For the last 25 years, American Express has been the biggest private sector employer in Brighton and Hove and the bedrock of its economy.

The company is so important that if it catches cold, the city shivers.

So it's worrying that Amex is hiring English speakers in India to manage a customer services call centre.

Amex has not said what will happen to its 3,000 employees in Brighton and Burgess Hill if it proves a success.

But costs are so much lower in India that Amex must be tempted, as other UK companies have been, to base some call centre operations there.

Already workers from Napier House in Trafalgar Place have been relocated to the main building in Edward Street, Brighton, as part of a reorganisation.

All this has been causing understandable concern to the employees, who have been contacting the GMB union and local Labour MP Des Turner.

But Amex does not recognise trade unions and is being secretive about its future.

If it was to move any of its operation to India, it would be a blow for Brighton and Hove. If everything went, it would be a catastrophe.

Everything must be done to allay the workers' fears and avert what would be an economic disaster.