Gold Coast call centre sets agenda

Date: 29 May 2001

A Gold Coast call centre has become one of the first call centres in Australia to recognise the ACTU / ASU Call Centre Charter in its most recent enterprise bargaining agreement.

Australian Services Union acting Branch Secretary Mary-Anne O'Neill said the agreement with Apple Marketing, a Gold Coast call centre involved in telemarketing for charitable organisations, was certified in the Industrial Relations Commission this morning.

"This is a landmark agreement for the call centre industry and is a giant leap forward for the campaign to secure minimum standards across the industry," Ms O'Neill said.

"Call centres are one of the fastest growing industries in Queensland, but not enough has been done to ensure that the basic minimum employment standards of workers are protected," she said.

"We commend Apple Marketing for their commitment to best practice in the call centre industry," she said.

The agreement also includes a 20% pay rise for staff at the call centre.

The Call Centre Charter sets down basic standards for wages, working conditions, health and safety as well as career development, and was developed by the ACTU in consultation with unions, including the ASU, and employer groups.

"This agreement is the first cab off the rank in a number of industry agreements recognising the importance of the Call Centre Charter in establishing minimum standards," she said.

"We've had tremendous support on this from many call centre employers, but the Queensland government has so far refused to sign on," she said.

Ms O'Neill said the ASU would continue to call on the Premier to sign the Call Centre Charter to ensure that the Queensland call centre industry is underpinned by quality jobs with decent standards.

For further information

Contact:	Matthew Collins
Union:	ASU Services
Contact Mobile:	0404 058 108
Email:	communications@qld.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qld.asu.asn.au

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