Union rails against plans to cut almost 300 banking jobs
Unite, the union representing staff across Lloyds Banking Group, has today (January 30) challenged the bank’s decision to cut 292 jobs across several of its sites across the UK.
The job cuts announced today span a number of the bank’s divisions and departments including sites in Chester, Fareham, Birmingham, London, and Halifax.
These job losses are part of the bank’s group strategic review 3.
Unite is calling on the bank to urgently give staff the reassurances that they need that there will be no compulsory redundancies, redeployment opportunities will be found for staff, and the remaining smaller occupancy sites are at no further risk.
Rob MacGregor, Unite national officer said: “The loss of a further 292 committed and hardworking staff from Lloyds Banking Group is appalling.
“Unite is seeking urgent clarification about the future of the remaining workforce at the impacted sites.”
He added: “Unite has strongly objected to the reductions in sites and job roles announced today, especially against the backdrop of the continual use of agency staff and contractors.
“Unite is demanding that LBG cease the job cuts and closures in order to fully review the number of temporary and contract staff within the company.
“The bank’s major restructuring plans have already led to hundreds of bank branches, offices and departments being closed or merged with thousands of staff losing their jobs.”
A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said: “The group’s policy is always to use natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible to retain their expertise and knowledge within the group.
“Since 2011, over 90% of role reductions have been achieved through a combination of natural attrition, redeployment and voluntary redundancy.
“Where it is necessary for employees to leave the company, we will look to achieve this by offering voluntary redundancy. Compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort.
“Today’s announcement involves making difficult decisions, and we are committed to working through these changes in a careful and sensitive way.”
