OTOE signs collective agreement for the Greek Banking Sector
UNI Europa and UNI Europa Finance from the beginning have been supportive to OTOE's effort to protect the existence of a collective agreement in the Greek Banking Sector.
OTOE considers this is an important achievement, even if the terms are not completely favorable for employees (reduction of salaries). According to the recent legislation, in lack of sectoral agreement, Banks would have the right to pass directly to individual agreements.
This is happening under the most difficult circumstances for Greek bank employees: on one hand the labour law changes (under the pressure of the Memoranda) and on the other hand a huge merger and take over process, where the number of Banks in Greece is being reduced (during the last 3 years) from 18 commercial Banks to only 7 commercial Banks at this moment.
With an agreement of historic importance, OTOE managed to protect Collective Bargaining at sectoral level, having as central objective the protection of labour, and defended effectively the existence and role of the trade union movement.
Under the most difficult financial and social circumstances for workers, for the whole country and its people, since the restitution of democracy in 1974 (fall of the military junta), OTOE has been able to defend its members, to negotiate, to claim and win, upon challenges of historic, institutional, political and social importance.
The last agreement which was signed by OTOE and the Banks was in 2006. Since then, there were only decisions of the Organisation for Mediation & Arbitration, at present abrogated by recent anti-labour legislation.
The Banking Sector Collective Agreement will be valid from 1st July 2013 until 31 December 2015, and will safeguard employment for all employees in the sector for the whole duration period.
As a counterbalance for the protection of jobs OTOE has agreed on a salary reduction of 9,5 %. The reduction consists of a 6% reduction on the monthly basic salary (grid of salaries) and a temporary interruption of an annual allowance (equal to one monthly salary).
More over there will be a new banking hours schedule for certain central operations, in 3 working hour shifts, from 08.45 until 19.00, upon a voluntary participation of the employees and following applicable social standards. The total working week will remain the same (37 hours/week) and will reduced by one hour for employees who opt for the last shift. Finally, there will be new arrangements for the housing loans of employees so as to facilitate their payment (lower interest rate, extension of the loan period etc.).