Union targets Indian call centres

BANKING union Unifi is planning a membership drive in India among staff employed by Britain's High Street banks in call centres and data-processing operations.

Unifi, which represents 158,000 workers in the UK, is working with Union Network International (UNI), a global trades union congress, to offer representation to more than 50,000 employees in the centres.

Unifi national secretary Rob O'Neill said: 'We are very keen that when UK jobs go overseas, the people who get them can join a trade union. We can help to improve their terms and conditions through negotiation.'

UNI has already held a series of meetings in Bangalore and Hyderabad to publicise the services provided by unions and officials said the response was positive.

Staff at Indian call centres typically receive only 10% of the salary paid to their UK counterparts. But the salaries are viewed as high relative to what other local professionals earn and jobs are in great demand.

An agent will earn about 110,000 rupees a year (£1,375) while a team leader can earn 200,000 rupees (£2,500). In contrast, an occupational therapist earns only 72,000 rupees.

One union official said: 'It is proven that where there is union representation, the price of labour goes up.'

O'Neill said: 'These centres want the best staff so they should be prepared to pay the best salaries.'