Rage over call centre closure

This is according to ABC Net which further adds Telstra has promised to find alternative employment for the workers within the company and offered retraining programs and retrenchment benefits.

However, the International Business Times states that the Latrobe City Council is not taking in Telstra's words as its chief executive, Paul Buckley, told ABC that job positions are currently tight in the area and the company may find it "very difficult to try and replace 114 jobs particularly when it comes as a shock announcement."

According to the Latrobe Valley Express, a spokesperson for the Community and Public Sector Union, which represents telecommunications workers, described the decision as “blunt” and “heartless”.

Community and Public Sector Union lead organiser Teresa Davison says the decision has left staff at the centre feeling ``shocked'' and ``devastated''.

“They've been very committed to Telstra and they provide great customer service and (are) hard working and they feel like they've been kicked in the guts,'' Davison says.

Telstra spokesprson Karina Keisler says a new Telstra call centre in Melbourne's Docklands, employing more than 1 100 operators, is expected to take most of the Telstra customer calls now being handled in Moe, with any overflow to be dealt with by call centres in the Philippines, reveals The Age.