In an abrupt announcement that caught state and local business
officials off guard, cable giant Comcast announced Tuesday that it's
closing all of its California call centers, including one in Natomas
that employs about 300 workers.
Why? That's the tricky question.
Earlier in the day, citing the state's "high cost of doing business," a regional Comcast official said the company's Natomas, Livermore and Morgan Hill call centers will be shuttered on Nov. 30. Overall, about 1,000 jobs will be relocated to existing centers in Portland, Seattle and Denver.
But hours later, after state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and the Governor's Office interceded, Comcast backtracked, saying its initial reasons were "incorrect."
Instead, it said the California closures were needed for cost efficiencies and to consolidate its Western call centers from 13 to 10, based on customer needs, "rather than geography." It noted that many customers rely on self-help and online tools to handle their service questions, which meant it doesn't need as many call centers as in the past.
That turnaround was greeted warmly by the Governor's Office.
"It is unfortunate that Comcast's announcement to eliminate jobs in California inaccurately placed blame on the state, but I am pleased to see the executives at Comcast taking responsibility and correcting the statement," said Mike Rossi, the governor's senior adviser for jobs and business development, in a statement.
The governor's involvement came after Steinberg issued a personal invitation to Comcast executives to meet "to outline their issues and discuss what my office and the Legislature might do to resolve their concerns." Pending a meeting, he urged Comcast executives "to reconsider their actions."
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/26/3834447/comcast-to-close-all-california.html
Why? That's the tricky question.
Earlier in the day, citing the state's "high cost of doing business," a regional Comcast official said the company's Natomas, Livermore and Morgan Hill call centers will be shuttered on Nov. 30. Overall, about 1,000 jobs will be relocated to existing centers in Portland, Seattle and Denver.
But hours later, after state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and the Governor's Office interceded, Comcast backtracked, saying its initial reasons were "incorrect."
Instead, it said the California closures were needed for cost efficiencies and to consolidate its Western call centers from 13 to 10, based on customer needs, "rather than geography." It noted that many customers rely on self-help and online tools to handle their service questions, which meant it doesn't need as many call centers as in the past.
That turnaround was greeted warmly by the Governor's Office.
"It is unfortunate that Comcast's announcement to eliminate jobs in California inaccurately placed blame on the state, but I am pleased to see the executives at Comcast taking responsibility and correcting the statement," said Mike Rossi, the governor's senior adviser for jobs and business development, in a statement.
The governor's involvement came after Steinberg issued a personal invitation to Comcast executives to meet "to outline their issues and discuss what my office and the Legislature might do to resolve their concerns." Pending a meeting, he urged Comcast executives "to reconsider their actions."
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/26/3834447/comcast-to-close-all-california.html
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