Unite: Serious questions over bonuses remain
David Fleming, national officer for Unite, responds to the figures:
“The announcement on bonuses today by Barclays is yet another illustration of the banking sector continuing to ignore the public outrage and disgust at their behaviour.
“Serious questions exist about the moral backbone of those running the financial service sector, while they find it acceptable to ignore the misery working people face with our economy in turmoil.
“The strong results announced today reflect the hard work done by the thousands of low paid Barclays staff in bank branches, processing and call centres. However, there remains an unacceptable disparity between the huge pay awards to the select few at the top of the organisation and the majority of the workforce.
“In 2011 alone Barclays cut 6,000 staff globally, yet its top bankers are today being remunerated with these enormous bonuses. Instead of awarding the bosses outrageous bonuses, the banking sector needs to give something back to our communities.
“Barclays must now realise that cash rich multi nationals need to plough something back into society, instead of simply rewarding one another with fat bonuses.”
