14 DAY TRIAL // Orange UK has announced plans to close two of its UK call centers, leading to potential redundancies for up to 1,000 staff. The rational is the closure of a half-used building and all staff has been offered replacement positions at other call centers. Orange has denied that the closures are part of a plan to outsource more work to its Indian call centers, which is has operated since 2004.
Nonetheless, the Communication Workers Union accused Orange of outsourcing the jobs to India and condemned the company's decision to close the Peterlee and Solihull call centers. CWU organizer Lynne Browne said: "These staff members have a considerable length of service and have helped the company establish its market share. They are now being repaid by Orange with upheaval, disregard and poor career prospects.
As the leading UK telecommunications union, we are urging Orange to enter into negotiations with the CWU to find a better way of dealing with these issues of streamlining."
Grace Mitchell, Assistant Secretary, added "Orange has significant numbers of customers in the UK, it makes large profits in the UK and should be expected to invest those profits back into the UK market through employment opportunities.