The Agreement reduces sick leave entitlements for employees and is below standard Award conditions. The Agreement takes away the rights of many shift workers to an extra week's annual leave. ASU members voted to reject TeleTech Management's Collective Agreement several months ago. The AWAs have most of the same sub-standard conditions as their proposed enterprise agreement. However, the ASU negotiated for paid time off from the telephones.
Stress is the number one issue for employees in the call centre industry.
Telerate members have lifted their overtime bans after winning a battle against an American company's attempt to bring down their wages and conditions. Members have had the bans in place for a after three months of negotiation failed to resolve their issues. The American owned financial wire service Bridge Financial AEA Incorporated took over Telerate earlier this year and immediately moved to reduce the workers wages and conditions. A settlement is close to being agreed upon with the company agreeing to maintain members existing higher wages and more generous conditions after the Australian Industrial Relations Commission directed the company to negotiate. Members will be considering the company's offer next week, but it appears all of the members demands have been met.