ANZ staff to work 10 days straight

ANZ National forcing call centre staff to work 10 days straight – “We never see our families”

ANZ staff who work in a Wellington-based call centre that handles calls from customers in Australia are going public over their employment conditions which can see them work up to 10 days straight and in unhealthy shift patterns.

Staff at the call centre describe the rotational shift as brutal, and say it disrupts sleep patterns, causes illness and damages family relationships.

ANZ Customer Services Consultant Arlyn Rupita says these shifts leave her feeling like she’s not doing a good job as a mother to her two young children. “They really miss me – and its too long for me to go without spending decent time with them too. I feel like I’m having withdrawal symptoms from not seeing my own kids enough.”

Fellow ANZ staff member Tina Eshaya says the way these shifts are structured means work overpowers family and other commitments. “It’s got to the point where my daughter hates me going to work. Family comes first with me but that’s difficult to achieve with these rosters.”

Finsec is arguing for a fairer, more family friendly approach to the organisation of shifts as part of it’s negotiations with the bank, which are ongoing. “Given the size and profitability of the operation, ANZ are more than capable of accommodating fairer shift patterns,” said Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell.

“It is shocking that ANZ is using such draconian shift patterns in this call centre. These staff are treated like second class citizens as they have much worse arrangements than the bank’s other New Zealand call centre workers,” said Campbell.

“It is time for ANZ to treat these people with respect. They can create fairer working hours for these staff and they should,” said Campbell. Finsec members from throughout the bank will be participating in a day of action tomorrow to highlight the bank’s less than perfect employment practices and bargaining position.

ENDS

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