Uncertainty Grips Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group As Strike Looms
Rome, November 30, 2024 – A one-day strike has been confirmed across companies within the direct perimeter of the Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group on Monday, December 2nd, fueled by growing anxieties among workers. The nationwide action is a direct response to what unions perceive as a series of alarming decisions impacting both employment security and professional standards within the group.
First Cisl, representing the collective voice of Iccrea employees, has expressed deep concern over what they describe as a deteriorating relationship between management and the unions. First Cisl responsible secretaries Sylvia Lambertini and Stefano Del Giudice underscore the complex nature of the issues at hand, stating: "What worries us is the continuous and constant deterioration of relations between the employers and trade unions. This, also in light of the prospect that would indicate the outsourcing of ‘Bcc Sistemi Informatici’ as only the first of a long series."
The pensioners’ union, First Cisl, has outlined the specific grievances contributing to this growing discontent. The concerns include:
-
Potential Sale of Bcc Sistemi Informatici Workers: Fear of job losses is widespread, driven by anxieties surrounding the rumored sale of a portion of Bcc Sistemi Informatici’s workforce to an entity external to the Cooperative Credit.
-
Unilateral Implementation of Smart Working: An uneven application of smart working policies, disadvantaging employees located in smaller regional offices, has sparked accusations of unfair treatment.
-
Imposition of Banking Conditions on Employees: Workers have been critical of the recent imposition of banking mortgage and current account conditions tailored to group employees, creating a sense of unwanted financial vulnerability.
-
Algorithmic Concerns in Performance Assessments: Doubts have emerged regarding the fairness and transparency of performance reviews, attributed to the adoption of corrective measures and algorithms which they claim have resulted in economic detriment to some employees.
- Cancellation of Presence Detection Agreement: The 2017 agreement outlining protocols for documenting employee presence has been unilaterally revoked, leading to concerns about monitoring and accountability.
First Cisl asserts that these concerns are not simply isolated incidents but represent a broader pattern of unilateral decision-making by the Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group that undermines the very principles of cooperative banking.
In a strong statement defending the rights of its members, the union declares: "First Cisl, together with the entire union table, is not willing to sacrifice workers on the altar of mere economic convenience to the detriment of the employment levels and professionalism existing within the scope of the cooperation. This, also in light of an economic and banking context which for several years has allowed the entire Iccrea Cooperative Group to present financial statements and profits never recorded in recent decades."
The union emphasizes its commitment to upholding the distinctive features of a predominantly mutual banking system. They argue that decisions made by the Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group should prioritize the wellbeing of both its employees and its members.
First Cisl concludes with a firm commitment: "The Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group must be able to demonstrate, also in the industrial policies aimed at the companies of its direct perimeter, the distinctive features of a predominantly mutual banking system".
The fate of Monday’s strike now hangs in the balance as the Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group grapples with these mounting concerns. Will the banking giant acknowledge the grievances of its workforce and initiate a dialogue to find a mutually acceptable solution? Only time will tell.
What impact could the potential sale of Bcc Sistemi Informatici have on Iccrea workers and the banking sector as a whole?
## Uncertainty Looms over Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group as Strike Looms
**Interviewer:** Joining us today to discuss the upcoming strike at Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group is Alex Reed, an expert on labor relations in the Italian banking sector. Welcome to the program.
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** A one-day strike is scheduled for December 2nd. What are the key factors driving this industrial action?
**Alex Reed:** The situation at Iccrea is complex. As outlined by First Cisl, the union representing Iccrea workers, employee anxiety stems from several issues. Primarily, there’s growing concern over the potential sale of a portion of Bcc Sistemi Informatici, a subsidiary of the group, and what this means for job security.
**Interviewer:** So, job losses are a major fear?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. The rumor of outsourcing has created a climate of uncertainty and fear among workers.
**Interviewer:** First Cisl has also raised concerns about the implementation of smart working policies. Can you elaborate on that?
**Alex Reed:** There seems to be an uneven application of smart working across different offices, with employees in smaller regional branches feeling disadvantaged. This has sparked accusations of unfair treatment and a lack of consistent policies.
**Interviewer:** What are some of the other grievances you’ve heard about?
**Alex Reed:** Workers are also unhappy about being subjected to banking-specific mortgage and current account conditions. They feel this creates unnecessary financial vulnerability.
Furthermore, there appears to be apprehension regarding the use of algorithms in performance evaluations. Some employees believe these algorithms lack transparency and have resulted in financial disadvantages for some.
**Interviewer:** This sounds like a difficult situation for all involved. What can we expect to happen on December 2nd?
**Alex Reed:** It’s difficult to predict the outcome of the strike. It will depend on how both sides, management and unions, approach negotiations. Hopefully, this action will prompt open dialog and lead to a resolution that addresses the concerns of Iccrea workers.
