The banking union continues in negotiations with the management of Citibank with the aim of finding a solution to the dismissal of three workers that was the result of a change in the business model of the bank in Uruguay. This Monday there will be a last instance that was convened by the Ministry of Labor. Given the lack of rapprochement between the parties, AEBU He has little expectation that an alternative for the dismissed employees will appear in that meeting. In that case, the union will reapply measures in banking institutions.
On Thursday, August 11, the AEBU private sector council decided occupy the headquarters of Citibank in Ciudad Vieja. At 3 pm, leaders entered the bank and other workers demonstrated in Cerrito and Misiones. Hours later, and with the mediation of the Ministry of Labor, the workers vacated the bank and there began a new round of negotiation between those involved. It was established that the deadline for this instance was until this Friday, August 26. In the middle there were some meetings that were not tripartite. Ministry representatives contacted separately the AEBU delegation and the Citibank management. Thus, it was sought to avoid new short circuits between the parties involved.
The union’s private sector council member Walter Tabeira informed the The Observer that there were also meetings with the management of the rest of the private banks that operate in the market. The leader indicated that in these dialogues the institutions transmitted the same position that had marked the Private Bank Association in a statement on August 11 while the occupation of Citibank was taking place. The banking union recalled that Citibank had decided to sell one of its business units in Uruguay. “That sale led the institution to proceed with the dismissal of 29 collaborators who worked in said unit. Citibank offered all of them compensation higher than that established by Uruguayan law, which was accepted by 26 of the 29 affected officials,” he added. There, the three dismissed employees for whom AEBU claims were left out of the agreement.
The union stated that the union had asked private banks to “influence Citibank to find a solution for workers who did not accept the compensation offered or, failing that, take those workers.” The banks’ response was negative. “In the first place, because no financial institution has the capacity to influence the decisions of another. Secondly, because it is not reasonable for a bank to be forced to incorporate into its workforce workers who were disaffected by another institution”.
However, Tabeira maintained that a situation contrary to what was established by private banks was raised. “On Monday, August 22, at the bank Heritage an unaffiliated official who worked until July 31 at Citibank entered. The Heritage had conveyed the same thing to us: not to take laid-off Citibank staff,” she said. That bank employee was part of the 29 dismissed from Citibank.
“The banks’ argument ceased to have substance. They can and they took personnel”, affirmed the leader. This situation caused annoyance in AEBU and the leadership reported what happened to the Ministry of Labor on Tuesday the 23rd. This Friday, the portfolio summoned AEBU for a new negotiation. “Given the circumstances, it is very difficult for there to be a solution for the job continuity of laid-off workers. Citibank dynamited the area generated by the Ministry of Labor”, said the leader.
If an alternative does not appear on Monday, the Ministry of Labor may inform the parties that the negotiation stage has ended due to the lack of progress. In that case, AEBU plans to draw up a mobilization plan for private banking.
