Bank agrees deal on part timers

The HSBC bank has agreed a deal with finance union UNIFI to help 2,000 current and former part-time workers get their pension benefits.

In 1989 the bank allowed some part timers to join the pension scheme - those working 14 hours or more a week. It then extended this to all part timers in 1992. However, a European Court case pursued by the TUC on behalf of several UK unions established that refusing part timers access to a pension scheme could be discriminatory where this affected more of one sex than another. The Court also said that those excluded from schemes could claim for any period of potential membership back to 1976 when the relevant European law on sex discrimination came into effect.

HSBC has set up a special unit to deal exclusively with claims and existing pensioners will be given priority.

UNIFI negotiating officer Linda Gregory said: "This landmark agreement will make a real difference to the lives of many UNIFI members." The union now wants to see similar action taken by other banks, with Barclays alone likely to have over 13,000 claimants.