Photo courtesy of Patrick Sison ( AP ).More than 100 Spanish-language moderators for WhatsApp and customer service representatives for WhatsApp claim Accenture denied them equal pay with multilingual colleagues working in the same building. Contractors from Austin, Texas and Dublin, Ireland claim Accenture has hired them to respond Spanish language reports throughout the day. However, Accenture says they don't qualify for the $2 an hour premium offered to Portuguese or Arabic speakers.AdvertisementCustomer service representatives and moderators report that they are paid $16.50 an hour. In interviews with media and in a $52 million lawsuit, WhatsApp's content moderators have repeatedly stated that their job can lead to PTSD. WhatsApp is a messaging platform, but moderators can review private content, including child sex abuse material, that users report to them. Accenture's Austin, TX job posting specifically seeks bilingual Spanish/English speakers. It also includes the disclaimer that this role may expose individuals to potentially disturbing content and will require a level of maturity and resilience.Facebook's contractors are already in the lower class of workers and earn significantly less than their employees. Wired reported that the 2018 median salary for a Facebook employee was $228,651. This is over $100 an hour.Accenture, Facebook and Whatsapp have been refusing equal pay and treatment to Spanish-language contingent workers for several years. This is what the internal circulated letter addressed to Accenture CEOs, Facebook and WhatsApp reads. Accenture's Austin, Texas managers and HR representatives have not only ignored complaints of discrimination for many years, but also actively participated in making sure this injustice went unaddressed.Gizmodo has been informed by a source familiar with the matter that 100 signatures have been added to the letter as of the time this article was written. According to them, the Austin facility employs approximately 500 Spanish-speaking moderators as well as customer service representatives.WhatsApp, Accenture and Facebook did not respond immediately. When we receive back, we will update the post. The complete letter can be viewed hereLetter of Demand for Equal pay Mark Zuckerberg (CEO Facebook) Will Cathcart(CEO, Whatsapp), Julie Sweet (CEO Accenture) John Arnold (“Accenture/Whatsapp Project manager”) Melody Carson (“Accenture/Whatsapp Project manager”) Dear Mr. Zuckerberg and Mr. Carson, Mr. Sweet, Mr. Arnold,” Melody Carson (“Accenture/Whatsapp Project manger”): We are Contingent Workers, Facebook workers, and supporters from around the globe. The undersigned are concerned about Accentures' handling of our concerns regarding rampant discrimination within the Contingent Worker Teams in Austin, Texas, and Dublin, Ireland. Accentures and Facebook have Contingent Workers at their core. Contingent Workers are essential to the safety and health of Accentures' multiple platforms, projects, and products. Yet, companies treat contingent workers with total disregard and in an unfair manner. We are writing today to demand that things change. Accenture, Facebook, Whatsapp, and other companies have been refusing equal pay and treatment to Spanish-language contingent workers for many years. It is insulting for companies such as Accenture and Facebook to promote diversity but not deliver it to their workers. Accenture's Austin, Texas HR representatives and managers have not only ignored complaints of discrimination for many years, but also actively participated in making sure this injustice went unacknowledged. This blatant act discrimination and racism against its essential workers must stop. We demand that the hourly language premium paid to bilingual hires in all languages be extended to Spanish-speaking employees. This applies to all Spanish-speaking positions in our teams, including agents, Sr. SMEs, small businesses, SMEs, and QAs. These are also known as Spanish language workers. We demand that all Spanish language workers receive retro-pay for any language premium payments they have not received since the date of their hire. This should be done immediately. We await your public response. We are grateful for your kind words.Our supporters, The Workers of Accenture, Facebook and the Workers of Accenture.
