The union's national secretary, Andrew Little, says the overtime and callout ban will mean a delay in getting faults attended to, but workers want to send a clear message to Telecom.
The action in Canterbury comes after service workers in Auckland and Northland began strike action this week, over a proposal that they become owner-operators.
