15/09/2015 10:40
The CEO of the Hellenic Bank Bert Pijls sent a strict letter to the bank’s staff on Monday, regarding developments with ETYK, stressing that the stand of the union “leaves no room for negotiation" for the renewal of the collective agreement.
The circular of the Dutch CEO of the bank followed ETYK’s decision to invite its members to refrain from overtime employment.
Labour relations at the Hellenic Bank seem to grow worse as ETYK warns that measures will escalate.
The conflict between Hellenic Bank and ETYK was caused by the unilateral, as the union says, recruitment of managers, without following the procedures of the agreement of both parties, despite the moratorium which had been decided between them.
ETYK blames the employers' side that despite its commitment to implement the agreement it proceeded to recruiting an additional number of out-of-bank persons in managerial positions last July.
As StockWatch wrote, the opinion of the Attorney General of the Republic to the department of labor relations of the Ministry of Labour, in relation to the dispute, is pending.
ETYK ‘s General Secretary Christos Panagides told StockWatch that the decision to abstain from overtime working at the Hellenic Bank, was taken for reasons of principle.
"The management of the Hellenic Bank should implement existing agreements, respect institutions and its staff and follow the procedures" Mr. Panagides observed.
ETYK’s General Secretary kept the possibility open that the measures may escalate if the Bank continues its policy of circumventing the agreements.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the Hellenic bank sent a circular to the Bank's staff yesterday, turning the staff's attention to the need to diversify hours and heralding the intention of the Bank to open some branches on Saturdays, as StockWatch wrote recently.
In his letter to the staff, he notes that the Hellenic Bank is committed to serve its clients and in this regard, be responsive to their needs. “Client demands and attitudes change over time and we need to change with them. This is the only way we will remain competitive” he stressed.
He added that “responding to client needs by no means implies that we go against the needs and rights of all of you”.
He said that the bank is investigating the possibility of opening a very small number of branches for a few hours on Saturdays. “We see this as a way forward and not as a step back”.
He stressed that this does not mean any increase in the number of working hours, which will remain unchanged.
“In addition, should we proceed with Saturday opening, it is not our intention to use existing staff, unless this is explicitly requested by any person. New staff will be hired for this purpose. This will benefit our clients, our bank, but it will also benefit the country, at a time when unemployment, particularly amongst young people, remains at such high levels” he added.
However, until an agreement is reached, the bank will apply working hours and customer service hours as per existing collective agreements.
The winter schedule of the Hellenic Bank begins on 1 October and is as follows:
Working Hours: Monday: 7:30 to 14:30 and 15: 00- 18:00 Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 14:30
Hours of service to the public: Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 13:30 Monday: 15:15 - 16:45
As regards staff loans, Mr. Pijls said that the bank submitted a proposal which includes conditions which are more beneficial to the Hellenic Bank staff.
“However, the insistence of the Union not to accept anything different than what has been agreed with other banks is not serving the interest of Hellenic or its staff” he said, adding that “the stand of the Union on both pending issues effectively leaves no room for negotiation”.
ETYK ‘s general secretary argues that the management of the Hellenic Bank is acting uncontrollably.
He noted that workers at the Hellenic Bank made sacrifices through wage and benefits’ reductions from early 2012 until 2014 and these savings vanished within a few months by the Bank, as he said, which is unsparingly distributing hundreds of thousands of euros in wages for "people who are in favor of the management and millions for external consultants".
The circular of the Dutch CEO of the bank followed ETYK’s decision to invite its members to refrain from overtime employment.
Labour relations at the Hellenic Bank seem to grow worse as ETYK warns that measures will escalate.
The conflict between Hellenic Bank and ETYK was caused by the unilateral, as the union says, recruitment of managers, without following the procedures of the agreement of both parties, despite the moratorium which had been decided between them.
ETYK blames the employers' side that despite its commitment to implement the agreement it proceeded to recruiting an additional number of out-of-bank persons in managerial positions last July.
As StockWatch wrote, the opinion of the Attorney General of the Republic to the department of labor relations of the Ministry of Labour, in relation to the dispute, is pending.
ETYK ‘s General Secretary Christos Panagides told StockWatch that the decision to abstain from overtime working at the Hellenic Bank, was taken for reasons of principle.
"The management of the Hellenic Bank should implement existing agreements, respect institutions and its staff and follow the procedures" Mr. Panagides observed.
ETYK’s General Secretary kept the possibility open that the measures may escalate if the Bank continues its policy of circumventing the agreements.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the Hellenic bank sent a circular to the Bank's staff yesterday, turning the staff's attention to the need to diversify hours and heralding the intention of the Bank to open some branches on Saturdays, as StockWatch wrote recently.
In his letter to the staff, he notes that the Hellenic Bank is committed to serve its clients and in this regard, be responsive to their needs. “Client demands and attitudes change over time and we need to change with them. This is the only way we will remain competitive” he stressed.
He added that “responding to client needs by no means implies that we go against the needs and rights of all of you”.
He said that the bank is investigating the possibility of opening a very small number of branches for a few hours on Saturdays. “We see this as a way forward and not as a step back”.
He stressed that this does not mean any increase in the number of working hours, which will remain unchanged.
“In addition, should we proceed with Saturday opening, it is not our intention to use existing staff, unless this is explicitly requested by any person. New staff will be hired for this purpose. This will benefit our clients, our bank, but it will also benefit the country, at a time when unemployment, particularly amongst young people, remains at such high levels” he added.
However, until an agreement is reached, the bank will apply working hours and customer service hours as per existing collective agreements.
The winter schedule of the Hellenic Bank begins on 1 October and is as follows:
Working Hours: Monday: 7:30 to 14:30 and 15: 00- 18:00 Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 14:30
Hours of service to the public: Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 13:30 Monday: 15:15 - 16:45
As regards staff loans, Mr. Pijls said that the bank submitted a proposal which includes conditions which are more beneficial to the Hellenic Bank staff.
“However, the insistence of the Union not to accept anything different than what has been agreed with other banks is not serving the interest of Hellenic or its staff” he said, adding that “the stand of the Union on both pending issues effectively leaves no room for negotiation”.
ETYK ‘s general secretary argues that the management of the Hellenic Bank is acting uncontrollably.
He noted that workers at the Hellenic Bank made sacrifices through wage and benefits’ reductions from early 2012 until 2014 and these savings vanished within a few months by the Bank, as he said, which is unsparingly distributing hundreds of thousands of euros in wages for "people who are in favor of the management and millions for external consultants".
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