GWU granted recognition by BOV, bank employees’ union goes to court

Bank of Valletta has officially recognised the Professional, Finance and Services Section (PFSS) of the GWU as the sole union to collectively represent the Bank's employees. Therefore, the GWU will now be representing also the employees in managerial and clerical grades. 

The recognition was announced in a letter sent by BOV Chairman John Cassar White, addressed to Cory Greenland, the Union's section secretary. The Bank's decision to officially recognise the GWU as the majority union was taken following the confirmation that the absolute majority of employees are GWU members.

But in a reaction, the Malta Union of Bank Employees (MUBE) said it was going to court, condemning the decision taken by BOV. The MUBE formerly represented the clerical and managerial grades.

The MUBE said it strongly condemned BOV's action, explaining there was a pending case before the Industrial Tribunal. It also said that no official verification by the Director of Employment and Industrial Relations took place.

"This is the first time that the company has taken such a dangerous step which bodes ill to good industrial relations in a democratic country," the MUBE said, adding that it would take the bank to court to annul its 'illegal' action. 

It said the First Hall of the Civil Court has provisionally upheld its request  for BOV not to conduct Collective Agreement negotiations with the GWU.

But in a statement, the GWU said the MUBE had always contested the fact that it lost the majority of employees from its fold.

"In fact the Professionals, Finance and Services Section of the GWU had accused MUBE of misguiding the workers when it did not accept the will of the majority of the Bank's employees. The award of recognition to the GWU confirms which union was consistently telling the truth to the employees," the GWU said.

"This change in recognition in favour of the GWU is historic when considering that in 1994 the GWU lost such recognition to the MUBE. In the last months however, hundreds of BoV employees decided to change their affiliation and trusted the GWU as their sole representative."

The GWU has already communicated its proposals to the Bank's management for a new collective agreement for which negotiations have already.

"The PFS Section wants to show its appreciation towards the members of the Bank's Employees Committee for their commitment in regaining this historic recognition. Together with all the workers that did not shy away from expressing their preferences towards supporting the GWU.  The GWU is committed to further expand in the financial services sector and therefore it invites other employees in the financial services industry to seek trade union representation of their choice."