Walkout 10,000 HSBC staff due to strike today

HSBC is bracing itself for Britain's first banking strike since 1997. More than 10,000 union members across the bank's branches, payment processing centres and its IT services are expected to strike today. Amicus, the union fighting a below-inflation pay deal and cuts to bonuses, also plans to demonstrate outside HSBC's annual meeting today. HSBC said it did not expect branches to close and that telephone, internet and ATM services should not be affected. It also said that it had tabled a new pay offer.

HSBC is bracing itself for Britain's first banking strike since 1997. More than 10,000 union members across the bank's branches, payment processing centres and its IT services are expected to strike today. Amicus, the union fighting a below-inflation pay deal and cuts to bonuses, also plans to demonstrate outside HSBC's annual meeting today. HSBC said it did not expect branches to close and that telephone, internet and ATM services should not be affected. It also said that it had tabled a new pay offer.