ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Call Center Services (CCS) which operates from the ACT Teledome Building on Old Parham Road, has told its 156 employees that the company will be shutting up shop as of July 9.
The company, a business process outsourcer to the Bodog brand, in a press statement noted, “It is with great regret that we announce that Call Center Services (CCS), … will cease trading … on July 9, 2012.”
Late yesterday, the workers were informed of the “unfortunate consequence” which is being blamed on “the current global economic downturn.”
Director of Operations Rob Davies told OBSERVER Media Bodog took over operations from Tasman Gaming in 2006 and the workers who had already accumulated six years with Tasman, continued service under the new owners.
“For many of our workers it was a continuous service from Tasman to Bodog so their severance pay would go back to the beginning of their employment 12 years ago,” Davies said.
Davies is among those who would be put on the breadline after working 18 months as director of operations.
The company assured the workers they would receive full severance in accordance with the country’s laws.
(More in today’s Daily OBSERVER)
This debate was so effective, that i personally believe that the local supervisors and managers will see that everyone of the 156 plus the other employee who was fired last year will recieve their severance before the foreigners leave the country….i’m happy for you guys because the labour department and the union decided that you guys should be recieving your monies by
july 1st,2012…Thanks to madly, sorento and others for your bravery eventhough you guys did not mention your names but i do believe that you people are from Bodog and only representatives from Bodog could have write such precise response to shed light on a topic that has been in the dark for a long time….thank you guys for speaking up and out….nb the facebook blog….
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Sorento…..as much as you and i can assume,i’m thinking that the managers and some superviors still in Antigua still have their jobs. New information stated that the least for the building will be up next month….Remember before you and i became staff at Bodog, after Tasman gaming before Bodog came, supervisors and mangers were running the antigua office…So even if the lady in the corolla was given the position she will run the remaining small operation in antigua by watching over the supervisors. Next topic, behind of closing doors certain ppl were given the chance to choose weather they want to go Mailla to continue working for the company. But those of you Antiguan who are planning to go…..just think twice because remember we don’t know about paying house rent, bills and even join immigration lines. REmember antiguans are a privellage people, we don’t go ppl country and live-ppl come to our country and live.
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Antigua is no longer business friendly because of high taxes and high energy cost. I have 2 questions for Clavis Joseph and the UPP government
1)How does google makes EC $103 billions last year when nobody pays for google search?
2)How can the government generates billions of dollars like google by providing free electricity, no taxes to companies that employ locals?
If they cant answer these questions, they need to go back to school starting from kindergartens
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Againe you ppl make me laugh – Peeping in from the parking lot – Obviously you need to stop peeping, cause you are missing quite a bit being on the outside. How silly do you think it sounds to know that the corolla lady might just have an open position in another country, especially given the circumstances of the situation. If she does indeed have an alternative position available to her in another country then it really goes to show that you ppl care very little of others and more about yourselves. There are over 100 other persons who will be faced with so much turmoil and do you care? Has anyone shown an ounce of compasion over the past few months? Ofcourse not! They feed us to the dogs and forgot that at the end of the day, we’ll have no where to go. You are indeed silly but wise, cause Bunny would have indeed said Blessings….So you are one of those that know the bastard, obviously know of the situation and decided to throw him under the bus. Always told him, ‘fren and company nah mix!’. But he’s a man of others and not himself, so you guys see it easy to walk over him. And for the record, its almost a guarantee that upon realising months ago that you guys were closing shop in ANU this ‘open’ case was prolonged. But like you said whatever belong to john he shall receive, just dont forget that when the bible say ‘man’ it was talking about ‘mankind’ so you too will get yours. Being man or woman… Remember God sees all, and Bunny’s good deeds will not go un-noticed especially to all of you who took advantage of not only bunny but all of us still working at BODOG/BOVADA – Whichever you wanna call it.
