EBS staff plan a one-day strike next Tuesday - December 20th - in protest at the Department of Finance’s refusal to approve an end-of-year bonus normally paid to all employees in the run up to Christmas.
Workers at the building society, now part of State-controlled AIB, voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a ballot conducted by their trade union, Unite.
As a result, Colm Quinlan said today that the union has served notice on EBS management and staff will formally withdraw their services next Tuesday in the first of what could be a series of strikes.
The bonus amounts to four weeks’ salary and has been paid to all staff at the EBS for the last 45 years and forms part of their contract of employment.
The department refused to approve the payment as it is classed as a bonus. Finance institutions in State ownership or control cannot pay bonuses without Government approval.
However, senior managers at the building society will receive the payment as usual, as in their case, it is classed as part of their pensionable salary.
Mr Quinlan pointed out today that this means that while senior managers have received an extra €7,000 this month, staff on as little as 20,000 a-year are being refused payments that work out at €1,000 net.
The 300 staff who have been refused the payment earn an average of €30,000 a-year and include every grade from assistant manager down. Those above that grade will receive the payment.
