Banking giant Lloyds is to axe thousands more jobs, including positions in Chester, and move some work overseas in a "devastating blow" to its workers, unions have said.
The part-nationalised bank is to cut 4,500 jobs, taking the total number of losses to 20,000 since the start of last year, officials said.
Accord said around 1,700 of the cuts will be overseas, with the rest affecting permanent, temporary and contracting jobs in the UK.
Around 280 jobs will be axed in the Chester area, 450 permanent and 550 temporary and contractors’ jobs in London will be lost, at least 125 in Edinburgh, over 200 in Halifax and around 50 in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, union officials said.
Deputy general secretary Clive Webster said: "Accord believes that today’s announcement will be devastating for the hard-working and professional employees who are affected.
"Whilst we welcome the fact that Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) is cutting back on UK and offshore contractors rather than making redundant an even larger number of permanent staff, the fact is that after today’s announcement around 2,750 UK taxpayers who currently work for LBG will lose their jobs and their income.
"In a difficult economic climate, the chances of them finding similar roles will be very slim. Over the past few weeks we heard lots of comments from senior bankers in the UK that they recognise that they have to change how they behave and operate and recognise that they have wider responsibilities than just what is legal and profitable. Accord believes that actions speak louder than words."
Cath Speight, national officer at Unite, said: "It is an absolute disgrace that Lloyds Banking Group, which is being kept alive by the taxpayer, is cutting more jobs and moving their jobs out of the UK. It is now time for the Government to step in and demand answers on behalf of taxpayers and staff. The announcement of 4,500 job cuts today lets down their staff, customers and the taxpayers with no acknowledgement of LBG’s social responsibilities."
Lloyds said it had made "good progress" on its three-year integration programme which it said will be completed at the end of 2011, and was now putting in place its Group IT organisational structure for 2012. The bank said 1,600 permanent roles will be affected across the UK, 1,150 temporary and contract staff will be "released" and a further 1,750 offshore contractor jobs will be cut.
A statement said: "Lloyds Banking Group is committed to working through these changes with employees carefully and sensitively. All affected employees have been briefed by their line manager today. The group’s union partners were consulted prior to this announcement and will continue to be consulted throughout the process."
