Firstsource 'refusing' to uplift pay enhancement for Now TV staff

Not all of the Firstsource employees in Derry currently at risk of redundancy have been offered an improved pay enhancement on top of their statutory redundancy, Derry News understands.

It emerged last week, the employees initially offered 10% by Results CX, the Firstsource ‘competitor’ handling some the redundancy negotiations, had been made an improved offer of 24%. These employees dealt with the Sky contract.

However, this offer has not been extended to the other Firstsource employees at risk of redundancy. This includes those who service the Now TV contract, a sister company of Sky, both of which are under the Comcast banner, as well as other staff. As a result, these employees have sought legal advice.

In a letter seen by Derry News, these staff members were told: “You may have been made aware that an enhanced redundancy package offering has been made to those who are directly impacted by the Firstsource to Results CX TUPE transfer.

“I understand that this has raised questions amongst those who have not been in consultation to transfer to Results CX and whether this enhanced package will be offered across the board.

“We strictly follow the local employment legislation regarding any consultation process. 

“We understand that employees are concerned and frustrated, however, it is important to recognise there are different circumstances to consider for both the location of roles and where the roles are moving to. Because of the complex nature of multiple processes running at the same time, the terms vary and depend on a number of factors.

“Firstsource is still committed to the enhanced redundancy package of 10% to those not impacted by the announcement made last week however, will not be increasing this offer.”

Speaking to Derry News, a Firstsource employee who wished to remain anonymous said the staff who worked on the Now TV were under the same contractual agreement Firstsource had with Sky.

They added: “Those employees report to Sky. Their wages and bonuses are all paid by Sky. If Sky processes change, they are in the same calls. The day everyone was made at risk of redundancy, they were all in one call because we are Sky.

“Our jobs are technically moving to Firstsource India and because of our contract size, Firstsource is saying we have no grounds to challenge the 10% enhancement we have been offered.

“The point is, staff members had no say in where the jobs were going and no say in the contract size, so we were at a disadvantage from the start.

“The Sky jobs are going to Results CX in Bulgaria which is a different company and Firstsource is saying because it is a different company, Firstsource is not going to match the Results CX offer.”

According to the Firstsource employee, people have also been deployed to other contracts and have subsequently lost out on redundancy.

They added: “The situation in the company is extremely frustrating. People trying to talk to senior members of staff about the process are being treated with contempt. 

“People who have been here for years. Requests for meetings are being ignored. We feel we are being discriminated against. It is not ethical.”