Overwhelming majority of FSU members at Danske Bank in Northern Ireland vote to accept deal

Overwhelming majority of FSU members at Danske Bank in Northern Ireland vote to accept deal

Job security central to acceptance of deal

Danske Bank staff have voted to accept the deal negotiated between the Bank and the Financial Services Union according to Mandy La Combre, Senior Industrial Relations Officer with the FSU.

Discussion have been underway for the last three months between the Bank and the FSU to try and reach agreement on an array of issues to manage escalating costs, protect jobs and mitigate the need for redundancies. A number of items were also tabled by the union including increased maternity pay, pay certainty and a commitment to no job losses. Agreement was reached a fortnight ago, and FSU members have been balloted over the last 10 days on the outcome.

The ballot closed at 3pm today, Friday and an overwhelming majority of staff have voted to accept the deal.

“The deal provides for pay certainty over the next three years and a commitment from the Bank that there will be no redundancies, either voluntary or compulsory, for at least the next two years. With Northern Ireland unemployment and redundancy figures at an all-time high, and all the economic uncertainty at this time, a commitment on job security is to be welcomed” stated Ms La Combre.

Other aspects of the deal are an increase in maternity pay from six weeks full pay to 26 weeks, an increase in parents leave from 3 days to 2 weeks and an increase in special leave from 5 days to 10 days.

Ms La Combre stated “Securing these increases was an essential ingredient to getting the deal accepted. The FSU acknowledges the commitment of the bank in this area and particularly welcomes the increase in maternity pay from six weeks full pay to 26 weeks. “

The pay agreement will stretch from 2021 to 2023 and provides clarity into the future for our members which is to be welcomed” concluded Ms La Combre.

ENDS

Contact: Brian McDowell, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, FSU. Tel: 087-9161225. Email: brian.mcdowell@fsunion.org.

About FSU: The FSU is Ireland’s leading union across banking and finance. We represent thousands of staff across the main retail banks, and we have members in more than 70 companies across the finance and fintech sectors. Our members are spread across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain. We are headquartered in Dublin and we also have a presence in Belfast. We are members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and UNI Global finance union.