EPMU wary of TelstraClear’s job intentions

EPMU wary of TelstraClear’s intentions for remaining call centre jobs

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) is wary of the intentions behind TelstraClear’s decision to cut 70-80 Paraparaumu call centre customer service roles and move them overseas to the Philippines.

A month ago the company told the EPMU they were proposing to move all customer care contact centre jobs overseas. Today they announced they will keep around half here and move around half overseas.

“Call centre staff in Christchurch had a welcome reprieve today, but about 70-80 people will lose their jobs in Paraparaumu which won’t be easily replaced in New Zealand,” says Andrew Little, EPMU national secretary.

“Losing 70-80 jobs will be devastating for the Kapiti Coast community,” he says.

“TelstraClear are saying they’ve listened to the public and that’s why they’re keeping some of these jobs in New Zealand. If that’s the case why not keep them all here?” he says.

“The EPMU now wants a commitment from TelstraClear that the remaining jobs will be safe in New Zealand for a minimum of five years. Surely they can give a loyal local workforce some reassurance that they won’t be outsourced by stealth once the media spotlight moves on,” he says.

TelstraClear announced the decision to call centre customer service staff in Christchurch today at 3pm.

ENDS

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