Breaking News - VM axes 149 jobs. - Page 2

**Hugh** · 09-03-2007, 16:08

On a technicality, 149 jobs "at risk of redundancy" is not the same as "149 jobs axed" (speaking as someone who has been "at risk" and "made redundant").

For example, if they have to lose 50 (made up number) Customer Service Assistant posts, all the people at that level are put "at risk"; then, through assessment, the 50 (or however many it is) are notified that they are redundant.

So hopefully for those involved, it won't be nearly 150 losing their jobs, though it will still be awful for those involved.

Toto · 09-03-2007, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTLVictim

Good point..very likely.

At the time of the merger, VM, or ntl:Telewest as they were then stated that approx 6000 jobs would go by the end of 2007.

This announcement seems to be part of that restructure, and I will assume more will go when they finally consolidate their billing system. That is due in the last quarter of 2007.

NTLVictim · 09-03-2007, 17:30

When Burch said in public "our service has been crap", that's when I knew the axe would swing...it's never nice when anyone gets fired, but with that statement and the fact it is one company now instead of 14 chancers, from the customers point of view it will get better and enable them to compete.

Before anybody has a pop at me, that's how the world works, I didn't make the rules!

149 of ntls worst managers hitting the bricks has some appeal to it, mind...

Marge · 09-03-2007, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTLVictim

When Burch said in public "our service has been crap", that's when I knew the axe would swing...it's never nice when anyone gets fired, but with that statement and the fact it is one company now instead of 14 chancers, from the customers point of view it will get better and enable them to compete.

Before anybody has a pop at me, that's how the world works, I didn't make the rules!

149 of ntls worst managers hitting the bricks has some appeal to it, mind...

Sorry but as someone who has recently been made redundant, not fired by Virgin Media can I just point out there is a world of difference between the two

Also, there have been lots of shifting about of jobs and redundancies that haven't made the news, so another 149 at risk isn't really a shock anymore

Toto · 09-03-2007, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTLVictim

149 of ntls worst managers hitting the bricks has some appeal to it, mind...

So the annoucement was 149 managers going, or is this just your usual retoric?

Rik · 09-03-2007, 18:53

Well I just hope these job losses WONT affect my service, and Customer Care will be just as good as it is now.

AndyCambs · 09-03-2007, 19:00

I'm sorry to hear of any redundancies, having been through the process myself. (In my case, I had six days notice before my job was terminated). I hope with these people that there is the opportunities to find another job fairly quickly.

NTLVictim · 09-03-2007, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

So the annoucement was 149 managers going, or is this just your usual retoric?

It was wishful thinking, but from my own personal experience, it's the poor bloody infantry who take the brunt.

I've seen enough of it trust me, and I did extend sympathy to those who will go...you seem to have missed it.

Oh, and it's "announcement" and "rhetoric", if we are being picky.

Bored Cable Cust · 09-03-2007, 19:55

A change of badge definately does not make a change in management style.. I went from United Artists to Telewest Communications to Telewest Broadband to NTL:Telewest before I got so sick of nothing changing that when they offered redundancy, I took it just prior to the VM transformation. and from what the people I used to work with have said it's still the same style, except now the reduced headcount is having an increased workload heaped on them to make up for the jobcuts......

handyman · 09-03-2007, 19:56

I hope they drag the currently outsourced Virgin Mobile CS in house. Garlands is a shockingly abysmal operation, If they ditched Garlands and brought the jobs to Preston park in house it would be an improvement and would offset the loss from the ntl side.

Garlands operates Virgin mobile from a few floors of the CNE building in Middlesbrough but also is building a brand new centre a couple of hundred yards from the Virgin site at Preston Park.

andygrif · 09-03-2007, 23:49

Sorry to hear of such potential cuts at a time which should be great fun for those working there....bullish business attitude, part of the Virgin family, lots of talk about invenstment and improvement.

It does damage morale for a time when this happens, and right now staff should be feeling positive.

NTLVictim · 10-03-2007, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbie B

Sorry but as someone who has recently been made redundant, not fired by Virgin Media can I just point out there is a world of difference between the two

Of course in your case that's true Debbie, (grovel)

but it ain't always like that..

I remember one dump I worked for a while ago having a round of redundancies, and one useless little liability dodged the bullet by changing jobs-then that job ceased to exist, and they moved departments.
A week later a new round was announced, and I heard a manager say "I'll get the little blank this time, he's got nowhere left to hide!"

"Redundancy" can be a euphemism..

Another one to watch for is someone being put on a "special project", that normally means their fate is sealed.

Toto · 10-03-2007, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyman

I hope they drag the currently outsourced Virgin Mobile CS in house. Garlands is a shockingly abysmal operation, If they ditched Garlands and brought the jobs to Preston park in house it would be an improvement and would offset the loss from the ntl side.

Garlands operates Virgin mobile from a few floors of the CNE building in Middlesbrough but also is building a brand new centre a couple of hundred yards from the Virgin site at Preston Park.

Garlands also does overflow for Virgin.net, but I think they may be Fujitsu.

Media Boy UK · 11-03-2007, 16:11

A woman on BBC News 24 says on Friday 'Virgin Media is to axe 149 jobs as part of the NTL/Telewest takeover.'

kibblerok · 11-03-2007, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

At the time of the merger, VM, or ntl:Telewest as they were then stated that approx 6000 jobs would go by the end of 2007.

This announcement seems to be part of that restructure, and I will assume more will go when they finally consolidate their billing system. That is due in the last quarter of 2007.

Indeed it is part of the plan announced ages ago, they have got rid of a few, but far far less than 6000.... at the moment