Auckland agents strike over pay

Some agents walked off the job last week at research company Oceania Customer Interaction Services’ (OCIS) New Zealand contact centre.

Around a dozen, mostly teenaged workers, took part in the strike action, signalling dissatisfaction at their pay rate of NZ$12.50. OCIS undertakes research for large government departments and city councils such as Wellington City Council, the Ministry of Tourism and New Zealand Post. Previously owned by AC Nielson, the centre was outsourced a year ago to OCIS, which operates centres in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Unite Union is bargaining for collective agreements at seven research companies in Auckland as part of the Calling for Change campaign. “OCIS makes hundreds of dollars in taxpayer money for every survey these workers complete while the workers are paid next to minimum wage.” Unite national director Mike Treen said.

Callcentres.net