Branch closures 2018

Unite brands RBS branch network closure announcement “savage”
RBS to close 25 per cent of its branches and cut around 1,000 staff 

Unite the union has reacted with anger at the Royal Bank of Scotland announcement of the closure of 259 further branches between May and June 2018. This represents over 25 per cent of the branch network and will leave just 743 operational branches. The decision to put the jobs of around 1,000 loyal and hardworking staff at risk is a massive blow for the entire business.

Unite has gone on the record to say this massive branch closure program will fundamentally change banking in this country. This move by a taxpayer backed institution is simply unacceptable.

Unite comment

The news today by RBS is totally shocking and represents a change in how the banking sector conducts its affairs. The sheer scale of this latest round of branch closures is savage. How can a UK taxpayer backed organisation devastate local communities by disenfranchising them of the ability to bank at their local branch?

Once again loyal staff, that have helped to rebuild RBS over the last decade, will be rewarded with the prospect of an uncertain future and a bleak Christmas.

Questions to be answered

Royal Bank of Scotland need to answer fundamental questions about:

What happens to the colleagues left behind who cannot or choose not to use computers, tablets and smartphones?

What about the communities abandoned in the rush to slash branch numbers?

It is not right to say that customers are able to use the Post Office network when they may be physically unable to make the journey to the next town or village.

In addition, the pressure on the staff in the remaining branch network will increase as customer footfall to the next branch closest to where they live increases.

Unite is clear that 39 mobile vans and a relatively small team of Community Bankers throughout the country will not be able to cope with an increased number of customers disenfranchised from their local banking service as a result of this announcement. 

Now what?

Unite has pressed for the bank to give staff the following reassurances:

Unite must receive detailed information on the rationale behind each and every branch closure, alongside locations of Post Offices.

RBS to let Unite have information regarding the agreement with the Post Office network which will enable customers to conduct their banking business on a face to face basis.

RBS must give Unite a list of the locations of the current cohort of Community Bankers and the locations of the newly appointed ones.

Outplacement support for those at risk and a minimum of one day a month for all staff, although this should be increase this on a case by case basis for affected staff should a genuine situation arise where more support may be needed.

Voluntary Job Matching (VJM) Unite argues that to exclude level 2 performers from this process was a breach of the Job Security Agreement (JSA). Going forward individuals should be considered for VJM on a case by case basis should it be relevant. 

Contact Unite

If Unite members have any questions please contact your local representative in the first instance. 

If further assistance is required members can email rbsinfo@unitetheunion.org.

Not a member?

RBS employees who are not already members of Unite are urged to join the trade union now to help protect future jobs within RBS. Membership forms can be obtained from your local union representative, or by emailing rbsinfo@unitetheunion.org plus you can join online at www.unitetheunion.org.