HSBC workers will be on strike today as the Malta Union of Bank Employees receives a fresh offer for mediation from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Mediation attempts over the weekend by the Malta Employers’ Association failed to unblock the impasse with management, MUBE president William Portelli told Times of Malta.

“The MEA’s attempts failed to elicit counterproposals from the bank’s management for a collective agreement. We have now received an offer from the Office of the Prime Minister to mediate,” Mr Portelli said.

He confirmed that the union’s directive to bank employees not to report for work today still stood.

The bank was closed yesterday, a bank holiday.

MEA’s attempts failed to elicit counter proposals from the bank for a collective agreement

The union ordered workers not to report to work last week, after the bank reportedly threatened to lock the workers out for obeying the union’s directives for industrial action.

MUBE resorted to industrial action after the bank failed to come back with counterproposals for changes to the collective agreement. The bank had been dilly-dallying for months.

Mr Portelli said the situation remained unchanged yesterday and HSBC employees were directed not to report to work today. A similar directive saw bank employees not reporting for work on Saturday.

The industrial action has caused disruption to bank clients, especially the elderly and businesses. Cheques are not being processed and services have been curtailed. ATM service is functioning but cheque deposits will only be processed when full service returns.

Meanwhile, the General Workers’ Union yesterday said it was supporting the MUBE’s strike action at the bank. In a statement, the GWU said it was concerned about the attitude adopted by the bank’s management, which was refusing to discuss issues of concern with the unions.

The GWU ordered its members at the bank to show solidarity with their colleagues and follow the orders issued by the MUBE.