On Friday 4th of September union delegates from some of Auckland’s biggest call centres met for a training day and for workshops on health & safety; bargaining, resolving employment problems, representing members in a disciplinary matter and building worker’s power through organising and campaigning.

During the day we got them to talk about what Unite means to them, why they joined or why they became a union delegate.

Bhavesh - UMR
“I joined the union to give the power back to the people and to restore people’s faith that they do have power. We’re not helpless employees when we act as a collective. The employers machines don’t work without us.”

Jean – ARC
“We fight for better work ethics, to be recognised for the work we do, and to be valued as an important part of the working sector in this day and age. The union has given me the strength to speak out and I know that someone is there to help us members fight for whatever we are fighting for.”

Roslin - SurveyTalk
“For me it’s about being able to talk and negotiate with the managers and improve conditions at our job. As a delegate I want to help bargain with the bosses and help get a pay raise. We got a collective agreement with pay up to $15 an hour. We never used to get holiday pay or sick leave before the union came. We have health and safety rules and people can raise issues and they get sorted out. Before we never had any representation for health and safety issues and people used to get sick talking on the same unclean headsets. We’ve got our own equipment now.”

David - ADT call centre
“We had a strong union at my old job at the Herald. When I started at my new job we were going three years without a pay rise. When the union came on board and we got organised things improved dramatically. Since I’ve been a delegate I’ve learnt how the company plays games with employees. Unite is one of the best unions in the country. Since being union management takes our concerns seriously. It’s good to have back up if you’re in trouble and us delegates can always let you know your rights at work. You don’t have to sort problems out on your own.”




Tala – Sky TV
“I joined the union because I want to work in a healthy, fair and happy environment. We also need good pay to be healthy and happy. We need wages to keep up with the cost of living. The cost of living is very expensive. Families, healthcare, schooling, petrol keeps rising and wages are staying the same. No matter how hard we work keeping heads above water is hard. You put 110% in and what do you get back? With this recession everyone’s working hard. With the union behind me we’ve got back up to freely speak out about what needs to be raised concerning the work environment. We spend more time at work than with our family after all. You need a healthy environment where you work. I’m in the union not just for myself but for my kids as well. I want them to have healthy and happy workplaces as well.”

Jackie, Sky TV
“Every good thing I’ve seen over the last few years with unions has been with Unite. Unite seems to be going back to what unions are all about. The $15 campaign and Supersizemypay shows that Unite are our voice for social change. Unite links social justice and poverty with wage rates. Unite links all community issues back to the workplace and workplace issues back to the community. Unite challenges the idea that you should be working and still broke.”

Carolyn, – ADT
“I’ve always been a staunch unionist. I’m from the old school freezing works days when we fought for redundancy payment. We went on a 12 week strike at Ocean Beach freezing works in Invercargill and won the right to redundancy payments. This was sometime at the beginning of the 1980s. When we were made redundant in the mid 1990s the redundancy payments were important. At work all the young ones look up to us for advice and help and support and we’re all tight. I’ve been a union delegate on negotiations four times at ADT and we play an important role in leading the rest of our members”

Dion - GE Money
“I joined the union for peace of mind. There is always help available in an employment dispute. The union fee is nearly unnoticeable and there were so many benefits, joining was a no-brainer. We’re negotiating for better working conditions. Unite gives off a good vibe and I’m happy to be a part of it and to make a difference.”

Trish – ADT
“With Unite we feel more secure & supported and less bullied. We get regular pay rises without having to argue our value. We have strong members and we feel management are more approachable now when members raise issues. Unionisation has enhanced the relationship with management. People are happier and less stressed.”

Leilani --- Salesforce
“I joined the union for fairness, and to give everyone an equal chance at work.”