A Lloyds bank protest was held in Glasgow after unions claimed flexible working hours for staff had been threatened.
Union members gathered outside the Annual General Meeting at Glasgow's SEC Armadillo today at 9am over work conditions.
Unite claimed the bank planned to remove compressed hours, which allow employees to work their total contracted hours over fewer working days.
The support helps staff with caring responsibilities, but without it they could need to fork out more cash for childcare or even quit their jobs.
This left union members fearing for staff during the cost-of-living crisis as they already face household bills skyrocketing.
They claim it would disproportionately impact women, carers and disabled staff members.
However, Lloyds bank claim they are dedicated to “supporting colleagues” while taking on the “evolving needs” of customers.
A group from Extinction Rebellion and sister movement Money Rebellion also infiltrated the protest saying “this bank is dirtier than ever!”
Four demonstrators repeatedly interrupted Lloyds Banking Group chairman, Robin Budenberg, as soon as he took to his feet to make his opening speech.
As soon as the first one was removed by security, a second one stood up to intervene.
In a series of speeches, they demanded that the bank and Bundenberg lead the UK’s financial services industry out of fossil fuel funding immediately, completely and for good.
READ NEXT: Cost of living: Glasgow supermarket prices rise faster than inflation
Protestor William Hunter, 65, said: “I find it deeply ironic that Lloyds’ is still financing the climate-wrecking fossil fuel industry while its core business is retail banking and mortgage lending. Extreme weather events caused by climate change are on a clear pathway to causing ever more damage to the health and wellbeing of millions of Lloyds’ customers.”
A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said: “Lloyds Banking Group is a strong advocate of flexible working and remains committed to providing a supportive and rewarding place to work for colleagues.
“Our hybrid working approach has been in place since 2021 and has allowed many of our colleagues to benefit further from flexible working patterns.
“The recent announcement brings added clarity on our hybrid policy, and we will continue to take an open approach to identifying the best way to support our colleagues while meeting the evolving needs of our customers.”
›
Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary said: “Unite members are saying clearly that Lloyds Banking Group must drop this ill-conceived pilot which grievously disadvantages women, carers and disabled staff working at the bank.
“The scheme means increased childcare and family costs during a cost-of-living crisis and it will badly affect staff who need to work compressed hours.
“The great fear is that a pilot is only a step away from an introduction of such changed working conditions.
“At a time when progressive employers are moving towards modern ways of working, it appears that LBG management are well out of touch.”
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here