TelstraClear dispute flares

Call centre workers now off the job

About 50 workers at TelstraClear call centres in Wellington and Kapiti have downed tools to join a picket by technicians outside the company’s New Zealand head office.

Twenty technicians began picketing outside the office at Centreport on Aotea Quay at 7.30am in protest over the company’s refusal to settle a collective employment agreement with all Wellington-based employees.

At 9.30am, 20 workers at the Lambton Quay call centre and another 30 at the Kapiti call centre walked off the job to go and join the picket.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that the workers were angry over the stance of the Australian company.

“All these workers want is a bit of fairness,” he said.

“They want decent working conditions, a fair pay rise, and to be covered by one collective agreement. But the company is refusing to allow technicians into the agreement, is offering no across-the-board pay rise, and wants to cut the pay for new employees.

“Large Aussie corporates shouldn’t think that they can bring their bully-boy industrial tactics down here.”

Mr Little is on his way to picketline.

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