HSBC warns some services will be unavailable after staff stage sit-in strike
The dispute is believed to be over compensation for employees once HSBC is sold to CrediaBank
Updated 4.20pm
HSBC Malta has warned that some of its services will be unavailable as staff stage a sit-in strike.
The directive by bank employees' union MUBE, seen by Times of Malta, called on HSBC staff to log off all communication channels and bank systems “until further notice”.
The directive came into effect at 12.30pm on Monday.
In a statement published several hours later, HSBC Malta said that due to the industrial action "a number of services will not be available or will take longer to be attended to".
They said the action was impacting its contact centres but that the Emergency Lost and Stolen cards hotline remains available.
"We shall continue to provide updates as available," it said. "We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
The bank's contact centres provide a range of support from account support to card services.
Terminal benefits
The dispute is believed to be linked to the union’s demand for employees to be compensated in view of the bank’s impending sale to CrediaBank.
Sources told Times of Malta that the union is seeking to secure between €50m and €60m in terminal benefits for employees, citing a collective agreement clause.
The union is believed to be arguing that, given that employees’ employer is set to change, employees are entitled to compensation.
However, with CrediaBank having ruled out any job losses to the over 900 HSBC Malta employees, there is disagreement over whether the collective agreement clause applies.
In the directive, the union accused HSBC Malta of having “failed to engage in meaningful discussions with MUBE and failed to put forward any form of proposals,” leaving it with “no other option” but to issue directives.
The union said it was "seriously concerned" and has "serious reservations" about whether HSBC accurately informed potential bidders about staffing issues.