HSBC branches will probably not resume regular activity until Wednesday as the bank and Malta Union of Bank Employees remain locked in stalemate following a dispute over collective agreement proposals.
MUBE president William Portelli yesterday told The Sunday Times of Malta he had been told that HSBC CEO Mark Watkinson was waiting for the return of the bank’s human resources manager, Mandy Garner. Mr Watkinson was also abroad but returned to Malta on Monday, Mr Portelli said.
HSBC has declined to comment on Mr Portelli’s claims.
The impasse arose after the union decried the bank’s unwillingness to negotiate fairly while the bank insisted it remained open to a negotiated solution that would be in the best interest of the bank’s employees, customers and shareholders.
Thousands of families and businesses have been adversely affected by the chain of directives which kicked off on March 27 with a communications ban, no overtime, a sit-in strike and culminated with the union ordering its members not to turn up to work between yesterday and Tuesday.
The impasse arose after the union decried the bank’s unwillingness to negotiate fairly
The latest directive was issued after HSBC threatened to “lock out” employees on Thursday, Mr Portelli said.
Following the threat, the Malta Employers’ Association intervened and proposed that both parties “cease fire” and meet on Tuesday to discuss the deadlock.
However, at a meeting held by MUBE, members voiced their concerns and the proposal was shot down, Mr Portelli said.
“Members want to see counter-proposals and not just talk. Mistrust has grown and in MUBE’s opinion, it is happening because the bank is not being receptive to employees’ concerns where work-life balance is concerned.
“The minimal pay increase employees recently distributed added insult to injury.”
The bank insists it has put forward a pay and benefits package that is above inflation and very competitive in the current market and economic environment.
Meanwhile, countless clients have complained about the long queues, lack of services and the inability to cash cheques. The withdrawal of cash from ATMs, however, will be available throughout as their replenishment does not depend on bank employees but on third parties.
Mr Portelli is not excluding any options, including taking the bank before the industrial tribunal if an agreement fails to materialise.
The collective agreement, which was drafted up in August, comprises salary increases and a reduction in home loan interest rates for bank employees.
The union felt that the management should bargain fairly and be practical with all categories of staff and not just on financials.Pressure at the workplace was sometimes intolerable, Mr Portelli said.