THE Financial Services Union has repeated its concerns over the future of 600 jobs in Belfast linked to the Ulster Bank operation in the Republic.
The roles, based at the lender’s city centre headquarters on Donegall Square East, directly service the Ulster Bank business across the border, which is being wound down.
The FSU has designated the jobs ‘at risk’ since NatWest announced last year that Ulster Bank will exit the banking market in the Republic.
Speaking after meeting a cross party delegation of councillors at Belfast City Hall, FSU general secretary John O’Connell said: “The FSU presented to a full meeting of Belfast city councillors last November. At that time, we stated that the 600 jobs were at risk but with goodwill and working together new roles within the wider NatWest group could be found to replace these jobs.
“Unfortunately despite numerous meetings this has not happened and the purpose of our meeting was to ask the Lord Mayor and councillors for their assistance to persuade Ulster Bank, which is part owned by the UK Government to play a more proactive role in trying to ensure these jobs and the income generated from these jobs estimated at £20 million a year is not lost to Belfast.”
Belfast Lord Mayor Tina Black agreed to write to invite NatWest, asking representatives to meet with the council to discuss its current position.
FSU President Eileen Gorman said: “Over 60,000 people work in the wider NatWest group. It is clear there is adequate scope for new roles to be created that would provide decent paid jobs for the staff currently working in Donegall Square East.”
