WORCESTER – Charter Communications, the operator of Spectrum cable TV and internet service in Worcester, will end over 170 jobs in Worcester effective June 26, and move it customer service call center, according to The016.com.
The company plans to retain operations and Spectrum News 1 staff in Worcester.
According to a statement from Charter to the 016, “We are transitioning the work done at our Worcester, MA call center to other centers, effective June 26, 2025. We have elected to transition this work to our other U.S.-based Call centers, where we can deliver information, training, and technology to our representatives more efficiently.”
According to a statement from a representative of City Manager Eric Batista’s office, the city became aware of the layoffs on Wednesday, March 26. The city says the layoffs do not violate the current franchise agreement between the city and the company.
The company says that impacted employees have the option to relocate and are eligible for relocation benefits. They may also apply for another role with the company. Those without a new position within the company by June 26 will be eligible for a severance package.
In 2024, a unanimous vote of the Cable Advisory Committee to recommend denial of renewal of the contract between Charter and the city. The committee wrote that Charter had violated the contract in many ways. In May 2024, Batista said the city would continue to negotiate with Charter.
Most members of the Cable Advisory Committee resigned in protest.
Denial of renewal does not mean Charter would cease operating in Worcester. As required by federal law, denial begins a process governed by federal law which includes an audit of compliance with the previous contract conducted by the federal government.
The City of Springfield, Massachusetts denied renewal of a franchise cable television provider, Comcast, in 2021. Springfield reached a new agreement with the company in 2022 which included the requirement that Comcast maintain a customer service center in Springfield for the duration of the 10-year contract.
