The final countdown for Talk Talk workers

AS The Final Countdown blared around the call centre, staff at Talk Talk in Waterford yesterday gathered in huddles, chatting, reminiscing and looking towards an uncertain future.

Just 30 days after they were given the news by senior management that the support centre was to be closed down, with the loss of 575 jobs, employees turned up for work at Talk Talk for the last time yesterday morning and left for the last time yesterday afternoon.

There was laughter at the good times, as those remaining gathered after lunch for a few reflective speeches, and more than a few tears.

“It’s hard now but it will probably only sink into people on Monday when they’ve nothing to do,” sales and retention manager Alan Kavanagh said outside, while inside the playlist on the stereo included Leaving on a Jet Plane, Hello Goodbye and Working Nine to Five.

“Today we’re just going through the memories and experiences of what’s been going on. It’s been a long 30 days and people are just accepting it now.”

As well as the memories, staff have been left with a redundancy package worth four-and-a-half weeks’ salary per year of employment, along with a one-off €1,600 payment and an extra €500 for team leaders.

While the mood was mostly one of resignation, after a month to digest the news, there was also the odd flash of anger.

“The way we were treated was horrendous,” one worker said.

“The [redundancy] negotiations went on by conference call. We were fired over the phone. They hadn’t even the decency to come over and look us in the eye and speak to us.”

There was no appearance yesterday by British management and, according to Trevor Prendergast, that is the way the workers wanted it. “There were rumours that our CEO, Dido Harding, was going to come over this week but the company decided against it. But the damage is done, what’s the point?”

Last month, in the days following the closure announcement, Trevor told reporters that he voted Fine Gael in the election and was prepared to give them a chance to help the region. Yesterday, as he left Talk Talk, he was more damning.

“Nothing,” was his assessment of what the Government had done.

“They haven’t done anything yet. I thought the college [Waterford Institute of Technology] might get university status but, unfortunately, there’s no sign of that. What made me laugh was that the first week, every politician was here but, after that, there was nothing from them.”

All pointed out there was little word in recent days about the “South-East employment forum” trumpeted by jobs minister Richard Bruton and IDA bosses when they visited Waterford last month.

“The post office will make a fortune out of us because we’ll be buying licences so we can walk our dogs to kill the time,” Seamus Purcell said with a wry grin. “I was in Waterford Crystal as well and a lot of them in Waterford Crystal are still walking their dogs. The city hasn’t recovered yet and we’re joining them now.”