Lloyds TSB outsourcing plans threaten 132 jobs

Up to 132 IT jobs at Lloyds TSB in Manchester are under threat after the bank announced plans to outsource some if its IT functions to India.

The company announced that 250 jobs would be cut from a division that employs around 470 people. Although no final decision has been taken yet on which sites would be affected, unions are predicting that a Wythenshawe-based unit employing 132 people in software testing and offices in London would bear the brunt of the cuts. A further 195 contract and temporary staff are also likely to be affected.

Unions slammed the plans saying there was no business case for transferring the jobs from cities across the UK to the subcontinent.

Unite the union also warned it feared further job cuts would be announced at Lloyds but the bank denied the suggestion. John Bancroft, Unite national officer for Lloyds TSB speaking to Crain's said: “Unite the union is disappointed by the outsourcing announcement.

“We do not believe that the business case for this decision has been made. We are challenging the bank to consider alternative options. It is going to be a real kick in the teeth. We would not rule out further job cuts at this stage.”

Lloyds stressed that it had made no decision on where the jobs would be lost and was committed to finding alternative positions within the company for employees.

It said £2,000 retraining grants would be provided to help those affected. “We want to keep those staff and we are guaranteeing them the offer of another job,” a spokesperson said.

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Lloyds TSB outsourcing plans threaten 132 jobs