June 21, 2012 -- Union leaders and several community organizations plan to hold a rally to protest the closing of the T-Mobile USA Inc. call center in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, the AFL-CIO announced this afternoon.

The rally coincides with the last day of work at the call center for its employees, according to Gregg Potter, president of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council.

T-Mobile in March announced that the center on Roble Road was one of seven being shuttered by the end of June. The center at one point employed 605 people, most of whom lost their jobs as a result of the closing. The company said at the time of the announcement that some workers would be offered relocation opportunities at company sites elsewhere.

A T-Mobile spokesman this evening said in an emailed statement that almost 20 percent of employees in the closed call centers chose to transfer to other T-Mobile call centers. The statement did not break down how many from the local call center were given that option.

"Others have taken advantage of outplacement and career support services provided to assist them in their professional transition," the company statement says, adding T-Mobile offered employees more than 37,000 hours of classes along with career coaching and other services. "We are actively hiring at our 17 remaining U.S. call centers."

The labor council says the center's closing was shortsighted.

"What T-Mobile failed to disclose is that calls that were taken here will now be handled by representatives based in the Philippines, Guatemala, Mexico and other countries." Potter said in a statement. "Whatever short term cost savings T-Mobile will realize, the taxpayers, customers and communities will all suffer as a result of this shortsighted decision."

T-Mobile, in its statement, indicated the closings were necessary.

"Consolidating call centers from 24 to 17 was an important step for T-Mobile to maintain a competitive cost structure," the statement says.

Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com