PITTSFIELD, Maine — Former political rivals joined together Friday to help bring more jobs to Maine and the country.
U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, met with Jason Levesque at his Argo Marketing Group call center in Pittsfield to discuss coming legislation in Congress about keeping call center jobs from leaving the country and bringing many such jobs back.
“Jason invited me to tour the facility and see what’s happening here,” said the 2nd District congressman. “[Congress will do] anything we can do to bring the jobs that are overseas or offshore back onshore.”
Levesque, a Republican, ran unsuccessfully against Michaud for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.
“That was a very spirited campaign the last time around,” said Michaud. “I was very pleased that he reached out to me as far as that legislation that was introduced and offered to help on the bill.”
The bill, called the United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act, is intended to dissuade companies from moving call centers overseas by affecting their eligibility for federal grants and loans. The bill would also require a call center relocating outside the U.S. to notify the Secretary of Labor 120 days before doing so or face a $10,000 fine.
“I don’t think we should be using taxpayer dollars for contracts with federal agencies for call centers that are overseas,” said Michaud. “The more we can focus on bringing those jobs back to the United States, the better off I think we all will be.”
Levesque expanded his Argo Marketing Group beyond its Lewiston base to Pittsfield at the beginning of the year. The move came three months after Global Contact Services, another call center, laid off 65 employees and left the building. Argo employees receive customer service calls and also make sales for various clients.
“We hired what we said we were going to hire quicker than we thought we were,” said Levesque.
There are 78 workers in the Pittsfield facility and Levesque said his company plans to add 20-30 more positions within the next 30 days. He also plans to hire another 10-15 workers for his Lewiston facility.
The move to Pittsfield immediately doubled the size of his business, which was started in 2003.
“It was a huge risk. It’s probably the riskiest thing I’ve ever done other than running against Mike Michaud for Congress in 2010,” said Levesque.
Levesque was able to make light of their former rivalry as he presented Michaud with a couple of posters from his 2010 campaign and asked Michaud to sign one of them. Michaud laughed when presented with the posters.
“There is always a difference between governing and campaigning. The campaigning is over,” said Levesque. “It’s about governing. We need help from Washington. We need our representatives in all levels of government to understand what we’re doing here, how we put people to work and how we grow these individuals both personally and professionally.”
Town Manager Kathryn Ruth said she has been struck by how fast Argo has grown.
“The town council and I have been very impressed with Jason’s vision for Argo Marketing North, as well as his energy level,” said Ruth.
Michaud, the ranking member of the Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee, also made the point that call centers should focus on hiring veterans.
Levesque, a veteran himself, agreed.
“I remember when I got out of the Army. I couldn’t find a job,” he said.
Mike talks about jobs. Jason creates them.
If that’s the case, why did Jason invite Congressman Michaud to the center and ask for his assistance with the United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act?
The bill, like Mike, didn’t help gets the jobs in Pittsfield. And it is still a bill. If it doesn’t pass it will be Levesque’s way of highlighting Michaud’s ineffective legislative career.
Lets see who has the majority in the House? Oh I remember now it is the R’s so if the bill doesn’t pass I guess it is the Democrats fault. You really should think a little before you post I don’t think it would be Michaud’s fault if the bill doesn’t pass. Maybe you should call John Bonehead (the spelling maybe wrong) and see if he could get the bill passed.
I don’t think Boehner can get it passed. If someone got a job, Obama might credit for it somehow, and the Tea Partiers won’t allow that.
Yea Call center jobs! Where’s the confetti?
The biggest problem with call centers is that they are ergonomically incorrect. That costs the company money in health and workmans compensation. You work a job like that for years and you WILL have tendonitis. It’s a job one can do from home and probably get more exercise, but companies like to be over people’s shoulders. I also think pacing while on the phone is frowned upon, but something healthy and natural the body is designed to do. No wonder the jobs are going over seas.
I would like to see more jobs for Maine people, but I like to think we can do more or other things besides answer the phone, or make cold calls.
Are you kidding me??? This man brought 70 + jobs back to the area and you’re concerned with tendonitis?? What about secretaries who typed for almost 8 hours a day – and they weren’t even ergonomically correct years ago!
Are you kidding me?? This man brought back over 70 jobs to the area and you’re worried about tendonitis? What about secretary pools where they used to type for 8 hours and ergonomics definitely wasn’t in the picture. And, how do you know they’re not ergonomically correct?? How many people do you know who are able to work at home? Ask the people working at this center if they feel the same as you.
If they pass this bill they can start working on a stronger one and let’s not limit it to call centers. I’ve seen quotes in the $2/hour range for call centers and other types of offshore labor. The rate includes anything needed for the job like internet, computer, desk, etc.
You can get offshore electronic circuit board design work done for under $3.50/hour and it’s entirely legal for US companies to outsource it that way.
The blame falls equally on (D) and (R) crooks masquerading as public “servants”. Anybody who says otherwise needs to do their homework again. In other words, I don’t like Obama because he’s the current president and doing the same thing other presidents did when it comes to jobs leaving our country. I didn’t like previous presidents for the same reason. One thing I can say about Mike is that the letter I got from his office actually addressed my concerns. Can’t say the same about our 2 senators. Mike’s staff actually understood what I was talking about and told me a few things he was trying to do. The letter was just icing on the cake.
This is a start, but honestly, Maine can do better than compete with 3rd world countries for jobs that a robot could do.
Come on down and give it a shot…not as easy as it would seem, lots of technology involved, critical thinking skills and you have to be able to communicate through a variety of mediums to folks not just in the US but UK, Australia, and other countries. Dont knock it until you try it.
Hello, This is Rachel from cardholder services….
I won’t become a stepmother. Mike is doing a good job, so I will support him as best I can.
What Maine needs is more jobs that pay more than minimum
wage. Not to say that this facility isn’t beneficial to those looking for a
job. It helps…The long term goal must
be to get more people working with a decent wage. Best of luck to those in need of work…..
Argo’s starting pay is $9 an hour, right now the average wage not including benefits is roughly $10.50 though that will go up as the company matures and more people hit longevity bonuses.
One of the best reasons for keeping telemarketing/call centers in this country is they have to pay attention to the “Do not call” list.
Plus you can understand them
Has Levesque cleared up his Maine DMV issues … paid all his fines etc.??? And like the rest of us did his auto insurance premiums go up ???
Chris…that was cleared up before the election last year. And yes, I am paying higher premiums just like everyone because you know what…I am no different than anyone else in this state.