5:54am Tuesday 17th July 2007
By Simon Barrett
Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost at one of Brighton's largest employers.
Up to 300 workers at the Inkfish call centre have been told their jobs will be transferred to a company in Northern Ireland.
The jobs - on the Post Office campaign - range from call agents and administration staff to team leaders and managers.
Inkfish staff received letters last week explaining their contracts would be transferred to Londonderry-based company Stream.
In a statement to The Argus, the company said staff would be fully consulted about the move and admitted "approximately 250" jobs were under threat.
But angry workers say if they do not move to Northern Ireland to take up the jobs they will effectively be resigning - meaning Inkfish will not have to pay any redundancy package.
One senior call agent at the office in Queen Square in the city centre said: "We are basically being kept in the dark and so there are a lot of rumours flying around.
"People are just very, very worried and the morale in the office is at an all-time low.
"They cannot expect us to move to Northern Ireland, it's completely unreasonable. We also haven't been given a timeframe.
"They just say that when they transfer the contract we will be employed by a company in Northern Ireland - but we all live in Brighton.
"It is a way of not having to pay redundancy. They must know people aren't going to up sticks and move to Londonderry. But there are other factors too.
"If we don't take up the contract we are effectively making ourselves redundant and would therefore not be entitled to benefits. It's no wonder people are scared."
Inkfish say it is prepared to enter consultation with staff and has suggested staff form a 16-strong team for discussions. The letter to workers quotes the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations (TUPE) legislation.
The letter, seen by the The Argus, reads: "Once we have confirmation that TUPE applies and the agreement is terminated, your contract of employment with Inkfish will automatically transfer on the termination date of the agreement to the new provider.....This means the new provider would become your employer. Your continuity of service is preserved."
It has also emerged that, even if Inkfish is forced to pay redundancy packages, the majority of staff will only be given small payouts. Workers who have been with the company for less than two years would only be offered one week's pay, while those under the age of 22 would only be entitled to half a week's pay.
Another call agent, who would not be named, said: "I have worked here for more than four years and I cannot believe this. It is an absolute joke.
"The mood in the office is horrible. People are upset, angry and very negative. There has been talk of a walk-out one day this week in protest.
"For some people this is just a summer job but for others it is our careers. I feel like I've been sent up the creek without a paddle."
A spokeswoman for Inkfish said: "Inkfish has been given notice of termination by the Post Office under its agreement to provide customer support activities on behalf of HomePhone.
"Following further discussions with the Post Office, on Friday July 13 we commenced consultations with our staff, informing them that the services would be provided through a third party, based in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
"Our staff were also provided with full information concerning their statutory rights on a change of supplier, including the right to be consulted through elected employee representatives.
"We continue to look after the best interests of our staff at this difficult time, and we will provide more information to them as we are able to do so. A total of approximately 250 jobs in Brighton are likely to be affected."
What do you think? Are you affected by the decision? Will you follow the firm to Northern Ireland? Leave your comments below.
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