Telstra petition still attractive

THE STAND at Shoppingworld collecting signatures for a petition opposing Telstra's plan to close its Grafton Call Centre has continued to attract a large amount of public interest, according to the volunteers attending it.

Former Grafton mayor Shirley Adams and her husband John were attending the stand this week where hundreds of signatures were still being collected every day.

“We took two-and-a-half thousand signatures around to Janelle Saffin's office yesterday,” Mrs Adams said

This haul had been collected in the five days since the stand had been launched on Saturday and brought the total number of signatures collected around the area to more than 4000.

Yesterday at the stand more than 270 people had already signed the petition by 11am.

The petition was launched last week by Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, outraged at the plan to close the centre, and the signatures will eventually be presented to Telstra CEO David Thodey in the hopes of getting the plan reconsidered.

Mrs Adams said it was interesting to note the number of people talking about boycotting Telstra if the plan went ahead.

“It's absolutely amazing the number of people who are dissatisfied with Telstra,” Mrs Adams said.

“A lot of people are saying if this gets through, they are going to find another service provider; they're just waiting to see what happens.”

Mrs Adams said the campaign in general was going well, with many people coming up to the stand voicing their support of the 108 workers who could lose their jobs if Telstra closes the centre.

She was also grateful to Shoppingworld centre management for their support in allowing the stand in the centre for the week.