barely-trained recruits into key positions.

The phone company admits it is letting staff operate the 411 service after training them for just half a day over a week and a giving them a week's on-the-job training.

One angry insider fumed: "They are supposed to have three months' training in all aspects of the job before they are put on the schedule but the management have put them straight on the 5.30 p.m. to 12 a.m. shift.

"Twice in the past, management has done this and it's always resulted in staff having a stoppage.'' BTC operators downed tools in February 1999 and June 1998 in rows over the rostering of new recruits for lucrative night shifts.

Day shift staff are only paid standard pay.

The source added: "The problem with new recruits is that they tell people there is no listing for somebody when there is. We get a lot of complaints about that.'' More BTC trouble BTC couldn't confirm whether it was normal for new employees to complete a three-month apprenticeship before being let loose on the system.

The company spokeswoman said the new people had started now in order to provide immediate relief for staff who were overtaxed because of staff shortages.

She admitted that staff were often forced to operate for seven days without a break.

But she denied the new people weren't ready for the job. She said: "They've had a full week and they will be with a supervisor.'' The firm had been short staffed since cutting its workforce by eight percent after offering early retirement packages -- 31 of the 38 people opted to jump ship in August.

It's thought the company has had difficulty in getting suitable recruits after being caught out by the number of staff who wanted to go.

But it denies that it mishandled the issue and should have had suitable replacements in hand before letting so many go.

She added: "We staff according to the workload.'' When asked about what the company would do if there was industrial action the spokeswoman replied: "We'll have to deal with that if and when it happens.'' The company has been beset with unrest recently with staff walking off the job in June after a dispute over vacation allowances.

And just last week staffers said BTC had aggravated their staffing problems by snubbing five customer service operators who applied for part-time posts.

Insiders also claimed last month that around 60 grievances had been filed against one manager.

The company refused to be drawn on the figure but had admitted that a number of grievances were being dealt with.