The Association of Bank Employees of Uruguay (AEBU), resolved that it will a march to Punta del Este next Friday, February 25reported to The Observer the president of the Council of the Official Financial Sector, Lorena Lavecchia.
This measure had been approved at the end of last December, but the date had been put on hold pending how the negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreement evolved. Throughout these weeks there have been strikes in different dependencies and as up to now there has been no real progress in the negotiation – that the claims were addressed – it was decided to carry out the mobilization.
A central point of difference between the union and the Executive Power lies in the salary adjustment ordered by the government for official banks in 2022. That adjustment consists of an increase of 5.8%, tied to projected inflation.. The formula is complemented with corrections for 2023 and 2024 corresponding to the difference between the projected inflation and the actual inflation.
AEBU maintains that there is a salary loss of approximately 3% generated in 2021, and the government says it cannot compensate her immediately. In addition, it is considered that the proposal of a 5.8% adjustment in force since January implies a salary drop that would also be below the adjustment offered to the other state unions. These would have a 1.2% recovery of the loss suffered in January 2021, and would arrive on this basis at an adjustment of 7% in 2022.
The banking union will invite other public unions that make up the Coordinating Table of State Entities (MSCE) and that currently also have points of conflict with the Executive Power to participate in the march. Among them are the unions of Ancap, UTE, OSE, Sutel and COFE, among others.
Other points of the union platform include the entry of personnel and that the National Housing Agency be incorporated into the collective agreement of the sector.
In addition, the union resolved that the strikes will continue in different official banks. The calendar provides for a 24-hour stoppage this Thursday the 10th at Banco Hipotecario branches. The same measure will be repeated on Friday the 11th at the central house. In addition, this Friday there will be surprise measures at Banco República, the details of which will be known in the next few hours. Meanwhile, a new march to the Executive Tower is expected on Monday.
