The Unite Union has instructed its lawyers to file a case against the Digipoll research company in the Employment Relations Authority citing the continued victimisation of union members at its Hamilton call centre.

"Digipoll has attempted to bully and victimise thirty union members out of the union by segregating them into another building away from where non-union employees are working", said Unite Union National Director Mike Treen. "Someone has even put up a sign saying "LEPER COLONY"!

"Our union has never met a boss as psychopathically anti-union while remaining publicly as inconspicuous as Digipoll's Director Dr. Dekel that the comparison made by some staff between him and the classic horror story character of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, seems appropriate," continued Mr. Treen.

"All workers have the right to join a union and bargain collectively for improved wages and conditions. Digipoll's attempts to intimidate union members by physically segregating them are not what we would expect from a company that the New Zealand Herald relies upon for unbiased political information," said Mr. Treen.

"There comes an end to all things, including workplace bullying. We hope this court case, coming shortly after the $15,000 payout to a union member fired from McDonald's, will remind employers that workers do have rights," concluded Mr. Treen.

The Unite Union, represents hundreds of market and social research
workers and is forging ahead with plans to bring union collective
agreements to the nation's largest and most prominent research companies before Christmas. Digipoll is however the only company in the entire industry to take an aggressive stance not just against the union but against its own workers for joining the union.

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