Ulster Bank Group
IBOA concern over RBS plan to close IT operations in Ireland
Issued : 19 January 2010
Staff working in the Irish IT divisions of the multinational banking group, RBS, have been shocked by the company's plan to close down its IT operations in Ireland by the autumn at a cost of 196 jobs in Dublin and 25 in Belfast, according to IBOA The Finance Union.
Following a meeting with staff today, IBOA General Secretary, Larry Broderick, has asked RBS to review its position and to engage with the Union in looking at retaining highly skilled IT jobs in Ireland.
"Given the Irish Government's stated position that technology jobs are key to the future of the Irish economy, we are calling on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make representations to the British Government, which now owns 84% of RBS, to seek to retain these IT jobs in Ireland.
“While IBOA acknowledges management's commitment to negotiate with the Union about these job losses on a voluntary basis, it is clear that unless RBS provides alternative IT job opportunities in Ireland, these redundancies will to all intents and purposes be compulsory," said the IBOA leader.
“Furthermore, since RBS received substantial incentives to set up its operations in Ireland, it is not acceptable that they can just walk away and abandon these highly skilled and committed staff - who have performed to a consistently high level.
“Our members today are justifiably angry and see job retention as a priority in the negotiations which RBS and IBOA will be undertaking in the coming weeks," added Mr. Broderick.
