Barclays staff to be balloted for industrial action

Barclays staff to be balloted for industrial action 

Unite members are to ballot for industrial action over Barclays' decision to close its final salary pension scheme.

Unite members are incensed at the pension proposals which would result in the total closure of the Barclays' pension scheme. In a consultative ballot, 92 per cent of staff said they wanted to be balloted by Unite on industrial action.

The union will hold the ballot in August, with potential strike action taking place across the bank in September.

The industrial unrest would significantly impact the operations of Barclays and the service thecompany provide to its customers.

Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary, said: “It is unacceptable that Barclays is proposing this unilateral change to workers' pensions. Unite members will not stand by as their employer rides roughshod over their retirement security.

“The long-serving and dedicated workforce view this pension proposal as a betrayal by their employer. Consultation with our members has shown the depth of anger over the pension issue. Over 90 per cent of Unite members are demanding a ballot for industrial action over this action by their employer.

“The forthcoming ballot within Barclays will send a strong message to private sector employers across the economy. Unite will not accept businesses using the economic downturn as a means to erode the important terms and conditions of members.

“Unite has proposed viable alternatives to Barclays in order to make the cost savings the company argues are essential for the pension scheme to be viable. The company has failed to engage with the union on these suggestions. We would urge Barclays to go back to the drawing board in order to avert damaging strike action.”

Unite represents over 25,000 members within Barclays. Unite members work across all of Barclays, from: bank branches, processing centres, call centres, computer centres, Barclaycard centres and the offshore Islands and Gibraltar.