Congratulations to our newest Branch section, “Meteor Rigney Dolphin Park West”. Currently the committee members are Michael Crowe Secretary, Stephen Dunne, Alan Brennan, Alan Maher, Larry Ojelade and Louise Quinn. The committee has already met on a number of occasions and have identified and resolved a number of issues in the workplace. The committee aims to increase an awareness of the CWU at Park West. The committee have already assigned themselves roles to do this. Larry Ojelade has responsibility to ensure that the union notice board is up to date. Alan Brennan is responsible for equality. Alan Maher assumes a health and safety role, while Louise Quinn has volunteered to assist the Youth Committee. This level of commitment and delegation is a credit to Michael and Stephen who have worked tirelessly with Union Headquarters’ to reach this milestone. Our next challenge is to map the workplace and increase our density levels.
Rigney Dolphin Call Centre Update Inaugural Meteor Rigney Committee meeting at Park West
Rigney Dolphin Committee Pictured l to r: Larry Ojelade, Alan Brennan, Alan Maher, Louise Quinn, Stephen Dunne and Michael Crowe.
to become more involved with the union and we are delighted to announce that our first Meteor retail volunteer was recently trained. Kirstin Feeney is currently working out of the Meteor store in Northside shopping centre in Dublin, was accompanied to the training session with Stephen Kiernan and Michael Fleming who work in Vodafone retail stores in Blanchardstown and Grafton St. It is the intention of the CWU to continue to recruit and organise in Meteor e-mobile and Vodafone stores across the country. We are currently making arrangements to train further groups in Dublin and Cork.
CWU trains Meteor retail and Vodafone Retail Local Reps CWU Organisers recently visited Dublin Meteor retail stores. As a result of the visits many Meteor retail workers took the opportunity to join their colleagues and become members of the CWU. In addition members had the opportunity to raise workplace issues and as a result of union representation a number of individual cases were raised with management and successfully resolved. In addition to this we invited members
Call Centre Action Month, October 2011 The CWU is participating in an international campaign, organised by Union Network International (UNI) to promote October as a ‘Call Centre Action Month.’ Every year UNI, the global union of which the CWU is an affiliate, designates October as a month to campaign and focus on organising, to raise awareness of issues affecting call centre workers and work toward improving working conditions. As part of this campaign the CWU is planning to host a Call Centre Forum this October. Call centre workers from across the spectrum will be invited to sit down with their colleagues to openly discuss and focus on the struggles they face in their workplace everyday. Call centre workers share a pride in the professionalism they bring to their job, and
the satisfaction which comes from helping callers. To do this, they need employers to provide a workplace that fosters dignity and respect for workers. While work arrangements and organisation in the majority of call centres are similar, working conditions can differ enormously. Some centres provide good conditions for their staff while some have room for improvement. Some of the difficulties that call centre employees have reported include: unrealistic targets, health and safety issues, excessive performance management, stress, inadequate training, contract issues and a general lack of control in their work. Numerous studies, both national and international, have shown that unionised call centre workers enjoy better wages and conditions, more control over their work and greater job satisfaction in general. Through the Call Centre Forum, the CWU hopes to hear the real story from the 13
‘coal face’ and to foster a sense of solidarity amongst call centre workers from all aspects of the industry. The information gathered at this forum can then be compiled in to a report giving welldefined and specific goals to the organising team, putting call centre workers’ issues firmly on the union’s agenda. Don’t forget we are now on facebook and why not check out our updated website
www.cwu.ie Are you working in a meteor or Vodafone retail store? Would you like to become more involved in your union? The CWU always welcomes volunteers to act as local reps or get involved with the youth committee. If you would like more information email
gerard@cwu.ie