Vodafone has been accused of being a bad employer after refusing its call centre workers a pay increase for the second year running.
Unite Union has been on a mission to "name and shame" bad employers, and it says Vodafone fits the bill.
"Vodafone expects most of our union members employed at its contact centres in Auckland to continue going backwards despite the company having a tremendous year reaping windfall revenues off the back of Telecom's XT troubles," Unite Union national director Mike Treen said.
The pay freeze meant most union members at the telco would not receive a pay increase for three years, when inflation was predicted to rise by as much as six percent this year, he said.
The union would organise an "utu (Unite The Union) squad" to picket outside Vodafone outlets unless progress was made, he said.
Vodafone spokesman Paul Brislen said although it was not possible to offer an across-the-board pay increase, it was likely all Vodafone employees would receive a bonus this year.
Vodafone based pay on performance, and staff who satisfied customers and boosted productivity were rewarded.
"I think we're doing pretty well and I'd challenge any call centre to offer a better deal than we do to our staff," he said.
Vodafone gave all its staff health insurance, four weeks annual leave, a free cell phone and calls, 4 percent superannuation, life insurance, a day off on birthdays, and 10 days sick leave.
"We think that's a very competitive package," he said.
NZPA
source: newshub archive
