June 20, 2012 -- Two Bradford MPs are pressing for an urgent meeting with bosses at travel provider Thomas Cook in a bid to prevent the company’s doomed offices in the city centre becoming a disused white elephant.

Bradford West MP George Galloway and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe are hoping to get Thomas Cook to re-think plans to close its call centre at Aldermanbury, which will result in more than 460 job losses by next March.

They have also joined forces to commission an impact assessment from the University of Bradford and met with Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA travel union, at the Houses of Parliament as part of the fight to save jobs.

Gerry Sutcliffe said: "We hope to get round a table with senior management from Thomas Cook to discuss possible ways of averting this major loss of jobs."

George Galloway added that they wanted an urgent meeting with Thomas Cook to try and ensure that the Aldermanbury building "does not become another shrink-wrapped mausoleum in the city centre".

Mr Galloway added: "Gerry and I are determined to do everything we possibly can to save these crucial jobs."

The TSSA has entered a 90-day consultation process with the Cook management, with the planned closure due to take effect between December and March.

Meanwhile, Bradford Council leader Coun David Green has met TSSA regional organiser Brian Brock to discuss ways of offering help to staff from the Cook call centre who may be facing redundancy. Coun Green said he would liaise with the MPs in efforts to reduce the impact of the closure plans.

Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Source: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk