ON TUESDAY employees at BT Enniskillen were invited to another online session.

Most everyone knew what the purpose of the session was. Since that announcement back in February, only one thing had been on the minds of local employees; closure.

This week, that threat, which has hung over workers’ head for over two months, became a cold reality.

Employees in the session heard how BT management had taken the “difficult decision” to propose closing the BT/EE contact centre in Enniskillen.

The centre will close on October 31; Hallowe’en night. A scary reality for over 300 local workers.

The online session was the confirmation of what many felt was a foregone conclusion, but it was still a “bitter blow”.

Employees were given the option to go home early; those working from home were told to log off without completing their shift. Many did so, to take in the news.

“It’s a sad day all around,” said one employee who was on the call.

“We knew it was coming but that doesn’t make it any easier to hear.”

Employees were told that “outplacement” support is available to employees.

In simple terms, this means BT will provide help with CV writing, interview preparation and career decisions.

They can also offer employees “advice on starting a business”.

A timeline was then laid out in black and white.

For the 80 per cent of workers who signed a Voluntary Paid Leaver (VPL) scheme, after October they will be placed on ‘Garden Leave’, and December 31 will be their last day of service.

But the remaining 20 per cent will be forced to make even bigger decisions about their future.

As part of the proposal, work will be moved to other more “strategic sites”, which could see workers sent from rural Fermanagh to locations as far away as Belfast, Warrington/Gosforth, and Newcastle, England. However, in order to be considered to be moved to be moved to another location within BT, employees must be within “reasonable travel” of a BT building - 90 minutes.

Many in the session knew this could be problematic. The nearest BT building is situated at Riverside Tower, Belfast.

If this distance isn’t feasible - which is a reality for many who live and work in Fermanagh - BT will offer Discretionary Enhanced Redundancy (EVS).

no details of the terms of this redundancy package were given, but BT said that “an estimate” will be provided in due course. Those interested in this scheme are invited to provide an “expression of interest”.

Employees were then briefed on what roles could potentially be relocated. Team leaders, those in the Billing team, or those within one of the corporate teams can be moved to Belfast.

In addition, guides within the Digital Care team and members of the Social Media and Community Guide roles can be transferred to a Connections Guide role in Belfast.

Those within the Social Media and Community team may have the option to apply for newly-created roles in Newcastle, and if so, they will receive “priority candidate’ status.

“We’re here to help you if you need support during this proposed change”, employees were also told.

“Please continue to speak to your manager throughout the next few days and weeks.”

An employee on the call said that the confirmation of closure will see “a sad end to things” at BT Enniskillen.

“We are all just sad and devastated,” the employee said. “We are still not 100 confirmed until they speak to the unions, but we know when they want and plan to close the building. It will be a sad ending to things.”

The employee also hit out at what he described as a “lack of communication” from BT in recent months, as well as “pressure on workers” to sign up for a voluntary redundancy package.

“They were closing us no matter what, and sowed enough doubt that most of us would take it (the VPL scheme),” the employee said.

“It’s not so much why they have done it. It is how they have done it that hurts the most.”