News

Costa Rica fires up for Call Centre Workers

UNI Telecom Global Union  29 October 2010 18:15:00

SITET, Costa Rica, supported the UNI Telecom Global campaign with workers signing postcards addressed to Deutsche Telekom CEO, Rene Obermann. The workers asked for an end to the double standards experienced by their colleagues in call centres around the world. 

Call centre workers gathered at the seminar, “Reality and Perspectives in Call Centres and other activities” which was held within the framework of the Global Campaign “One Company, One Standard!” The Industrial Union of Electricity, Telecommunications and Post from Costa Rica invited Juan Ignacio Castillo from ILO Costa Rica to address workers on the subject of outsourcing in the global scenario and the different ways of outsourcing in various different sectors. 



The action was also attended by the Minister of Labour for Costa Rica, Mrs. Sandra Piszk, who highlighted the important role for multinational companies in Costa Rica. They should provide new jobs to her country, but it is necessary for them to respect local legislation, and that her Ministry is open to listen to unions concerns also. 

The testimony of colleague Rodrigo Rodriguez, an ex call centre employee, was also highly important; he was dismissed for denouncing the dreadful working conditions in a local company.



Regional Director of UNI Americas Telecom, Cenise Monteiro, emphasised the importance of organising call centre workers, highlighting for example the successful experience of the Telecommunications Union of Brazil, SINTETEL, in organising those workers. Cenise declared that it was important to listen to young call centre workers; they have a lot of potential to contribute to their colleagues’ organisation. 



The activity was organised by Carlos Zúñiga, Director of SITET, with the assistance of the Support Centre, whose contribution to the event was the presentation of an opinion poll on labour conditions in Costa Rican Call Centres. 



The event closed with the presentation of a play called “Call me!” which represented the stressing daily work of the telephone operators, who endure the company’s pressure, and many times, also the clients’ pressure.