Unions fear more HSBC cuts

The work will switch to China, India and Malaysia Read workers' reactions here

Unions say they are concerned about the security of up to 1,000 HSBC jobs in Swansea after it was announced that a tenth of them would be cut and moved to Asia.

As part of a UK-wide plan to export 4,000 customer service jobs across the UK, the banking group announced on Thursday night that 130 jobs at the Swansea Enterprise Park's service centre would be shed.

HSBC has said it hopes to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum. It has also pointed out that it recently extended its lease on the site until 2011.

But it said it could not give assurances on precise staff numbers.

Steve Pantak from the Unifi union explained that there are another 900 staff members working in a separate call centre at the site, and said he had "grave concerns" about the security of their jobs as well.

"I've spoken to the bank and they won't give us any commitment about the jobs either way," he said.

"They're not saying the jobs will go but they're not saying they'll stay."

Compulsory cuts

Jobs will be lost from sites in Swansea, Birmingham, Sheffield and Brentwood in all.

Staff at the four sites were told of the job losses on Thursday afternoon and HSBC said it was planning to tell the rest of the UK workforce on Friday.

Adrian Russell from HSBC said on Friday the company had no plans to shut down the Swansea operation.

"We have no intention of closing the call centre in Swansea, and recently negotiated the terms of our lease until 2011," he said.

"Swansea is our main Welsh language call centre and that is one of the reasons it is so important to us.

"Staff turnover in the call centre may mean some of the staff from the processing centre can transfer across."

HSBC chief executive Bill Dalton had said earlier that the job cuts were "essential" for the bank's continued success.

"As one of the world's largest financial services companies HSBC has a responsibility to all its stakeholders to remain efficient and competitive," he said.

"This includes increasing productivity and allocating resources to both developed and emerging markets."

Unifi said it was "very, very angry" at the prospect of compulsory redundancies.

Mr Pantak said the workers were shocked and disillusioned.

"We found out on Thursday night like everyone else, there were rumours but they were denied."

"We're now going to form a campaign, contact local politicians and try and safeguard these jobs - the gloves are off.

"We'll take industrial action if need be. Nothing's been ruled out," he added.

HSBC says the UK job cuts are part of a plan begun in 2000 when it started transferring some of its back office and customer support work abroad.

The bank had already announced 1,400 UK job cuts this year, blaming tough economic conditions.