The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
North East; Northumberland and Tyne and Wear; Tyneside
Location of affected unit(s)
Newcastle
Sector
Financial Services Financial And Insurance Activities Insurance, Reinsurance And Pension Funding, Except Compulsory Social Security 65 - Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security
500 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
8 August 2006
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date
Description
500 insurance workers' jobs are at risk after insurance firm Zurich Financial Services announced proposals to close its office in Fenkle Street, Newcastle, which employs about 500 people. The firm said the decision followed a review of its structure, which concluded it could improve efficiency and effectiveness with a smaller number of locations. The Union of Finance Staff said workers were upset and did not know why such a high-performing branch was being hit. Staff at the Newcastle office, which opened in 1982, work on insurance sales, administration and claims processing. A Zurich spokeswoman said the review had been prompted by the competitive insurance market place. She said: 'These are proposals, however I think it's realistic to say that there are 500 people at risk of redundancy.'
'These decisions are always very difficult to reach. It is no reflection on the fantastic work our people do there.'
A 90-day consultation about the proposal has now started with unions who represent the staff. Deputy general secretary of the Union of Finance Staff, Marc Latham, was in Newcastle on Tuesday and said staff were upset and some angry about the announcement.
He said: 'This has come as a complete shock. Because of their high performance, it would suggest that this is a branch that should stay open.'
'One of the things we need to do is check the rationale behind this and start to put forward our own proposals.'
'What we don't want is for the company to throw away a dedicated set of staff, with many years of training. High performance is not being rewarded with security.'
Sources
8 August 2006: BBC News
Citation
Eurofound (2006), Zurich Financial Services, Closure in United Kingdom, factsheet number 63897, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/63897.
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