Jobs to go as call centre closes

Thomson sales director Derek Jones said the decision was disappointing

Thomson Holidays has announced it is to close its Glasgow call centre in Cardonald with the loss of 450 jobs.

The company said the decision was no reflection on staff but was in response to a changing market.

More people are now choosing to book online rather than by phone. A spokesman said staff would be given help to find new posts or retrain.

The news was delivered to staff in a series of briefings and they were told the centre will close on 12 December.

The Glasgow call centre is the firm's biggest such operation, dealing mainly in traditional package-style holidays.

Many of the girls were in floods of tears. A lot of livelihoods depend on this place Call centre worker

Thomson sales director Derek Jones said the closure had been necessary because the travel market had "changed beyond recognition" in the past seven years.

Since the centre opened in 1999, the volume of the company's internet bookings had increased from 10% to 50%, he said.

Mr Jones said the firm had been "honest and open" with staff.

He said: "We will be here to support them over the coming weeks and months."

Christmas redundancies

All staff in Glasgow will be entitled to some form of redundancy package.

Mr Jones added: "It's always disappointing to have to make an announcement like we have.

"It is not a reflection on the performance of the staff here."

Workers were allowed to go home after the announcement was made.

One employee, who did not wish to be named, said: "Many of the girls were in floods of tears. A lot of livelihoods depend on this place."

"As if that was not bad enough, they said it would take place at Christmas."

More people are booking holidays on the internet

The call centre was set up at Cardonald Business Park seven years ago with help from Scottish Enterprise.

It received regional selective assistance worth £1.4m when it opened.

Scottish Executive officials are examining whether the Thomson travel company will have to pay back some of the government grants.

A spokesman said: "Scottish Executive officials will discuss the implications of this news with the company to assess its impact in relation to the RSA grant.

"We were aware that job numbers had fallen back prior to today's announcement and have been in discussions with the company about this."

'High and dry'

He added: "Our main concern is to try to ensure that everything possible is done to assist those who are facing the prospect of losing their jobs.

"Officials will continue to stay in contact with the company and will seek to meet management as soon as possible to discuss the implications of this announcement."

Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow South West, described the announcement as regrettable.

It's as plain as the nose on your face that the decision to close the call centre has already been made Tom Kennedy Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

He said: "I will want to speak to the company and the unions to clarify whether anything can be done to save any of these jobs."

Bill Aitken, Scottish Conservative MSP for Glasgow region, said: "This is bad news, especially coming off production ending at the Rolls-Royce plant in the same area less than a year ago."

Scottish National Party enterprise spokesman Jim Mather said the call centre was closing despite management singing workers' praises.

"It is terrible that talented people and their families are being left high and dry," he said.

Travel industry union the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association called on the company to rethink its decision and enter into talks to try to retain the jobs.

Scotland spokesman Tom Kennedy added: "It is unfortunate, to say the least, that the company chose to make this announcement before it had even commenced consultation with those employees who it intends to make redundant.

"It's as plain as the nose on your face that the decision to close the call centre has already been made."