The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) is calling on its seven million trade union members to boycott Thomson’s holiday products in protest at the company’s closure of its Glasgow call centre.
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association has tabled an emergency motion at the Trade Union Congress annual conference next week, which, if passed by its council and delegates, could see members of all 66 affiliated unions snub Thomson for rival travel firms.
The TSSA is claiming Thomson failed to enter into “meaningful consultation” with the call centre’s 450 staff over its planned December 12 closure, as they were only told of the closure last week. They are now in a three-month consultation about alternative roles.
However, Thomson had already begun negotiations with authorities about paying back part of the £2.5 million grant funding it has received to operate the call centre since 1999.
Thomson picked up £1.4 million from the Scottish Executive – the Scottish Government – and a further £1.1 million from its main economic development agency Scottish Enterprise.
The Scottish Executive’s funding, aimed at attracting employment to the area, is based on the number of staff employed at the centre.
Thomson retail and commercial director Derek Jones revealed to Travel Weekly the company started talks with the Scottish Executive two months ago to negotiate paying back part of its 2006 grant.
“We have employed on average 700 people a year since opening in 1999,” Jones said. “We knew we would not be able to meet the numbers needed for the 2006 grant so we contacted the Scottish Executive.”
Jones defended the company’s decision to talk to the Scottish Executive before informing staff of the plans, arguing part of on-going discussions are centred on finding alternative employment for staff in the area.
He added: “We are working hard to find alternative employment for staff and it’s looking quite positive.”
The TSSA’s two-part motion initially calls on the TUC to initiate talks with Thomson over saving some or all of the 450 jobs by keeping the Glasgow call centre open.
Should Thomson refuse to enter into dialogue with the union body, then the seven million members of its 66 affiliated unions would be urged to boycott Thomson products.
TSSA general-secretary Gerry Doherty will lead the debate at next week’s TUC conference, expected to take place on either Tuesday or Wednesday of the four-day event, which starts on Monday.
The union’s campaigns manager Frank Ward is confident the motion will be backed by fellow unions. “The closure of the call centre has been in the planning for some time,” he said. “We would expect the motion to be passed.”
Jones refused to comment on the TSSA’s motion.
“The union has not informed us of such plans,” he said. “It’s no longer economical to operate the call centre. We no longer get the call volumes as customers want to book on the web.”
Meanwhile, Jones apologised to call centre staff facing the axe for posting a story on the company’s intranet telling high-street agents they have “an exciting future” due to the roll-out of the virtual call centre initiative.
“I apologise for any unnecessary upset,” he said. “The virtual call centre is new so needed to be communicated to the retail estate.”
He has moved to reassure shop staff that opening hours will not increase nor will they be forced to work longer hours as part of the virtual call centre.
Agency customers will continue to be dealt with as a priority, Jones added.
Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.
The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.