KEY POINTS:
A leaked Telecom memo has revealed as many as 500 jobs could be moved overseas if an outsourcing trial is successful.
Telecom management spent much of yesterday denying reports that 1500 jobs were at risk because of company plans to outsource call centre services to the Philippines.
The reports said 1500 jobs were at risk when "resourcing levels" were considered after an outsourcing trial that would move 100 positions to Manila in September.
Telecom moved quickly to distance itself from those claims, but an internal memo obtained by the Herald revealed a third of that number, 500 jobs, could go if all the functions being trialled were outsourced.
Telecom recently said it would test carrying out contact centre and some other functions from Manila, where it already has 450 positions.
Spokesman Mark Watts said Telecom didn't know how many jobs would be affected until the trial was over.
"It [the memo] speaks for itself really.
"I can't say where we'll be at the end of the year."
Mr Watts said staff would be fully informed throughout the process and any changes would be made only if they improved customer service.
EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said the plans were concerning, and that it was important for call centre staff to know New Zealand locations and be able to pronounce locations, especially Maori words, correctly.
In August 2006, Telecom announced it was shifting some of its call centre work to the Philippines, and 130 NZ staff were reshuffled in the move.
