Capita “callously” cuts TV Licensing jobs
***Embargo: 14:30 Tuesday 10th January***
Capita "callously" cuts TV Licensing
jobs
Outsource company Capita is closing its TV Licensing operations
in Bristol and cutting hundreds of jobs across the UK in an act
which the Communication Workers Union has branded
"callous". Compulsory redundancies are expected to hit
Bristol particularly heavily.
Almost 400 staff in Bristol are affected by the plans which will
see approximately 200 posts transferred to the company's site
in Darwen, Lancashire, with up to 80 specialist jobs retained at a
separate site in Bristol. Five jobs will be lost from the site in
Glasgow and over 40 management jobs from field operations will also
be lost. Some work will go to Mumbai in India. Compulsory
redundancies are expected in Bristol, where the majority of jobs
are based, as well as Glasgow.
The decision follows Capita's successful retention of the
BBC TV Licence contract which was won offering reduced costs. Staff
are being briefed from 1pm today (Tuesday) by management and jobs
are expected to be lost by September 2012.
Andy Furey, CWU national official, said:
"This is devastating news for workers in Bristol, Glasgow and
elsewhere and a terrible way to start 2012. It's a callous act
by Capita management who have put commercial interests ahead of
jobs and people.
"It appears that Capita has sacrificed the livelihoods of
people in Bristol, Glasgow and elsewhere as cost savings to win the
BBC TV Licence contract, rather than finding legitimate savings
elsewhere. Hot on the heels of the move to Salford, the BBC licence
fee freeze agreed by Mark Thompson is now responsible for job
losses outside of the Corporation. This is the reality of that
decision - unemployment. It's irresponsible and unfair.
"Capita management seem to be punishing staff in Bristol
and Glasgow who have fought hard for a decent pay rise in recent
months. By cutting these jobs they lose experienced and dedicated
staff which can't be good for business continuity.
"We will be working closely with our members over the
coming weeks to see how jobs can be protected and what options are
open to them. We're completely shocked by Capita's callous
attitude towards long-standing employees and see this as a direct
attack on union rights. We will work hard to ensure union
representation is retained in this giant company."
-ends-
Notes to editors:The Mailroom, Call Centre and
Back Office will all close down by the end of September. 395 staff
in Bristol and five in Glasgow are affected by the changes.
CWU is holding a members' meeting in Bristol at 11am
tomorrow to decide next steps.
For more information please contact:
Sian Jones, CWU press office, t: 020 8971 7267, m: 0779 3314249 e: sbjones@cwu.org
