WORKERS affected by the proposed closure of a Darlington call centre are expected to learn their fate shortly.
BT plans to close its Barnard Street exchange with the loss of 111 jobs.
Fifty nine are employed by BT, and because the firm has a policy of no-compulsory redundancies, they have been offered re-deployment.
The Communication Workers' Union, which represents the staff, held a meeting with those affected in Darlington at the weekend.
Branch secretary Phil Graham said: "The union will begin talks with BT next week with a view to the re-deployment of the Darlington staff."
The CWU has criticised the closure because money has only recently been spent on the telephone exchange and its workers are highly productive.
BT says advances in technology, which have speeded up the 192 service, and increased use of free Internet directory inquiry services, were the main reasons behind its decision.
The other workers affected by the closure work for recruitment agency Manpower.
The closure will come into effect in October.
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