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300 Scots jobs axed as firm outsources to India
 
St Vincent Street-based Capita staff are set to lose their jobs
St Vincent Street-based Capita staff are set to lose their jobs
 
 

by Gordon Thomson

HUNDREDS of workers at a business services firm have been told their jobs will move to India.

More than 300 processing jobs are to go at Capita, as reported in late editions of last night's Evening Times, a move which will trigger multi-million pound savings.

The outsourcing giant has said the administrative posts are to be axed at its St Vincent Street base and admitted that staff who currently perform "back office" tasks also face the risk of redundancy.

The planned switch to India has triggered an angry backlash from union leaders.

Graham Goddard, deputy general secretary of Unite, said hundreds of City Centre workers have been warned they may not have a job by the end of the year.

Capita has pledged to try to offer alternative posts to the affected staff, who each earn up to £15,000 a year, but Mr Goddard said: "Unite is angry that Capita will not give staff a commitment that there will be no compulsory job losses at the site in Glasgow."

He added: "The offshoring of this work to India will be a bitter blow for the workforce, who now face a very unfair and arbitrary redundancy selection criteria.

"Unite will now be having discussions with our members in order to assess our next steps."

Capita specialises in outsourcing jobs. The latest batch will see the transfer of processing functions from Glasgow to Mumbai and if that results in the eventual loss of more than 300 jobs then Capita will generate savings of almost £5million.

But union leaders fear the cost cuts could eventually involve 450 staff - a saving of £7.2m for the company.

Capita yesterday launched a 90-day consultation period with its Glasgow workforce and said the switch to India was part of a "programme of changes" agreed with insurance company Pearl after it decided to outsource work to Capita. Work from another Capita site in England is also being transferred to Mumbai.

The company had warned in January that 375 jobs at Wythall, in the West Midlands, were to be relocated to either Glasgow or India, or another unspecified Capita site.

Capita now says an undisclosed number of jobs are to be transferred to Glasgow, where a dedicated call centre for Pearl customers is to be set up along with a centre of excellence for "retained" administrative functions.

Referring to the Glasgow operation, a Capita statement read: "As a result of this, 302 administrative roles will be relocated to Mumbai and today the Capita employees currently filling those roles have been given formal notice that their jobs are at risk of redundancy."

Capita insists the union and its workforce have been kept fully informed and added: "We intend to redeploy as many employees as possible within the Capita Group and are confident of our ability to do so."

Publication date 29/05/08

Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, Glasgow on 11:10am Thu 29 May 08
The biggest drop in city hotel occupancy rates of any Scottish city last week and this week yet more job losses in our Micky Mouse, low-value financial services 'industry'.

Just as your uncle Sydney has been predicting for months: Glasgow's economic meltdown is now unfolding before our eyes!
Posted by: Happychappy, glasgow on 11:18am Thu 29 May 08
Sydney, are you really Meep?
Posted by: Meep, Shawlands on 11:52am Thu 29 May 08
Capita will be kicking themselves in a years time when they have to transfer all the staff back to the UK. Capita obviously havent learned from the mistakes made by other banks who had to go back to employing UK staff after Indian call centres werent up to the job. Captias management seem to be very slow in issues like these.
Posted by: Happy Harry, Glasgow on 12:16pm Thu 29 May 08
Sydney Meriwether wrote:
The biggest drop in city hotel occupancy rates of any Scottish city last week and this week yet more job losses in our Micky Mouse, low-value financial services 'industry'. Just as your uncle Sydney has been predicting for months: Glasgow's economic meltdown is now unfolding before our eyes!
You really are truly happy that these people are losing their jobs.
It's really sad that someone can take so much joy from other peoples misery.
Why don't you take a break from posting here and get some professional help.
You obviously have some very serious issues you need to talk thru with someone.
Posted by: John Kebab, Glasgow on 12:29pm Thu 29 May 08
Anybody got anything positive to say about the service they have received from companies using offshore sites?

I dont.
Posted by: Rab Jones, Glasgow on 12:49pm Thu 29 May 08
John Kebab wrote:
Anybody got anything positive to say about the service they have received from companies using offshore sites? I dont.
Yes.

