The trade union Unite has raised significant concerns about the future of more than 500 jobs at the Liverpool city centre office of Diligenta, a major employer in the financial services sector. The union is demanding a long-term commitment from the company's management amid fears of deliberate workforce reductions at the Old Hall Street site.
Diligenta, which is part of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), provides business process services for the life and pensions industry. The union's concerns were highlighted during its annual general meeting, where it called for an immediate end to actions it describes as detrimental to the Liverpool-based workforce.
Key Takeaways
- Unite is demanding long-term job security for over 500 Diligenta employees in Liverpool.
- The union alleges a recruitment freeze, reduced office capacity, and the relocation of management roles are threatening local jobs.
- Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham accused the company of attempting to weaken union presence at the site.
- Workers were reportedly offered a pay rise of 2-3%, which is below the rate of inflation.
- Diligenta has declined to provide a comment on the union's statements.
Union Demands Action from Diligenta Management
The trade union Unite has publicly called on the management of Diligenta to provide clear assurances about the future of its Liverpool workforce. According to the union, employees at the Old Hall Street office have growing anxieties about their job security.
During its annual general meeting on October 2, the union branch passed a motion demanding that Diligenta halt any further job cuts and reaffirm its commitment to the Liverpool operation, which has been a significant local employer for many years.
A Long-Standing Liverpool Employer
The office on Old Hall Street has a long history in Liverpool's business district. Before being part of Diligenta and TCS, it was the site of Royal Insurance, making it a key part of the city's employment landscape for generations.
Allegations of 'Union-Busting by Stealth'
Unite's leadership has voiced strong opinions on the situation. Sharon Graham, the union's general secretary, stated that the company's actions could be interpreted as a strategy to undermine the union's influence at the site.
"Unite is demanding that Diligenta gives its skilled and committed workforce a long-term commitment about their jobs in Liverpool. The union will not stand by and let Diligenta conduct union-busting by stealth."
The union suggests that the Liverpool office is being deliberately run down because it is Diligenta's most heavily unionised site in the UK. This claim follows previous instances where workers at the site have voted on industrial action.
Specific Claims Made by the Union
Unite has outlined several specific actions by Diligenta that it claims are causing instability for the Liverpool workforce. These claims form the basis of their demand for management intervention.
- Reduced Office Space: The union alleges that desk capacity at the Liverpool office has been cut by more than 50%.
- Recruitment Freeze: A hiring freeze is reportedly in effect for the Liverpool site, while roles are being filled at other Diligenta locations.
- Role Relocation: Management positions for the call centre have been shifted to Peterborough, a move that has already led to redundancies in Liverpool.
- Pay Dispute: The company is said to have imposed a pay increase of between 2% and 3%, which is significantly below the current rate of inflation. This followed a ballot where workers sought an RPI-matching pay rise.
Impact on the Liverpool Workforce
The ongoing uncertainty is creating a difficult environment for the more than 500 employees at the site. Jacob Goddard, a Unite officer for Diligenta, emphasized the tangible concerns among the staff.
"Unite members in Diligenta Liverpool have serious concerns about their futures as their employer continues with a recruitment freeze at the site. Diligenta needs to step back from any further job cuts at the Liverpool site and recognise the importance of the Old Hall Street office which employs over 500 workers."
The union argues that the combination of these factors points towards a gradual reduction of the company's presence in Liverpool, threatening hundreds of skilled jobs in the city's financial services sector.
Company Profile
Diligenta is a UK-based subsidiary of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), one of the world's largest IT services firms. It specialises in business process outsourcing (BPO) for the Life and Pensions industry, managing policies for major clients.
Company Response
As the situation develops, the focus remains on the company's next steps. When approached for a statement regarding the union's claims and the concerns of its Liverpool employees, Diligenta declined to comment.
This lack of response leaves many questions unanswered for the staff at Old Hall Street. Unite has made it clear that it will continue to press for meaningful commitments from the company to secure the future of the Liverpool office and its dedicated workforce.