Derry Call Centre Crisis Threatens 250 Jobs

Fears are growing for the overall future of one of Derry City's biggest employers.

With jobs already being lost on each side of the nearby border in a variety of industries, the news emerged when Stream International called staff together for a major announcement.

The firm's management revealed that 250 workers could lose their jobs if another contract is not found in 90 days.

At present, more than 600 people are employed at the firm's Branch Road site which also has offices on Spencer Road - about half of the number initially on the books at the two facilities after previous cut-backs.

Stream provides support services for technology companies at the two locations in the Waterside and Cityside areas.

A contract loss in February led to the previous job losses.

The latest news emerged following a meeting with senior management at Stream International on Wednesday afternoon.

All staff, including those who were off-duty or coming off shifts, were asked to attend.

It at first looked likely that the entire Derry operation was to be placed on 90 days redundancy notice.

Local SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey said that the news is a major cause for concern for workers.

"They're very nervous, and it's understandably so. They want to know the bottom line, and whether they going to have jobs for the foreseeable future, or if not, what's going to happen," he said.

(BMcc/JM)