By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - May 30, 2008
Efforts are underway to try and keep a large employer firmly in Vernon. North Okanagan Regional District officials met Wednesday with Sutherland Global Services to ensure the call centre and its 150 jobs will remain in place. “There’s concerns about Sutherland possibly closing and moving because it’s happened in other Okanagan communities,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “We wanted to verify what their plans are and to let them know that we are willing to work with them to address any issues.” Sutherland officials insist there aren’t plans to close the operation, but they admit there are financial pressures. “Sutherland is challenged with the ever changing foreign exchange rate and the increasing cost of doing business in Canada,” said Tom Stuewe, senior vice-president, in a written statement from his New York office. “This is multiplied in Vernon by a lack of affordable housing or training programs.” Specifically, the strength of the Canadian dollar makes it difficult to attract foreign clients, when call centre services are less costly in countries such as India. “The big issue is trying to get the right client in here that will pay for the service,” said Lippert.
One option that was discussed Wednesday is providing call centre services to Canadian-based companies so labour costs and the value of the dollar aren’t factors. “Sutherland is currently running a marketing campaign specifically targeted to attract Canadian businesses to our Canadian locations,” said Stuewe. Sutherland has promised to bring back some information to NORD, and then the regional district will look at how to handle the situation. “We want to be proactive and if there is something we can do, we should do it,” said Jerry Oglow, NORD chairman. Oglow has suggested that discussions may be needed with the provincial government. Lippert also agrees that civic leaders should be accessing their contacts. “We have opportunities to open certain doors that private business always can’t,” he said. Sutherland’s operations in Ontario have worked with governments there to create apprenticeship programs. “These programs create a deep pool of candidates and a community wide relationship with the cities. Sutherland would welcome this type of program in Vernon,” said Stuewe. Lippert insists that it’s crucial to keep people employed at Sutherland.“It’s more effective to try and keep an employer than let them go and try and recruit a new one,” he said.
2 comments:
What a pile of BS. Oglow and Lippert do not know what they are talking about!
When are our mouthbreathing local politicians goin to realize that these cll-centre companies are nothing but a band of carpet-baggers. They exploit their workers, add nothing to the fabric of the community and suck millions of dollars out. If we need this type of industry, there is something wrong with our local economies. Aren't there enough jobs at the rapidly expanding casinos?
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