The Communication Workers Union says Telefónica will now be cutting 1,000 jobs as it outsources O2 call centre operations to Capita. Plans for up to 600 voluntary redundancies have been extended with a further 400 people expected to be made redundant from call centres in Bury, Glasgow, Leeds and Warrington.
Over 3,000 staff are being transferred to Capita next month as part of a 10-year deal customer management with O2 that’s expected to be worth £1.2 billion.
A strike ballot is being held by the CWU as a result of the previously-announced job cuts. The result is due on 18th June.
Andy Kerr, deputy general secretary of the CWU, said “We’re dismayed and disappointed at this latest announcement of job cuts from O2 at such short notice. The outsourcing transfer date is less than three weeks away and the goalposts appear to be moving daily. This is not how a decent, responsible employer should behave. Our members in O2 have been brutally destabilised by the actions of O2. They’ve been given a very short period to consider serious decisions about their future. Many don’t know whether to stay or go; whether to take some money and leave now or take a chance on Capita.”