The front page of the Impartial Reporter of February 15 was on every seat at an emotional public meeting in the public meeting in the Westville Hotel on Monday night.
John McVitty’s front page picture captured the hurt and anger around 300 workers were feeling after the shock announcement that hundreds of them could lose their jobs after the decision to “review” the company's presence in Enniskillen was taken a few weeks ago.
That decision has been like a dagger in the heart of Enniskillen as a crowd of 250-many of them, worried workers came out to see if the threat to their jobs was as big as they feared.
But, while there was an understandable fear in the room that at least some of the jobs might go given the company’s ”divide and conquer” ploy of offering redundancy packages-there was also strong hope that Economy Minister Conor Murphy and Invest NI could be persuaded to come up with a package to save the jobs.
There was a call at the meeting for Minister Murphy and a representative of Invest NI to be invited to a future meeting.
The message from the top table of Stephen Albon, Communications Workers Union Representative (CWU), Mark Feehily, Regional CWU Secretary, Joe Fee, Northern Ireland Branch Chairperson and Erin Massey-Regional CWU Secretary was to “fight to save the jobs and to remove the argument from EE/BT to close the branch.”
Northern Ireland Branch Secretary, Mark Feehily who works in the Centre as does his wife, told the meeting that it had been “just over three weeks since the announcement that the EE/BT Centre had not been identified as a long-term location for consumer contact centres.
On the same day, a voluntary paid leavers scheme was opened.
“That day was February 8 2024, the day all our lives changed.
“The early feeling was that the Centre would close, and we would all be out of work in an area of already severe economic imbalance and 300 people chasing minimum wage jobs.
“On February 8, the future looked dire but since that date the CWU have been out and about and in the ears of anyone that will make a difference.”
Mr. Feehily said they had also spoken to Invest NI and the Department of the Economy where Conor Murphy is Minister.
“You must know that everyone we have spoken to is behind you and they will do whatever needs to be done within their power to save your jobs here in Enniskillen."
Mr. Feehily said that Mr Murphy described BT as an excellent brand that had a good relationship with his department.
Mr. Murphy also noted that between 2017 and 2020 Invest NI offered the company almost £9m in grant support for two projects in Northern Ireland.
He added: “Should the job losses in Enniskillen materialise, it will be completely contrary to my economic vision and particularly to the objective of regional balance and it would also damage the reputation of BT.”
Mr. Feehily said the statement from the Economy Minister was highly significant.
“Mr. Murphy has effectively nailed his colours to the mast, and this will be his first real test as to how he can convince companies like EE/BT to buy into his economic vision.”
Mr. Feehily said they had a meeting already with the Department of the Economy and Invest NI and all are on the same page.
He added that EE/BT have been in discussion with all the stakeholders as were the union who remain convinced that they can turn this around if both sides showed flexibility.
The company has said that no final decision had been made and the union accepted that.
“This clearly means that this is not a done deal and we are not 'flogging a dead horse' as was reported in some quarters."
But he did see an obstacle in the voluntary paid leavers scheme.
“To be clear we are not opposing the scheme or those who want to leave the company for whatever reason for a new career path or longevity."
He added: "Up the workers".
He was warmly applauded and then CWU National Officer Stephen Albon said they wanted to bring clarity to the situation.
“People are fighting for their jobs, and you should not be penalised for fighting for your job.
“Also, we need to know what is on the table from the Department of the Economy and Invest NI and my job is to remove the reason for the company to leave.
“So, if there is financial backing what is that financial backing? It is interesting that Conor Murphy is telling EE/BT that there will be consequences if they close down Enniskillen.”
He added that there will be a further meeting with the company this week.
SDLP Councillor Adam Gannon said he had been speaking with EE/BT reps and a further meeting was scheduled for April 19 as the company wanted to see the results of the voluntary leavers scheme.
“Invest NI and the Department of the Economy have the power to bring in funding to keep the jobs here.
“They might not do that as it might encourage other companies to threaten to pull jobs to get more money, but the conversation needs to be had.
“Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will be asking Mr. Conor Murphy for written confirmation if he will consider sanctions against EE/BT if the jobs go and if he will put an embargo on EE/BT getting any Invest NI programme."
Eddie Roofe of the Alliance party said they met with the union and MLA’s were now more understanding of what was involved.
They met with the CEO of Invest NI and that body said they were working very hard to try and find a solution for a site in Enniskillen and were going through various options but were keen to stress that it was sensitive information.
They met with EE/BT last week, but it was only half an hour and inconclusive and “frustrating” and “was a waste of our time.”
“But this is not over.”
Ulster Unionist party Councillor Diana Armstrong said the workers had universal support and to have this “threat over the jobs of the EE/BT workers was totally immoral and totally unacceptable.”
“We need to look for solutions and if EE/BT have a problem with what is happening in Enniskillen we need to counter that and say Invest NI have invested heavily in EE/BT in Belfast.
“Invest NI along with EE/BT should invest in new products that are being trialled on the market and they could make Enniskillen the place to do it as it had the staff with the experience to do this.
“Invest NI needed to get a package to support Enniskillen and have research into new products for EE/BT and this was something that should be pushed.
“Every single job is worth fighting for ... our meeting with the company was a “shambles.”
One speaker said they were playing chicken with EE/BT and the message had to go out that they did so because they "had no other choice".
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