Call Centres

UNiTAB Call Centre – in the full glare of publicity

By ASU-Central & Southern Queensland C&A Branch

Workers at UNiTAB today will not only be helping punters with their betting requirements on the biggest race day of the year, but will also be using today to highlight some of the ongoing challenges faced by call centre workers in Australia.

Workers at the Unitab Call Centre in Brisbane have been forced to wear sunglasses at their workstations as well as sun visors because of the high degree of glare illuminating their computer screens. Management have refused to rectify the bad lighting, instead issuing some staff with sun visors to wear at work.

UNiTAB workers continue to struggle with basic OHS rights such as adequate unsupervised toilet breaks, inappropriate lighting and a management culture of not addressing these issues.

To highlight their plight, UNiTAB call centre workers will be sending a message to management when they don their own Melbourne Cup headwear.

Apart from the traditional Melbourne Cup feathers and flowers that are sported at Flemmington, UNiTAB workers will have stickers adorning their headwear that will read "I HATE GLARE", in a effort to get management's attention to a problem which has persisted for over 12 months. Whilst the union negotiated a resolution to the problem 6 months ago, management have refused to implement changes that will fix the problem.

"It's important that whilst members of the public are having a punt today, that we don't forget the efforts of the hundreds of UNiTAB workers who support the racing industry. These workers deserve for UNiTAB management to show them some basic respect and allow them to work in comfort and dignity," said ASU Branch Secretary, Julie Bignell.

"All these workers ask for is a safe workplace and an opportunity to have their issues resolved," said Julie.

The ASU proudly represents call centre workers throughout Australia in improving the nature of their working conditions. The recent ASU National Call Centre Survey results will soon be published and will reinforce the fact that a number of issues faced by UNiTAB workers are being experienced across the country.

UNiTAB is one of the many typical call centres in Australia that collectively employ over 275,000 workers in this billion dollar per year industry, however, the union that represents call centres nationally, the Australian Services Union, believes that call centres still need to do more to shed their image as low paid labour houses in the public's eye.

For further information and comments on the UNiTAB day of action or the ASU National Call Centre Report please call Branch Secretary Julie Bignell on: 0404 820 627