Shock as 450 jobs go in call-centre pull-out

Published on Thursday 31 August 2006 00:02

A TRAVEL firm is to close its call centre in Glasgow with the loss of 450 jobs, just two months after the end of a funding deal in which it received £1.4 million of taxpayers' cash.

Thomson blamed the decision on increasing numbers of people booking their holidays online, rather than by phone.

The company said its main call centre, at Cardonald, would close on 12 December. This is barely two months after the firm's funding deal with the Scottish Executive runs out next Thursday.

The Executive said Thomson had received all of its 1.4 million regional selective assistance grant. However, officials will discuss with the firm the impact of the closure announcement on this funding.

Thomson said it would retain its six smaller call centres in England, which handle business from its 750 travel shops and teletext bookings.

It said internet bookings had increased from 10 to 50 per cent of business since the Glasgow call centre had opened in 1999.

The TSSA union, which represents staff at the centre, said the news had "shocked many of its loyal and dedicated workforce".

Tom Kennedy, its senior organiser for Scotland, called on the company "to sit down with the union and enter into meaningful discussions" to try to keep the centre open.

Jim Mather, the SNP's enterprise spokesman, said: "Another call centre is closing in Scotland despite the management singing the praises of the Scottish staff. It is terrible that talented people and their families are being left high and dry."

Derek Jones, Thomson's sales director, said: "The marketplace has changed and we are having to respond to our customers."

Scottish Enterprise Glasgow said the call-centre sector in the city remained buoyant, with Dell and O2 recruiting 2,500 people for new centres.

A spokeswoman for the Executive described the closure as "very disappointing", adding: "Our main concern is to try to ensure that everything possible is done to assist those facing the prospect of losing their jobs."

The news came as it emerged that 90 jobs are to go at the Michelin tyre plant in Dundee.

The company said the cuts would be made through voluntary redundancies and staff transfers.