BT Jobs for Barrow
Welcome to the CWU Campaign Page for BT Jobs for Barrow
In August 2010 the CWU mounted a campaign in support of employees at BT's Directory Enquiries site in Barrow-in-Furness whose jobs were at risk when the company announced that it would close the site within six months.
The news came as a shock to the 52 BT and 5 Manpower employees whose future was suddenly thrown into uncertainty. The local community also reacted to the news with alarm, as without the identification of reasonable alternative work brought to the site, the effect of losing the BT centre would be devastating for the local economy.
The CWU's campaign calling for urgent talks with BT Retail and applying pressure on the company to consider its responsibility towards its employees and the local community, made the company look for alternative solutions.
Months of negotiations and rigorous campaigning by the CWU followed. CWU lobbied local politicians, residents and the business community and held a demonstration outside the centre in December. The local media played a vital role in covering the story and keeping it in the public arena.
BT announced in mid-January that a solution had been found and the Barrow site would remain open. Plans to source alternative work and invest in the site's technology infrastructure mean that employees will be offered long term sustainable employment in Barrow. This is the best possible outcome for our members and the community of Barrow.
Support from the local business community, residents and MP John Woodcock, as well as the determination of staff at the site to fight for their jobs, resulted in this overwhelming victory less than three weeks before the site was set to close.
In these tough economic times, the strength of the CWU and its refusal to give up shows how passionate we are about securing a positive future for our members.
For more information, contact Sally Bridge on 0208 9717 272 or
sabridge@cwu.org or Joyce
Stevenson at the local CWU branch 0141 220 7640 or at info@cwuscot1.org.
Show your support or share your views and concerns by joining the
group - BT Jobs for Barrow on Facebook here:
2011 Newsletters:
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 2
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 1
2010 Newsletters:
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 14
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 13
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 12
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 11
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 10
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 9
BT Jobs For Barrow - Newsletter 8
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 7
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 6
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 5
BT jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 4
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 3
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 2
BT Jobs for Barrow - Newsletter 1
Articles:
Barrow's BT
centre saved
CWU gives BT deadline on Barrow call centre
Barrow BT call centre closure a "body blow" says
CWU
News coverage:
Socialist Worker: BT workers'
fight stops job losses
North West Evening Mail -
BT call centre jobs saved
BBC News Cumbria - Deal saves
call centre jobs in Cumbria
North West Evening Mail -
Fight for Barrow Call Centre Jobs
The Bay radio station:
BT promises to help Barrow staff
North West Evening Mail -
Staff campaign begins to fight call centre closure
BBC i-player (36 minutes in) -
The Mike Parr Breakfast Show
BBC News - Union's
demand over 52 Cumbria directory enquiry jobs
Lancashire Evening Post -
Union Anger Over Call Centre Closure
