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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Firm sheds 600 call centre jobs | Firm sheds 600 call centre jobs |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Barclaycard is to close its Manchester call centre and move some of the work to India with the loss of more than 600 jobs, it has announced. | Barclaycard is to close its Manchester call centre and move some of the work to India with the loss of more than 600 jobs, it has announced. |
| The firm's base at Peterloo House will shut in July, with work moved to Mumbai and Delhi and to Teesside. | The firm's base at Peterloo House will shut in July, with work moved to Mumbai and Delhi and to Teesside. |
| The restructuring will affect 630 workers, who will be paid until October to help them find other work. | The restructuring will affect 630 workers, who will be paid until October to help them find other work. |
| The union Amicus said the closure was "totally inappropriate" for such a profitable firm. | The union Amicus said the closure was "totally inappropriate" for such a profitable firm. |
| Staff at the city centre' s Dickinson Street call centre were told about the closure on Tuesday morning. | Staff at the city centre' s Dickinson Street call centre were told about the closure on Tuesday morning. |
| Antony Jenkins, chief executive of Barclaycard, said: "Decisions like these are never easy and we will be doing everything we can to support those affected. | Antony Jenkins, chief executive of Barclaycard, said: "Decisions like these are never easy and we will be doing everything we can to support those affected. |
| 'Totally inappropriate' | |
| "Barclaycard's business is becoming more global and to stay successful we must change how we operate to reflect this. | "Barclaycard's business is becoming more global and to stay successful we must change how we operate to reflect this. |
| "Unfortunately, closing our Peterloo House site in Manchester centre is part of that process." | "Unfortunately, closing our Peterloo House site in Manchester centre is part of that process." |
| Amicus official Steve Pantak said it had voiced its opposition to the moves. | Amicus official Steve Pantak said it had voiced its opposition to the moves. |
| He said: "At a time of increasing pressure on all staff in Barclaycard, we believe it to be totally inappropriate for this large and highly profitable employer to be announcing closures and job losses." | He said: "At a time of increasing pressure on all staff in Barclaycard, we believe it to be totally inappropriate for this large and highly profitable employer to be announcing closures and job losses." |
| Mr Pantak said "robust agreements" were in place to help staff find other jobs. | Mr Pantak said "robust agreements" were in place to help staff find other jobs. |
| 'Major blow' | |
| He added: "We believe that with such a large presence in the North West, Barclays should be able to accommodate all those staff who are displaced but wish to remain with them. | He added: "We believe that with such a large presence in the North West, Barclays should be able to accommodate all those staff who are displaced but wish to remain with them. |
| "We will be pushing the bank hard to achieve this outcome." | "We will be pushing the bank hard to achieve this outcome." |
| The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said the cuts were a huge "blow" to the city. | |
| Dr John Risk, the chamber's principal economic advisor, said: "Barclaycard is a major employer in the area and that the banking and financial sector is so strong here. | |
| "The workforce will be understandably shocked by the news. It is vital that they are offered help to find other work." |