Union of Central Bankers members walk off the job

Wed, Jun 16th 2021, 04:30 PM

MEMBERS of the Union of Central Bankers walked off the job yesterday citing unresolved grievances with management.

Before midday the bankers, who had been working from home, arrived at Central Bank to begin their protest.
#The Tribune spoke with Theressa Thompson, union president, who said there are a number of issues the bank’s management needs to take care of including breach of contract.
#“The bank is unilaterally changing the terms of our industrial agreement in that a wellness bonus that we normally (receive)—that has been in our contract for about 15 to 20 years—they decided that they will not be paying it,” Ms Thompson said.
#“If it’s in your contract—no one decides that. They have to come and discuss that with the union which they have not.
#“Then they are coming with new performance management. The next thing is that while 80 to 90 percent of us work from home, the expenses for COVID have shifted from the bank to home. Here it is you have to pay more light, more water. . .everything is now more at home. So all we are saying is that we need a higher stipend.
#“The last thing is that our industrial agreement has expired from January and we were in negotiations and we are not getting anywhere so we had to file trade disputes with regard to those matters. So today was just a combination. We were working from home for 15 months so we just decided to shut down those laptops and get out and walk.”
#Ms Thompson said yesterday was the day when the union members told Central Bank bosses that enough is enough.
#Bernard Evans, president of the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU), was out in support of the bankers and said all the bank has to do is to renegotiate the contract with its workers instead of trying to circumvent it.

Before midday the bankers, who had been working from home, arrived at Central Bank to begin their protest.

The Tribune spoke with Theressa Thompson, union president, who said there are a number of issues the bank’s management needs to take care of including breach of contract.

“The bank is unilaterally changing the terms of our industrial agreement in that a wellness bonus that we normally (receive)—that has been in our contract for about 15 to 20 years—they decided that they will not be paying it,” Ms Thompson said.

“If it’s in your contract—no one decides that. They have to come and discuss that with the union which they have not.

“Then they are coming with new performance management. The next thing is that while 80 to 90 percent of us work from home, the expenses for COVID have shifted from the bank to home. Here it is you have to pay more light, more water. . .everything is now more at home. So all we are saying is that we need a higher stipend.

“The last thing is that our industrial agreement has expired from January and we were in negotiations and we are not getting anywhere so we had to file trade disputes with regard to those matters. So today was just a combination. We were working from home for 15 months so we just decided to shut down those laptops and get out and walk.”

Ms Thompson said yesterday was the day when the union members told Central Bank bosses that enough is enough.

Bernard Evans, president of the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU), was out in support of the bankers and said all the bank has to do is to renegotiate the contract with its workers instead of trying to circumvent it.

 

Click here to read more at The Tribune

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