The unions is trying to stop the Aberystwyth centre closure

Aberystwyth's 192 call centre is due to close before March 2006 with the loss of 146 jobs.

But the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is fighting to keep the centre open and is outraged by the company's decision to send workers from the seaside town's call centre to train Indian operators.

Workers at the centre took industrial action in March by staging a lunch-time demonstration against the proposed closure.

The phrase asking turkeys to vote for Christmas has never been more true Wayne Hemingsley, union rep

But now two trainers have now been sent to India for six months to train operators and another one is due to leave in the next few weeks.

"I think it is extremely cheeky of BT to ask workers to go and train Indian operators when everyone's jobs at Aberystwyth are on the line," said Wayne Hemingsley, the CWU's rep at Aberystwyth.

Shut down

"The phrase asking turkeys to vote for Christmas has never been more true."

"Although the company claims the Indian centre plan won't affect UK jobs we need to try and block everything the company does from now on."

Workers have still not been told if the centre will close in 2004 or 2006, when the company will set up 31 'next generation' call centres throughout the UK.

The company plans to continue to have call centres at Colwyn Bay and Cardiff, but has decided to shut down the Aberystwyth centre.

"No one knows what is happening because we haven't been given a definite closure date," said Ieuan Ellis who has worked at the centre for the last 15 years.

BT plans to create 2,200 jobs at a centre at Bangalore

"The closure will hit Aberystwyth hard because the loss of 150 jobs means it will be difficult for us to find other jobs."

BT caused controversy earlier this year when it announced plans to create 2,200 customer service jobs in Bangalore, southern India in a move to save money.

The CWU accused the company of paying Indian workers 80 p an hour, compared with �6 an hour for call centre workers in the UK.

The union has already threatened strike action over the telecom giant's plans for creating jobs in India.

It also claims that as many as 200,000 UK call centre jobs could be lost across the industry during the next five to 10 years.

The two new centres at New Delhi and Bangalore have been up and running for the last two months

But BT has claimed no permanent employees would lose their jobs as a result of work being transferred to India.

"It is our policy to consult closely with the unions on any initiatives that affect our people and the India issue was no exception, " said the company's retail chief executive, Pierre Danon.

"We remain willing to work together on this issue, which is designed to help BT be competitive in key markets.

"It is in the best all-round interests of our shareholders, customers and people."