Genesis call centre workers hanging up Monday

Workers at Genesis Energy's Hamilton call centre take industrial action on Monday (14 November) over their employer's push for individualised performance based pay.

The Genesis workers' union, the EPMU, says its 80 members are reluctant to take action because of their commitment to customers. However, their action reflects a huge amount of anger and frustration that the company is not budging on wanting all staff on individualised performance based pay.

EPMU national industry organiser, Joe Gallagher, says the company's position is not about wanting to pay staff more. "It's about wanting to put a lid on pay increases - and creating the perception you can earn more with good performance. This is rubbish."

He says Genesis Energy's claim for an individualised performance based pay system undermines the foundation principles of collective bargaining under the Employment Relations Act (ERA 2000).

"Genesis call centre workers are not highly paid workers - with a median rate of around $18 an hour. There is also close to a 30% staff turnover figure. They have joined the EPMU because they want to bargain collectively with their employer to get a fair deal on wages and conditions," says Gallagher. "The ERA is about addressing the inequality of bargaining power that exists between employers and employees - but Genesis is keen to make sure their workers can't get a fair deal on wages."

The EPMU is also questioning Genesis Energy's motives for wanting a performance based pay system and believe there is a linkage with the prospect of the company being privatised after the election.

"You'd have to say that the company's bargaining strategy would have a snug fit with preparations for privatisation," says Gallagher. "Genesis would be able to boast to potential buyers they have a mechanism to screw down wages and control the workforce so that more money can be returned to private shareholders."

Genesis Energy is a state-owned enterprise (SOE) that is involved with the generation and retailing of electricity and natural gas. It supplies nearly 20% of the country's power needs. The company reports that it has over 650,000 customers across the country.

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