11.05.1995

Barclays strike

STAFF AT Barclays Bank are to strike on May 30. More one-day strikes will follow if management does not negotiate. Unifi, Barclay’s in-house, non-TUC union, which represents 32,000 of the 65,000 staff, received 60% support for its call for action to back a 5% pay demand. This will be the first time this traditionally mod-erate union has taken industrial action.

Employees in the banking industry have been under the cosh for a number of years because of new technology and increasing competitive rivalry between banks. Thousands of jobs have gone and, if management have their way, thousands more will follow. Barclays alone plans 3,000 job cuts this year.

A career in banking once meant a well paid job for life. Not anymore. Full time staff are being replaced by temporary contracts and part time jobs. Technology is de-skilling work.

This year management did not even pretend to negotiate, but simply imposed a 2.7% award. Staff patience snapped when the bank disclosed profits of £1.68 billion and generous 19% pay rises for the bosses.

David Nott, assistant general secretary of Unifi, told me how a staff association had developed into a certified trade union due to deteriorating relations with the management. His members were very demoralised and very angry.

Fewer than 9,000 members voted in the ballot, but this does not reflect members’ feelings. Non-voters are pledging their support and new recruits are joining to take part in the action. The union has started a vigorous campaign to build for the strike. David Nott commented: “We know where our strength is and we know where management’s weaknesses are.”

Bifu, the main banking trade union, has only 8,000 members in Barclays and was taken by surprise by the pro-strike vote. It has no time to ballot its own members but has instructed them not to cross picket lines or do anything that undermines the strike. Bifu members are reported to be joining Unifi so they can take part.      

Unifi is considering applying to join the TUC and is developing informal links with unions and staff associations across the finance industry.

Phil Kent