Opplysningen 1881 Call Center Closing in Namsos
Eighteen employees in Namsos will lose their jobs after Fonecta Group decided to close the local directory assistance department, Namdalsavisa reported.
Employees were informed of the closure on Thursday afternoon following weeks of downsizing discussions. Traffic at the call center has dropped sharply in recent years, prompting the Finnish owner to proceed with the shutdown.
The Namsos branch has operated directory assistance for 65 years. Its lease in Havnegata runs until June 2027, marking the definitive end for the historical site.
Union representatives fail to convince the board with cost-cutting proposals
Employee representatives spent weeks in Microsoft Teams meetings arguing for alternative cost-cutting measures. Venke Heimdal, chief union representative for El & It and employee board representative, said the board rejected every proposal.
We thought we had a small chance to convince them, but it didn’t work,
Heimdal told Namdalsavisa. We’ve tried as hard as we can to argue, but had no chance.
Union members proposed cheaper rental alternatives in Namsos to lower overhead costs. Management also received requests to distribute workforce cuts evenly between Namsos and a sister department on Otta.
Ann-Iren Staldvik Roli, local union representative for El & It, expressed frustration over the protracted negotiations. We’ve sat through so many hours in teams meetings and spoken our case for nothing. It’s too damn bad,
she told Namdalsavisa.
Senior workers face pension losses and age disparities
The Namsos workforce carries a high average age of over 56 years, with several employees logging up to 40 years of service. Meanwhile, the Otta sister branch employs 24 workers with lower average seniority.
Heimdal criticized the decision to protect staff on Otta while letting go of senior workers in Namsos. She pointed to one member who faces a lifelong loss of roughly 1.4 million Norwegian kroner because the layoff arrives just months before she qualifies for contractual early retirement, known as AFP.
So-called pension robbery,
Heimdal said to Namdalsavisa.
Employees face long commutes or legal consultation
All 18 Namsos employees received offers to relocate to the Otta branch, a commute spanning approximately seven hours by car. Heimdal stated that the probability of any local worker accepting the transfer is zero.
Workers plan to consult with lawyers to review their legal rights and what they are entitled to. Union leaders intend to prioritize safeguarding older employees who face severe economic losses.
Amund Lein, the mayor of Namsos, expressed disappointment with the Finnish owners. He noted that the call center once served as the largest employer in the municipality outside of the hospital, employing up to 200 people at its peak before internet adoption eroded traditional directory inquiries.
Questions about Fonecta Group closing the Namsos office
Why did Fonecta Group close the Namsos office?
A drastic decline in traffic volume over recent years was the reason for the downsizing, according to Namdalsavisa.
How many workers are affected by the shutdown?
Eighteen employees face job losses in Namsos, while 24 workers remain at the sister branch on Otta, Namdalsavisa reported.
When will the call center officially shut its doors?
Operations will cease permanently when the lease in Havnegata expires in June 2027, concluding 65 years of directory assistance in Namsos, according to Namdalsavisa.
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