Virgin Media closure slammed

Virgin Media´s decision to close its Trowbridge call centre and offer staff new jobs in Manchester has been branded a ´disaster´ for the town.

Andy Kerr, deputy general secretary of the Communication Workers Union slammed the decision, announced on Wednesday.

Virgin Media said the closure was a result of the merger between Virgin Media and Virgin Mobile. The company pledged there would be no compulsory redundancies and staff would be offered the chance to move to its Wythenshawe centre in Manchester.

The announcement hot on the heels of Vodafone´s decision last month to close its centre on the same site, putting 200 jobs at risk as the company moves to Stoke in Staffordshire.

The company pledged there would be no compulsory redundancies and staff would be offered the chance to move to its Wythenshawe centre in Manchester.

Mr Kerr said: "This is a disaster for Virgin Media staff at Trowbridge and for the whole area. Coming on the back of the Vodafone decision to pull out of Trowbridge, the local economy will be hit hard by this redundancy double whammy.

"We´re asking Virgin Media to make redeployment and relocation packages a realistic option for staff who may be interested, not a token tick box exercise. The sad fact is that there will not be an option to stay in Trowbridge and work for Virgin Media as other sites are not within commuting distance and relocation remains an unrealistic option for the majority of staff.

"The closure will be phased over 18 months, but this is no consolation for staff, many of whom have long service for the company, who ultimately face losing their job."