Staff at AIB could earn up to £2,000 (€2,540) each to co-operate with the euro conversion if they accept the findings of an independent tribunal into their claim for compensation. But most will receive around £750 and for some it will be as little as a day's leave, or £150.
The offer is remarkably similar to the outcome of the "£2,000 for the year 2000" campaign by the Irish Bank Officials Association two years ago to co-operate with Y2K, in terms of the top payments on offer.
But in this case the benefits of the scheme will be more widely spread to reflect the wider impact of the euro conversion on working conditions of banking staff.
The tribunal, which was chaired by ICC chairman and former ICTU president Mr Phil Flynn, is the first of a series of awards due from IBOA claims being processed against the banks.
It is unlikely to be approved by the union executive before the outcome of talks at Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank are known later this week.
The tribunal recommends that all 6,500 AIB staff receive £150, or a day off, for co-operating with the euro conversion timetable. However, all 5,000 staff who have undergone the euro conversion course will receive a further £600.
Staff making themselves available during the crucial changeover period from December 27th to January 7th will be paid overtime rates at the top relevant rate, plus 30 per cent. For staff working intensively this could be worth between £1,500 and £2,000.
