News

To highlight the issues faced by Deutsche Telekom workers on World Day for Decent Work, UNI Europa ICTS and UNI Telecom affiliates around the world say "One Company, One Standard - Workers' rights for all at Deutsche Telekom".





Today, in Luxembourg, over 40 affiliates from UNI Europa ICTS took time during their 1st Plenary Meeting to recognise and discuss the double standards faced by workers in Deutsche Telekom around the world.

They engaged with the Call Centre Action Month campaign by signing postcards addressed to Deutsche Telekom CEO Rene Obermann asking for decent work and a decent life for all workers no matter where they work.



Marcus Courtney, UNI Telecom Head of Department, said "today, workers around the world ask for Deutsche Telekom to end the double standards. Sign a global agreement with UNI Global Union. Let the workers organise and collectively bargain."



In Germany, call centre workers enjoy a good relationship with the company through their union ver.di. These workers have obtained greater job security as a result of protection agreements and pay and working conditions are fixed in collective agreements. These workers are able to freely join a trade union and bargain collectively. 



Mr. Courtney stressed that, " the conditions faced by workers in Montenegro is easy to fix - Deutsche Telekom needs to sit down and begin dialogue with the union. Deutsche Telekom has undermined the collective agreement and circumvented national law.



The situation in the United States is even more dire with T-Mobile USA, one of Deutsche Telekom’s largest subsidiaries, conducting a constant and relentless campaign against workers who express an interest in joining a union".



Other actions being held during CCAM 2010 include:

• MEETING WITH LOCAL MANAGEMENT - To explain the double standards experienced around the world.
• MEETING WITH GERMAN EMBASSIES- To explain to one of the largest shareholders, the German Government, just how the double standards are impacting on the daily working lives of Deutsche Telekom workers.
• POSTCARD WORKER ACTION - Workers will be encouraged to sign postcards to send a clear message of support and solidarity to call centre workers around the world.
• LOWERING THE BAR REPORT - Exposes the double standards experienced between Deutsche Telekom workers in Germany vs US workers in Deutsche Telekom’s US subsidiary T-Mobile through the eyes of workers.
• Affiliates where DT does not operate will also be holding actions during CCAM which UNI will report on throughout the month.

To follow affiliate actions during UNI Call Centre Action Month 2010 visit www.callcentreaction.org