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News » Teleperformance workers in Greece accuse firm of union busting

Teleperformance workers in Greece accuse firm of union busting

teleperformance-accused-of-union-busting
Photo from SETEP/ The Guardian

ATHENS, GREECE — Call center workers at Teleperformance, the world’s largest call center operator, are accusing the company of union busting, constant surveillance, and exploitative practices in Greece. 

Teleperformance employs around 12,000 workers across Greece in multilingual hubs located in Athens, Chania, and Thessaloniki and provides customer support for tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Netflix. 

Union leaders allege that the company has retaliated against organizing efforts by targeting union leaders for layoffs. Nikos Spyrelis, president of Setep, the union representing Teleperformance workers in Greece, stated that the unionization push began in early 2024 due to stagnant wages since 2010 and increasing workplace pressures. 

“They have dozens of productivity indicators that they are judging you by… If you want to go to the bathroom, there are many instances where they don’t allow you,” Spyrelis told The Guardian.

Migrant workers report housing deductions and surveillance

Half of Teleperformance’s workforce in Greece consists of migrant workers who face additional challenges. These include deductions from their salaries for housing and utilities, which significantly reduce their take-home pay. 

Giorgos Krasadakis, a union leader in Chania, criticized these practices: “The normal salary would be around €1,329 (US$1,376), but with housing it’s €1,029 (US$1,065), and on top of that they charge electricity at four times what a local company would charge.”

Krasadakis also alleged that workers’ apartments are monitored by security guards who prohibit visitors. Reports indicate that these conditions create a high-pressure environment for migrant workers, who also face harassment and bullying.

Union strikes continue amid legal disputes in Greece

The union has organized ten strikes so far, with the most recent occurring in December 2024. Workers are demanding higher wages, permanent contracts, job security for those on visas, and reduced working hours. However, Teleperformance has reportedly resisted signing a collective labor agreement. 

“They will do anything to not sign the collective labor agreement,” Spyrelis said.

In court filings in Greece, Teleperformance argued that it is not a communications company to avoid being subject to union regulations. The layoffs of union leaders like Ghassen Ben Jannet from Tunisia have further fueled tensions. 

Ben Jannet described his termination as unjustified despite years of positive performance reviews: “I have been working for Teleperformance since 2018… My clients and superiors have always given me positive feedback.”

Big tech clients silent on worker complaints

Netflix, Google, Apple, and Teleperformance did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations. 

As strikes and legal battles continue, workers remain steadfast in their fight for better conditions amid claims of intimidation and surveillance.

Read more here.

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