Qwest Communications Inc. will close its customer call center in Portland, Ore., in October as part of a consolidation strategy, a spokesman said last week.
The 175 workers at the call center will have the chance to transfer to other call centers, including a new one in Utah. Denver-based Qwest employs about 1,560 workers in Oregon, including about 1,050 in the Portland-Vancouver, Wash., area, said Bob Gravely, a spokesman for Qwest in Oregon and Idaho.
“Our strategy is from having more call centers around the country to concentrating the number of jobs,” Gravely said.
Those who do not want to transfer will receive tuition reimbursement for education programs and résumé help, Gravely said.
Qwest said in April it planned to hire about 120 workers as part of its plans to expand a call center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
With nearly $14 billion in annual revenues, Qwest offers phone, high-speed Internet and TV service in 14 mostly Western states. About 40,000 people work for Qwest, including more than 9,500 in the Denver metro area.
Staff writer Beth Potter can be reached at 303-820-1503 or bpotter@denverpost.com.
