GCB 'begs' NLC to prevent imminent workers' strike

There are indications that workers of Ghana Commercial Bank are planning to resort to strike in the coming days following stalled negotiations over the 2013/2014 collective agreement review.

Management of the bank has written to the National Labour Commission to intervene indicating that the current situation if not immediately resolved will adversely affect the operations of the bank.

It noted in the letter that, it cannot continue discussions on the subject under the current heightened tensions among members of the local union.

The two parties have in recent meetings failed to make any progress on discussions around Basic Salary and rent allowance increase levels.

Management is proposing a 9 percent salary increase while it maintains the current status quo of 5 percent of basic salary for rent allowance.

But the workers have rejected the offer.

They are demanding a 35 percent salary increase and 20 percent of basic salary for rent allowance.

At a recent National Consultative Council Meeting of the GCB employee union, the workers indicated that staff members now pay economic rent to the bank for occupying the banks flats/bungalows adding that it is interesting to note that during the discussion on economic rent, the two unions made a strong case for the bank to also pay staff economic rent.

XYZ BUSINESS has gathered that the National Labour Commission is likely to soon start mediation process over stalled negotiations on the 2013/2014 Collective Agreement review.