Their English is a lot better than the youngsters of today. At leastthey don't talk through their nose.

I'd rather speak to an Indian, rather than 20 year old Wee Jimmy from Springburn.
Posted by: John Kebab, Glasgow on 12:58pm Thu 29 May 08
Yes.

Their English is a lot better than the youngsters of today. At leastthey don't talk through their nose.

I'd rather speak to an Indian, rather than 20 year old Wee Jimmy from Springburn


Hmmm, I see. There was a study conducted a few years ago that rated the Scottish, and indeed Glaswegian accent as one of the top 10 for customers using call centres.

Wee Jimmy may just have been out on the sauce the night before you spoke to him Rab?
Posted by: Seymour Hope, Glasgow on 1:13pm Thu 29 May 08
Why don't we all move to India now?
Posted by: yerauldda, West End Exile on 1:31pm Thu 29 May 08
sydneys just a plum who jumps at every chance he gets to belittle this city
i dont remember him ever making a positive comment
if he hates glasgow and teh way its run so much he should **** off to edinburgh
Posted by: george mcleod, High Possil on 1:48pm Thu 29 May 08
Seymour Hope wrote:
Why don't we all move to India now?
You cannot.
Indian immigration is very strict not like the U.K. where we let anybody in.
Posted by: george mcleod, High Possil on 1:49pm Thu 29 May 08
Seymour Hope wrote:
Why don't we all move to India now?
You cannot.
Indian immigration is very strict not like the U.K. where we let anybody in.
Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, At home on 3:16pm Thu 29 May 08
Meep wrote:
Capita will be kicking themselves in a years time when they have to transfer all the staff back to the UK. Capita obviously havent learned from the mistakes made by other banks who had to go back to employing UK staff after Indian call centres werent up to the job. Captias management seem to be very slow in issues like these.
To be fair to Capita Meep, they probably know what they're doing: they swan off to India for a while and then, as you correctly say, customers will demand to speak to UK-based staff... thus Capita move back to Glasgow, the council and the government give the company millions of our pounds in 'inward investment grants', wee Steven Purcell gets his mug in the ET, and we all live happily ever after!
Posted by: jane, Glasgow on 4:16pm Thu 29 May 08
In answer to you J Kebab there English may be better but they never listen to what you are saying to them. They cant spell and you have to repeat everything back to them time and time again. Having worked at a telephonist for years I know it can be difficult to hear some people on the phone sometimes. But any time I have spoken to a Indian call centre I am ususally tearing my hair out by the end of the call. I wonder how long it will take Capita to realise that they have made the wrong move. Lets just hope that the poor folk that are loosing there jobs are all redeployed into half decent jobs.
Posted by: Scott, Airdrie on 4:46pm Thu 29 May 08
yerauldda wrote:
sydneys just a plum who jumps at every chance he gets to belittle this city i dont remember him ever making a positive comment if he hates glasgow and teh way its run so much he should **** off to edinburgh
Sometimes I wish all his predictions of doom would come true, just so that he would shut up!!

