AN MP has expressed his concerns and fears with jobs being axed by Virgin Media O2 at the Capita office in Preston Brook, near Warrington, with the potential for another 90 voluntary redundancies.
Those able and willing to stay have the option of relocating to VMO2’s Wythenshawe office in Manchester.
It is expected the company, which rents the second floor at the Capita base, will have vacated the building by the end of September.
The CWU trade union, representing many of the staff, says the jobs of those impacted by compulsory redundancies are being offshored to partners with call centres in India and the Philippines.
Local MP Mike Amesbury is concerned to see people losing their jobs as well as the impact on the local economy.
He said: “Companies like Virgin Media O2 are getting rid of British workers and exporting their jobs to poorer countries where wages are lower.
“I fear even those with the option of continuing are effectively being forced out of work because redeployment to Manchester is not realistic for many.
“It’s a clear example of a highly profitable company showing no regard for its loyal staff base, with all the negative consequences for local families and our community. Going forward, I would hope every employer is more mindful of the need to protect their employees’ job security given we have a Labour government committed to strengthening employment rights.”
The MP supports CWU in pressing VMO2 to sign up to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter and pay the Real Living Wage to all staff based at Wythenshawe, including relocated employees.
Mr Amesbury, who has been contacted by affected workers, has offered to support those impacted.
He fears for the future of the Capita building to which Capita staff are attached but which was already only partially occupied due to home working, even before the departure of VMO2.
The MP previously met with Capita after seeing the office freehold for sale and the entire floor space advertised as to rent.
Capita claimed it was ‘committed to the site’ but was seeking to sub-lease vacant space to other tenants. It has not owned the building for several years but highlighted that its lease runs until 2041, with no break clause.
A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said: “We are proposing to outsource some mobile re-contracting roles currently based at Preston Brook. No final decisions have been made.
“We appreciate that this can be an unsettling time for our people and are committed to supporting impacted employees through any period of change as we set ourselves up to better deliver for our customers.”
Some of the work will also be outsourced in the UK.
