CWU TO FIGHT CLOSURE OF iPSL BOOTLE

Telecoms & Financial Services November 9 2016

The CWU will fight the closure of the Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL) site in Bootle the Union confirmed today. iPSL has announced that the move to image processing of cheques mean its future working plans assume closing seven of its nine sites including Bootle sometime during 2018.

NigelCotgrove,CWU national officer commented: “The CWU has consistently opposed compulsory redundancies in Bootle and we have worked with iPSL over the years to successfully achieve this goal. Our approach has not changed. The Government’s plans to digitalise chequehandling, which involves the move toelectronic imaging rather than the processing of paper cheques, was always going to raise serious issues. However, thelossof 180 quality jobs in anarea that desperately needs them is unacceptable. We are resolutelyopposedto the closure of Bootle and want to explore all ways of keeping the site open.”

iPSL has confirmed that while a two site approach including the closure of Bootle is the basis of their plans, this has not been finalised. The current plans would result in about 180 job losses at Bootle, which is the company’s original processing site, and about 600 across the UK.

“This is the most serious situation that our members have faced since transferring from the Alliance & Leicester/Girobank. We will be discussing this with senior management in iPSL over coming weeks and months. The CWU will be doing all we can to keep Bootle open,” Nigel concluded.

Notes

The CWU represents staff at iPSL Bootle, which is based in Bridle Road inside the giant Santander site.

The move to image processing of cheques is a requirement of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015. It is planned that 2% of all cheques will be process via by image from October 2017 and all cheques will be processed this way by June 2018.