Partner Article

Legal & General staff back union action at Surrey site

Staff at financial services company Legal & General have voted to take union action in a dispute over plans to close its Surrey offices.

Unite said two thirds of its members at the Kingswood office backed action after plans to close the site put 1,500 jobs at risk, according to the BBC.

However, Legal & General said most jobs were being moved to Hove and Cardiff.

The company said customers would not be affected by the outcome of the ballot.

Regional officer Ian Methven said: “Legal & General is a company which relies on staff going the extra mile, from working late to volunteering for overtime.

“Our members are dedicated and hard working professionals, but today’s result shows that a tipping point has been reached and their goodwill can no longer be taken for granted.

“Unite is calling on Legal & General to work with us to explore all options that can keep Kingswood open. Closing the site will not only cost 1,550 people their jobs, it will devastate the surrounding community.”

A Legal & General spokesman said: “The Unite members of the Kingswood office have voted not to strike over the potential closure of the Kingswood site in 2018.

“The ballot has given them the option to work to rule, should Unite decide to take this option, which they haven’t yet. Our customers will not be impacted by the outcome of the ballot.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .