22/01/2016

Union Fights To Defend 1,550 Jobs

Members of Unite the union are fighting to defend 1,550 jobs at the flagship Legal & General site in Kingswood, Surrey, have vowed to fight on following the announcement that the group's board intends to close the site by 2018.

In a communication to staff L&G confirmed the proposal to close the site by the Summer of 2018. However, Unite will continue with plans for industrial action until the company agrees to meet with the union to explore all options for defending jobs.

Unite members have voted by 67% to support a rolling programme of industrial action and to involve local politicians and community leaders in a campaign to keep the site open. As part of this campaign, Unite members will deliver an independent impact report to local Reigate MP Crispin Blunt.

The report, which has also been delivered to the L&G board, reveals that the total cost of closure in terms of lost wages and increases in welfare payments would be £36 million, while the knock-on impact on the local economy will be over £21 million

Ian Methven, Unite regional officer, said: "It is hugely disappointing that the Legal & General board is choosing to press ahead with this nonsensical decision. Closing Kingswood will not only cost 1,550 dedicated and hard working professionals their jobs, it will rip a £21 million black hole into the local economy .

"Unite members are clear that the campaign to save jobs will continue. We will launch a rolling programme of industrial action and we are calling on local politicians and community leaders to show their support for Kingswood."

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