EPMU Condemns Proposal To Send Call Centre Jobs O

EPMU Condemns Proposal To Send Call Centre Jobs Overseas

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) has condemned TelstraClear’s proposal to move 170 call centre customer service roles from Christchurch and Parapararumu to the Philippines.

‘We’ve been making the case to keep these jobs in New Zealand since last November when TelstraClear said they were conducting a feasibility study into shifting their call centres offshore. Today they told us they thought the case for going offshore stacked up,’ said EPMU Organiser John Kerr.

‘This is all about accessing so-called cheap labour overseas but comes at an enormous price for our members, many of whom are just starting out and have young families to support’.

‘It doesn’t even make good business sense; the potential damage to TelstraClear’s brand is enormous. We don’t believe overseas staff unfamiliar with New Zealand can provide the level of customer service TelstraClear’s customers want.’

‘People dissatisfied with a company decision to off-shore its call centre do not forget this. They are reminded of the company's decision every time they phone the call centre and are more critical of mistakes as these are more easily blamed on the company's decision to cut costs.’

‘The World Bank tells us that New Zealand is ranked as the second easiest place in the world to do business whilst the Philippines is ranked 114th. If TelstraClear can’t do business here we’d question the sense of doing it in Manila.’

‘We‘re doing everything we can to try and persuade TelstraClear to stay put in Christchurch and Parapararumu and to save our members’ jobs. The last thing the local economy needs is more job losses for short term financial expediency,’ said Kerr.

ENDS

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