Kirk Demands Answers On Relocation Of Dundalk Workers

Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Seámus Kirk, has demanded that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, meet with management of Vodafone Ireland immediately to allay the fears of 317 staff who are due to be relocated.

Deputy Kirk raised the issue in the Dáil yesterday and spoke of the difficulties many workers will face in relocation.

He said: "There are 317 people working at the Dundalk Vodafone mobile call centre, between direct Vodafone workers and Rigney Dolphin, who are contractors to Vodafone. We are told that after a review by Vodafone of their mobile call centre operations, they will now transfer to another provider, Teleperformance.

"While Vodafone said there would be no change in the terms and conditions of those currently employed and no jobs would be lost, staff in Dundalk have been told they will have to move to Newry or Dublin.

"The problems associated with people, many with families, of having to move were obviously not taken into consideration by Vodafone. Workers have been told that most of the jobs will most likely transfer to Newry, where the wages will immediately be reduced. The Communication Workers’ Union have said that redundancies will arise out of the difficulties for people in having to transfer.

"I know of one worker that has been employed in the mobile call centre for ten years. He is due to get married soon and he can’t afford to drive 100 miles a day to work in Dublin. These are the types of dilemmas facing people and Minister Bruton needs to meet with management of Vodafone and both service providers immediately. He needs to put forward employees’ concerns and seek a way in which the transfer of services could be smoother with these concerns taken into consideration."

(CD)