THE NATIONAL Bank of Greece in Cyprus warned yesterday that refusal from bank employees’ union ETYK to put an end to the strike that has paralysed the bank since last week would prompt them to take the matter to a European Court.
The disagreement has resulted in the crippling of the bank, whose customers have not been able to carry out any transactions since last Wednesday. Through their strike action, ETYK have made it impossible for any section of the bank to function, as not only has the entire IT department walked off the job, but the union has ordered all other banks not to accept any transaction with the National Bank of Greece in Cyprus.
In a statement released yesterday, the bank has stated that unless the union calls off the indefinite strike, the National Bank of Greece will have to take immediate action.
“The refusal on the part of ETYK and the employees to call off the strike and go back to work will force the bank to carry out all the necessary action to the relevant authorities both in Cyprus and in the European Union,” the statement said.
The strike action stems from the employment of four National Bank of Greece employees from the bank’s Athens headquarters.
ETYK claim the employment of these four workers is in breach of a number of existing agreements signed between the union, the Bank Employers’ Association, the Labour Ministry and the bank itself.
The General Manager of the National Bank of Greece in Cyprus Michalis Kokkinos last week called the action of ETYK “violent” and “unacceptable”, insisting that the bank had done nothing wrong.
“ETYK have ignored the declarations and their obligations to the Industrial Relations Code that outlines the procedures that have to be followed regarding the calling of strike action,” yesterday’s statement said.
While the union has claimed that the contracts of two of the four workers have expired, the bank responded by saying that they have been made members of the
Board of Directors, something they claim does not require approval from ETYK.
National Bank of Greece employees were furious with the union last week, with some of them accusing them of blackmail and calling on them to put an end to the strike as they fear that they could lose their jobs if the strike continues.
About 140 employees of the National Bank of Greece in Cyprus went to the headquarters of the union on Thursday, where animated discussions took place between bank employees and union officials.
