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HSBC to axe 70 jobs at Leeds call centre
BANKING giant HSBC is making 70 staff at its Leeds subsidiary First Direct redundant, it confirmed today.
A further 30 posts are likely to be cut in Shefield as part of 1,200 redundancies announced today.
Leeds staff at the Arlington business centre have been informed of the company's plans and a 90 day consultation programme has started.
HSBC is one of Leeds' biggest employers with around 2,600 staff at First Direct and a further 1,000 at its other operations across the city.
HSBC job cuts plan sparked union outrage today amid claims that around 2,900 jobs were under threat in total.
While HSBC has confirmed 1,200 staff face redundancy, it is thought even more jobs are at risk, as many staff who leave are not replaced and those on contracts are not renewed.
Derek Simpson, the joint leader of trade union Unite, also claimed that 500 jobs would be moved offshore, although the bank refused to confirm exact details.
He said: "To slash 2,900 jobs demonstrates the insincerity of the claim by HSBC to be the world's local bank.
"This decision will ravage a number of local communities as sites are closed and other work is sent abroad."
HSBC, which has around 58,000 staff in the UK, said job losses would hit backroom areas such as IT and human resources rather than front-line employees in branches.
Managing director Paul Thurston said: "There are difficult decisions that have to be made as we adapt to a new environment and ensure we are well positioned for the future."
But Unite officials also claimed that the bank was effectively setting up a two-tier system of dealing with customers.
Premier customers will be serviced from centres in the UK, while basic and other account holders will be covered from India, said Unite.
The union also accused the bank of failing to hold proper consultations over the job losses.
HSBC said 280 jobs would be axed at the Leamington Spa processing centre, 90 in Newport, South Wales, and 150 in London.
A bank spokesman said a "very small" number of jobs were being offshored, adding that he did not recognise the union number.
The job losses follow a cull of 1,100 employees at HSBC's investment banking division - including 500 UK staff - last September.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
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