EDMONTON (NEWS1130) – Shaw Communications Inc. is hanging up its Alberta customer service centres in a decision that will affect 1,600 employees, including some in British Columbia.

Calgary-based Shaw (TSX:SJR.B) has announced it will close its centre in Edmonton in June, its Calgary centre next January and part of its Kelowna operation in June.

Chris Kucharski, a Shaw vice-president, says it’s part of a plan to improve service by expanding customer centres in four other cities.

“We decided to expand Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal after looking at the long-term performance of each of our locations,” he said. “Our customers can expect even better and more consistent experiences, whether they are ordering new services, requesting technical support or inquiring about their account.”

The changes will affect about 1,000 people in Calgary, 390 in Edmonton and 145 in Kelowna.

Shaw says it’s offering employees a choice of money to help pay for a move to another service centre, a chance to apply for a job at their current location in a different department or severance pay.