Lockout ends at Synovate's New Zealand call centre

NEW ZEALAND-- Locked-out employees of a Synovate call centre in Auckland returned to work today after an agreement was brokered late last night.

Around thirty members of the Unite union had been shut out since Friday after turning down a 20-cent pay rise offer, according to the union.

In a statement issued today, Synovate said a “memorandum of agreement” had been signed under which union members and management have six weeks to negotiate a performance pay scheme for interviewing staff.

“During that time,” the company said, “there will no further strike action, nor will there be any other industrial, picket or protest action against or targeting Synovate, its clients or associated individuals.”

Financial houses AMI, ASB and MediBank, and StudyLink, a service of the Ministry of Social Development, were targeted by protesters during the lockout. Synovate said: “Whilst we support legitimate staff protest, actions like these are in no one's interests, whether union or non-union.”

For its part, Unite claims that the lockout was lifted this morning “with the company and union agreeing to pay rises and improvements in conditions” for members.

It said: “Pay rises will amount to $1 an hour on top of paid rates, that currently start at $12.50. Union members who have shifts cancelled by the company will be paid for that shift if the employer does not give them at least 12 hours notice.”

Synovate, however, stressed that “no pay rise has been agreed”. “Reports of pay rises are inaccurate. The outcome in terms of pay rates, and any other payments, is still to be agreed,” the company said.

Author: Brian Tarran

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