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Sorento!!! It seems as though you are a senior/sup cause you know plenty, but do you think that the lady with the red corolla didn’t know that she had no manger position to get in antigua. Mayb she has been offered the position in Manilla….hymmmmm( sly jay). I hate the fact that they still have a very much active case at the union with an ex-employee and they are closing shops in Antigua. As the bible says what ever belongs to john he should recieve it and dont coveit your neighbour things..The person “senior” has o be the man/woman casino/poker manager that drive the suzuki vitara jeep…And mind you Bunny aint speak yet cause he likes to say “blessings”
before he says anything…lol. I like the way you stand up and tell the people how certain foreigners cannot be trusted….
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I laughed as I read through all of the above comments, especially because I realized that half of the details and bitterness about that Bunny situation wasn’t coming from someone who understood the situation or more so even knew what the situation was, but from someone who wanted to defend the same people who lied relentlessly over the past few months maybe the last year, about the possible closing of the ANU office. I am not sure who Young and Strong is but obviously you got a number of issues, maybe you really do believe what you are saying, maybe u really don’t understand the situation or maybe you are one of those people who have taken so much from him and given nothing and stabbed him in the back when he least expected it. All of self, none of thee. Strangely, I remember Rob saying, ‘no, those are just rumors’. ‘We have no issues here and this is one of the easiest places to do business and we promise that the call center in ANU will remain operational for quite a few years to come.’ ‘Your jobs are safe he said, no need to worry. But possibly not even a year after, here we are. In the middle of a real economic down turn where hundreds of people are already out there trying to find jobs even if it’s just to survive, and Rob says, we are closing office in ANU. 150 plus more persons are being thrown into a country. To do what one might ask? And he blames the economic down turn…..Remarkable. I think everyone understands that business is business, as quite a number of us have actually worked in establishments in the past that have closed doors or laid off hundreds of people in a matter of a single moment. So it’s really not about the situation which we find ourselves in, but the deception which was or has been for months. It’s the same situation we were all concerned about for months, but there were so may lies. Lied obviously not only to you the fool who think you have the facts but to over a hundred other persons. How great is that. Now, let’s talk facts on the Bunny situation: Did you know that there were attempts to fire him in 2010 and the union was involved in that very situation and they had to give him his job back or offer severance. But Bunny being the good man he generally is decided to take the job after being fore warned by myself and other actual friends that they would hold it against him and make attempts to fire him all over again. So said so done! The following year the people he called his friends, you know who you are: the people he has bent over backwards for in that very same establishment decided that they wanted vindication. Bunny was never fired because of the situation he found himself in, he was fired because the matter became more personal than business. There were never talk about the time he has taken being unable to return on time. As you should know since you apparently know so much, Bunny is a man that needs medical attention ever so often and can only travel according to doctor orders once check ups are done. Last year, he was done with check ups and was awaiting travel go ahead from the Doc, when he called and asked for an additional few days to return to work (unpaid days as such). He was advised in a very disrespectful manner by your so soon to be former HR Manager that he’d be lucky if he had a job when he got back. How great is that coming from someone who was out for nearly half a year with a fractured leg. Things happen to people you know and as this is the case, you should shut up when you know nothing much about anything. You are a ‘senior’, one I am sure didn’t get a position because you knew what you were about, but one that got the position because you were really good at doing what you do now… And Rob, talking about he too will b on the bread line. Appalling! Has he forgotten that the position he claims to own now was supposed to have been turned over to the lady who drives the red car that lives in the Apt just up the road from Bodog. He was scheduled to leave that position and said in his last quarterly meeting that anything further would be her concern not his. He already has a position waiting for him at home. It’s just the game they play. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, talking on matters you are obviously not versatile on. Did you even know that when he took a week vacation and didn’t make it back for a few months that he was hospitalized for that period? And if you indeed knew, then it’s beyond me how you care so little to the point where you got so much nonsense to say. BB Hand over eyes….You are such a talker. Do you know that the union is still very involved in this case right now as well. Did your HR mention to you how many meets she has gone to with Bunny and the union? Get your story together then run your mouth off. PS. ‘Senior’, ‘Manager’ which ever you are, you will all get yours. Anyways, Good Luck to you all. I really do hope that everything goes well.
