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Union anger as Lloyds announces compulsory redundancies at Southend Union anger as Lloyds announces compulsory redundancies at Southend
(5 months later)
Unions accuse Lloyds Banking Group of taking a tougher stance on job cuts by imposing compulsory redundancies on 689 staff in a major banking centre in Southend, Essex.Unions accuse Lloyds Banking Group of taking a tougher stance on job cuts by imposing compulsory redundancies on 689 staff in a major banking centre in Southend, Essex.
The bailed-out bank insisted the latest job cuts – which one union put at more than 1,400 staff in total – were part of a previously announced plan to axe 15,000 roles by the end of next year, bringing the total to around 40,000 since Lloyds rescued HBOS in 2008.The bailed-out bank insisted the latest job cuts – which one union put at more than 1,400 staff in total – were part of a previously announced plan to axe 15,000 roles by the end of next year, bringing the total to around 40,000 since Lloyds rescued HBOS in 2008.
Officials at the Lloyds Trade Union (LTU) said the bank was changing its approach by pressing ahead with compulsory job cuts.Officials at the Lloyds Trade Union (LTU) said the bank was changing its approach by pressing ahead with compulsory job cuts.
Steve Tatlow, assistant general secretary at the independent LTU, said: "There's a change in attitude … towards redundancies."Steve Tatlow, assistant general secretary at the independent LTU, said: "There's a change in attitude … towards redundancies."
The Unite union pointed out the return to profitability by the bank, which last week reported first quarter profits of £2bn compared with a loss in the same period a year earlier.The Unite union pointed out the return to profitability by the bank, which last week reported first quarter profits of £2bn compared with a loss in the same period a year earlier.
While the LTU has worked with the Lloyds management, led by António Horta-Osório, on other job counts, Tatlow isplanning to mount a campaign to stop the closure of the Southend centre. He denied it was a "knee-jerk operation".While the LTU has worked with the Lloyds management, led by António Horta-Osório, on other job counts, Tatlow isplanning to mount a campaign to stop the closure of the Southend centre. He denied it was a "knee-jerk operation".
"My trade union is opposing the bank's plans and is seeking to build a coalition of local interests from across the Southend community to pressurise Lloyds Banking Group into dropping its closure plans and to adopt alternative measures," he said."My trade union is opposing the bank's plans and is seeking to build a coalition of local interests from across the Southend community to pressurise Lloyds Banking Group into dropping its closure plans and to adopt alternative measures," he said.
"These could achieve the same ends without condemning such large numbers of staff to compulsory redundancy nor inflicting such damage on the Southend local economy and community.""These could achieve the same ends without condemning such large numbers of staff to compulsory redundancy nor inflicting such damage on the Southend local economy and community."
The LTU argued that Lloyds could have picked a different centre for closure and that compulsory redundancies could have been reduced. It calculated that of the 940 jobs being lost in Southend, only around 75 would be transfered to Chelmsford, 18 miles away, while 176 temporary workers would be dismissed and 689 staff made compulsorily redundant.The LTU argued that Lloyds could have picked a different centre for closure and that compulsory redundancies could have been reduced. It calculated that of the 940 jobs being lost in Southend, only around 75 would be transfered to Chelmsford, 18 miles away, while 176 temporary workers would be dismissed and 689 staff made compulsorily redundant.
Lloyds insisted 850 jobs were being cut but that 275 roles were being created. It insisted it was continuing to use "natural turnover" and redeployment, and pointed out that a third of the staff who left in 2012 did so under compulsory reduction programmes.Lloyds insisted 850 jobs were being cut but that 275 roles were being created. It insisted it was continuing to use "natural turnover" and redeployment, and pointed out that a third of the staff who left in 2012 did so under compulsory reduction programmes.
"Lloyds Banking Group is committed to working through these changes with employees in a careful and sensitive way. All affected employees have been briefed by their line manager today. The group's recognised unions Accord, Unite and the LTU were consulted prior to this announcement and will continue to be consulted," the bank said."Lloyds Banking Group is committed to working through these changes with employees in a careful and sensitive way. All affected employees have been briefed by their line manager today. The group's recognised unions Accord, Unite and the LTU were consulted prior to this announcement and will continue to be consulted," the bank said.
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