The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has called for assurances around job security across both Best Buy and the Carphone Warehouse following today’s (7 November) announcement that Best Buy is to close its 11 stores in the UK.
The union claims that the Carphone Warehouse could speed up its redundancy consultation, resulting in possible job losses before Christmas, and claims that other parts of the business such as Express Repair Centres could see further cuts as a result.
CWU deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said: ‘We’re hearing worrying rumours that they [Best Buy staff] will lose their jobs as early as Christmas Eve in a similarly speeded-up redundancy process as Talk Talk used earlier this year.
‘We’re also concerned about job security across the rest of Carphone Warehouse more generally. Around 65 jobs have been lost in Express Repair centres in Carphone Warehouse shops since May and there is ambiguity about job security in the newly-branded Wireless World stores. Store managers in particular are telling us about their fears of job security in these areas.’
Carphone has said it hopes to find the ‘large majority’ of the 1,100 Best Buy staff roles elsewhere within the organisation but the union has called for more clarity.
Kerr said: ‘We’re urging Carphone Warehouse to be as transparent as possible and to give clear assurances to staff around job security at this fragile economic time.’
Carphone would not comment on the CWU’s claims. In a statement, the retailer said: ‘After conducting a thorough strategic review, we have announced that we are considering whether to continue operating Best Buy’s stores and website or whether we will close in the future but at this stage a decision has not yet been made.
‘We are not certain if and when we will close because we need to first consult with our employees. Our best current estimate is that we will stop trading in our stores and online by the end of the year.
'Should the proposal to close be finalised, we are confident that the large majority of our staff will be able to be redeployed in new roles in Carphone Warehouse and Geek Squad.’
Joe Fernandez