Barclays workers are set to vote on strike action after the bank announced plans to close its final salary pension scheme to existing members, the Unite union has announced.
Unite said its members were 'incensed' by the move, which affects 17,000 staff, while 1,500 top earners are exempt. The union revealed that nine out of 10 members demanded a ballot for industrial action.
Voting will take place next month, with potential strikes in September that could have a 'significant' impact on Barclays' services, Unite warned.
Derek Simpson, joint leader of Unite, said: 'It is unacceptable that Barclays are proposing this unilateral change to workers' pensions. Unite members will not stand by as their employer rides roughshod over their retirement security.'
Simpson added that the union had proposed viable alternatives to achieve cost savings, but the bank had failed to engage. He urged Barclays to 'go back to the drawing board' to avoid damaging strike action.
Unite represents over 25,000 Barclays staff across branches, processing centres, call centres, and other sites, including in offshore islands and Gibraltar.
