THIS is a difficult time for Norwich Union workers. For the 150 staff who are to lose their jobs, there is the trauma of redundancy.

For the hundreds who remain at the York offices, there is uncertainty. A Norwich Union spokesman said today it has no more plans for significant job losses in the city. But that assurance was followed by an ominous pledge to push on with its efficiency drive.

As the workers of Terry's already know - not to mention the former staff of Thrall, ABB and others - the destiny of York livelihoods is often decided many miles away.

Aviva, Norwich Union's parent company, believes chief executive Richard Harvey earns his £1 million-plus pay deal because he operates in a global marketplace. To keep that plum post, Mr Harvey must look to boost profits.

The quickest way to do that is to reduce costs, and the quickest way to reduce costs is to transfer jobs from high-wage Britain to low-pay India, in the case of Norwich Union - just as Kraft is moving Chocolate Orange production to cheaper Eastern Europe.

The long term worry is whether Norwich Union could eventually go the same way as Terry's. Like the chocolate factory, it has a long history in York dating back to the foundation of Yorkshire Insurance in 1824.

We hope that history will count for something, and not be dismissed as clinically as Terry's York traditions by a profit-hungry multi-national. We can only watch Norwich Union's "efficiency drive" for more clues.

More positively, city leaders agree that the York economy remains buoyant despite these job losses. There are opportunities out there for skilled Norwich Union staff, and the outlook remains optimistic.

Even in the global marketplace, York is still on the map.

Updated: 10:15 Thursday, June 10, 2004