The threat of industrial action by Ulster Bank staff on both sides of the border was reduced today following an independent tribunal ruling on restructuring which workers claimed would involve both salary and job cuts.
The bank is planning to introduce a "change programme" following the takeover by the Royal Bank of Scotland of the National Westminster group of which Ulster Bank is a part.
Staff at the 94 branches in Northern Ireland and 117 in the State recently voted overwhelmingly for action if changes were brought in without agreement.
They claimed they would involve salary cuts of thousands of pounds for people under a regrading scheme and compulsory job losses.
The tribunal in Northern Ireland today recommended that there be no compulsory redundancies until at least the end of June 2003 and that there be salary protection for existing staff until the end of December 2004.
It said that should the redundancy position change post-2003 they would expect full consultation between the two sides and that there should be immediate and meaningful negotiations on new salary structures for new jobs in the branch network.
The Ulster Bank and representatives of the Irish Bank Officials' Association (IBOA) will now get back around the negotiating table after the tribunal ruling in respect of staff at the Northern Ireland branches.
The tribunal ruling on the southern branches is expected to be delivered at the end of January.
Mr Larry Broderick, assistant general secretary of the IBOA, said he welcomed the tribunal's recommendation on compulsory redundancies and the withdrawal of both salary cuts and salary buyouts as "positive and constructive".
Mr Martin Wilson, bank chief executive, said the tribunal ruling "secures an £87 million investment in Ulster Bank's future".
PA