The TUC is to launch a campaign on call centre working next month (February).
Call centres have become known as the sweatshops of the 21st century, offering low wages and poor working conditions. But they shouldn’t all be tarred with the same brush – many offer their staff good terms and conditions. The TUC’s It’s your call campaign aims to expose some of the worst practices and highlight the best.
The campaign, to be launched on Monday 12 February, will include:
- a report on the state of the UK’s call centre industry. The report will highlight best practice in UK call centres and will expose some of the worst examples. Case studies will be available for interview.
- a freephone hotline, 0800 0 23 00 33, for call centre workers to report their bad bosses. The line will run for two weeks, until Friday 23 February. Lines will be open from 9am until 9pm every day.
- an e-hotline, www.tuc.org.uk/yourcall, for call centre workers who want to email their stories
- an advice leaflet for call centre staff on their workplace rights.
There will be a series of launch events and activities in Scotland, Wales and the regions, details of which will be available closer to 12 February.
TUC General Secretary John Monks said: “The call centre industry is one of the fastest growing in the UK. Many are improving their working conditions – many work with unions. But too often, call centre staff are reporting exploitation at hands of their bosses. That’s why we’re running this campaign – to encourage call centre workers to find out about their rights and to shame bad bosses into offering better terms and conditions.”
