Reps' meetings

Reps discuss the important issues

Around 250 reps attended the latest round of reps’ meetings which took place in Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds and London. An online get-together was also held for those who were unable to attend an in-person event. Here’s a round-up of the important issues discussed…

Accord’s General Secretary Ged Nichols kicked off proceedings at all meetings by looking back to the events that have happened in the previous months, the challenges being faced and what Accord is currently working on with Lloyds Banking Group.

Ged said that as we focus on the issues ahead of us, we don’t always look back on the distance travelled, but since reps had last been able to get together face to face, so much had happened.

The union had worked closely and constantly with Lloyds Banking Group throughout the pandemic and achieved very positive results in the most difficult of circumstances. He encouraged reps to remind themselves and their members about just how much was done by reading the independent report on Partnership at LBG during Covid 19.

Ged spoke about the success of the cost-of-living awards and the 2023 pay deal that had the support of 90% of the members who voted.

On security of employment, he talked about securing the heritage Lloyds & HBOS redundancy compensation terms on an open-ended basis and the new focus on skills and job retention.

Reps were given the chance to take part in a Q&A session where the hot topics across all meetings included the changes that LBG had proposed to compressed hours and hybrid working, branch closures and the changing nature of roles within branches, the increasing complexity of operations, the cost-of-living payments and the lack of benefit for staff on universal credit, increasing interest rates and the need for more support from LBG as an employer as the squeezing of incomes was really beginning to bite.

The feedback from reps provided important inputs for the next round of meetings with LBG.

Reps’ meetings will be held again in November. Dates and locations will be announced soon – it will be great to see as many reps as possible there.