Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Peter_

Closing date around April it may be dependent on how many staff are left as the must be a minimum requirement to viably open the centre.

The are plenty of jobs in the Liverpool and surrounding area and some less than half a mile from the Albert Dock, the is about the same amount of unemployment here as elsewhere in the country.

I must admit that I haven't looked into this in much detail, I had assumed that Liverpool was a deprived area with high unemployment.

If there are plenty of jobs in/near Liverpool, ex VM staff may find themselves getting a payout from VM, then walking into a new job straight away

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I must admit that I haven't looked into this in much detail, I had assumed that Liverpool was a deprived area with high unemployment.

If there are plenty of jobs in/near Liverpool, ex VM staff may find themselves getting a payout from VM, then walking into a new job straight away

That is the old view which is nowadays quite incorrect, if you go down to the Albert Dock the is about 20 hotels within a half mile radius and quite a few call centres in the City Centre plus many in the surrounding areas including at least 3 high street banks.

That is just a small amount of employment opportunities in the locality.

[Skie]

Try driving out of town at 5pm or getting the train. Nightmare.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Skie

Try driving out of town at 5pm or getting the train. Nightmare.

Oh yes as the is plenty of work in the City and the outskirts, just not as many factories as people have diversified greatly over the years and found alternative employment in other industries.

[RichardCoulter]

So would it be fair to say that staff are more upset at not being able to work for VM anymore, rather than the actual loss of their job (as there are many alternatives available)?

Even if this is the case, it can be a bit of a disruption eg having to learn new processes, get to know new people etc.

Are incentive payments* being offered for staff to stay until the end, or is it just winding down naturally?

*Many employers offer this to prevent staff finding other jobs and leaving before a workplace is due to close, which causes operational difficulties. Obviously, employees want something in return to stop them "jumping ship" too early to secure their own future.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

So would it be fair to say that staff are more upset at not being able to work for VM anymore, rather than the actual loss of their job (as there are many alternatives available)?

Even if this is the case, it can be a bit of a disruption eg having to learn new processes, get to know new people etc.

I for one am not in the least bit upset as it is only a job, my life is more important than a job and the are many jobs to choose from but I am not overly bothered how quickly I get one.

We do not work for Virgin Media as we are employed by an agency as with most companies of this type nowadays.

You do realise that we cannot talk about company sensitive information such as your other question.

[RichardCoulter]

Yes, many companies outsource things like call centres these days. Of course, they still control things at arms length, but, if there are any problems/complaints it will be "nothing to do with us, go and talk to your employer"!

I didn't realise that incentive payments were subject to a confidentiality clause, so you are right not to comment.

Are there any alternative jobs going with the agency who may have contracts with other companies in the area?

Something else to consider is that staff who leave will lose their special deals for VM products. Still, I know of people who are still getting them years after having left!

If anyone loses theirs, I would inform HMRC ASAP, as I believe this benefit is taxable.

Speaking of which, my own self assessment is due before the end of this month :-(

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Yes, many companies outsource things like call centres these days. Of course, they still control things at arms length, but, if there are any problems/complaints it will be "nothing to do with us, go and talk to your employer"!

I didn't realise that incentive payments were subject to a confidentiality clause, so you are right not to comment.

Are there any alternative jobs going with the agency who may have contracts with other companies in the area?

(

If you take a job with Adecco you are not being made redundant so any offer of employment would not be good if you are hoping a redundancy payout, many companies are now aware of the closure so they will be looking to our office to fill their vacancies.

[Peter_]

This could some good news for CWU members at the Albert Dock and reason enough to continue their union membership.

Former Woolworths workers 'get £67m compensation'

The shopworkers union Usdaw has said it has won compensation of up to £67m for more than 24,000 former Woolworths workers, made redundant when the retailer collapsed at the end of 2008.

[New to cable]

Originally Posted by Peter_

This could some good news for CWU members at the Albert Dock and reason enough to continue their union membership.

Former Woolworths workers 'get £67m compensation'

That not bad, an average of £2900 each.

[RichardCoulter]

Any payments made to former Woolworths staff through this scheme will ultimately come from the National Insurance Fund ie the fund that we pay into to meet the cost of non means tested social security benefits.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Any payments made to former Woolworths staff through this scheme will ultimately come from the National Insurance Fund ie the fund that we pay into to meet the cost of non means tested social security benefits.

That will not apply above though so a separate issue.

Originally Posted by Peter_

This could some good news for CWU members at the Albert Dock and reason enough to continue their union membership.

Former Woolworths workers 'get £67m compensation'

Thats very good news about the woolies workers and yes its still worth paying into your union.

I just hope the "freeloaders" who often boast about not paying into a union but getting the benefits are too embarassed to accept the money the union has won.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by richard1960

Thats very good news about the woolies workers and yes its still worth paying into your union.

I just hope the "freeloaders" who often boast about not paying into a union but getting the benefits are too embarassed to accept the money the union has won.:erm:

That's a ridiculous statement - calling non union members "freeloaders" and wishing them less well than union members.

People have their reasons for not joining unions and in this case, Woolies going bust was prolly the last thing on one's mind when coming to that decision.

And while we're on the subject of unions and paying into them, see the RMT union's top bod pension arrangements for details. "The working class can lick my arse I've got an f-off pension at last".

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Peter_

This could some good news for CWU members at the Albert Dock and reason enough to continue their union membership.

Former Woolworths workers 'get £67m compensation'

Mine will continue, don't you worry about that

Companies can't go around breaking employment law and get away with it.

---------- Post added at 17:27 ---------- Previous post was at 17:24 ----------

Originally Posted by richard1960

Thats very good news about the woolies workers and yes its still worth paying into your union.

I just hope the "freeloaders" who often boast about not paying into a union but getting the benefits are too embarassed to accept the money the union has won.

Usually only the union members will get this payment.