Strikes possible if Government or banks unilaterally impose pay

Widespread bank strikes are looming if the Government or banks try to impose pay cuts on bank officials over the next few weeks, Larry Broderick, the general secretary of the Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA), warned yesterday.

“If any bank or Government tries to impose a pay cut for bank workers on a unilateral basis, then the IBOA will exercise our internal democracy by asking members to consider our response — up to and including industrial action — in order to prevent the further cannibalising of our members’ pay,” said Mr Broderick, speaking at an IBOA conference in Croke Park yesterday.

The Government has asked AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB to come back with proposals to cut their payroll and pension costs within the next two weeks. This follows a Government-commissioned Mercer Report into remuneration levels in the sector which was released in March. The Government is looking for pay cuts of between 6-10%.