TeleTech laying off 200 people
Posted Sep 6, 2012 09:54:17 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Over 200 call centre employees received layoff notices Wednesday as management at the Bayers Lake TeleTech Holdings Inc. announced it will close the location Nov. 30 unless new contracts can be secured.
Halifax residents are empathizing with the employees who may be out of a job.
“It’s always sad when people are losing their jobs,” said John. “It’s a hard time right now, and things don’t seem to be getting a whole lot better.”
“People are barely getting by with the economy,” said one woman. “I don’t know how people are going to do it if they just have a one-income family.”
In 2003, the Colorado-based company signed a six-year deal with the province resulting in an $11.8 million payroll rebate.
Wednesday’s announcement comes two years after TeleTech closed its Amherst location, laying off 200 employees.
Speaking to people on the street, taxpayers say they haven’t gotten their money’s worth.
“Nope. Definitely not,” said one woman. “How can they lay off people? That’s a lot of money.”
“It’s not good enough,” said Larry. “If it helps people keep their jobs, then I think it’s great. But don’t let people lose their jobs.”
TeleTech is the latest company to be facing financial trouble after receiving financial support from the province.
In 2005, the provincial government committed $19 million to help RIM establish itself in Nova Scotia and hire 1,200 local employees. In August, employees said over 100 people were laid off from the Bedford location.
In December, the Dexter government committed $30 million to the Bowater Mersey paper mill, just six months before Resolute Forest Products announced it would shut down the plant permanently.
Not all of the provincial investments have been drawn down and spent, but taxpayers News 95.7 spoke with still aren’t happy with the ongoing pattern.
“Nova Scotia just doesn’t seem to learn. We’ve been giving money and losing money ever since I can remember. Way back to Clairtone,” said John.
The collapse of Clairtone Sound Ltd. in 1967 cost the province $30 million after a debacle over the premature production of colour T.V. sets. Many of the company’s problems were blamed on choosing to set up a factory in Stellarton, N.S., after the community lost jobs tied to the mining industry.
