Some sacked workers burst into tears yesterday - even though, after months of rumours, they were not surprised by the news.
More than 200 laid-off staff and other PCCW employees assembled at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai last night to vent their anger. Most staff had staged a five-minute silent protest from 3.27pm to show their grievances.
Chan Yuk-kou, who had served as a customer service technician for 36 years, said: 'Sooner or later we will all be sacked. The company has made $1.8 billion profit, but instead of thanking us, they fired us. I want to ask Richard Li: how much is enough?'
Another technician, Chow Wai-keung, who had been with the company for 13 years, burst into tears and said he now faced severe financial difficulties. He said his daughter was only four years old and his younger brother was mentally handicapped.
'I really do not know what to do,' he said.
After clearing his desk and leaving the company office in Mei Foo, To Shu-yuen, 33, who had worked in the engineering department for 15 years, accused PCCW of being unfair.
'Every department was to pick one or two people [to be laid off] regardless of their performance. I didn't deserve to be fired because some other people are worse than me. There's nothing you can do about it. Richard Li is just like that.'
