Banking unions affiliated with the General Confederation of Workers said in a statement that banks are ready to make salary updates higher than the initial proposal of 2.5%, which the unions deemed unworthy.
In a statement, Mais Sindicato and SBN – Sindicato dos Trabalhadores do Sector Financeira de Portugal and Sindicato dos Bancários do Centro said that at the first meeting, on January 27, there was no concrete progress but that the negotiating group of banks expressed “some flexibility to move forward with his proposal.” The counterbalance rate of 2.5% in the salary scale and financial expression items »and that the new round of negotiations was scheduled for February 10.
On the other hand, the unions say that they “do not concede some amendments to the items they proposed, because they represent support for the income of working and retired employees.”
On the decision of BPI, Novo Banco and Santander Totta to increase salaries by 4% now, the three unions consider that “initiatives like this at the same time negotiations distort the process” and claim that what they want is to negotiate increases in schedules and financial terms of expression, which It has a broader scope and includes active and retired employees.
Two weeks ago, in Lusa’s remarks, union representatives said they hoped the salary updates BPI, Novo Banco and Santander Totta made in January were a good sign, not a way to hollow out collective bargaining and suggest that the ultimate value of salary negotiations would be in that order.
Mais Sindicato, Sindicato dos Bancários do Centro and SBN claim, for the year, 8.5% of the updated Financial Expression Tables and Terms.
The Banking Negotiation Group, which is responsible for ACT’s review of the sector, represents about 20 financial institutions operating in Portugal, including Santander Totta, Novo Banco and BPI.
Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD), BCP, Crédito Agrícola and Montepio have independent agreements.
In the case of the CGD Public Bank, the proposal to increase salaries is 3%, which the unions considered unacceptable.
