citibank/duisburg (1)
text in german
From the hotlines-leaflet no. 1 on working hours (October 2000):
X-tra working hours
We work in the Citibank Call Center in Duisburg. In Summer 1999 most
Citibank call centers and several other administrative departments
were concentrated in Duisburg - despite worker's resistance and
strikes against the closure of the previous call centers and the
deterioration of conditions (for instance in Bochum). Today there are
among others the Phonebanking (balances, transfers...) and Branchphone
(calls for the branches).
Workers in Phonebanking earn about 19 to 20 DM an hours before tax and work 40 hours, in Branchphone workers get about 23 DM an hour.
Through the concentration of many tasks and the opening of the Citibank GmbH in Duisburg the bosses have managed to extend our working hours and those of many other workers in other
departments. The workers in Phonebanking have to be prepared to work
any time, night and day, on all days of the week. So we work in shifts
with always changing starting times which drains you out after a
while. When Phonebanking was still in Bochum the paid break-time was
60 minutes for an 8-hour-day. One month after the opening of the
department in Duisburg the paid break-time was reduced by half! The
breaks start a different times, just like the shifts. For many workers
who were hired under the conditions of the collective agreement for
banks (before they were moved to Duisburg), the transfer into the
newly founded Citibank GmbH means an extension of their working hours.
After the expiration of a special agreement (Sozialplan) in two years,
they have to work 40 hours instead of 39. And they will earn a lot
less, too. Their holidays will be reduced to 25 days a year.
Now the management tries to push through an extension of the working hours in
the branches, too. The workers in the branches shall work longer
during the week and on Saturdays, too. In some cities this is
happening already. And that is, why in Branchphone they have started
to work extra shifts.
The fact, that there are no actions against the extension of the exploitation time, is also connected to the situation before the transfer to Duisburg: Many who have faught against the
closure of Citibank call centers and went on strike in November 1998
have been fired before Duisburg was opened. In Duisburg many felt
insecure at first and most people did not know each other. Meanwhile,
that has changed and we can push through common demands.
The situation is good, because the management cannot find enough people to do their
jobs or to stay at Citibank for long.
The time is right, let's start the fight!
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