TalkTalk urged to delay closure

The Government tonight heaped pressure on TalkTalk management to delay closing its Waterford operation claiming the 30-day deadline was abrupt and unfair.

The Government tonight heaped pressure on TalkTalk management to delay closing its Waterford operation claiming the 30-day deadline was abrupt and unfair.

As 575 workers and management were locked in talks over redundancy terms, the Jobs Minister revealed enterprise chiefs have been ordered to search for an alternative company to fill the complex.

Richard Bruton – who will meet staff, management and local politicians on Monday – said TalkTalk was considering his request to put back the closure.

“This decision to close within 30 days, I think is too abrupt. It’s not fair to people,” he said.

“We need to see the opportunity for IDA to search for alternatives, and I repeat the request now that the company gives more time so that we can turn over every stone and make sure that we give this facility and the workers there a chance of finding replacement employment.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted authorities should have been given more time to deal with the fall-out from the devastating job cuts.

“They (TalkTalk management) could have at least have given a signal to authorities and to government that they were considering a change of this devastating impact,” the Taoiseach said.

The call centre will close in 30 days, with about 80 positions available to staff willing to move to the UK.

Mr Bruton said the IDA and Enterprise Ireland have been ordered to promote the region while his colleague, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, has vowed to accelerate work on the possibility of creating a long-awaited Technological University for the south east.

In March Mr Quinn ruled out having a full university in the region, claiming simply rebranding an Institute of Technology as a university would damage the university sector.

Elsewhere Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has pledged her department’s assistance in helping distressed workers.

Representatives from her department, the Community Welfare Service, Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) and Fas will meet employees in the coming weeks.

TalkTalk is pulling the plug on the Waterford operation after a huge fall in customer service phone business and amid plans to outsource.

Roy Hassey, organiser with Unite trade union – which has just a dozen members at the call centre – said workers should be treated fairly by the company that is making multi-million euro profits.

“Three months ago, 45 workers were made redundant, receiving four weeks’ salary per year of service,” he said.

“In 2010, a total of 20 workers received packages of seven weeks pay per year of service.

“It would be wrong of a company who has benefited from the hard work of local people to walk away now from its moral obligation to treat its workers fairly.”

Mr Bruton refuted claims the IDA could have stopped the move.

IDA chief Barry O’Leary also hit back at criticisms enterprise chiefs were not doing enough to attract industry to the south-east.

He said Waterford was a gateway city but there is huge international competition among countries to attract foreign direct investment.

“We cannot force them to go but we do try and incentivise them,” he said.

TalkTalk bought the Waterford call centre, formerly an AOL broadband support centre for UK and Ireland, in 2008.

The company’s telephone and broadband business in Ireland and Belgium was acquired by the Digiweb Group last year but the Irish company has no role in the Waterford operation.

The massive job losses will further corrode a local economy already hit hard by redundancies at major pharmaceutical and electronic plants and the flagship crystal factory.

The local chamber put the real figure of job losses in the last few years at 3,000 plus.

Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, William Lee, asked that special prayers be said at Masses throughout the diocese over the weekend for the intentions of the employees and their families.

“This is a severe blow to the employees in Waterford, their families and will have a devastating impact on the regional economy of the Southeast,” he said.

“This shocking announcement not only directly affects TalkTalk workers but, in addition, it jeopardises local ancillary jobs which have been created since the company opened and which rely for survival on the pay-spend of the workers.

A spokesman for TalkTalk said the company intends to “stick to” its 30-day timetable but is open to suggestions or opportunities from the minister and IDA.

“We said all along we would be delighted if another firm was able to come in and take the site over and we will assist the IDA and any other agency with all the information they need for prospective parties,” he added.

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