Mike Hedges AM asks Leader of House for an update on the Welsh Government Support for Virgin Media staff.

Mike Hedges AM asks Leader of House for an update on the Welsh Government Support for Virgin Media staff.

Mike Hedges said…. ‘I welcome the answer from Julie James AM that Welsh Government has been supporting the staff put together an alternative to the closure plan which has been fed in to the consultation process. It is disconcerting to read however of Virgin Media impeding staff from accessing support and being difficult about time off to attend interviews. I would expect Virgin Media to be sympathetic to staff in these circumstances.’

Questions to the Leader of the House

Mike Hedges AM - Firstly, can I request an update on Welsh Government action to help people working for Virgin Media? It has been reported in the South Wales Evening Post that employees have been refused time off to attend job tests and to attend job interviews, despite the fact that their jobs are seriously under threat. Has the Welsh Government taskforce been given access to Virgin Media and an opportunity to talk to the staff there in order to give them support? A loss of almost 800 jobs anywhere is bound to have a major effect on the local economy.

Julie James AM - In terms of Virgin Media, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, I know, is meeting very soon with Virgin Media senior management to further discuss the plans for closure, the reasons behind the decision, and to offer what support we can to help reverse the decision if at all possible. The taskforce stands ready to support any affected staff if we're not able to reverse that decision. Officials have held recent meetings with both Virgin Media management and employer representatives to assess the current situation and offer assistance where at all appropriate. The collective consultation period, I understand, started on 23 May and will run for a minimum of 45 days. A counter-proposal from the employee representatives aimed at keeping the site open will be considered as part of this, and the Welsh Government has afforded assistance to the employee side in order to help put that counter-proposal together. 

Ends