'They lied to me': Nearly 600 people out of work as Sydney, N.S., call centre closes

Nearly 600 people lost their jobs in Sydney, N.S., onThursday aftercall centreServiComdeclared bankruptcy and closed a decision denouncedas "a cowardly act," with Christmas less than three weeks away.

ServiCommanager Todd Riley said as of Wednesday night, there had been a tentative deal in place with a new owner.

"Unfortunately, it broke down today," Riley said Thursday.

Employees gatheredoutside the call centre in theafternoon after ServiCom executives broke the news. The company has operated in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality for the past 19 years, employing 700 people during peak periods.

About 80 per cent of those employees were full-time, Riley said.

JustinBoutilier, who has worked atServiComfor 14 years, says workers are owed about three weeks of pay.

"They got an extra three weeks work out of everyone and now everything goes to bankruptcy. That's $1,500 I'm not going to get IoweEastlink, power. No one's going to get EI before Christmas. It's tough, I got two kids."

Police called

About six police officers were also at the90 Inglis St. site.

"People were going to be mad, but the cops were here before we had the meeting. People knew about this. They stretched every last minute ... out of us," Boutilier said.

He said a number of families may have to turn to social assistance to survive.

The company's financial woes were evident inAugust when workers' paycheques were late threetimes in a row.

"It's disgusting. How are you supposed to take care of your family? It's just not fair," sobbedDianna Brewster who was employed at the call centre for the past 15 months.

Riley called the current owner's decision to close the call centre so close to Christmas "a cowardly act."

"They lied to me. In turn, I had to work with 700 people to go in day in and day out, to keep people on the phones and encouraging them that things were going to get better. I am very, very disappointed in the leadership. A lot of people have to go without pays before Christmas."

He said ServiCom had previously been "extremely profitable" with gross profits of$500,000 to $600,000 per month.

Hope for new buyer

Riley said he is still holding out hope the call centre will be sold andresume operating.

The potential buyer, an American citizen, "is a very solid and reputable businessman" who intends to continue to pursue the purchase, he said.

"And I am going to work my darnedest to get this deal done within the next five to 10 business days so we can get people back employed," said Riley.

In the meantime, Rileysaid he and the payroll department will work tostreamline employment insurance applicationsfor thosewho've lost their jobs.

"I pray for everybody during this time. It's going to be hard," Riley said, choking back tears.