May 2013 Financial News

NCB workers end strike

May 28, 2013

NORMALITY is expected to resume at National Commercial Bank (NCB) today following yesterday's industrial action by hundreds of unionised workers at the financial institution.

Scores of workers walked off the job to protest against an apparent breakdown in salary negotiations with the bank's management. The action of the employees triggered the closure of several branches across the island, leaving a large number of customers inconvenienced.

The workers decided to call off the strike and continue negotiations following an emergency meeting at the Ministry of Labour with representatives of the NCB Staff Association and the management.

"... It will be business as usual, as full operations will be restored to National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited come Tuesday (today)," NCB spokesperson Belinda Williams told the Jamaica Observer.

She said further discussions surrounding the issue would continue at the labour ministry tomorrow, but declined to provide information about the wage claims being made by the workers and the management's offer.

She, meanwhile, apologised to the bank's customers for the inconvenience caused by yesterday's strike.

Yesterday, University of Technology student, Tash McLaren, who travelled from St Thomas to Kingston to conduct business at NCB, was one of several affected customers who criticised the bank for the inconvenience caused.

"The closure of the bank has really affected my plans for today [as] I was to pay my school fee and carry out other transactions, only to reach the bank to hear that it was closed," McLaren said.

"The workers are striking and it was only this morning that I was informed; this is unprofessional and has left customers suffering," said Sashay Grant, another student.

"This has really set back my plans for the day as there were a number of transactions that I wanted to conduct, only to hear that the bank is closed," said Grant, who was among NCB customers seen standing outside the bank's Windward Road branch in Kingston.

At the Oxford Road branch, Conroy Roberts said he turned up at the bank in the morning but was told by security guards that it was closed.

"My whole day set back; I cannot carry out my business with what is happening I just hope they clear up this issue very quickly," said Roberts.

Clive Forbes, another customer, said the closure also affected his activities. "I pay my bus fare to come here and to hear this; they (bank officials) need to address the issue very quickly," he said.


Source:
BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com
Jamaica Observer
Tuesday May 28, 2013

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/NCB-workers-end-strike_14357379#ixzz2UcDdAiNq