Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I am sure that nearly everyone reading this thread is well aware of the position you and your colleagues at Albert Dock find yourselves in and I think that, in the main, we all realise that the very few of you will be in a position to apply for a job at Swansea let alone be offered a position if you did so.

I do think Richard has quoted a lot of the benefit regulations accurately but the problem with his posts is that he has failed to grasp that something that can be quoted as a fact is only of use if it is also relevant. I would be interested to hear what relevant experience Richard has regarding his having had to cope with redundancy and what advise he could give to the people who are actually the subject of this thread as apposed to the 'on your bike, no benefits for you!' attitude he has shown so far.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

It is just that he posts the regulations completely out of context with regards to people being made redundant as most of the rubbish he has posted has no bearing on people in a redundancy situation as the law expects the company to help with looking for a new position,which in reality is just lipservice, but no one has been offered a position in Swansea which he has completely failed to take in and any such opportunity would only come about after the person had been made redundant.

If the company had turned around and said everyone has to move to Swansea or you will be out of a job with no redundancy package, then the would be a major issue as that would be unreasonable and lead to legal action against the company.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I see Richards posts as intended to illicit a certain type of response from members of staff of VM nothing else ;)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I know what he is doing as he did a similar action Digitalspy last year and then tried to report said member to the company, I am not posting anything that is sensitive information and I have zero intention of going to Swansea unless I am ever down that way on holiday but even then it would be the Gower Peninsula rather than Swansea, I already have a position lined up anyway.;)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I have a certain option applied here because of that exact problem. Have you applied for any of the positions that i heard about at Concord house ?

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Siiiighhhhh!:(

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I repeat, nobody has ever said that moving to Swansea was compulsory.

Please see my statement further on.

---------- Post added at 12:25 ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 ----------

Nonsense, but please do see my statement below.

---------- Post added at 12:27 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------

I do realise that this is an upsetting time for you, but please do try your best to refrain from making puerile outbursts, as this detracts from any point that you wish to make.

---------- Post added at 12:30 ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 ----------

Thank you for being professional and urging people to remain calm at this unsettling time.

---------- Post added at 12:31 ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 ----------

Not calm enough, you need to be strong and direct your energies in a more positive fashion at a time like this.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

You'd be wise to take note of that too.

---------- Post added at 13:46 ---------- Previous post was at 13:33 ----------

You might be aware of this, I don't know. But comments like that along with your tone in this thread come across as VERY patronising.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Richard, I hope you aren't deliberatley trying to wind "at risk" staff up, just for your own amusement. It's certainley starting to look that way :nono:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I posted the benefit regulations to correct some irregularities of an earlier post and because, unfortunately, they may be pertinent to some VM staff in the future.

My advice would be to keep calm, don't act like a wronged child as one poster appears to be doing, accept all the help available from VM. The DWP are also available for help, through their network of Jobcentre+ offices. Their advice is free and confidential.

I do think that it is reasonable for people to move to where work is available in some circumstances. As well as the cost to the taxpayer, there is also the social/human cost. I have been to communities where the majority of people are unemployed. They are like war torn countries, blighted by crime, drugs and social disorder.

People often focus on the cost of the unemployed, or the fact that working people resent them for their perceived idleness, but it is a much larger picture than that.

I am particularly concerned about young people leaving education and going straight onto JSA. They get used to the lifestyle and many drift into crime and drugs or waste their lives. Their is a lot of truth to the saying "the devil finds work for idle hands".

Their are some families where the grandparents, children and grandchildren have never worked. Once a family lose the work ethic, it is very difficult to get it back.

I am of the opinion that, because of the neglect shown in this area during previous recessions, that this has contributed to what we know view as the "chav" or "underclass" culture and all the problems that that entails.

Urgent measures are being considered to provide subsidies to employers to get our young people back into work for this very reason.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

And my advice would be to bare in mind that you are coming across as very patronising and condensing towards the VM staff involved.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Please see my statement below.

---------- Post added at 12:56 ---------- Previous post was at 12:54 ----------

Nonsense.
************************************************** ***********

Statement Re: VM staff and eligibility to claim Jobseekers Allowance.

I was led to believe by post 66 that some members of staff would be "job matched". Unfortunately, many believe that I was provided with incorrect information.

I have spoken to contacts this morning at both VM and the DWP in order to clarify the situation.

The last thing staff need at this time is uncertainty or scaremongering due to misinformation.

I can now confirm that benefit sanctions will NOT be imposed on any member of the Albert Dock staff who face redundancy and fail to make attempts to secure a job in Swansea.

Additionally, there will be no penalties for those taking voluntary or involuntary redundancy.

All of the other usual regulations will need to be satisfied in order for benefit to be paid.

I trust that this now clarifies the position.

End of statement.

---------- Post added at 13:19 ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 ----------

Of course not, what would be the point of that :confused:



I am, and remain, very calm, it's the only way to deal with life changing events like this for the people involved.

Redundancy is not a pleasant time for anybody, including the management who have to break the sad news. I myself have had to be the bearer of bad news to valued members of our own staff who we have had to let go and yes, there were tears involved.

Let us all now move forward and appreciate the fact that there are many, many people worse off in the world and count our blessings :)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

We are quite aware of that fact and no one is being forced to go to Swansea against their will as it would be quite illegal, they are closing the centre for business reasons and they are helping staff look for positions locally and possibly with Adecco on another contract.

Anyone wanting to go to Swansea has to go through the recruitment process as the is no direct transfer of jobs to Swansea.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

The sanctimony is jaw-dropping.

So, to put it another way, you (finally) accept what several of us have been trying to tell you all along.

Well done.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

:clap:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Excellent :)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

The confusion arose because Digital Fanatic posted erroneous information.

The position has now been officially clarified for the benefit of those who may need to make a claim for Jobseekers Allowance.

Moving forward, I forgot to mention yesterday that I was also informed that the Government had asked VM to have another think about this.

Whilst I don't wish to get anyones hopes up, this is surely good news.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

And the confusion continued because RichardCoulter perpetuated it.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

No it hasn't. You are not the DSS. Your postings on this forum do not constitute official clarification of anything.

All that has happened is that you have stopped arguing to the contrary. The rest of us already knew what you had to hear from your "contacts" ... whoever they in fact are.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I gave an opinion in good faith based upon erroneous information supplied by Digital Fanatic. Many people disputed this. I took the decision to clear the matter up once and for all for the benefit of those who may need to claim Jobseekers Allowance, should Albert Dock close.

The DSS no longer exists and hasn't done for many years. The Department for Work and Pensions now administer Jobseekers Allowance.

If you dispute my clarification of the correct position, you are advised to seek your own independent advice.

@Hugh

I was led to believe by post 66 that some members of staff would be "job matched". Unfortunately, many believe that I was provided with incorrect information.you appear to be confusing "Richard Coulter" with "many"

Look back through the thread. You will see that many people challenged my interpretation of the situation, based upon the supply of erroneous advice.

I have spoken to contacts this morning at both VM and the DWP in order to clarify the situation.on a Sunday morning? ooooooh, impressive (unless your contacts are a JobCentre clerk and a VM CSR, both of whom are your relatives.....)

Who my contacts are is not relevant for the purposes of this discussion.

The last thing staff need at this time is uncertainty or scaremongering due to misinformation.you may wish to stop doing it, then

I wasn't perpetuating any of the above, if anything I have sought to confirm the correct position.

I can now confirm that benefit sanctions will NOT be imposed on any member of the Albert Dock staff who face redundancy and fail to make attempts to secure a job in Swansea.imagine our gratitude for your confirmation of what we had been saying all along

Additionally, there will be no penalties for those taking voluntary or involuntary redundancy.Well, duh!

You appear to be under the impression that benefit sanctions were never imposed for certain types of redundancy.

All of the other usual regulations will need to be satisfied in order for benefit to be paid. and today's prize winner for stating the bleeding obvious is............

I trust that this now clarifies the position.You were the only one who appeared to need the position clarified......

There are some measures that staff can take now to minimise the impact of redundancy.

