Dundee’s HMRC workforce have been left “angry and in a state of shock” after confirmation that hundreds of jobs in the city will either be axed or transferred.
Many left work in tears after Thursday morning’s announcement of job losses.
The worst news was at Caledonian House in the city centre, where 130 people face unemployment or competing for jobs at regional centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
At Sidlaw House, at Dundee Technology Park, 650 staff will see their jobs transfer to the Department of Work and Pensions before 2020.
Rachael Paton, 41, said: “There are devastated people crying inside.
“We did know we didn’t have a long-term future in that building but we certainly didn’t expect it so soon.”
Union chiefs said the plans leave Caledonian House workers with few options.
The HMRC office there is scheduled to close its doors by March 2018, but the two new regional super centres will not be operational until 2020.
Public and Commercial Services union local rep Helen Meldrum said: “As the new regional centres will not open until 2020-21 it really does seem that there are no plans for the staff at Caledonian House.”
She added that the workers are Sidlaw House will also be feeling vulnerable.
“The 650 staff there will remain with HMRC until they migrate to the DWP but no date has been given for that,” she said.
“It could be years before that actually takes place and a lot of staff are sceptical about whether it will actually happen.”
HMRC said the changes across the UK would generate estate savings of £100 million a year by 2025 and lead to “better workplaces”.
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