Just after 11am every morning (obviously not doing much for the economy), he's waiting for the bad news, and if there isn't any he just makes it up.
Posted by: hightower, glasgow on 4:50pm Thu 29 May 08
its disgusting. these companies should eb made to pay their staff tens of thousands in compensation for doing this to them. gordon brown are you listening ya chump
Posted by: working.man, Glasgow on 5:29pm Thu 29 May 08
I used to be a Civil Servant working for Dept of National Savings (& Investments) at Cowglen. In 1999 we were transferred to Siemens (now called Siemens IT Services and Solutions). Since then our workforce have continually been cut and 4 years ago the Government gave the go ahead for large parts of our work to be sent offshore to Siemens staff in Chennai, India, with the obvious reduction in staff numbers in Glasgow. Each day vast amounts of work is processed offshore. Our jobs become less secure as the Co. seek to move more and more to the cheaper Sub-continet. Its got that bad that the remaining staff believe that the letter "I" in NS&I stands for India.
What irks the most is that the Government (who owns NS&I) have no qualms about UK works losing jobs.
Posted by: Doug Blaney, Glasgow on 6:55pm Thu 29 May 08
I just hate it when my phone calls are diverted to India or any other country. These people do not understand our accents any more that we can understand theirs. I can phone RBS anytime and get a local person who knows exactly what I am asking for. The companies that outsource overseas will eventually learn to bring these jobs home to the UK.
When looking for car insurancefor my wife, Norwich union staff in India took 35 minutes to get my details, I phoned Liverpool Victoria and someone with a scouse accent got everything right within 4 minutes, and they were courteous.
It is a shame, India and other countries need the work and experience, but customers here want to hear English with a British or Irish accent!!!!!!!
Posted by: Doug Blaney, Glasgow on 6:57pm Thu 29 May 08
Seymour Hope wrote:
Why don't we all move to India now?
I'll gee yae a 1p towards the fare bibibi
Posted by: Doug Blaney, Glasgow on 6:57pm Thu 29 May 08
Seymour Hope wrote:
Why don't we all move to India now?
I'll gee yae a 1p towards the fare bibibi
Posted by: Whoop-de_doo, Arizona on 7:14pm Thu 29 May 08
Cmon now....be positive.
Just think of the great new recipes youll be able to get frae them !
Posted by: jrb, Glasgow on 7:46pm Thu 29 May 08
Scott wrote:
yerauldda wrote: sydneys just a plum who jumps at every chance he gets to belittle this city i dont remember him ever making a positive comment if he hates glasgow and teh way its run so much he should **** off to edinburgh
Sometimes I wish all his predictions of doom would come true, just so that he would shut up!! Just after 11am every morning (obviously not doing much for the economy), he's waiting for the bad news, and if there isn't any he just makes it up.
Once again the snipers have Sydney in their sights.At least Sydney doesnt retort to personal insults to his detractors, unlike some who contribute little to this forum.It must be getting to some of you when you take the easy option of slagging off someone instead of debating,Sydney's post I find are constructive and informative and he doesnt' deviate or sway his opinion to suit others who may disagree with his points.Once again Sydney carry on posting...
Posted by: George Brown, glasgow on 8:09pm Thu 29 May 08
Is someone guaranteed a special rate for life from the citys' curry houses
no point in asking who manufactures the tyres for the councils, transport
Posted by: JokeyW, Sunny Govan on 8:17pm Thu 29 May 08
yerauldda wrote:

sydneys just a plum who jumps at every chance he gets to belittle this city i dont remember him ever making a positive comment if he hates glasgow and teh way its run so much he should **** off to edinburgh


Yerauldda, no matter how hard you try with a spell-checker, it doesn't help you much when you're a semi-literate old fool who can't even type a capital 'I'.

Stop foaming at the mouth and away and ask the doctor to increase your medication and for god's sake ask them to change your underwear!!!
Posted by: JokeyW, Sunny Govan on 8:36pm Thu 29 May 08
Happy Harry wrote:

You really are truly happy that these people are losing their jobs.
It's really sad that someone can take so much joy from other peoples misery.
Why don't you take a break from posting here and get some professional help.
You obviously have some very serious issues you need to talk thru with someone.


You've obviously some issues to discuss with your shrink yourself Happy Harry: like why you're lying on your urine-stained bed in the middle of the day typing infantile comments to dull the 'happiness' until the pharmacy opens.
Posted by: jkr, Lochwinnich Greater Glasgow on 8:38pm Thu 29 May 08
I phoned BT to accept an offer they were making and was put through to someone in India. Fortunately it was an 0800 number. After 20 minutes I still did not get the matter sorted out and had extreme difficulty in making out what the agent was saying.Gave up.

Tried again after 10 minutes and was put through to Caroline in the UK and had the matter sorted out to my satisfaction in less than 5 minutes.

I mentioned my problem with the first call and was told that if connected to India ask to be put through to a UK call centre and this will be done.
Posted by: OWEN, LINDLEY on 8:46pm Thu 29 May 08
"who each earn up to £15,000 a year"

I think these employees are being done a favour.
Posted by: colinc66, glasgow on 9:57pm Thu 29 May 08
people are too lazy to do anything about it. if a company you deal with moves work to india, then take away your business, otherwise there isn't any point mowning about it.
Posted by: Frank, Glasgow on 10:59pm Thu 29 May 08
Scottish Labour delivered these respected jobs and the snp are doing their best to lose them all.