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It’s really amzing how they are trying to make the seniors look bad in this situation howver, i can almost assure you that it’s not a senior talking there. That is a Supervisor or a Senior Manager. What a shame………
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From readying your last comment, i realise that you don’t have facts to back up what you are saying. You said “to my Knowledge he requested a week vacation”. Do you know that he requested vacation around the time of his doctor’s appointment? I know for a fact that before he returns to his job each time, he requested to have a sick paper sent to him from the company, so that his doctors aboard filled it out ( this paper only comes through his manager and supervisor) before he resumes work again. Let’s say you are a manager and an employee got sick on the job and you realise that this employee is taking up too much time away from the job..wouldn’t you call a meeting and bring up the issue and let the employee knows that you can no longer employ them, because he/she is staying away too long from the job and the best thing to do is to give them a severance. Bodog did this to so many employee before Bonny, for example there was a young lady that had to behave in an extraordiary manner to get her rightful amount of money. Senior, i know Bonny, he is one of the sweetest person who you could have find at bodog, one time ago i used to call him the Bank Of Bodog, The VEGE Man and many other names, because he would lent money to so much people(maybe you too)some of whom who never paid him. He would buy pies for us and make sure that me munch on something while we are working. Bunny, could not be a bitter person because he has a clean heart and a clear mind. I believe all he, you, we,they, I would have wanted is for the Bodog to pay us our rightful amount owed to us. If this company short pay you by one cent, i know it will be you nad them, you might go to the extreme…JUST TAKE UP THE REST WITH THE PPL WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING INVESTMENT TO OUR COUNTRY….ENOUGH SAID SENIOR
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From readying your last comment, i realise that you don’t have facts to back up what you are saying. You said “to my Knowledge he requested a week vacation”. Do you know that he requested vacation around the time of his doctor’s appointment? I know for a fact that before he returns to his job each time, he requested to have a sick paper sent to him from the company, so that his doctors aboard filled it out ( this paper only comes through his manager and supervisor) before he resumes work again. Let’s say you are a manager and an employee got sick on the job and you realise that this employee is taking up too much time away from the job..wouldn’t you call a meeting and bring up the issue and let the employee knows that you can no longer employ them, because he/she is staying away too long from the job and the best thing to do is to give them a severance. Bodog did this to so many employee before Bonny, for example there was a young lady that had to behave in an extraordiary manner to get her rightful amount of money. Senior, i know Bonny, he is one of the sweetest person who you could have find at bodog, one time ago i used to call him the Bank Of Bodog, The VEGE Man and many other names, because he would lent money to so much people(maybe you too)some of whom who never paid him. He would buy pies for us and make sure that me munch on something while we are working. Bunny, could not be a bitter person because he has a clean heart and a clear mind. I believe all he, you, we,they, I would have wanted is for the Bodog to pay us our rightful amount owed to us. If this company short pay you by one cent, i know it will be you nad them, you might go to the extreme…JUST TAKE UP THE REST WITH THE PPL WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING INVESTMENT TO OUR COUNTRY….ENOUGH SAID SENIOR
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I dont want for there to be a back and forth about any issues. I believe in justice for staff and if Bonny was wrongfully dismissed his issue would have been settled ages ago. To my knowedge he requested a weeks vacation a few years in row and has stayed in the US for over 4 months each time. now I know that doing something like that cannot be right so Bonny needs to stop being bitter because of his mistakes and move on. I thought you were a cool person but right is right and wrong is wrong. Bodog is running a business and I am sure any other comapny would take the same steps. I have seen many staff come and go and the ones who leave because of stupidity blame the world for their behaviour. I agree with Blessed cause there are bigger fish to fry right now. lets focus on positive and stop the negatives. Over 150 of us will be out of work and finding jobs is our main concern. Those who had jobs should have focused on keeping them and doing what they got hired to do.