If anybody facing redundancy wishes to seek advice, please do so by PM and I will help all I can. Unfortunately, I am not prepared to discuss such important matters on the board whilst surrounded by such puerile hostility, much of it fuelled by those charged with ensuring that the forum runs smoothly.

This matter is far too important for that.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I posted the correct position several days ago Richard. You disputed it. You went and asked some of your mates. Now you agree with me. This is what happened.

Neither I, nor anybody else, requires you to 'clarify' anything, although what would be refreshing would be for you to stop hiding behind the delusion that you are somehow well-connected and well-informed and simply admit, "you know what folks, I got it wrong, but I understand now."

I won't be holding my breath.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

As previously explained on numerous occasions, I gave an opinion based on the supply of erroneous information. This has now been corrected.

If I gave you the wrong ingrediants to make a dish, surely you wouldn't expect the correct dish to be produced?

I see nothing to be gained from dragging this out any further and believe that everybodys efforts should now be focussed on helping those who may be made redundant*.

These are real people, with real lives.

*Moving forward, as ever, I remain optimistic and hope that the discussion between HM Government and VM bears fruit.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I believe there is a topic in here somewhere.Anyone finding it please let me know.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

:shocked:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I have been reading this thread for quite some time. It's unbelievable the direction it has gone in and i cannot imagin the amount of stress this would have on the guys reading this. Hell i'm not losing my job and im stressed out reading it...

Richard you appear to like to play around with the stuff you post. Thats a personal opinion from reading this full thread.

I thought the thread would have went along the lines of "All the best guys.. and good luck" but to go that indepth with things yes fair enough.. its CURRENT and is a way of life and more than likely most of us will have to go down that route at one point in our life. I find the thread quite sad.

Everyone is entilted to their opinnions but jesus some people take it the extra step.

Once again back to the guys in Liverpool. Guys and Gals it was a pleasure to work beside you all for quite a long time and i wish you all the best. I hope for what its worth something positive will come out of this for all of you.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

AS LaineY says - sorry to hear what has happened to you (I commiserate, as I have been made redundant four times in the last 22 years), good luck in your job-hunting, and best wishes for your future.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

So when you do it, it's "in good faith", when DF does it, he's giving 'erroneous information'.

Riiiiiiight.

Chris (as usual) summed it up better than I could. You are offending more people than you're helping so maybe it's time for you to withdraw from this thread and leave it for those directly affected by the Albert Dock closure.

Perhaps go off and have a chat with more of your 'contacts'.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

What has the government got to do with anything as they are not involved.:confused:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I have no reason to believe that DF offered the information in anything but good faith too.

Your attempts at bullying me off the forum, both in public and in PM, are like water off a ducks back. As you will be aware, I am a disabled person and have encountered this many times before.

Once again, in the interests of the people affected by this closure and the forum as a whole, can we now please move on and keep on topic?

I'm not sure. My contact at VM mentioned it in passing last Sunday, but doesn't know too much about it, but I do think I recall reading or seeing something about it.

I assume that they have become involved because they are concerned about the human and financial cost.

Have any Albert Dock staff heard anything about this?

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

You've got to love it when people play the "victim" card......

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Wow have you been promoted to mod status now :rolleyes:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I think the best thing that we can do is to rise above the minority of individuals who wish to disrupt this thread with their off topic negativity and spite, so that we can concentrate on the relevant issues instead.

@ DF, thanks for that, it was interesting to watch. I wonder if/hope that this intervention by those in the political arena will do anything to help.

Breaking news, further to my previous post that I thought that the Govt would be freezing benefits next year, they will now be uprated with the CPI. (They had been urged not to uprate benefits at a time when people in work are facing pay freezes* or pay cuts.)

*In my own company we have again had to freeze pay, apart from some people who will receive an extra 8p an hour.

This means that those unfortunate enough to be made redundant, who haven't found another job by next April, will now receive an increase in benefits by about 5%*, so that they keep pace with their spending power.

*Does not apply to some Tax Credits.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

No hence my question apart from local councillors and local mp's coming to the dock the other week.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

OK- thank you.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Would you like to directly share what the actual point is that you are trying to make, if indeed there is one?

