Updated 10.50pm
Directives at HSBC have been called off following talks at the Office of the Prime Minister this evening.
During the talks, all parties - the bank, the Malta Union of Bank Employees, which had ordered the action, and the General Workers' Union, which was supporting the MUBE, agreed to withdraw directives.All parties will be returning to the negotiating table tomorrow morning.In the meantime, staff will be reporting to work as normal and it will be business as usual for the bank.
Earlier today, HSBC reiterated its warning that staff on strike would not be paid after workers yesterday gave the MUBE a mandate to continue strike action for the rest of the week.
In a circular to employees this morning, the bank said it advised both the Malta Union of Bank Employees and the General Workers' Union that it had registered a trade dispute to safeguard its "rightful interests".
The communication, seen by Times of Malta, was signed by CEO Mark Watkinson.
He said: "I recognise that these are very challenging times for everyone. However we have a duty of care towards our customers who provide us with our living... Ordering directives for industrial action has detrimental effects on customer confidence and affects our long term business in Malta."
Mr Watkinson told the staff the bank received MUBE's counter proposals on March 30 and responded to them on the same day.
The union's proposals were the first since October last year. He said the bank had offered to meet the union on April 8 after Easter.
"We have never received a response to the offer."
At a press conference today, MUBE president William Portelli said workers will stay out on strike tomorrow unless the current industrial dispute is unblocked later today.
The union, he said, was not ready to drop industrial action unless the bank returned to the negotiating table with concrete proposals.
Workers did not report for work on Saturday after the bank threatened to lock-out employees who were obeying a union sit-in strike directive.
The strike continued yesterday and today, with Monday having been a bank holiday. The bank provided an emergency service through some branches and through its ATMs.
Mr Portelli said the union and the bank had almost finalised the collective agreement in August last year but at that point management withdrew because of financial considerations.
"The bank's unilateral decision to withdraw sets a dangerous precedent for collective bargaining and the union feels this is not acceptable," he said.
Mr Portelli insisted the MUBE would only return to the negotiating table if the bank showed willingness to discuss concrete proposals.
"We have suggested a return to the August 'agreement' as a starting point because it makes no sense to continue discussing things without the bank undertaking a commitment."