Maria Xifara*
▸Decimated stores, intensification to the degree of a felony and new salary cuts are the scene in the network of the National Bank (NBG).
After the last volunteering, where 12% of the staff left terrified and exhausted, the staff shortages are huge. The daily working conditions are no longer described in words. Management produces organizational charts for redundant staff, but the truth is that colleagues do not have time to catch their breath. A few days ago, due to the incredible pressure, a colleague fainted in a Piraeus store.
The daily bombardment of e-mails, excels, phones, lists to catch sales targets sets a scene of terror. Daily tele-meetings during and following hours, where employees and stores are exposed and berated for not “selling”, act as an intimidator. Colleagues have become a “ball” both in Attica and in the province, as they are sent to other stores to cover the gaps for many days or even many months! The working hours have gone “walk” and undeclared overtime is a daily phenomenon. Ethniki now operates as a fraudster with “black” and undeclared work, fines are levied at every inspection by the Labor Inspectorate. And as if that wasn’t enough, even though NGE announced a huge profit of 1 billion euros for 2022 in March, colleagues acting as chief treasurers and individuals saw a loss of 170 euros in February and 70 euros in the rest of March, even retrospectively from January 1!
This scenario also affects the clientele, who suffer and cannot be served, since the Bank is closing stores in droves and is indifferent to sensitive social groups. With the majority of the Association having fully accepted the administration’s narrative, the only way is to fight and organize to take back all these plans, as suggested by Perspective Proposal.
* member of Prospect Proposal and SYETE Board of Directors
