AN MP has spoken about her frustration at further plans to move mobile phone workers’ jobs abroad.

Jenny Chapman made her comments in the wake of Orange – now part of the merged Everything Everywhere brand – confirming last week it was to make changes to its nightshift customer service team in Darlington with some work to be outsourced abroad.

The move will affect 40 staff and although alternative roles have been offered, staff say they could lose an average of £8,000-a-year due to a shift premium being lost.

Others are expected to accept financial severance packages, although these too have been criticised as inadequate.

Mrs Chapman, who represents Darlington for Labour, said: “It is frustrating, particularly when you try and work with local employers as I have.

“Inevitably, staff will be worried about their futures.

The staff in Darlington are very loyal and have built the company up to be the success that it is today.

“They will feel that this is not just about their jobs as many of them already have a real stake in the company having worked there for many years.”

Last year, between 100 and 120 jobs were cut at the Orange contact centre in Yarm Road, with workers complaining some affected functions, including payment processing, credit control and fraud, were being shifted to India.

When the news about the cuts first emerged in October Mrs Chapman said she had been misled, having been reassured a national shake-up would not affect Darlington.

She said: “I have challenged Orange about their long-term commitment to Darlington and they always say their commitment stands.

“But you have to take them on what they do, not just what they say.”

Orange merged with TMobile last year – a move which led to 1,200 jobs being axed across the country as the company attempted to remove duplications within the business.

It said its latest move would see a dedicated 24/7 business technical support team created with some overnight calls being handled by existing outsource partners during their daytime hours.