Bank workers vote for action

WORKERS at Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and Halifax have voted 85% in favour of industrial action in response to their parent company’s decision to close its Halifax branch network with the loss of 750 jobs.

The ballot of 1,000 members of the Unite trade union found that 75% of those not affected by the job losses were prepared to take part in the protest action.

Unite said its officials will now engage with management to seek “real negotiations” on the level of proposed job losses across the entire business, a substantial lump sum payment for short service staff, a suitable long service option including early retirement for those who wish to take it, a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies in the continuing business and the resolution of a number of outstanding individual issues.