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So y me can’t talk fo bunny….madly is not Bonny, just that im aware of his sitauation…Senior just do me a favor, just tell the bigger heads to give bunny he full amount of severance due to him. Don’t be upset with me fo talking the truth and don’t let it fight over this….U and ur boss just give d man what is due unto him and stop d talking….Just be thankful for the soup u been drinking from the cup. Cause if the company had done to you what they had done to Bunny you won’t like it…But before we continue to argue….ask the sups and them d whole story about bunny then we can communicate on that level, but fo now u don’t no nothing sourrounding Bunny and that company……….
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Every article about bodog, madly has alot to say, I can understand how you are feeling, however have you tried to get this resolved through the bodies that can work in your favour? Labour department and unions, based on our laws if you were wrongfully let go, you should use a contructive way to address this rather than this medium. You are not doing yourself any good here just being melicious so that is my advise to you.
On another note, I am seriously worried about Antigua and the amount of companies that are closing shop and leaving Antigua because of high cost of operations. The standford issue is separate, however, look at the issue with the companies that have closed in the last 6 yrs, 4 gaming companies and the brewery, added to all this the amount of taxes that have been added to the people who are not working, is the government really thinking of what is happening? Are their eyes open?
Then again, what is happening to Antiguans, blocking development at rendezvous and the beaches project at long bay? Do Antiguans understand what needs to happen to cater to a TOURIST INDUSTRY? Are ANTIGUANS ready to change our main economic stream? Are we ready for Agriculture or implementing other resources that we can feed us rather than relying on tourism? ANTIGUANS you need to wake up and smell the money we can make for ourselves.
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I am a senior at bodog that’s a step before a supervisor position and it amazes me how some people think its ok to do as they please in a business place. Madly aka Bonny needs to chill and accept that what he did to lose his job was on him. I have heard many stories because I thought it was harsh that they let him go but some people over do. How can you come and leave as you like. I didn’t know you were Calvin brother. Every time someone gets let go they blame and find fault in everyone else but themselves.. I trust they will do what is right by the staff and so far “Rob” has not given us any reason to think we wont get our money cause they doing more than that to help the staff.
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I know i once work for them….memba them fire me……the new website is BOVADA…..but i’ll tell u that them and the phillippines government will get it out and they will return to antigua…
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I hope that all 156 get their rightful due.
Good luck to you all
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It’s cheaper in the Philippines, lower rents, lower internet costs, lower wages, more workers to choose from and lax labour laws like children can now work at Bodog.
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What is Rob say? He is from the uk and he knows very well that he and all the managers that were in antigua will be going to the Phillippens to comence work there…..He need to get straight to the facts…I need some answers on my situation because i’m one of the employee who continued from wwts to Tasman then to Bodog and because of my continious Dr appoint aboard i was fired last year. Now since i am still awating my severance..will it be paid to me Rob?…I also hope that the antigua government sees that everyone of the 156 employees recieve every red cent before this company moves to the phillippines….Please do them the same thing that was done to the managers of Diamond Internationl…(block them at the airport so they can pay picky head people like me every red cent before they leave the country)…I can’t seem to imagine how the company can pick up and leave without government imposing some sort of penalties on them because this same owner Calvin brought so much disruptance with between antigua and the usa……Compaies would always come to invest in my beautiful island Antigua and then pick up and leave our people without pay any severance…Its time that our ministers take a stand and make the new companies deposits money in a Bank Account so that when they are ready to leave the Island, we can look forward for the money in the bank as our severance…It hurts when Antigua have to go through such and Kay Mc Donald and our ministers just allow these investers to walk all over we picky head people……………
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