O2 call centre jobs in Leeds under threat, claims union

Nearly 1,200 people working at the site at the Arlington Business Centre near the White Rose Centre were told today that their jobs would transfer to the outsourcing giant Capita.

They are among about 3,700 people at four sites across England and Scotland who will now work for Capita following the deal.

O2 say the arrangement follows a drop in the number of customers contacting them by telephone.

Today the Commercial Workers Union (CWU) claimed Telefonica, O2’s parent company, was looking to make up to 600 people redundant across the entire workforce.

Deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said: “People are being dispensed with in a cold accountancy exercise designed to save money.

“This is a betrayal of the staff who have built this company and made it successful.

“We’re gravely concerned about the future of these jobs as how will savings be made if not through attacks on jobs and terms and conditions?”

Mr Kerr claimed workers’ current pay was about £3 an hour more than other Capita call centre staff.

He said pay cuts would damage the local economy.

“We have been presented with a fait accompli,” he added.

“There has not been and apparently won’t be any meaningful negotiation or opportunity to influence the terms of transfer or negotiate on behalf of our members. We’ve got no guarantees on the stability of jobs and terms and conditions.”

O2 denied the claims. A spokesman said he had no idea where the CWU had got its figures – and insisted jobs were safe.

He added: “We can confirm that there will be no compulsory redundancies as part of this deal.

“This deal means Capita will take responsibility for all outsourced activity and 3,700 of our people will transfer to Capita, including 1,183 at our Leeds site. Their transfer will see no change to where they work. Their terms and conditions will be protected.

“The deal also offers them a guarantee of job security for two years, something we alone as Telefonica UK could never offer.”