Over 300 jobs at Vodafone call centres in Dublin and Dundalk will move to Newry in a matter of months with inevitable job losses in the Republic, the Communications Workers Union has warned.
Vodafone announced today that 26 of its staff and 290 contract workers currently employed by the Rigney Dolphin agency are to transfer to Teleperformance, a call centre provider with a facility in Newry.
The change has come about as a result of a review of Vodafone's call centre operations.
Vodafone said that staff will retain the same terms and conditions and there will be no job losses.
Initially the posts will remain in the Dublin and Dundalk call centres, but where the jobs are in the "long term" is a matter for Teleperformance, according to a Vodafone spokesperson.
However, the CWU said they were told by Vodafone the jobs will be moving to the Newry call centre within six to eight months.
A total of 193 staff in the Dundalk centre as well as 123 in the Dublin centre will be affected.
Deputy General Secretary of the CWU, Terry Delaney said while the positions will move to Newry not everyone will be able to transfer with their jobs, especially those who currently work in Dublin.
"Job losses are inevitable," he warned.
Mr Delaney said following the decision of the company to move 140 jobs from Ireland to India and Egypt last year, today's announcement "shows the callous disregard for the livelihoods and futures of Irish workers."
In reply to the CWU concerns, Vodafone said they, along with Rigney Dolphin, are now engaged in a six week consultation process with its staff.
