Strike ballot for O2 call centre staff

Members of the Communication Workers Union in Leeds, Bury, Glasgow, and Preston Brook, near Warrington, will vote over the next few weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.

The union said there were rumours of site closures and off-shoring work to South Africa and India.

Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “This ballot is about protecting decent UK jobs. We’ve been forced to hold a ballot because of the unusually short consultation period and lack of progress on assurances over job security, terms and conditions, and the future of sites.”

An O2 spokesman said: “We are disappointed. We’re committed to meeting the CWU as frequently as necessary to discuss their concerns with the aim of reaching agreement and avoiding the ballot and any subsequent industrial action.”