MORE than 800 IT posts at Royal Bank of Scotland in London have been put at risk as part of a major reorganisation proposed by the lender ahead of Brexit. The bank says it will invest in other UK hubs as it downsizes in London.
RBS is mulling over changes to its operating model that would result in an overall reduction in IT roles.
A spokesman said: “Inevitably, as RBS becomes a simpler, smaller bank focused on the UK and Ireland, our technology function will undergo reorganisation and will reduce over time. As we develop long-term plans for our technology business, we have in the interests of transparency started to share our emerging proposals on a future operating model.”
However, RBS, which is 72 per cent owned by the taxpayer, insisted it has not consulted on any headcount reduction, instead stating that its plans represent a “direction of travel”. “Our proposed plans are designed to reduce the number of contractors we employ and strengthen our permanent workforce, and while we are downsizing in London we are reinvesting in other UK hubs,” the bank said.
According to the Unite union, the cuts will amount to a 65 per cent reduction in contractors in the lender’s London IT function by 2020. Unite said 650 permanent staff and 230 contractors could be axed.
National officer Rob MacGregor said: “The decade of slashing jobs has done nothing to boost morale, increase consumer confidence or improve the bank’s performance.
By 2020 its IT function will be a skeleton service, with the customers and remaining staff paying the price.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here