Back to the future at Virgin Media O2 as franchised stores are brought back in-house
Telecoms & Financial Services June 13 2023
A major in-sourcing of previously outsourced O2 stores that is just getting underway is being hailed by the CWU as “good news” for job security and collectively negotiated terms and conditions.
Hot on the heels of a CWU-brokered pay deal that delivers just over 10% in cash terms this year for those working in the company’s network of directly managed O2 mobile phone shops, the move to bring previously franchised stores back into Virgin Media O2 ownership means the opportunity of significant uplifts for incoming employees.
And with most of the first wave of ex-franchise employees joining VMO2 within the last few weeks seizing chance to transfer to CWU-negotiated Ts&Cs, the move also represents a golden opportunity for the union to increase its membership base in the formerly diminished but now expanding directly-managed store network.
Welcoming Virgin Media O2’s shift away from a franchised retail model which was vigorously opposed by the CWU when mass store outsourcings took place under Telefonica management, CWU national officer Tracey Fussey told CWU News: “This change of tack will not just create job vacancies in some of the stores as they come back into VMO2 ownership, but also provide for secure and direct employment with VMO2 and opportunity for transferring employees to be included within our collective bargaining unit.”
“Plans are already being drawn up for CWU visits to each and every site to capitalise on a significant recruitment opportunity.”
Tracey concludes: “When each store transfers to VMO2 they will close for two weeks for a full store re-fit, and during that time employees will attend training at their nearest company-owned O2 store – allowing them to be trained on O2 systems, processes and procedures.
“The National Team will be meeting the company on a monthly basis to be kept updated on the progress of the stores coming back into company ownership – not least so we can co-ordinate our site visits.”
Any new or existing team member employees in VMO2 who are not currently members of the union can easily and quickly join the CWU by clicking here.