Union slams ‘deceitful’ HSBC boss

Malta Union of Bank Employees (MUBE) today said it is seriously concerned and worried with the HSBC CEO Mark Watkinson's “incorrect and untrue” statements to staff when recently visiting employees in branches.

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

Moreover, MUBE said that the Watkinson’s reference to the August 2014 deal is very incorrect “as instead of blaming himself he chooses to blame the Union when it seems that it was his sole decision to unilaterally withdraw the package. Ironically, the same package was again recommended as is 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.

The union explained that it is in possession of documented evidence which 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.