Call centre jobs at risk as Qantas reviews its Hobart operations

The jobs of Qantas call centre staff are under a cloud after the company said it would offer an unspecified number of voluntary redundancies

THE jobs of more than 200 Qantas call centre staff are under a cloud after the company said it would offer an unspecified number of voluntary redundancies.

The union representing workers at the Glenorchy call centre says Qantas has not committed to remaining in the state beyond 2024 and the jobs could end up going overseas.

Qantas yesterday confirmed it was reviewing operations in Tasmania because of changing customer behaviour but said it was staying for the long term.

The future of the call centre was secured with a government handout in 2014 — believed to be around $8 million.

QANTAS CALL CENTRE TO STAY IN HOBART

Australian Services Union organiser Aaron De La Torre said staff numbers had fallen from a high of 540 staff to just over 200.

“It’s very early at this stage. The union has met with management twice now to discuss the potential for redundancies,” he said.

“It looks like there will be some voluntary redundancies offered, but there’s not information on how many will be offered or what they’re trying to achieve.

“They have told us they’re committed to being a call centre for premium customers until 2024.”

Mr De La Torre said there was plenty of work for the Hobart staff to do — but the company had in the past outsourced operations to Cape Town, Auckland and Manila where wages are lower.

“They have unlimited overtime at the moment, they have long waits for the calls coming in so we don’t understand why redundancies are being offered,” he said.

The union and the company are expected to meet next week to discuss the number and timing of job losses.

There is uncertainty over the future of the Qantas call centre in Hobart. Picture: Evan Morgan

A Qantas spokesman confirmed the call centre’s future was under review.

“We’ve seen many customers move away from voice calls to other channels such as social media, text message and web chat to have their queries answered which has given us an opportunity to look at the operations of the Hobart call centre,” he said.

“We’ve let our staff know that there may be an opportunity to apply for a voluntary redundancy if they choose.

“There is absolutely no intention for any compulsory redundancies and Qantas remains committed to its premium call centre in Hobart for the long term.”

During the 2013 federal election, Vodafone was granted $4 million to maintain 700 jobs at the call centre. The State Government contributed $850,000 to provide the company with payroll tax relief.

State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein said the Government was “disappointed in any potential reduction in staff”.

There are about 200 jobs remaining at the call centre.