HSBC’S proposals not accepted by unions

The Malta Union of Bank Employees is proposing mediation as a way forward to stalled collective agreement talks after strike action at HSBC Malta was lifted two weeks ago.

The union said proposals received from HSBC had fallen short of solving the current impasse, adding that there was clear disagreement on a way forward.

The union has protested that the management retracted on negotiations held on an August 2014 draft agreement, rejected by HSBC.

“MUBE was very clear with management that the union was not interested in re-opening negotiations wide open but rather concluding on the remaining differences. What is really worrying about the bank’s recent proposals is that management is again suggesting to re-open negotiations wide open by re-proposing those very issues that MUBE had objected to since the start of negotiations in October 2013.

“Needless to say, the bank’s proposal all the more complicates the current impasse and in MUBE’s opinion clearly shows why after all HSBC decided to unilaterally withdraw from a done deal way back in August 2014,” the union said.

MUBE said the bank’s proposed increases for staff salaries were “misleading and very minimal”, not compensating against what was originally ‘agreed’ in August 2014.

“As MUBE remains adamant in its position of not re-opening negotiations wide open, the union has proposed to go for mediation since prolonging this further is effectively working to the detriment of all stakeholders concerned.”