Bank union denounces HSBC chief’s ‘deceiving’ mediation claims

The Malta Union for Banking Employees (MUBE) has hit out at comments by HSBC’s chief executive Mark Watkinson that the union seeks mediation every five minutes.

“Whilst we have always asked for mediation only when there is serious disagreement or a stalemate, contrary to previous CEO’s, he has never made himself available for negotiations and has chosen to remain distant,” MUBE said in a statement. “One of the main problems is that he still finds it easy to reject mediation for no valid reason.”

The union criticised Watkinson for “unilaterally” withdrawing a remuneration package for HSBC employees that was agreed in a collective agreement last August.

“Ironically, the same package was again recommended by the then Director of Industrial and Employment Relations Dr. Noel Vella following a reconciliation meeting held between HSBC and MUBE at the DIER’s office.

“Documented evidence proves MUBE’s arguments right and that the root of the problem are HSBC’s unilateral decisions and the bank’s ‘old school’ practices to people management. This undoubtedly is leaving staff demotivated and it is becoming all the more evident that the mess created is due to bank’s intransigence which is being proved by management rejecting mediation.”