Northern Rock

The newly-nationalised Northern Rock bank last month announced plans to axe between 2,000 and 2,500 jobs — part of the business plan submitted to European regulators designed to meet strict European competition rules. However, the Unite general union which represents thousands of the bank’s staff warned management against making compulsory redundancies.

Unite deputy general secretary Graham Goddard said the union would be pressing the company for the detailed plans and will “oppose any plans for compulsory redundancies”.