By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati's Convergys Corp. terminated 27 employees in Greater Cincinnati this week, part of global cost-cutting begun more than a year ago.

Despite the cuts, which are part of more than 1,000 jobs eliminated from its worldwide employment of more than 50,000 in the last year, the billing and customer-care provider said its total area employment remains about 2,050 - 1,400 in Cincinnati and 650 in Norwood.

Convergys' local employment has drawn increased scrutiny because of a $52 million package of tax incentives and grants from the city of Cincinnati, which allowed the company to buy the Atrium I building downtown and keep its headquarters there.

Spokeswoman Renae Morris said what's overlooked is that Convergys has added 160 jobs in Cincinnati in the last three years, paying an average of $65,000 each.

In September, Convergys also cut 40 jobs in Greater Cincinnati as part of the corporate cost-cutting announced in December 2002.

At that time, the company said it expected to trim another 300 jobs company-wide by year-end.

Friday, Morris said she didn't have updated information on that number, but said the job cuts were "nearing the end.''

Cost-cutting also involves building consolidation, including moving operations into Atrium I.

By the end of March, Morris said, the company expects to begin relocating 225 jobs, some from the Convergys Center at Fifth and Vine streets and some from Norwood, to Atrium I.

E-mail mboyer@enquirer.com