More jobs go in Yorkshire at Lloyds
AROUND 250 full-time jobs and a further 420 temporary positions are to be axed in Yorkshire by banking giant Lloyds, it has been announced.
Unions reacted with dismay to the news, claiming the decision was a “devastating blow” to workers at the part-nationalised bank.
A Lloyds spokesman said 140 permanent jobs would go in Leeds and 110 in Halifax.
Additionally, 420 temporary jobs will be lost at the two locations.
The latest cuts take the total number of losses to 20,000 since the start of last year, officials said.
The bank said the cuts, which would happen by 2012, were part of its integration of IT operations following the takeover of HBOS.
Union Accord said around 1,700 of the cuts will be overseas, with the rest affecting permanent, temporary and contracting jobs in the UK.
The losses in London include 450 permanent and 550 temporary and contractors’ jobs. Alongside the capital around 280 jobs will be axed in the Chester area and at least 125 in Edinburgh, union officials said.
Accord deputy general secretary Clive Webster said: “Accord believes that today’s announcement will be devastating for the hard-working and professional employees who are affected.
“Whilst we welcome the fact that Lloyds Banking Group is cutting back on UK and offshore contractors rather than making redundant an even larger number of permanent staff, the fact is that after today’s announcement around 2,750 UK taxpayers who currently work for LBG will lose their jobs and their income.
“In a difficult economic climate, the chances of them finding similar roles will be very slim.”
Cath Speight, national officer at Unite, said: “It is an absolute disgrace that Lloyds Banking Group, which is being kept alive by the taxpayer, is cutting more jobs and moving their jobs out of the UK.
Lloyds said it had made “good progress” on its three-year integration programme which it said will be completed at the end of 2011, and was now putting in place its Group IT organisational structure for 2012.
The bank said 1,600 permanent roles will be affected across the UK, 1,150 temporary and contract staff will be “released” and a further 1,750 offshore contractor jobswill be cut.
A statement said: “Lloyds Banking Group is committed to working through these changes with employees carefully and sensitively. All affected employees have been briefed by their line manager today. The group’s union partners were consulted prior to this announcement and will continue to be consulted throughout the process.”
