WORKERS AT EBS building society are being offered half of the “13th month” or “Christmas bonus” payment which they were told in December they were not getting.
The union Unite yesterday said it was suspending planned industrial action pending a ballot on the offer, which it was recommending to members. A second one-day strike was planned.
The deal, brokered by the Labour Relations Commission, is the subject of a ballot which was to begin last night. The result will be known on Tuesday.
The agreement will see staff get 50 per cent of the 13th month salary payment withheld in December. Additionally, it has been agreed that an employer’s contribution of €4.8 million will be paid into the EBS pension scheme, and that existing industrial relations policies and procedures will be adhered to throughout the process of integrating EBS staff into Allied Irish Bank.
“This is a very difficult environment for workers,” said Unite regional officer Colm Quinlan.
“The strength of workers acting together in this instance has, though, resulted in a fair solution to what had looked an intractable problem.”
