Tesco has said the 250 new customer service jobs promised for Dundee will be employed direct by the supermarket rather than by an outside agency.
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander had demanded assurances the positions promised by Tesco for its Customer Engagement Centre in Baird Avenue would be permanent positions with the firm.
Tesco revealed on Wednesday that it is closing its customer service centre in Cardiff, with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs but creating 250 new posts in Dundee.
The supermarket giant employs 1,100 staff at Baird Avenue but has used outside agencies such as Search Consultancy to provide customer service staff in the past.
Last year Tesco Mobile outsourced its customer service operations to Capita.
If staff are employed by an outside company rather than Tesco themselves, they may not be on full-time contracts and excluded from other benefits regular Tesco employees may receive.
One Tesco employee also contacted The Courier to say some of the Cardiff jobs were also being outsourced to Capita.
Tesco’s announcement came just 24 hours after Lloyds banking told staff it is axing 252 jobs at its Bank of Scotland call centre on Marketgait.
Councillor Alexander said: “Following this week’s good and bad news on the jobs front, I have contacted both Lloyds and Tesco to seek clarification on a number of issues.
“As a former employee of both call centres, I have a bit of inside knowledge which helps me to raise some pertinent issues.
“Whilst I’m pleased that Tesco are bringing jobs to Dundee, it’s at the expense of 1000 in Cardiff — so very much, bittersweet.
“Having just lost 252 full-time positions at Lloyds, it’s the same situation but in reverse and I take no joy from that. That said, more jobs for Dundee can only be a good thing.
“I am also waiting for clarification from Tesco on the jobs. As a former employee of Search Consultancy, who were contracted by Tesco, I want to make sure that these jobs are ‘proper’ full-time Tesco positions, well-paid and secure.”
Mr Alexander added: “I also want to ensure that Lloyds staff are supported and I will be meeting with senior representatives to ensure that they are doing their part.
“I have heard many things which do not suggest to me that the situation has been handled as well as it could have and I will raise these directly.
“I’m also seeking support to try to match up those that have lost their jobs and the new positions if at all possible. It makes perfect sense.
“Working with colleagues at all tiers of government and our partners we will ensure that a PACE framework — which offers support, guidance and contact with employers — is employed to help Lloyds staff.”
A spokesman for Tesco said the new staff would be employed directly by the company.
But he said it is too early to say when recruitment to fill those posts will begin.
He said: “The expectation is they would be Tesco employees.
“But the absolute priority just now is the Cardiff end of things.
“We want to make sure we do everything we can for our colleagues in Cardiff who are losing their jobs.”
