Barclays staff tell shareholders: 'Protect our pensions'
6th August 2009
Time: 9.30am - 11.30am
Location: The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y
4SD
Workers from Barclays are today (Thursday) protesting outside
the Barclays' shareholder meeting as part of their dispute
regarding pensions.
Unite members will carry placards stating: 'Hands off our
pensions' to highlight their anger at proposals by Barclays to
close its final salary pension scheme. Workers will be handing a
leaflet to shareholders as they enter the meeting.
The shareholder meeting has been called by Barclays to gain
agreement to sell the Barclays Global Investors (BGI) business to
BlackRock.
Keith Brookes, Unite national secretary, said: “Barclays staff
are protesting outside the meeting of shareholders to make it clear
that they are incensed by the decision to close their valued
pension scheme. Our members will not accept this decision by the
bank to erode their pension arrangements.
"Today staff will tell shareholders their message to Barclays
is: 'Hands off our pension.'
"The union has serious concerns as to why Barclays is choosing
to take this action against the company's hardworking and loyal
staff. Shareholders must recognise that the possibility of strike
action will be very damaging for the bank.
"Unite wants shareholders to ask the bank why it wants to embark
on this battle with its workforce at a time when Barclays'
employees are working so hard to deliver fantastic service to their
customers, despite the difficult economic climate.
"Unite also welcomes the £3 billion half year profit by
Barclays, but is appalled by Barclays' grasping attitude to its
long serving workers whose pensions the company plans to cut. At
the same time it would appear that fat cat bonuses may well remain
on the agenda for senior executives at Barclays.
"It is well past the time to end the remuneration packages that
reward short term profits and irresponsible risk taking and
Barclays should look at the long term pension interests of its
ordinary workforce who are on ordinary wages."
Unite will be balloting its members at Barclays during autumn.
In a consultative ballot last month, 92 per cent of members said
they wanted to be balloted by Unite on industrial action.
Any industrial unrest would significantly impact the operations
of Barclays and the service the company could provide to its
customers.
Unite represents over 25,000 members at Barclays. Unite members
work across all of Barclays' operations including bank branches,
processing centres, call centres, computer centres and Barclaycard
centres.
Ends
For more information contact Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press
office on 07980 224761
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