With the announcement that Ulster Bank are to axe hundreds of jobs in the country, jobs in local Ulster Bank branches which are dotted around the county could be under threat. Ulster Bank, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland, employs 6,000 staff throughout 236 branches, seven branches of which are located in Mayo — Ballina, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Belmullet, Castlebar, Claremorris, and Westport.
On Thursday morning staff were informed of the proposed 600 job losses in the Republic of Ireland, and 350 jobs losses in Northern Ireland, as they arrived for work.
In a statement the bank states that the cuts are to be made “arising from a review of its operating model”. The statement blames the lay-offs on the deterioration of “local and global economies”, and adds: “These actions are being taken as part of the bank’s overall business strategy to ensure the organisation is well placed to compete effectively in the market and continues to serve the needs of its 1.9 million customers across the island of Ireland through its extensive branch and business centre network.”
The jobs cuts will be voluntary, however compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out.
The day before the job cuts were announced, Ulster Bank executives held meetings with trade union representatives from the Irish Bank Officials Association. The IBOA is the leading trade union representing staff in Ireland's financial services sector and this trade union represents about 65 per cent of Ulster Bank staff.
Speaking to the Mayo Advertiser on Thursday, Séamas Sheils, communications manager with the IBOA, said: “We are aware that the bank’s proposals are for 400 jobs cuts in the retail side”, adding that these job losses are “likely to include branches”. The union spokesperson said the bank may see certain branches “as uneconomic” and therefore staff in local branches might be vulnerable to jobs cuts. However, Mr Sheils said that a more detailed breakdown on where these job losses will occur will be known over the coming days.
As part of the role of the union, Mr Sheils said the IBOA will negotiate on behalf of the interests of their members and try to minimise job losses in branches. The union will also see clarification on how the bank will meet its declared commitment on enhanced services to customers if employee numbers are reduced, ensure that any job reductions will be implemented on a voluntary basis, and ensure that appropriate terms and conditions of employment for the staff who will remain in Ulster Bank after the proposed restructure.
The extent of job losses announced is “breathtaking”, according to Larry Broderick, general secretary of IBOA. Mr Broderick lashed out at the lack of Government measures put in place to assist financial sector employees. “With over 6,000 jobs already lost in the financial services sector since the autumn of 2008, and with similar losses likely in the short- to medium-term arising from the substantial reductions already flagged at AIB, IBRC, and Bank of Ireland and likely elsewhere, it is vital that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Trade acts upon IBOA’s request for a forum or task force to consider practical measures which might generate alternative employment opportunities for these workers,” he said. “The minister’s reluctance to engage with us on this matter is in effect penalising financial sector staff once more for the reckless behaviour of their bosses.”
