A dispute over the collective agreement of the wealth management section has developed into all-out war between HSBC and the bankers’ union, The Times has learnt.
The bank’s attitude is again creating the notorious fear factor among all performing employees
The bank has suspended an official and locked out seven employees on Monday and the Malta Union of Bank Employees is now threatening to take action affecting the whole bank.
Sources close to the union said the issue started last month when the bank attempted “to nullify” part of the wealth management section’s collec-tive agreement.
On October 9, the union applied for a warrant of prohibitory injunction to ensure no changes were made in the section and to ensure no employees would be dismissed.
The court upheld the request provisionally and a sitting was heard in the First Hall of the Civil Court on Monday to hear the parties in more detail. The court now has to decide whether to uphold the union’s application.
The sources said that during Monday’s sitting, two female employees in the wealth management private client section testified they had been threatened by management that they would lose their job if they decided to follow directives ordered by the union.
The directives were issued late last month and remained in force for 15 working days. Last Thursday fresh directives were issued when the union complained it was not being consulted on new security risk procedures.
The original directives followed the suspension of the union’s representative at the wealth management section over an alleged security breach and the implementation of new security procedures.
A meeting was held at the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations after the court sitting in a reconciliation attempt.
However, the sources said the bank’s head of retail banking and wealth management objected to the presence of the union’s lawyer and the section’s union official. The bank representative then left the meeting, the sources added.
“The MUBE has always been totally in favour of any enhanced changes that reduce risk to customers, members of staff and the business. This is always subject to proper consultation with the union,” the union said in a circular to members.
“The MUBE reiterates that the bank’s action fosters uncertainty and insecurity among the employees while it seriously jeopardises harmonious industrial peace. The bank’s attitude is again creating the notorious fear factor among all performing employees irrespective of their adhering to proper procedures. Who’s next?”