NCB staff fuming over latest wage offer

Employess of the National Commerical Bank (NCB) are venting their frustration today over the latest wage offer from the company and what they describe as the tardiness in completing negotiations on a new two-year contract.

NCB is the country's largest commercial bank.

Some employees showed up for work on Monday dressed in black to register their protest, according to Paul Stewart, president of the NCB Staff Association, which represents nearly 2,000 workers.

Stewart did not disclose the offer from the company or the level of increase requested by the employees.

He said the decision to wear black was taken during a meeting on the weekend when some employees were "somewhat restive".

"We have decided to wear black today as a mark of protesting against their tardiness and the offer that they have put on the table," Stewart told The Gleaner.

NCB and its employees represented by the association are in talks on a two-year deal that should have taken effect in October last year, according to Stewart.

He disclosed that there have been seven meetings since early this year, but "we have gotten nowhere meaningful with the negotiations".

While some workers have hinted at other forms of protest, Stewart said the association wants to avoid any disruption or "serious industrial action".

He said both sides are scheduled to meet again on Thursday when the association will give management a timeline for the wage talks to resume.

"The ball will be in their court to decide what they want," he said.

- Livern Barrett

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar