Npower set to cut 1,400 jobs
Energy supplier Npower looks set to cut 1,400 jobs, as it restructures its UK operations. Confirmation of the losses is expected from the group tomorrow.
Speculation this afternoon is that it is on the verge of announcing its intention to offshore more than 1,400 jobs to India and transfer hundreds of others to a private company.
Npower is one of five energy companies to controversially up its energy tariffs above the rate of inflation.
The union Unison has described the news as a “Christmas nightmare for staff and customers” and has warned Npower that the decision will backfire badly in terms of its reputation with UK customers.
Matthew Lay, Unison's national officer for business and environment, said:
Npower have consistently let their customers and staff down by not investing enough in the workforce, technology or in the latest customer service techniques. This has led to a huge number of complaints which the company seems to think they can deal with by shifting the responsibility to somewhere else – including to India.
I'm told 2 of 3 sites at Peterlee in County Durham will close, along with closures of Npower offices in Stoke and Thornaby
— Laura Kuenssberg (@ITVLauraK) November 27, 2013