Unite call 3,700 RBS job losses “absolute madness”
2 November 2009
Unite National Officer, Rob MacGregor, said: “For RBS to
announce the cut of 3,700 frontline bank staff from their high
street branches across the UK is absolute madness. Essentially RBS
has decided that front line costs should be cut, to fund the crisis
caused by the City bankers.
“This move to reduce front line clerical branch staff by up to a
third is short-sighted in the extreme, high street banks are busier
then ever as customers increasingly seek a trusted friendly local
service. The union is angry that this majority taxpayer owned bank
has totally misjudged the public’s appetite for a return to
traditional banking.
“RBS is clearly attempting to force customers to use automated
services and the internet in order to do their banking, just to
make short-term financial savings. Unite believes that nothing
compares to the personal, customer experience received from a bank
worker. The management should re-think this announcement and not
force people to use an inferior banking service.
“Unite view this cost cutting exercise as damaging to customer
service across both RBS and Natwest brands. The staff hit by this
decision will be amongst the lowest paid within RBS, some of the
longest serving and most loyal who have worked in the local branch
network for many years.
“Real questions must be answered by management about how they
expect to give customers the high quality, personalised service
they currently enjoy from their local branch after they pull out
staff in every community across the UK.”
ENDS
For further information contact: Ashraf Choudhury on 07980 224
761.
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