UP TO 500 employees picketed Bank of Ireland offices in Dublin yesterday in an attempt to force the bank to accept a Labour Court recommendation on pay.
The Labour Court last month made a recommendation on agreed merit based payments to Bank of Ireland Life and New Ireland Assurance staff. However, Bank of Ireland has yet to implement the recommendation, and strike notice was served on the bank last week.
Trade union Unite said it would be willing to return to the Labour Court for binding clarification of the ruling.
“Our members had won this battle for fair treatment. Then it was taken away,” regional officer Colm Quinlan said.
“They do not want to be on strike and are willing to submit to the court one last time to make the position unequivocal. We hope the Bank of Ireland management are willing to do likewise and accept the final answer.”
The bank earlier said it would consider further input, but said any decision would have to be taken in light of the current economic climate. A spokeswoman for the bank said its priority was stabilising the business and managing costs.
Staff began their pickets on the Bank of Ireland head office in Baggot Street and at the offices of New Ireland Assurance on Dawson Street at 8am yesterday.
The union says the group of staff involved, most of whom are on salaries of less than €30,000, have taken a decrease in salary of 12 per cent this year due to the non-payment of company-related performance payments. “The bank is suggesting it is compliant with the ruling. We are adamant it is not, said Mr Quinlan.
Bank of Ireland has disputed the union’s claim of salary decreases. A spokeswoman yesterday said discretionary bonuses had not been paid to any staff member throughout the group this year due to the exceptionally challenging business environment and company performance”.
Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday morning, Mr Quinlan said the employees involved had a “complex pay structure”, which included bonus payments of about 6 per cent each for company, bank and personal performance. While company and bank performance were both down, Mr Quinlan said personal targets had been achieved and the bonus should be paid to staff.