Sometimes however workers in Scotland should be looking to offering a more flexible work ethic which would help fight these jobs going abroad.
Posted by: Fidelio, Ayr on 11:54pm Thu 29 May 08
I used to work for the Student Loans Company call centre in Glasgow's Bothwell Street which is the UK head-office for SLC. One day I answered the phone and a male with a SE England accent said: "Oh no. I wait 20 minutes then I get a bleedin Jock." My reply was: "Well then, let's see if another 20 minutes improves your manners." I immediately terminated the call.

On another occasion, a very posh English lady - mother of a student - came on the line and her first words upon hearing my accent were: "Where are you based?" I told her I was in Glasgow.

"Oh dear," she replied. "Don't tell me even the Government are now outsorcing their call centres abroad."
Posted by: peter4263, New Jersey,USA on 6:00am Fri 30 May 08
Welcome to rampant Capitalism. A workman takes care of his tools. Not so a rampant capitalist. Not socialism,just smarter capitalism. The bottom line isn't the only line.
Posted by: zzipp67, Glasgow on 7:50am Fri 30 May 08
Frank wrote:
Scottish Labour delivered these respected jobs and the snp are doing their best to lose them all. Sometimes however workers in Scotland should be looking to offering a more flexible work ethic which would help fight these jobs going abroad.
if you ever walk by these offices - all day they are outside smoking and at lunchtime queing up to get back into the office via the lift with their chips and other fast food. Work ethic in Glasgow? are you kidding me? in the "I'm entitled" culture?

I have no sympathy for them
Posted by: yerauldda, West End Exile on 11:54am Fri 30 May 08
JokeyW wrote:
yerauldda wrote: sydneys just a plum who jumps at every chance he gets to belittle this city i dont remember him ever making a positive comment if he hates glasgow and teh way its run so much he should **** off to edinburgh
Yerauldda, no matter how hard you try with a spell-checker, it doesn't help you much when you're a semi-literate old fool who can't even type a capital 'I'. Stop foaming at the mouth and away and ask the doctor to increase your medication and for god's sake ask them to change your underwear!!!
lazy typing doesn't make one illiterate
Posted by: jimmyk, Glasgow on 6:43pm Sat 31 May 08
jrb wrote:
Scott wrote:
yerauldda wrote: sydneys just a plum who jumps at every chance he gets to belittle this city i dont remember him ever making a positive comment if he hates glasgow and teh way its run so much he should **** off to edinburgh
Sometimes I wish all his predictions of doom would come true, just so that he would shut up!! Just after 11am every morning (obviously not doing much for the economy), he's waiting for the bad news, and if there isn't any he just makes it up.
Once again the snipers have Sydney in their sights.At least Sydney doesnt retort to personal insults to his detractors, unlike some who contribute little to this forum.It must be getting to some of you when you take the easy option of slagging off someone instead of debating,Sydney's post I find are constructive and informative and he doesnt' deviate or sway his opinion to suit others who may disagree with his points.Once again Sydney carry on posting...
jrb,

You wrote "At least Sydney doesnt retort to personal insults to his detractors".

You have obviously not read all of this individual's posts. I am his biggest critic by far I believe and I have good reason.
I used to challenge him to offer alternatives to that which he criticed. He never has, because I don't think he has any.
To my own embarrassment, I started calling him "Syd The Dyd"! This was wrong. I realized this and apologised to him in this forum for doing so.
My reward from him for so doing came a week later when again I criticised him for not offering any alternatives to that which he criticised, was to accuse me, personally, of being a pedophile who hangs around outside school gates, when schools come out as well as other personal denigrations.

Not only did this indivdual cross the line of decency he ripped it up.
So, in the spirit of quid pro quo, until he shows character and integrity and apologises for his crass behaviour, as I did, I will continue to personally attack him without remorse.
And no amout of crticism from you or any other of his defenders, will deter me, so don't waste your time.
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