THE Unite trade union has condemned RBS for ‘brutal and irresponsible’ behaviour by announcing 1,400 job cuts just one day after figures were released that showed UK unemployment rose by 15,000.
The cuts are part of a two-year programme within the UK retail business, with the details of 700 of the job cuts being confirmed yesterday.
Unite national officer Dominic Hook said: ‘This is brutal and irresponsible behaviour from RBS which is almost entirely owned by the taxpayer.
‘It is high time that the banks took their social responsibilities seriously. Since the beginning of the year RBS, HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds have announced plans to slash around 6,900 jobs.
‘The industry almost caused the economy to implode in 2008 and now it is contributing to a jobs crisis.
‘RBS made £826 million in the first quarter of this year, the bank is returning to profit.
‘Unite is demanding no compulsory redundancies and we expect this state-owned bank to do everything to ensure this is the case.’
As well, Unison is calling on charity Turning Point to stop bullying its staff and to start practising what it preaches.
The charity works with people with mental illnesses, substance misuse problems, and supports people with learning difficulties.
Turning Point has recently threatened all its 2,600 staff with the sack unless they agree to new and worse contracts – causing huge amounts of stress and anxiety. The changes would cut staff terms and conditions dramatically – some staff could face pay cuts of up to £10,000.
The charity has also taken away vital protection from staff by de-recognising Unison just as staff need their union more than ever before. When the union organised a peaceful protest outside the charity’s London HQ it threatened to call the police.
Simon Watson, Unison national officer, said: ‘It is a disgrace that staff are being threatened with the sack unless they sign up to worse terms and conditions. The charity’s actions are causing untold worry and stress to staff.
‘We are calling on the charity to withdraw the dismissal notices and new contracts that staff are being bullied into signing and to start practising what it preaches by treating its workforce properly.’
