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MCI announced today its plans to close its Springfield call center,
which currently employs nearly 400 people.
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
President Jim Anderson said, "The effect of this closing on
employees and their families is our first concern." In
2000, MCI employed as many as 1,200 people. A series of
downsizings followed, the largest announced in March, 2004.
"We are disappointed with MCI's decision to close this call center,"
said Anderson.
MCI has been closing call centers
across the country since its bankruptcy in 2002 and began
outsourcing these operations to India, Philippines and Mexico.
Only a few domestic centers remain open.
Springfield's Partnership for
Economic Development is confident the region’s strong job growth and
Springfield’s customer service call center market can absorb many of
the displaced workers, said Greg Williams, Chamber senior
vice-president of economic development.
In just over a month, T-Mobile USA
will open a new customer service facility, soon ramping up to 700
new employees.
The Partnership will begin
aggressively marketing the vacated facility and assist in attracting
or expanding a company to replace the jobs lost. Several
facilities vacated by MCI in other locations across the country have
now been reoccupied with call center operations, replacing job
losses. |
