A Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) union last night called on the firm's 13,500 workers to begin working to rule from Tuesday in protest at this week's sacking of 858 colleagues.
The 2,000-member PCCW Staff Association said the action would go ahead unless the company's board of directors agreed to hold talks with the union over the sackings. The proposal has been supported in principle by a second, 6,000-member union.
Staff association chairman Terry Ip Ngok-fung, announcing the plan at a protest by 200 workers outside PCCW's Lai Chi Kok office, said the action would affect the company's operations because most staff worked an average of 90 minutes overtime per day. But he refused to estimate how many workers would join the action or the level of disruption it may cause.
'We hope this will stop any further lay-offs from happening,' he said. 'This is the first step in our action and we will review our position later.'
Cheng Chun-man, chairman of the larger Pacific Century CyberWorks Employees General Union, said last night it backed the proposal in principle, but would discuss how much it would advise members to co-operate with the work-to-rule.
Cheung Pak-chi, chairman of the smallest union, the Cable and Wireless (HK) Ltd Staff Association, said the situation would be discussed in the next couple of days. Mr Cheung's union has 600 members.
PCCW was unavailable for comment last night.