O2 seeking 400 extra job cuts, says union

THE Communication Workers Union (CWU) claims phone group O2 is looking for a further 400 voluntary redundancies across call centres in the North and Scotland, on top of an existing target of 600.

The cuts are part of an outsourcing agreement announced last month that will see 3,800 staff transfer to Capita, with 1,600 of them based in the North West.

It will affect around half the 1,400 people working at a call centre in Bury and 828 of the 1,500 who work in Runcorn.

The CWU is balloting for strike action over the move with the result due on June 18.

The CWU said: “The company confirmed that the original plans to cut 500-600 jobs on a voluntary basis will be at the top end of the scale with 600 people taking a package to leave by 6 July.

“In addition, the company announced that it will cut a further 400 jobs with people leaving by December 1. Remaining staff will be transferred to Capita on July 1. Up to 3,800 people are affected by the outsourcing and redundancy plans.

A spokesperson for O2 said: “These figures are not based on any statement O2 has issued. We cannot confirm them.” She said the company was still receiving applications from staff keen to take redundancy but could not say how many.

Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, 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.”

The mobile phone company, owned by Spain’s Telefónica, said the changes were a response to the decline in the number of people calling customer service centres.

A further 955 staff will transfer in Glasgow, and 1,183 in Leeds. Capita will also take on the leases at the four buildings.