Surveytalk Counters Union Claims, Warns on NZ Competitiveness

In New Zealand, MR agency Surveytalk has responded to statements made earlier in the week by the trade union, Unite, whose members are striking over pay and conditions in its telephone unit; and has underlined the need for the country's CATI services to remain competitive in the global economy.

The firm says it has been engaged in negotiations with the union since 18th November, and that the decision to strike was taken despite the fact that negotiations are 'ongoing and active with no cease or deadlock' and is therefore a breach of good faith.

Unite said on Tuesday that its 'negotiations and claims were being ignored' despite the sides having reached agreement on a number of issues and working on the remainder, claims Surveytalk. The agency says Unite made 'inaccurate, defamatory and damaging statements' about it, including the implication that interviewers work in 'stressful, unhygienic, unsafe' conditions. Surveytalk points out that 'All companies in New Zealand have to comply with strict health and safety standards' and that a recent survey distributed by the union itself covering the majority of the country's MR companies gave 'almost identical feedback on working conditions across every company surveyed.'

In the statement, the agency points to New Zealand's competitive advantage as a location for CATI centres, and says that 'Our need to operate on a level playing field with our New Zealand competitors to service our overseas and Australian clients and maintain a quality product was the prime motivation to operate a New Zealand CATI site.' It warns however that 'if New Zealand becomes less competitive and no longer commercially viable it will push Australian and New Zealand companies out of the competitive global environment for these services, and clients will migrate to Philippines or India where other large multi national research companies operate CATI sites already.'

Unite has hinted at further action in other companies employing telephone interviewers.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.