BT Group has confirmed plans to close its office in Liverpool city centre, impacting more than 600 staff members, leaving many workers in a state of shock and tears. The announcement was made to employees on June 30, with the consultation process scheduled to start on July 20. In response, workers staged a protest outside The Plaza building on Old Hall Street this afternoon (August 13).
Workers express shock and despair
Employees impacted by the proposals spoke of their shock, despair, and uncertainty about their futures. Lucy Kirwin, 53, who has worked at BT for over 30 years, has been asked to travel to the company's office in Leeds, approximately 64 miles away, requiring a three-hour daily commute. She noted that well over a hundred colleagues face similar situations, saying: "To say it was a bombshell for us all doesn't even come close to it. We just spent most of the day just in tears, because everything that you've worked for, for decades, the future that you saw yourself having has been ripped up."
Lesley Wood, 58, who lives in Southport and has been a BT employee for 39 years, has been asked to relocate to Manchester. She said: "I didn't have any option, I had to go because I'm coming up to retirement age soon anyway, and I can't get another job anywhere else. I spoke to my partner about it, and I was just in shock. I was in tears, but I have to do it, I have to take that train which is one hour 15 minutes, and a 20 minute walk just to get to work every day. It's completely demoralised the whole team. We've been together for so long, and it feels like we're just going to lose everybody." Asked about BT's treatment of staff, she added: "It's just as if they don't matter."
Political and union response
Julie Andrews, 61, who has been employed by BT Group for over 40 years, said the proposal has been difficult to accept because the Liverpool office was previously described as a permanent site. She said: "It's all thrown me into a bit of a quandary. I don't know what to do. I can't spend two and a quarter hours every day on the trains in Manchester, but they won't let me work from home at the moment. I'd rather that they just stayed with the presence in Liverpool, because there's lots of brilliant offices in Liverpool that they could relocate to."
The Plaza building is within the constituency of Kim Johnson MP, who attended the protest to support workers and called on BT Group to reconsider. She told the ECHO: "BT has bitten off more than it can chew with Liverpool. We're a fighting city, and if BT thinks it can take 600 jobs out of the Liverpool without a fight, then they've got another thing coming." In a statement, she added: "There is no sugar coating how atrocious these proposals are. In suggesting this move, BT Group are signalling that employees who have been loyally committed to them are completely expendable. This move can't be right, and BT must think clearly about the damage it will do to a workforce, a community and a region."
Union and BT Group statements
West Derby MP Ian Byrne also attended, noting that many of his constituents were impacted. He said: "BT that said this was going to be the hub for digital skills. Then to suddenly pull out and for those jobs to be lost, because many of them will be lost, there's no sense there. I think it's a terrible move by BT, and I think we've seen that from the political reaction from the likes of Steve Rotheram (Mayor of the Liverpool City Region), Liam Robinson (Leader of Liverpool City Council), and MPs and councillors across the political spectrum. We want to emphasise to BT that they should have a presence in this city, and to do what they've done without any real negotiation, any meaningful dialogue, is pretty shameful. We want them to get round the table, sit down with Steve Rotheram, Liam Robinson, and those involved, and come up with [a better] plan."
The workers are represented by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which arranged the protest. CWU Deputy General Secretary Karen Rose said: "The plan put forward by BT will have a huge impact on our members, on the local economy and on the entire region. Despite some individuals opting to travel to alternative BT locations, they have also made it clear to us that this is a decision they have been forced into so that they can retain their employment. Unfortunately, BT has rejected our alternative proposals and as yet have not accepted the political leaders’ offer to work with them to explore other options."
In response, a BT Group spokesperson said it recognises the ongoing concerns about proposals for its Liverpool office, adding: "Our priority is supporting all our colleagues throughout this change, and we can confirm that no customers or services are affected by this proposal. We continue to engage with our employees, unions, local representatives and MPs and we will carefully consider all feedback and alternatives raised as part of the consultation process."
