Luna
09-05-2006, 08:23
The future of hundreds of Scottish call centre jobs will become clearer on Tuesday when cable firm NTL publishes its first quarter financial results.
The company is expected to cut up to 6,000 jobs across the UK as it attempts to make £250m of cost savings.
Some jobs at its call centres could be moved to India and South Africa. NTL employs about 900 people in Bellshill, Lanarkshire and more elsewhere.
The prospect of job losses follows a £3.4bn merger with Telewest.
The combined British workforce of Telewest and NTL is about 17,000.
We are lobbying hard for the retention of customer contact centre jobs in the UK
Communication Workers Union
About a third of the workforce is said to be facing redundancy. The final figure will be announced by NTL's chief executive Stephen Burch.
The centre in Bellshill and another facility in Glenrothes could be among those hardest hit. NTL is a major employer in both areas.
Union leaders attacked the cable company and said they would press for no compulsory redundancies.
Unions' anger
The Communication Workers Union said it was "surprised and dismayed" at the reported cuts.
Assistant secretary Brian Healy said: "We have raised concerns with the company and are seeking assurance that there will be no compulsory redundancies.
"We are also lobbying hard for the retention of customer contact centre jobs in the UK.
An announcement is expected on Tuesday morning
"There has been talk of outsourcing these jobs and if this is the case the CWU wants reassurances that outsourcing will be limited to within the UK."
Bectu official Sharon Elliott said: "Once again British workers have first heard about job cuts through the media and this from a company which insists that communication with its workforce is a priority.
"NTL's call centre staff, many of whom have a strong commitment to the company, are being told they are likely to be passed over for cheaper options.
"This is a monumental slap in the face for staff who have remained with the company through several turbulent and difficult years."
NTL was unavailable for comment.
The company is expected to cut up to 6,000 jobs across the UK as it attempts to make £250m of cost savings.
Some jobs at its call centres could be moved to India and South Africa. NTL employs about 900 people in Bellshill, Lanarkshire and more elsewhere.
The prospect of job losses follows a £3.4bn merger with Telewest.
The combined British workforce of Telewest and NTL is about 17,000.
We are lobbying hard for the retention of customer contact centre jobs in the UK
Communication Workers Union
About a third of the workforce is said to be facing redundancy. The final figure will be announced by NTL's chief executive Stephen Burch.
The centre in Bellshill and another facility in Glenrothes could be among those hardest hit. NTL is a major employer in both areas.
Union leaders attacked the cable company and said they would press for no compulsory redundancies.
Unions' anger
The Communication Workers Union said it was "surprised and dismayed" at the reported cuts.
Assistant secretary Brian Healy said: "We have raised concerns with the company and are seeking assurance that there will be no compulsory redundancies.
"We are also lobbying hard for the retention of customer contact centre jobs in the UK.
An announcement is expected on Tuesday morning
"There has been talk of outsourcing these jobs and if this is the case the CWU wants reassurances that outsourcing will be limited to within the UK."
Bectu official Sharon Elliott said: "Once again British workers have first heard about job cuts through the media and this from a company which insists that communication with its workforce is a priority.
"NTL's call centre staff, many of whom have a strong commitment to the company, are being told they are likely to be passed over for cheaper options.
"This is a monumental slap in the face for staff who have remained with the company through several turbulent and difficult years."
NTL was unavailable for comment.