Business & Tech

Northeast Utilities' Plan To Outsource Jobs Raises Hackles

The company, which includes Connecticut Light & Power, met with House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz but details on what jobs and exactly how many are still unknown.

By Jason Vallee

Representatives of Northeast Utilities, the parent company of Berlin-based utility provider Connecticut Light and Power, met with Connecticut House Majority Leader Joseph Aresimowicz Thursday regarding potential outsourcing of jobs overseas, but the Democrat said discussion provided no new insight to how many or when jobs could leave the state.

Aresimowicz, who represents Berlin and Southington, said Thursday afternoon that he "will not stop" and will continue to work with the company to prevent outsourcing of Connecticut jobs. 

"Unfortunately they did not provide much information beyond confirming that they are looking at improving ‘best practices’ throughout the company including the information technology department, that would include outsourcing," Aresimowicz said.

"I have told Northeast Utilities that I have cleared my schedule to be wherever I need to be to work with them to keep these jobs right here in Connecticut where they belong."

Northeast Utilities earlier this week confirmed media reports thatthe company is looking at the possibility of outsourcing jobs from the IT department as the company continues their merger with NSTAR following an agreement in 2012. The company is working alongside the Consumer Counsel and Attorney General during these discussions and providing constant job updates and changes, representatives said. 

Early reports have indicated the outsourcing would include "hundreds of positions," but NU Spokesman Al Lara said no final numbers have been determined at this time.

“It is a simple matter,” Lara said. “When we merged, the company did so with comprehensive agreements and a concentrated effort to deliver real savings to our customers.”

The goal of any change would be to reduce duplicity in operations and help to cut costs that would be forwarded on to the consumer, he said.

Aresimowicz said he believes the latest news only serves as a black eye for Northeast Utilities and could potentially further diminish the company's reputation, which has taken a hit on several occasions since Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. 

"Northeast Utilities has bludgeoned its own reputation with its actions over the past few years," Aresimowicz said. "Cutting in-state jobs and shipping them overseas does not seem like a ‘best practice’ to restoring public trust in the company."


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