http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9126951/Broadband-contractors-walk-off-job

An Australian company working on the Government's flagship
ultra-fast broadband roll-out confirms some contractors have walked off
the job after not getting paid.

Transfield Services, which is responsible for about 10 per cent of
the $1.5 billion scheme,  said it was not sure why the workers were not
paid and was working to fix the problem.

Spokesman David Jamieson said managers had reported that some
contractors had walked off the job and the company was trying to
establish what went wrong, but it was not a problem with cashflow.

"There are suggestions there may be issues with the company and
that's absolutely not the case. We reported our results to the
Australian Stock Exchange last week and our share price has gone up by
68 per cent, and we made a $62 million profit."

Mr Jamieson insisted the problem would not affect the pace of the
roll-out of ultra-fast broadband, which was a key Government pledge.

He did not know how many workers had been affected by the pay
problem, however, and could not rule out the possibility that it might
be hundreds.

"We're talking dozens of contractors that have been affected; the
issue is a payment problem ... and we're working with our
sub-contractors to resolve it."

Some of those contractors were "mum and dad" outfits, while others
might employ a team. They worked to lay cables and install junction
boxes.

Transfield does the work under contract to Chorus, which said it was seeking clarification on the situation.

But a spokesman said workers would be looked after.

"One way or another these guys will be looked after. The show must go on."

A spokesman for Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams said she was seeking clarification.

- © Fairfax NZ News