FSU refers Bank of Ireland proposed redundancies to Workplace Relations Commission

FSU says Bank of Ireland must “engage meaningfully” with Union

Financial Services Union have today sought an intervention from the Workplace Relations Commission on proposed redundancies at Bank of Ireland. The Union represents the majority of staff in the Bank. FSU have written to the WRC seeking urgent conciliation on the basis that Bank of Ireland have breached the agreed terms of a comprehensive Change Management Agreement.

Commenting, FSU General Secretary John O’Connell said:

“Bank of Ireland, without any meaningful engagement with the FSU, have made proposals to cut 1,400 jobs. These proposals were made unilaterally, in a way which was not in keeping with normal industrial relations practise.  We have long standing agreements with Bank of Ireland, which were cast aside in this case. “

“The proposals will have serious ramifications for staff and services. Bank staff, as essential workers, have ensured that branch services remain operating and services continue to customers during Covid-19. We need to see the light of day cast on the job cut proposals so they can be scrutinised. Any threat to services from job cuts will be robustly challenged by FSU.”

“We have sought the intervention of the Workplace Relations Commission and look forward to meaningful engagement from Bank of Ireland as we seek to ensure protections for staff.”

Commenting, FSU Senior Industrial Relations Office Maeve Brehony said:

“From today Bank of Ireland are seeking applications for a voluntary redundancy programme which will see their staff numbers reduce from 10,424 to 9,000.   The ten thousand strong workforce or the FSU have not seen any assessment of the impact of those job cuts. We believe that the proposed redundancies represent a significant breach of the long-standing Change Management Agreement, which helped see the Bank through the financial crisis. “

“The "voluntary" nature of the programme is completely undermined by a requirement of staff to make a decision in an unreasonable time-frame, without all the facts, under the threat of enhanced terms being withdrawn."

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