North-East workers for cable companies NTL and Telewest will find out the future of their jobs today.

NTL is rumoured to be about to announce that it is to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs.

Head office posts are expected to be shed and call centre jobs transferred overseas in a reorganisation that will affect one in four members of staff.

NTL refused to comment on the speculation yesterday, but did not deny the job cuts.

The cuts follow the company's merger with cable rival Telewest.

NTL is understood to employ about 600 people at a call centre in Stockton, while Telewest has about 400 employees in the region in telesales and installation.

Its call centre operations are believed to be most at risk because they could be taken offshore.

It is understood that most of the combined group's call centres will be outsourced, with some of the jobs going to centres in India.

Details are expected when NTL publishes its first-quarter results today, with its head office in Woking, Surrey, likely to be closed.

Union leaders last night attacked the cuts.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said it was surprised and dismayed by the speculation.

Assistant secretary Brian Healy said: "We are disappointed and concerned that our members had to learn about potential job losses through the newspapers.

"We are also lobbying hard for the retention of customer contact centre jobs in the UK.

"There has been talk of outsourcing these jobs and if this is the case, the CWU wants reassurances that outsourcing will be limited to within the UK."

Sharon Elliott, of broadcasting trade union Bectu, said: "Once again British workers have first heard about job cuts through the media, and this from a company which insists that communication with its workforce is a priority.

"The company's apparent decision to outsource its call centre operations sends a strong message to staff and customers that quality customer service is dispensable.

"Bectu knows through speaking to call centre staff in Europe, Asia and Africa, that NTL ranks as one of the better call centre employers when you look at measures such as training and staff satisfaction. These factors translate into better standards of customer care.

"It would appear that NTL is prepared to ditch that decent reputation in favour of overseas companies, who often operate to very different and lower standards.

"NTL's call centre staff, many of whom have a strong commitment to the company, are being told they are likely to be passed over for cheaper options.

"This is a monumental slap in the face for staff who have remained with the company through several turbulent and difficult years."

Future of call centres in the UK - Business Echo