THE immediate futures of dozens of under-threat IT staff have been secured.

Staff at Accenture, which employs more than 60 workers at its Queensferry plant, have been informed they will be in work until at least the end of 2011 after the company gained other projects.

The development comes after a testing few months for employees at Queensferry and another site in East Kilbride, who had feared for their futures because the company wants to save £10 million a year through operational changes.

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami has been heavily involved in talks to help safeguard the Accenture jobs, amid a growing belief the positions would be transferred to India.

He said: “I have been in regular contact with Accenture about the need to secure as many jobs as possible at the Queensferry facility.

“I am delighted by this news but there is still a need to guarantee employment in the long-term.”

The company is responsible for providing Scottish Power’s IT systems, but cost-cutting plans had led to growing concerns Accenture would be outsourcing jobs to India.

Representatives from Unison had been involved in the talks with Accenture, along with unions, Scottish Power and parent firm Iberdrola.

Gerry Crawley, regional organiser, said: “This is great news for our members who have gone through a difficult time and suffered a lengthy period of uncertainty about their jobs.

“This decision is testament to the hard work of all those involved, together with the support of local politicians, in preventing job losses.”

The development has been described as “a very positive outcome” by Accenture.