Hundreds of BT Group employees are facing the looming threat of redundancy due to company plans to close the city centre office where they work. Union members said many workers feel "forced" into giving up their jobs as the BT Group plans to shift operations to Manchester and Leeds.
Some 601 employees, including BT Business staff, Openreach workers and 999 call handlers, will be affected by the closure of the offices at The Plaza building on Old Hall Street.
Protest and political support
BT Group employees gathered in protest outside The Plaza this morning, July 29, backed by the Communication Workers Union (CWU). Local politicians, including MP Ian Byrne, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, and Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson expressed their unwavering support for the workers. It is understood they will meet with BT Group bosses this afternoon as they hope to persuade the company to reverse its decision, which the Union said was put down to increases in rent.
Council leader Liam Robinson said: "From our perspective we find that unacceptable. BT is still very much a profitable company, (with) some excellent, well skilled roles that have been here for years so why should that dedicated workforce face that uncertainty of either having to move to a different part of the country or potentially leave the company? We find that unacceptable to the point that myself, Steve Rotheram, MP Kim Johnson and Ian Byrne and Peter Dowd will be meeting some of BT management this afternoon to say: let's think again, because you have a dedicated workforce that should be supported. You're a profitable company, there's lots of different ways this can be looked at. These jobs should not be leaving Liverpool and the wider city region."
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram called the plans "absolutely unjustifiable" and "appalling". He said: "There's no justification for the management to have taken this decision. If it was a company that was on the rocks and it wasn't making money and it was looking to consolidate to save money, that probably would be something we would look at seriously. At this moment in time, BT are making billions in profit, and yet they're saying they don't have responsibility to the workforce and the people here that have worked loyally for them for years have to move to Manchester or Leeds. I just think it's absolutely unacceptable."
Union concerns
Carl Webb, CWU regional official for the North East and North West, said the Union had called on BT Group to look at other options, such as re-negotiating the terms of its lease, or finding alternative offices in Liverpool. He said: "There's no justification for moving these jobs. A lot of these people have worked for BT for years and years. These are the people that generate the profits that pay the board members their good salaries. They're the people working day in, day out with the public. There's no justification for them to move these jobs. They could easily work with the council to look for an alternative. Our members are looking at their jobs. They've either got to travel to Manchester or even Leeds, which would add hours to their working day. Some of them have got childcare, some have elderly parents. They're not going to be able to do that and they're going to be faced with redundancy."
Daniel Shields, of the CWU Greater Mersey Branch, said: "We believe BT aren't being open and honest at the closure of The Plaza. We feel its unrealistic to ask our members to travel to a different city over an hour away, four days a week to remain in employment. We urge BT to enter into general consultation, to listen to our members' concerns, to listen to the union and to listen to local officials before any final decision is made. The general feeling is they have been let down. They've had families working here for decades. The city itself has supported BT and we feel that when the time's come to it, BT have pulled the plug on us when we need them to most."
Branch secretary Caroline Gillies said: "A lot of people are opting to take the advanced voluntary redundancy but its not that they want to take it, they're feeling forced to take it because there's very limited choice. They're angry they feel let down, they feel their loyalty and their skills count for nothing. They are very loyal. We have people who give so much flexibility to the business just to get the job done. Now it feels like that counts for nothing. It's absolutely devastating."
Political calls for reversal
MP Ian Byrne said the upheaval of big businesses from Liverpool to Manchester also needed to be addressed. He said: "To lose 600 jobs from the Liverpool economy is quite a devastating blow. Liverpool at the moment seems to be struggling in this sector and seem to be taking an awful lot of resources from Liverpool. We've got to make this a more attractive place for businesses to want to stay. There's a loyal workforce here that want stay within this fantastic building and also contribute to the local economy. 600 jobs is 600 lunches, 600 teas, its a lot of people, a lot of money and the area needs it. It's a big concern when we have big companies like BT leaving Liverpool for Manchester."
BT Group response
A BT Group spokesperson said: “We recognise the concerns raised regarding our proposal for our Liverpool office and we take these seriously. We can confirm negotiation conversations took place regarding the Plaza lease, this is one consideration as part of BT modernising and optimising our estate to ensure our workplaces are fit for the future and providing the best possible working environments for our people. We continue to engage with employees, unions, local representatives and MPs and we will carefully consider all feedback and alternatives raised as part of the consultation process. Our priority is to support our colleagues, and we will continue to do so throughout this change.”
