Bank agreement, here are the latest branches between Intesa Sanpaolo and Abi
How the differences continue between Intesa Sanpaolo led by Messina and ABI chaired by Patuelli on the bank contract. Facts, numbers and insights.
The gap that separates Intesa Sanpaolo from Palazzo Altieri is getting deeper and deeper. After the credit group headed by Carlo Messina revoked the trade union delegation from the ABI inFebruary – in view of the renewal of the national banking agreement – yesterday its managing director reached out to the unions and said yes to the 435 euros in payroll for workers in the sector.
THE OPENING OF THE BANKING CONTRACT
The opening, which took place during the XXII national congress of the Fabi, was obviously well received by the trade union organizations and must have left the Banking Association a little stunned, which was keen to clarify: we represent everyone.
It should be remembered that there are approximately 264,000 employees of credit institutions and one third of these work for Intesa Sanpaolo. Like the landlord, the general secretary Lando Maria Sileoni, who has very clear ideas on the question of the salary increase: “Without the 435 euros in the next contract, I'm resigning. I'm in my last mandate. I'm ready for anything."
WHAT THE HEAD OF THE INTESA SANPAOLO COMPANY SAID
Messina, as reported by all the agencies, has substantially linked the renewal of the banking collective bargaining agreement with the current economic phase, caught in the grip of inflation and the rise in interest rates. According to the Roman banker it is "unacceptable" not to "grant substantial increases to bank workers", an operation that he would see "with great favour".
“With a net profit of 7 billion euros, I don't have the courage to look people in the face and say that I'm starting to negotiate on this aspect” the CEO said very frankly. “The type of salary that is received by most people in the bank requires interventions at a time like this. In a phase in which there is a significant increase in profitability, it is in no way acceptable not to grant substantial increases to bank workers. I find myself with the requests made by the unions".
Therefore, not only is the salary increase "an acceptable request in a context such as the current one" but rather "it is possible to imagine an effort between banks and trade unions to distribute profits also to people who work in banks, as a form of salary". In this regard, he added that he had asked internally to study its feasibility.
THE APPLAUSE OF THE UNIONS
As was easy to expect, the trade unions were very pleased with Messina's openness to the 435 euro increase. “We accept and welcome the words of the CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo. We have built a unified platform, five union organizations together, which wants to speak to the whole sector. That of Messina is an opening that we welcome, in the hope that it will be welcomed by the entire banking system to arrive at the renewal of a contract at a crucial moment" said the general secretary of Fisac CGIL, Susy Esposito, during a round table at the Fabi congress.
Even clearer, reports Ansa, is the comment by Fulvio Furlan, general secretary of Uilca. “The negotiation needs to be completed because there are many issues on the table. On the economic side, we are satisfied with what Messina said. We deem the increase brought home, because Intesa Sanpaolo has its weight and Abi must take it into account”.
A few more words from the general secretary of First Cisl, Riccardo Colombani. “What the CEO of Intesa Carlo Messina said today is of great importance both as regards the wage demand that we have advanced for the renewal of the national contract for banks, and as regards the participation of workers in the profits generated by the banks. Implementing article 46 of the Constitution means translating into practice the thought of the founding fathers, who saw participation as the highest form of fulfillment of the person in work”.
THE REACTION OF ABI AND BPER
A lot of enthusiasm was matched by a slowdown near Palazzo Altieri. “The CEO Carlo Messina spoke for Intesa Sanpaolo. In my role it is necessary to make a synthesis between all the banks, all different from each other" began the current president of Casl and manager of Unicredit, Ilaria Dalla Riva, according to whom "it will be interesting to follow this path" to arrive at a solution "with industry unions".
Words that did not resonate very well in Sileoni's ears: “What the CEO of Intesa Messina said on the economic side matters, no one can take it back. It is clear that he speaks for his company, but one cannot hide the weight that his bank has in the system" he replied with his own attitude, adding: "You are preparing the ground for not giving us any more money . Some of the banks want to give us more money and some want to say that 435 euros is too much”.
At that point, the agencies report, Dalla Riva's rejoinder: “What I know to date does not allow me to give an opening on a precise figure. The issues of a contract are not only economic ones. We are interested in the issues of a contract that is sustainable. Topics such as employability, innovation, understanding what to allocate to the second level. A rich platform with many topics that relate to many different topics”.
At the Fabi congress there was also an attitude absolutely in line with the character on the part of the president of ABI. "The workers' assemblies are underway in all the banks and until they are concluded I will not express myself" said Antonio Patuelli, as reported by all the agencies.
Instead, the number one of Bper, Piero Montani, let himself go more: "The economic aspect is important, but not the most important" he underlined and then joined the speech made by the CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo: "I think Messina has right, we are negotiating and I am convinced that it will close well and quickly. The world of banks is changing and banks are different from one another – he noted -. If we don't move forward in the direction of more flexible contracts, we risk rigidities".
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/economia/contratti-bancari-intesa-sanpaolo-abi-novita/ on Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:50:35 +0000.