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Help for bank staff facing the axe
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A special taskforce has been set up to help hundreds of finance workers hit by a pre-Christmas jobs blow.
Union leaders said more than 800 jobs will be cut at Lloyds Banking Group offices in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, by the spring of 2011.
About 570 Lloyds staff working on pensions and investments will be affected as well as 240 workers at Equitable Life whose contract with the bank will end in March 2011.
The work will transfer to Indian firm HCL.
The Accord trade union described the decision as a "body blow" for the workforce as well as the area.
General Secretary Jed Nichols said: "Our main concern is to avoid compulsory redundancies. The terms and conditions of employment for those staff who Equitable Life are proposing to transfer to HCL is also a priority."
Mr Nichols revealed the union was seeking legal advice about the proposed transfer of staff.
Chris Wiscarson, chief executive of Equitable Life, said: "I very much regret the concern, uncertainty and disruption these changes will cause for many people in Aylesbury. We will keep these people fully informed and supported over the next 15 months to help them plan for their future as effectively as possible."
South-east development agency SEEDA put in place a taskforce to help workers facing redundancy in Aylesbury. Efforts will be made to help them look for other jobs or move into retraining.
Chief executive Pam Alexander said the job losses were a "serious blow" to the area, adding: "Our immediate concerns are for the individuals who may face redundancy and how we can support them in finding new employment."
