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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