Vodafone to move 300 jobs to North, says union

The Communications Workers Union has warned that more than 300 jobs are being exported to the North following the decision by Vodafone to switch service providers.

Tele Perfomance, which is based in Newry, has won the contract to provide customer support from Rigney Dolphin.

As part of the changes, 26 Vodafone roles and 290 contract roles will transfer to Tele performance.

Vodafone and Rigney Dolphin are now entering into a six-week consultation process.

The CWU said this puts at risk the jobs of the existing customer care workers based in Dublin and Dundalk.

Terry Delaney, deputy General Secretary with the CWU, said the decision by Vodafone showed a "callous disregard" for the livelihoods of Irish workers.

"They are attempting to paint the picture that this is merely a change of agency. That is not the case. Before the year is out, there will be 353 jobs gone fropm Vodafone in southern Ireland to a vodafone provider in the North of Ireland."