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Just a few weeks ahead of Call Centre Action Month in October, UNI Telecom’s European affiliates kicked off the Tell Telefonica campaign in Dublin, Ireland.



This Wednesday, union leaders from all over Europe marched outside Telefonica’s O2 store in Dublin city centre, demanding that the company respect union rights.



Throughout October, thousands of UNI members in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa will sign post cards addressed to Telefonica CEO, Cesar Alierta, demanding that he ensure that all his company’s workers have the right to organise. Currently, O2 workers in Ireland, as well as tens of thousands of Telefonica workers in Latin America, are intimidated and harassed, even fired, if they show support for the union.



This week in Dublin, UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings signed a huge post card in the same form that will be signed by workers during the action month. Jennings said “Telefonica has signed a global agreement with UNI in which it guarantees respect for fundamental labour rights for its workers. The company must honour that agreement throughout its operations worldwide.”



CWU General Secretary, Steve Fitzpatrick, said: “The CWU will not desist from action to force employers to meet their obligations towards their workers. We have ensured that Telefonica’s arrogant and unacceptable behaviour towards its workers has been cited in a complaint made against Ireland to the International Labour Organisation by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). Labour Minister, Dara Calleary, will now be required to explain and account for the situation at O2 Ireland."