Qld call centre workers lowest paid

Date: 18 April 2002

According to a national call centre survey, Queensland call centre workers are still the lowest paid.

Results of the survey and the Brisbane call centre campaign will be launched tomorrow at the Call Centre Conference by Australian Council of Trade Unions President Sharan Burrow.

Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Grace Grace said the conference and campaign are the next step in the move to ensure Queensland call centre workers have relevant and good pay and working conditions.

"The conference tomorrow aims to educate workers on their rights with a special focus on health and safety," Ms Grace said.

"Health and safety issues are still the major concern for call centre workers in Queensland. Bullying and limited or no access to regular ear, voice and eye tests are the two main issues," she said.

"Although the Queensland government has adopted a minimum standards code, the national survey indicates there is still a lot of work to be done in the private sector and ensuring the code is implemented in the public sector," Ms Grace said.

"Queensland has a very large call centre industry with major call centres in Brisbane, Toowoomba, Rockhampton and Townsville. Call centres are one of Australia's fastest growing industries," she said.

"The conference and campaign in Brisbane is Queensland unions' commitment to ensure fair pay and working conditions become achievable for call centre workers," she said.

"It's unions who have initiated the call centre agenda on a national and state level and our commitment will continue in this area," she said.

The campaign aims to provide information and raise awareness amongst call centre workers and the general community and will include delegate activities, exposing rogue employers, where found and general visits.

MEDIA CONFERENCE
QCU General Secretary Grace Grace & ACTU President Sharan Burrow
12.30pm
Level 2, 16 Peel Street, South Brisbane

*All media representatives are invited to attend. Media kits on the background to the campaign as well as a copy of the survey will be available.

For further information

Contact:	Liz Phillips
Union:	Queensland Council of Unions
Phone:	07 3846 2468
Contact Mobile:	0407 624 475
Email:	lizp@qcu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qcu.asn.au

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