Local news jobs to be outsourced to IndiaOutsourcing has reared its ugly head in Oxford with plans by Newsquest, owners of the Oxford Mail and Times, to have the setting of its display advertising made up by a firm based in India. Outsourcing has reared its ugly head in Oxford with plans by Newsquest, owners of the Oxford Mail and Times, to have the setting of its display advertising made up by a firm based in India.
Atex, which is a US firm, is to set the advertising at the Oxford, Swindon and Worcester divisions in a major cost-cutting exercise. Eight jobs are to be axed in Oxford from a pool of 24.
So far the company is seeking volunteers for redundancy but will push for compulsory redundancies if the required number do not come forward.
A 30-day consultation period is under way, but staff are struggling to find out detailed information. The local branch of the Unite union, which covers this area, is watching events.
Atex can also offer the outsourcing of editorial work, but there has been no suggestion – so far–- that that is in the company's plans. Outsourcing of editorial jobs is not unknown in the UK, of course. Over the past few years, Reuters and the FT have both experimented with exporting certain jobs to India.
AW 2008-05-02
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