BARCLAYS AXE 180 JOBS IN CARDIFF
UNIONS yesterday called on Barclays Bank to reverse its shock decision to shut its Cardiff mortgage centre with the loss of more than 180 jobs.
The closure of the Llanishen office, which deals with personal mortgages, by the end of the year is part of a move which will see the work transferred to other parts of the UK.
Confirming the decision yesterday, the company said only 60 jobs would be lost, with 144 workers being offered the chance to relocate to Liverpool and Leeds.
Unite regional officer Steve Pantak said: “The union is completely opposed to the decision to close this workplace with no alternative employment offered to the 180 loyal and hardworking staff in this centre.
“Unite will continue to press for Barclays to work to mitigate these job losses but the fact is that this highly skilled and dedicated workforce will be made redundant and we call on Barclays to think again and reverse this decision.
“This announcement comes on the back of reorganisation and redundancies from other departments within Barclays in Cardiff in the last 18 months and of course the relentless closure of bank branches not just at Barclays but also other banks.
“Unite continues to have serious concerns about the future levels of employment within the financial services sector in Wales.”
Unite said officials and workplace representatives will be meeting with members over the coming days and weeks in order to support them and will ensure that their concerns about their futures are responded to.
Barclays said the closure of the centre, on Ty Glas Avenue, would improve the efficiency of its contact centre operations and services to customers and staff would redeployed where possible.
Rob Harris, managing director for Barclays UK Home Solutions, said: “Barclays is working hard to meet customer needs and keep the customer at the heart of what we do. Part of this work is ensuring that our contact centre site processes are working efficiently to enable our teams to work together more effectively.
“Unfortunately this means that our contact centre in Barclays House, Llanishen, will be closing next year. Most jobs will move to our Millshaw Court site in Leeds with a small number going to Dale House, Wavertree in Liverpool. We remain committed to all areas of the UK and will be working with our staff to find redeployment opportunities where possible.”
Sandra Busby, managing director of Welsh Contact Centre Forum, said: “On both a personal and wider economic level, redundancies are clearly never good news. While today’s announcement is a blow, the wider picture of the Welsh contact centre sector is one of continued growth
“South Wales is one of the best places in the UK to run a contact centre and with employment being created at other centres across the region, the availability of similar jobs should give these employees hope.
“We’ll be doing all we can to work with Barclays and the people affected to ensure that anyone who wants to is able to continue to build a rewarding career in the contact centre industry.”
Julie Morgan, AM for Cardiff North, said: “I am shocked and dismayed to hear about this plan by Barclays to close its mortgage centre in Llanishen and I will do all I can to help the employees who are affected by this blow. I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the managing director for Barclays Home Solutions about this.”
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said: “This is an extremely disappointing decision by Barclays, and a serious blow for the capital – parts of which make up the Welsh Government’s flagship finance enterprise zone.
“It is vital that the Cabinet Secretary does everything he can to ensure that affected employees receive the support they need to adapt, and to ensure that their skills can be redeployed locally.”