BPO employees fight for rights on the net
'E-union' that was formed on the Internet for BPO employees plans to talk directly to shareholders so that it affects stock prices of companies. Keep your PC cool
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: It is redefining the way employee unions function. This 'e-union', that was formed last month on the Internet for BPO employees, does not plan to fight companies and managements the conventional way. That is, through strikes and sloganeering on the streets. Instead, they plan to hit where it hurts the companies most.
The e-union plans to talk directly to shareholders so that it affects stock prices. After all, the fear of a downgraded stock price will force companies to set their operations team and its people in order, the union believes.
BPO Union, as the new group likes to call itself, also plans to engage clients of companies they are up against and tell them how these companies are repressing their employees.
"Clients should know the negative PR against the vendor could spill over to their own brand. Also, it could affect them if we ever suspend work with the vendor," says the chief of the BPO Union who refused to be named.
The e-union plans to talk directly to shareholders so that it affects stock prices. After all, the fear of a downgraded stock price will force companies to set their operations team and its people in order, the union believes.
BPO Union, as the new group likes to call itself, also plans to engage clients of companies they are up against and tell them how these companies are repressing their employees.
"Clients should know the negative PR against the vendor could spill over to their own brand. Also, it could affect them if we ever suspend work with the vendor," says the chief of the BPO Union who refused to be named.
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While they are already very active on the net, and have had hundreds of hits since their inception, the e-union wants to remain anonymous for the time being. That's because, there is a lot of negativity associated with 'unions' in India and people have yet to embrace the greater meaning of what a union can be besides its ugly face, which is most visible.
In fact, BPO Union plans to desist from any activity except creating a strong platform online. But that doesn't mean they will completely keep off rallies forever.
"If it's really necessary (in case of very stubborn offenders), we will be forced to make a show of strength via a peaceful rally or through various other logical and legal measures," adds the chief.
Their activism has already started through an online campaign against Keane India, a BPO which recently laid off 400 employees. "A lot of Keane employees are showing us support and there is a growing feeling of discontent, which may need to be eventually addressed by a show of strength," says the chief.
This self-funded group is not yet scouting for membership. But with the BPO industry workforce toting up more than 800,000 people now, it sure wouldn't be a problem when they do. As of now, they want to concentrate on taking up only a few issues and resolving them successfully in favour of employees.
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Once that is done, they may look for memberships. "We, are looking at 500 hits on our website per day. E-mail registration too will start through which we will collect a database of whose support we can bank on for various activities," adds the chief.As expected, not everyone is happy about the group. That includes Nasscom and Business Process Industry Association of India (BPIAI). In fact, the union has already taken up cudgels against them by asking them to retract and recall the Etrack and National Skills Registry for BPO employees. "Self assessment is great but there has to be accountability to employees which will come in now," promises the chief.
Courtesy: The Times of India
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