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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Daisy Olivo (573) 751-1514
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 20, 2008
Department Announces Plans to Close St. Louis Office, Consolidate Operations to Maintain Quality Customer Service Despite Federal Budget Cuts
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) today announced that federal funding reductions have resulted in the need to consolidate the Division of Employment Security call center operations and close the St. Louis Regional Claims Center (STLRCC) in order to maintain quality customer service. Almost all of the 63 full-time positions located in the claims center will be relocated to regional offices in Jefferson City, Springfield, and Kansas City.
The transition is expected to be seamless to customers as the Department’s automated system will allow calls to be distributed electronically to the other three claims centers. The affected St. Louis office received no in-person claims or customer walk-ins.
“Over the last four years, the Department’s federal funding has been decreased by approximately $9 million,” said Spencer Clark, Division of Employment Security Acting Director. “While the reduction in funding has necessitated a more than 20 percent reduction in the Department’s staff, this consolidation is one way we can maintain customer service despite the dramatic federal budget cuts.”
Consolidating operations and moving the claims center to a department-owned facility is expected to save nearly $3 million over the next five years. The change is effective Aug. 31, 2008.
“While changes like these are beneficial to our customers in the long run, they are extremely challenging for our employees,” said Clark. “We understand this important dynamic and have worked to give our staff as much advance notice as possible, well beyond the required 15-day notice.”
Employees were notified of the consolidation this morning, and the Department will work with affected employees to fill positions available as a result of the consolidation and at other state agencies.
For more information about the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, please visit the Internet site, http://www.dolir.mo.gov.
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