Union hits out as Lloyds bank axes more jobs

Union leaders attacked banking giant Lloyds today after another 370 job losses were announced.

Unite said it was optimistic that the fresh cuts would be achieved through voluntary redundancies or transfers.

The union said it had also been told that finance firm Capita had confirmed plans to axe 390 jobs in Bristol.

The union said it was a "bleak day" for finance staff who had faced many months of uncertainty.

National officer Rob MacGregor said: "The 760 finance staff who have been told they face an uncertain future will be devastated by these announcements."

The union said Lloyds had now announced more than 15,000 job losses over the past year.

Mr MacGregor said: "Unite has been working with Lloyds to minimise the number of redundancies at the bank as a result of the integration of Lloyds and HBOS businesses. The union is optimistic that Lloyds will continue to work with us to identify all possible options of alternative employment for staff."

Unite has been calling for a commitment of no compulsory redundancies, and said work which had been offshored over the years should be brought back to the UK.

The latest Lloyds cuts will hit the Wealth & International, Group Operations and Group Executive operations across the UK, said Unite.