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Union slams Isentia move to shift up to 30 media monitoring jobs offshore

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance has criticised Isentia’s decision to move its news monitoring services offshore, with a loss of up to 30 jobs.

In a statement on the union’s website, MEAA said it condemned the decision to move the roles offshore, arguing it was “short-sighted”.

McInerney: ‘Poor business practice’

MEAA’s website claims Isentia will make redundant all full time, part time and casual staff in its Melbourne broadcast monitoring arm, which currently has up to 22 staff.

The comments come a week after the media monitoring service Isentia said it would exit the content marketing business, settle its legal dispute with competitor Meltwater and expect a 23% profit decline.

This week, Isentia confirmed with Crikey up to 45 staff could face redundancy across Melbourne and Wellington, with new positions to be created in Manila, Phillipines.

And in Singapore, Isentia has let go of more than half of its content division staff, following the axing of King Content.

Scott Kinman, operations director APAC at Isentia told Crikey: “We have begun a consultation process about a proposed change that could result in all Melbourne Broadcast Monitor roles and the Melb Broadcast Team Leader role made redundant. We have also begun a consultation with Melbourne Press teams that could result in all Melbourne Dayshift Press roles being made redundant.”

MEAA’s media director Katelin McInerney said workers shouldn’t have to pay the price of poor decisions.

“The media monitoring service is relied on by politicians, corporations and those in power,” McInerney said.

“The continued drive of media companies like Isentia to pursue profits at the cost of local jobs is short-sighted and emblematic of poor business practice.

“Culling local people who have essential knowledge and expertise only serves to harm the business further, eroding growth opportunities and causing immense damage to the brand. Workers shouldn’t have to pay the price of poor decisions that have been made since the company listed on the ASX.”

Mumbrella has approached Isentia for comment.

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