Telstra have joined Qantas and Virgin Airlines in mandating coronavirus vaccines for all staff, with a cut-off date before employment termination.
The telecommunications giant sent a memo to its 28,960 staff members on Monday morning saying frontline workers must have had their first jab by October 15th and their second by November 15th or face having their contracts torn up.
‘Today I am announcing that we will start a one week consultation period with you, our unions and some of our partners on a proposed COVID vaccination policy,’ CEO Andy Penn wrote to employees.
Telstra have since changed their network name to ‘#LetsVaxx’, which has enraged anti-vaxxer customers.
Telstra have joined Qantas and Virgin Airlines in mandating coronavirus vaccines for all staff, with a cut-off date before employment termination
Telstra have since changed their network name to ‘#LetsVaxx’, which has enraged anti-vaxxer customers
Telstra released the company memo on Monday morning, saying the company felt it had a role to play in assisting Australia out of the current pandemic.
‘As you know, over the last few weeks we have been stepping up our efforts in the battle against COVID,’ the company email from Mr Penn reads.
‘We know that the best way out of this crisis, and the current lockdowns and uncertainty they bring, is to increase our vaccination rates.
‘Today I am announcing that we will start a one week consultation period with you, our unions and some of our partners on a proposed COVID vaccination policy.
‘This policy would make getting vaccinated a requirement for roles where they are in regular contact with customers, the public or other employees, such as our frontline and business critical teams, and those who need to visit customer premises at times.
‘The requirement to be vaccinated would not apply to those who can work from home or employees outside of Australia at this stage.’
Mr Penn said the move was ‘important and necessary’ in helping normalise the vaccine and ensuring the country can move into its post-lockdown era.
‘We are a team of many thousands serving many millions of customers. More than most other companies our teams stretch across the far reaches of Australia – from our cities to remote outback towns,’ he said.
‘We are part of these communities and we have an obligation to keep them safe and well – and to protect each other.
Telstra released the company memo on Monday morning, saying the company felt it had a role to play in assisting Australia out of the current pandemic
But Telstra’s jab push has angered the anti-vaccine crowd, with some threatening to boycott the company altogether
‘When you consider some of the situations we find ourselves in, you realise just how critical it is that we are vaccinated – from a technician getting choppered into the Tiwi Islands to restore mobile connection, to visiting the home of a priority assist customer with a life-threatening medical condition, or fixing a fault at an aged care home, and even welcoming customers in store and answering life and death calls in our E000 contact centres.
‘And as we approach what is typically disaster season in Australia, we hope that having fully vaccinated teams will help us more easily move people across state borders to assist should there be a natural disaster.’
The telco is also offering ‘Plus Points’ for customers who are fully vaccinated, which will see some users given $3500 in credit – easily covering many Australians’ annual mobile phone bills.
But Telstra’s jab push has angered the anti-vaccine crowd, with some threatening to boycott the company altogether.
‘Can you please delete the ‘Letsvaxx’ from my phone please, otherwise I will close my account,’ one disgruntled customer said.
Not everyone was onboard
‘Get this #LetsVaxx propaganda off my phone. Enough with the non stop fear mongering jabs the only way out BS,’ another said.
‘Long time Telstra customer about to say ta ta – looking for a new carrier today. I don’t support any business that advocates irreversible experimental jabs with no long term safety data,’ a third person tweeted.
Telstra said the change will not be reversed.
Others threw their support around the network change and said they were proud to be with the provider.
‘Just noticed this and I love this little #LetsVaxx message! Come on people, listen to Telstra, health professionals and science and let’s get out of this madness,’ one woman tweeted.
‘Proud to be a customer of Telstra who is getting behind the vaccination drive,’ commented another.