PLANS to outsource thousands of call centre jobs by Telefonica O2 have been branded ‘a betrayal of staff’ by unions.

A shock announcement on Tuesday has confirmed that up to 600 people could be made redundant from four sites and more than 3,000 transferred to Capita.

The move will affect around 1,000 staff at the O2 call centre in Preston Brook, and many more in Glasgow, Leeds, and Bury.

Andy Kerr, deputy general secretary of the Communications Workers Union, said: “We’re gravely concerned about the future of these jobs as how will savings be made if not through attacks on jobs and terms and conditions?

“These are decent jobs paying around £3 an hour more than other Capita call centre staff.

“A cut in pay would be bad news for the local economy and a disaster for families.

“People are being dispensed with in a cold accountancy exercise designed to save money.

“This is a betrayal of staff who have built this company and made it successful.”

02 says it is investing £50 million extending its partnership for a further 10 years to expand digitally led customer services.

An O2 spokesman said: “Around 828 people will be subject to a transfer to Capita.

“We need to stress that for most people they will be doing the same or very similar job in the same building.

“There will be no compulsory redundancies. The affected people will see no significant changes to the contractual terms and conditions.”

Feilim Mackie, sales and services director at Telefonica UK, said: “Soaring smartphone usage and mobile internet has fundamentally changed what people expect from customer service.

“Customers want a broader and more flexible way to contact companies.

“That’s why O2 has today announced a comprehensive plan to make sure we continue to serve our customers in new, innovative, digital ways and maintain our leadership in customer experience.”