BCR trade unionists ready to start general strike

BCR employees part of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions will go on a general strike over an unlimited period starting tomorrow at 9.00, as negotiations with the bank’s management on wages have reached a deadlock. BCR, the biggest bank in the system, with around 8,700 employees, is the first financial institution to cope with an employee protest regarding wages. According to bank data, the employees’ trade union asked for stipulations included in the collective labour contract valid in 2008 to be maintained, as well as a for hike 3% above the one offered by the management (set to be half the 2008 inflation, put at 6.7%). BCR management would have agreed to maintain stipulations of the 2008 labour contract, but wanted for holiday and Christmas bonuses to be correlated to the bank’s financial performances, with the assessment criteria to be decided on jointly with the trade union. “This is all the bank can offer at this moment. Should our performances improve significantly, we’ll be able to raise bonuses, but conditions are difficult. This offer includes our pledge to keep 8,700 employees in the bank and continue network expansion,” reads a BCR statement. BCR has budgeted a 22% turnover increase for this year, with income to stay at the same level as in 2008, according to market sources.