Instead of seeking out opportunities to denigrate others at every opportunity, perhaps you ought to think about leading by example in keeping this thread on track?

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Oh for goodness sake will you lot stop responding to the elephant in the room or at the very least use the ignore function.

This thread has been successfully hijacked and instead of being about the people at Albert Dock has become a slanging match.I'm personally sick of asking people not to feed the elephant.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Well said, it's all about feeding the "T" ... Mod's .. attack :)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Let's get one thing straight, if the team wanted you off CF all it would take is the click of a button. But that's not how it works around here. You are welcome to post here.

I had no idea you were disabled but it makes absolutely zero difference. Your posts in this thread have been most unhelpful and disrespectful.


When we need new Team members, we'll advertise for them.

Whilst our numerous VM contacts know nothing about it.

When any further news about the closure becomes available (from trusted, verifiable sources naturally) it will be posted here.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Here is the latest job advertisement for our jobs in Swansea.

http://jobs.thisissouthwales.co.uk/c...812&src=search

The shifts down there are a lot worse than our present hours at the Albert Dock and they will be open 365 days a year.

Quote:

Location: Llansamlet Salary: starting at £13,200 per annum Long-term temporary assignment Bonus potential This role involves working rotating shifts over 37.5 hours per week, between 07.30 and 22.30, Monday – Sunday; however days/hours may change at any time due to business requirements, and so you must be flexible. Please note that the call centre is open 365 days a year.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I thought it prudent to point out that this post was a response to a rude off topic post that has been removed, just in case anybody thought I was referring to them and it caused any trouble.

---------- Post added at 17:32 ---------- Previous post was at 17:22 ----------

Thank you, although I disagree that I have been unhelpful and disrespectful. Being unhelpful and disrespectful should not be confused with not sharing any point of view that I may hold.

I have shared pertinent information that I believe may be of help to any VM staff affected, even to the point of inviting any who wish to do so to privately contact me for help.




I have no time or desire to become a member of the CF team. I was merely politely requesting that we keep on topic for the benefit of all. I do not need to be a member of the CF team to request this.


It is not clear what point you are trying to make here.

Excellent, I am sure that those affected appreciate this :)

---------- Post added at 17:34 ---------- Previous post was at 17:32 ----------

Wise words Chris, and thank you :)

---------- Post added at 17:44 ---------- Previous post was at 17:34 ----------

For completeness, I should add that the current Government has decided to freeze Child Benefit for basic rate taxpayers. For 40% taxpayers, any amount claimed will be clawed back. So why bother claiming, you may well ask? It is important to do so as this could potentially affect the State Retirement Pension of higher rate taxpayers. This is likely to disproportionality affect women.

There are some measures that staff can take now to minimise the impact of redundancy.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I always assumed that VM call centres were open every day, apart from Christmas day??

What days does Albert Dock serve the public now?

What shifts do Albert Dock staff do at present?

I wonder why they want Swansea to open every day and require staff to do inconvenient shifts when they could use the foreign personnel overseas for this (not that I am advocating this as a customer, as I much prefer to deal with UK based staff.) Whilst I accept that the modern world of work requires staff to be more flexible and to increase their availability, why aren't VM utilising their offshore option :confused:

Maybe they are winding them down and/or have finally started to listen to customer complaints about them.

If so, maybe there is hope that the staff affected could have the chance to work for VM again in the future :)

I personally would like to see the whole CSR operation to be wholly UK based.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I'm not very bright .. so you'll have to forgive me if I'm just not reading your posts correctly ..

Didn't you start off by saying people should be grateful for whats offered and should move house if the employer needs them to ? Now you're saying working hours are unreasonable .. ?

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

At last you have posted something i can agree with fully :tu:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I do not recall saying that people should be grateful, I do believe that employees should relocate if necessary and appropriate.

I can't comment on the working hours in Swansea compared to Albert Dock, as I haven't received a response to my questions regarding the working pattern of the latter.

When I said that the new hours were "inconvenient", I was quoting Masque, although not verbatim.

I hope that this clarification has been of help :)

The main reason a company will use an offshore call centre is because they think it will be cheaper.

