PRU(dential Insurance) Moves Jobs to India

[Divernan]

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http://money.guardian.co.uk/news_/story/0,,1761752,00.html
Pru moves jobs to India

Chris Johnston and agencies
Wednesday April 26, 2006


Insurance giant Prudential will close three offices in the UK and move some jobs to India, it announced today.Offices in Belfast, Bristol and London will close as part of a drive to save £40m, with work being transferred to Craigforth in Scotland, Derby and Mumbai in India.The Belfast office, which employs 500 staff, will close by the end of next year, while the Bristol office, which employs 40, will close in 12 months.The insurance firm employs about 5,800 workers in Britain and more than 1,100 at a customer service centre in India.

Amicus pledged to fight the move, raising the threat of strikes to protect the jobs of UK workers.The union said that jobs would be lost because of the changes, adding that an office in Reading would also close during 2008.It warned of strikes and accused Prudential of waiting until an agreement on compulsory redundancies resulting from moving jobs offshore had expired before making the announcement.Amicus national officer David Fleming said the move went against the spirit of agreements that had been "torn up" by Prudential."Amicus is prepared to fight these proposals and we will support our members in any action they choose to take to protect their jobs," he said.


He said: "This is a shock announcement that will hit many people very hard. The company has been providing jobs at Clarendon Dock since 1999. These are good jobs which are highly valued by the people in them."Prudential has offered the option of relocation, but few will be in a position to relocate and in effect will have no option but to face the cruel prospect of redundancy."

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Outsourcing - it's not just for the USA.

[HereSince1628]

1. I sort of wonder where their policy-holders were/are

Is this the first, second or other time these jobs have gone off in search of cheaper labor costs?

I remember reading an article in the mid-90's about customer service jobs from Omaha going to Ireland.

[Divernan]

2. You're right - they went to Ireland.

At that time, the Irish had a tremendously high literacy rate and high unemployment. That's why so many Irish came over to the states and worked - some on visas, and a lot off the books in the hotel or restaurant businesses. Now things are doing much better in the Irish economy and many Irish are able to return home. So I'm sure Prudential has found far cheaper labor in India.

[jwirr]

3. I just took my funds out of pRudential yesterday. Good timing.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. NB: Prudential in the USA and UK are entirely separate companies

Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated with Prudential plc. which is headquartered in the United Kingdom

http://www.prudential.com/index/

And have never been associated:
US history

UK history

[Javaman]

5. So now I have to get my root-canel by phone???

Moaning in silence, joe sixpack can't take the pain from his aching tooth longer, he picks up the phone and dials his dentist.

JS: Dr. Hazmahaz?

operator: no, sorry, this is your insurance carrier...

JS: What? how? I want to speak to my dentist...

operator: yes, welcome, you are now forwarded to us first...

JS: I just want to see...moannn... the doctor for my aching tooth!

operator: Hmmm,yes, right you are, please speak to me your name and address, yes?

JS: owwww, please let me talk to the doctor...

operator: sir, the quickly we help you, the more better we can give service, now name and address?

JS: Joe...ugh...sixpack...

operator: okay mr. joe...

JS: no that's...ugh...my first name...my...ugh...last name is...ugh...sixpack...

operator: thank you indeed, mr. ughixpack...

JS: (off the phone) honey, gets me a pair of plyers? (on phone) no, my name...ugh...is sixpack...

operator: please sir, you must be excusing me, ughixpack is what I have...

JS: (off phone) thanks honey...(on phone) no you...ugh...dimwit, my name is Joe...ugh...Sixpack.

operator: that's what I keep informing you!!

JS: Hang on...(off phone)aahhhhhhh!!!!! oh god the pain....ahhhhhhh!!!! Whew! never mind.

Click.

[leetrisck]

6. Try calling Prudential claims in the US and the call

goes straight to India. Very difficult to get anyone in the US even though the number is advertised as being in US. It isn't - believe me, I know.