Workers at ObamaCare call center angry after being offered jobs without health benefits

A soon-to-be-opened call center meant to help teach the public about ObamaCare is under fire for offering some of its new employees part-time positions — in turn denying them benefits under the very law they are helping to implement.

The Contra Costa Times reports the call center, which is set to be opened Oct. 1, attracted about 7,000 applicants after the county won the right to operate it earlier this year. Workers and local politicians say they believed that most if not all of the positions at the center would be full-time with benefits.

However, out of the 147 call center employees, only 103 were offered permanent full-time agent positions. The rest are considered "permanent intermittent customer service agents," Lauren Brosnan from Contra Costa County's Employment and Human Services department tells FoxNews.com.

Some of those workers tell the Contra Costa Times they were led to believe they would be getting full-time positions when they in actuality were "intermittent" employees, and only learned the positions were part-time after completing an orientation earlier this month.

"It reminded me of that George Clooney movie where he goes around the country firing people ('Up in the Air')," an employee who wished to remain anonymous told the Contra Costa Times. "The woman said, 'I know you were led to believe you would be full time, but things have changed. ... You are actually 'part-time intermittent.'"

Brosnan says it was made clear on the job ads both full and part-time positions would be offered, but that the department is reviewing all communication in regards to employment.

Local politicians say they feel duped.

"It is very disappointing. I was under the impression these were going to be well-paying, well-compensated positions," said County Supervisor Mary Piepho. "We were really hopeful these would be jobs meeting the unemployment needs in our county and offer them the ability to make a living and support their families."

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