With VM, I find that their offshore operation often winds customers up with their robotic droning on, nonsense responses and inaudible/accented speech. I believe that this impacts on customer goodwill and probably leads to churn.

They invariably go through the script and then try to book an engineer, when it is obvious to anybody that this is inappropriate.

It would be interesting to hear from engineers as to how much of their time (and company money) is wasted because of this.

I'd like to bet that this eats into most, if not all, of the perceived savings.

This, coupled with the customer care implications, leads me to believe that call centre operations should be done in house.

An added benefit of this would be the fact that, instead of making redundancies, VM would actually be taking ON staff and that benefits everybody in the UK.

Some companies have actually taken a concious decision not to outsource abroad because of the reasons stated or brought operations back in house.

I have made my views known to VM management on many occasions when the subject arose, but, at the end of the day, the decision is up to them :(

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

The are actually no jobs on offer for staff at the Albert Dock, you would have to apply for them and in most cases it will be for less money and far worse hours than we do at present.

No one is being offered a job in Swansea so most of any prior posts about work being offered to people in the Albert Dock are pretty pointless as it is not true.

So unless you were free and single and did not mind the prospect of moving possibly up to 250 miles away from home for less money and quite dissimilar hours and the upheaval involved in relocating to an area of the country that you do not know, with the likelihood of it being move fated to fail why would you bother to even contemplate such a move in the first place.

I doubt anyone with a family or a mortgage would consider such a move.

We are getting help with our CV's and interviews about the possibility of getting jobs nearer to home which in reality is what we really want.

So I and every other person affected by this closure would appreciate no more posts about relocating to Swansea as it is in reality just smoke and mirrors, and the sooner we have closure with regards an actual date to leave the better as far as I am concerned as I for one do not want to be switching the lights off.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I too had hoped that the incorrect belief that some members of staff were being slotted into jobs in Swansea had been put to bed, I was just responding to the query made by Nopanic as s/he was a little confused.

I accept, as I always have, that relocation may not be right for everybody (that's what I meant by "if appropriate" in my last post.) and, as it has been confirmed that there will be no benefit sanctions for those who choose not to apply to Swansea, who don't manage to find alternative employment, it is now a moot point in any case.

I'm glad that help is being offered to affected staff to try and get a job nearer home and wish you and everybody else good luck.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

It is a legal requirement and has been so for a very long time that companies have to help people in this way.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Indeed, it's unfortunate though that legislation had to be introduced to force some employers to do the right thing.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Her is a little something for you all to read CLICK ME

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

... and if VM had deliberately *not* sent the email and the book to the staff facing redundancy, the CWU would have accused the company of treating them as if they were already gone, all their past work was unvalued, etc etc etc.

The tragedy here is in the loss of jobs, pure and simple.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I found it amusing to be honest more than anything else.;)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Well, as you're the 'victim' I guess how you take it is up to you. :)

As an observer, however, I just :rolleyes: at the CWU over what is basically a meaningless piece of opportunism. As VM is going to go ahead with the closure regardless of what any MP, councillor or union rep says, I assume the CWU is just desperate to make as much noise as possible so that afterwards they can claim 'we did our best'.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

It was a no win situation for VM as the union would have used ether option to have a go.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Atlantic Pavilion isn't it, not Edward .. and Cardiff ? Swansea ..

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I was wondering who would be first to notice.:D

You win a prize.:D

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

"The company has offered Albert Dock workers the opportunity to relocate to a site in Cardiff."

People in this thread have said that those who wish to relocate would have to apply for jobs in Cardiff, with no ring fencing/special consideration.

Which is correct :confused:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

No it is incorrect as the supposed jobs are through Manpower for Virgin Media Matrix Court Llansamlet Swansea SA7 9BB, I did post this information a page or so back.

Also remember this is only the company paying lip service as the jobs are for less money and very different hours so no comparison.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Now why have you decided to bring this up today of all days ????

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I've done some agency work with Manpower a couple of years back ,one of the better agencies but still low paid

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

It is unrealistic for anyone with a family and a mortgage to move to Swansea especially as the are many similar jobs to be had locally, anyone who does move will probably be lucky to last 6 months down there as the job is not guaranteed and it is subject to them settling in and having a good scorecard in order to be made permanent.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

What are you talking about?

