The Barclays Bank Staff Association was formed in the early 1920s to represent and pursue the welfare and interests of staff upon all matters affecting their service in the bank. In 1969 Barclays Bank took over Martins Bank and the two staff associations merged. The association underwent a number of name changes, becoming the Barclays Group Staff Association in 1974 and the Barclays Group Staff Union in 1981. It was represented by UNiFI from 1995. In May 1999 UNiFI merged with the Banking Insurance and Finance Union, and the Nat West Staff Association to form UNIFI. UNIFI is a 190,000 strong trade union representing UK finance sector employees.
The Central Council of Bank Staff Associations was established in 1923. It was subsequently renamed the Council of Bank Staff Associations, and in 1977, the Confederation of Bank Staff Associations. It was a member of the Banking Staff Council (1968-78), which in turn was represented on the Joint Negotiating Council for Banking. The CBSA members, the staff associations of Barclays, Lloyds and National Westminster banks, came together in 1980 to form the Clearing Bank Union. The CBU was dissolved on the 30th April 1988 when the clearing banks had ended central negotiation for recruitment grades.
Reference: Tagish Ltd., Directory of UK Staff, Trade and Professional Associations, Trades Unions and related organisations (http://www.tagish.co.uk/links/union.htm). Accessed February 2002.
From the guide to the Barclays Bank Staff Association, 1900-1999, (Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Library)
