HBOS staff in Chester fear for jobs

Sep 19 2008 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

MORE than 1,500 worried HBOS workers in Chester fear their jobs could be axed following the take- over of their bank by Lloyds TSB.

Savings and mortgage provider Halifax Bank of Scotland owns three major city-centre offices – on City Road, at Chester Business Park and at the former Western Command headquarters overlooking the River Dee.

City centre management estimated that the number of employees at HBOS in Chester was 1,500.

Lloyds TSB has confirmed jobs will be cut as a result of the £12billion merger but said it was too early to say how many would go in Chester.

A spokeswoman said: “Of course we completely understand staff being worried which is why we are trying to be as open as possible with staff at HBOS, Lloyds TSB and the unions throughout the acquisition process.

“We want to do the right thing by all staff members both at HBOS and Lloyds TSB. As for staff in Chester, it’s too early to say at the moment.”

HBOS chiefs have played down national press claims 40,000 jobs would be lost across England and Scotland.

When asked if staff in Chester would be contacted about any fears concerning job security, spokesman Alex Barnett said: “Proceedings are not at that point yet”.

HBOS – which employs 66,000 nationwide – is being bought by Lloyds TSB after share prices crashed earlier this week and confidence in the firm had fallen dramatically.

Union leaders are calling for the banks not to make redundancies and to hold talks with them about combating major job losses.

Ciaran Naidoo, spokesman for Unite, said: “There will be hundreds of workers in Chester who will be worrying and we are calling for there not be any compulsory redundancies.”

Cheshire has an estimated 68,400 people employed in financial services with Chester an estimated 10,000 workers – including those at MBNA (Bank of America), RBS, NatWest, M&S Money and the Funding Corporation.