---------- Post added at 09:29 ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 ----------

Thanks for the clarification.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

ok apart from masque who else on these forums are from liverpool losing there jobs, i always thought the liverpool call centre was owned by virign and was the best

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

DF too :(

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

No the building is leased and it is up in a few months, on here just DF and myself but if you go to the community forum all of the forum teams are Liverpool based apart from the ADSL guys so they are losing their jobs as well.

I doubt anyone will be stupid enough to commit themselves to going down and working in Swansea for a minimum of 2 years on less wages and worse hours, but the may be the odd one who does not look into it properly and will blindly apply.

The are plenty of call centre jobs locally available if they want to stay in this line of work.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

On a side note, AFAIK, AP is owned by the same people that own Yodel (a couple of floors up).

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

It is CBRE Richard Ellis who are the landlords Yodel came in after we vacated floor 3 and 4, they are on the 3rd floor at present.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

I just hope our Cable Forum friends based at Albert Dock are able to find a new jobs as soon as possible, doing something they enjoy.

I truly feel sorry for all effected. Redundancy is terrible, but often leads to exciting opportunities.

Best wishes at this difficult time.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

The are many jobs locally offering similar work, I rather doubt anyone will be daft enough to move to Swansea as that will entail a minimum 2 year contract term to gain any so called benefit from the move plus the salary and terms and conditions are nowhere near what they presently enjoy.

Nice one.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Thanks Chad :tu:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

What a refreshing, upbeat and positive post :)

Whilst this is good news for the staff affected, it does make one wonder why there is so much unemployment in Liverpool if this is the case.

When does the VM presence at Albert Dock actually cease for good?

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

although I have had various debates on here with VM staff, I dont feel good about any of them losing their jobs, so I am letting that be known, and also did sign a petition for preserving the jobs as well.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Thank you much appreciated.:)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Thank you :)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

sorry to hear your loosing your jobs guys and girls. just adds to depressing thoughts with me trying to find one! hope you all get sorted asap.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Cheers, you too :)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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 ;)

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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 :-(

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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'

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

That not bad, an average of £2900 each.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

That will not apply above though so a separate issue.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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::erm:

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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".

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

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 ----------

Usually only the union members will get this payment.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

If you were not a union member at the time or failed to keep your union membership going after the redundancies then you are entitled to nothing, no so freeloaders allowed.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Why won't it apply, where is the money coming from? :confused:

I sympathise with trade union members who, for example, pay trade union subscriptions and are prepared to face the possible consequences of taking industrial action in order to achieve a pay rise, only to see a non union colleague who has done nothing to help, receive the pay rise too.

It's a bit like two houses where both get burgled. One has paid insurance, yet the other that hasn't still gets reimbursed for the stolen items.

You do have a point about some Trade Union leaders though, i've met a few...

I would imagine that if a group of former employees have been identified as being due a payment, trade union membership is irrelevant, unless this payment is different to the one i'm thinking of...

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

Id agree if there is reason found by the union for a payment it'll be for all employees ..

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

This will be a shock to some and they know who they are ;)

I have joined the CWU because our dept believe it is our only course of action . I am not happy about it seeing my stance on unions but at least it's not the bloody miners union and i have not seen the CWU beating people up, smashing windows and setting houses on fire yet :).

There are lots of reasons why we have joined and it not for me to post them on this forum. The CWU did meet with us and told us they have seen a very large increase in membership since the Albert dock closure and that they are looking at full recognition soon.

Re: Virgin Media Closing Albert Dock
 

As it is the union who took action over this then ONLY the union members will receive a payout, no non union members will be included or members who failed to keep up their subscriptions.

Take it from me this is how it works as non union members cannot be included and it is their loss.

Woolworths went into liquidation hence the tax payer footing the bill Virgin Media is just closing a site so it would be the company who would pay.

---------- Post added at 10:37 ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 ----------

As above if you are not in the union no possible future payout, union membership has its merits and this is one of them.