Christmas redundancies for Virgin Media workers
THE first round of redundancies has hit Virgin Media in the run-up to Christmas. Some of the company’s workforce have started to leave in recent weeks, with a further two phases of planned cuts to be rolled out next year.
A total of 552 people work at Virgin Media, with 220 working for the company’s subcontractors Sitel.
The Swansea site is being shut completely in autumn of next year under a £40m three-year scheme to invest in existing sites elsewhere and acquire new ones.
Mike Hedges, AM for Swansea East, raised concerns over what support was being offered to Virgin Media staff in the countdown to Christmas.
Mr Hedges said: “I would like to make two requests for Welsh Government statements. The first is one that the Leader of the House is quite used to me asking about, but I make no apologies for continuing to do so because it’s hugely important to my and her constituents, and that is an update on Virgin Media job losses and the Welsh Government support for those who are losing their jobs, and it’s getting very close now to the time when everybody will be losing their jobs.”
The majority of the remaining roles, which were not part of customer operations, will relocate to alternative sites across Britain, with some posts moving overseas.
Meanwhile, the Sitel staff will transfer to the firm’s new facility in Bellshill near Glasgow.
Leader of the House in the Welsh Assembly Julie James, who is also Swansea East AM, said some staff had already lost their jobs but efforts were being made to find alternative employment for people.
She said: “In terms of Virgin Media, the first tranche of redundant staff left the company in November, as I know he’s well aware. There are two phases planned for next year as well.
“Our placement support team has taken on responsibility for providing staff with on-site access to key partners of the taskforce, including Careers Wales, the Department for Work & Pensions and local employers.
“The Welsh Contact Centre Forum is a key partner in our taskforce and has arranged job fairs in October at the Virgin Media site and brought recruiting employers to the site, as well as providing careers advice for those staff seeking alternative employment.”
She added: “It’s too early for me to provide specific details of those who have been successful in securing alternative employment as a result of the job fairs, but we are holding further job fairs to coincide with the additional tranches of staff leaving the company next year. So our involvement continues in order to make sure that all of the staff who are affected by this have the best possible outcome.”
Following the plenary session, Mr Hedges said: “I know that it might seem as if I am like a stuck record on this matter, but listening to me asking for regular updates is but a small matter compared the stresses faced by my constituents who face a Christmas and New Year full of uncertainties as they look forward to losing their jobs in 2019.
“I am pleased that job fairs and other support have been provided via the Welsh Government and that this will continue in to 2019.”
Virgin Media declined to comment.