Striking bank workers accept new offer

Striking workers employed with the Grenada branch of the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT) were back on the job Thursday after a majority of workers voted to accept an 11 per cent across the board pay hike.

The counterproposal from the bank's headquarters in Canada was in response to a revised offer of 12.5 per cent proposed by Labour Minister Glynis Roberts during marathon mediation talks last Friday.

Most of the workers from the bank's three branches on the island downed tools and picketed RBTT's offices in the capital for three days to press their demands.

"The union and the workers have been able to force the bank into a settlement of 11 per cent, adding just over half a million dollars to the payroll," declared Chester Humphrey, president of the Technical and Allied Workers' Union, which had accepted the minister's revised offer.

"The workers voted on the bank's latest offer in response to a revised recommendation by the minister."

Workers voted by secret ballots overwhelmingly in favour of the bank's proposal covering a three-year period.

Some 46 workers voted to support the bank's proposals, while 11 employees voted against the offer.

"The minister recommended a revised position of 12.5 per cent. The bank could not respond because the negotiators said they did not have the authority from Canada," Humphrey said.

"That authority was given last night and the bank communicated with me and indicated that they were prepared to offer an 11 per cent across the board. That matter was put to the workers in a secret ballot and the overwhelming majority of the workers approved that offer."

RBTT has also agreed for the first time to pay 70 per cent of workers' premium of a health-insurance scheme, while issues relating to a pension plan have been deferred.

The union and the bank plan to kick off a fresh round of negotiations next June.