Hong Kong telecom workers protest forced leave

The Jakarta Post, Min Lee, The Associated Press, Hong Kong | Sun, 02/22/2009 3:05 PM  

 Against salary cuts: Hundreds of PCCW staff march on a Hong Kong downtown street during a protest against salary cuts and the sacking of their co-workers Sunday. They call on the government to help resolve the dispute with their employer PCCW, which runs fixed-line, mobile phone, broadband and broadband TV services. AP/Vincent Yu
 

Several hundred workers from Hong Kong's leading phone operator marched Sunday to protest a cost-cutting plan that requires employees to take up to two unpaid days off a month. 

The PCCW Ltd. workers chanted "PCCW lacks a conscience, smothers its employees," as they marched peacefully in the central financial district toward Hong Kong's government headquarters. 

Radio RTHK reported on its Web site that 300 people protested. 

The plan requires the company's technicians to take up to two days off without paystarting in March. 

A PCCW spokesman said Sunday that the plan is aimed at avoiding layoffs. 

"We hope our employees will ride through the rough times with the company," the spokesman said, declining to be named in line with company policy. 

PCCW employs 16,200 people. It runs fixed-line, mobile phne, broadband and broadband TV services.

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