Call centre reprieve for 100 workers (From Western Telegraph)

Call centre reprieve for 100 workers

NEARLY 100 workers who expected to lose their jobs at Pembrokeshires Cleddau Call Centre this week have won a temporary reprieve.

The two-week deal with cable communication company, NTL, was expected to end today (Wednesday).

But it appears that the contract will remain in place for the short-term. Staff who remained at the Pembroke Dock centre after the ITV Digital collapse on April 30th were to have been made redundant, bringing to 1,045 the number of people to lose their jobs at the centre.

Manpower and 7C, which jointly operate the centre, said the staff knew the contract would only be a short-term project. They had agreed to remain after administrators failed to find a buyer for ITV Digital.

NTL announced on Monday that it has seen a 60% rise in the number of internet customers taking up its high-speed broadband service in Wales. Manpower and 7C both remain positive about luring new clients.

There have been a number of inquiries, said a call centre spokeswoman. We are following up every single inquiry and there have been many, she said.

It is not something we want to discuss in the public domain because we dont want to jeopardise any discussions that are going on. We are currently taking every day as it comes.

She would not be drawn on the identity of the occupants of a helicopter which landed at the site on Wednesday.

Careers Wales and the Employment Service have maintained their presence at the call centre to help staff with job opportunities and training packages.

An action group involving organisations, including the National Assembly, local politicians, Pembrokeshire County Council and the trade unions, has continued with its weekly meetings at the call centre to discuss new opportunities for the site.

Danny Fellows, who represents the Transport and General Workers Union on the group, says it is seeking sustainable clients. We have got ownership of getting this call centre back up and running, because the people sitting on this group are those who can make it happen, he said.

It is looking very positive. There are a lot of discussions going on.