COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AT SECTOR AND/OR COMPANY LEVEL 7. Collective agreements at sector level on active ageing issues, with particular reference to: Professional

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AT COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AT SECTOR AND/OR COMPANY SECTOR AND/OR COMPANY

LEVELLEVEL7. Collective agreements at sector level on 7. Collective agreements at sector level on active ageing issues, with particular active ageing issues, with particular reference to:reference to:

Professional training and requalification, Professional training and requalification, Two days of obligatory training per year for Two days of obligatory training per year for all employees irrespective of their age.all employees irrespective of their age. Questionnaires/surveys/conferences/proceduQuestionnaires/surveys/conferences/procedures to better understand ‘workers over 55’ res to better understand ‘workers over 55’ needs,needs,Our Union organizes various relevant Our Union organizes various relevant seminars for bank employees with the seminars for bank employees with the President of our Organisation as the main President of our Organisation as the main lecturer. Employees over 55 attending these lecturer. Employees over 55 attending these seminars have the opportunity to discuss seminars have the opportunity to discuss their needs directly with the President of the their needs directly with the President of the Union and provide valuable feedback on this Union and provide valuable feedback on this issue.issue.

7. Collective agreements at sector 7. Collective agreements at sector level on active ageing issues, with level on active ageing issues, with

particular reference to:particular reference to: Organizational changes to meet ‘workers Organizational changes to meet ‘workers

over 55’ needs,over 55’ needs, Bank employee colleagues over 55 Bank employee colleagues over 55

participate, in all Union committees either at participate, in all Union committees either at company or district level, and in the Union company or district level, and in the Union Council, promoting their needs and passing Council, promoting their needs and passing valuable feedback for difficulties arising at valuable feedback for difficulties arising at work.work.

organizational initiatives to foster structural organizational initiatives to foster structural cooperation between elder workers and cooperation between elder workers and young workers (e.g. coaching, tutoring, young workers (e.g. coaching, tutoring, training on the job),training on the job),

All the above exist in all financial All the above exist in all financial organizations since young employees are organizations since young employees are mainly getting on the job training, from mainly getting on the job training, from elder colleagues elder colleagues


particular reference to:particular reference to: working time flexibility/reduction, sabbatical leave, working time flexibility/reduction, sabbatical leave,

job sharing, part time, job sharing, part time, - There is no reason for our Union to proceed with - There is no reason for our Union to proceed with

agreements on the above issues since:agreements on the above issues since:- There is job security until the retirement age of - There is job security until the retirement age of

62, with the possibility of extending it in the next 62, with the possibility of extending it in the next renewal of the collective agreement.renewal of the collective agreement.

- There is an agreement governing the - There is an agreement governing the implementation of part time employment, under implementation of part time employment, under which existing full time employees have priority, which existing full time employees have priority, over new employed staff, for amending their over new employed staff, for amending their employment status from full time to part time. We employment status from full time to part time. We note however that in practice the implementation note however that in practice the implementation of part time employment in Banks is very limited. of part time employment in Banks is very limited.

- Banks have the right to employ staff on a part - Banks have the right to employ staff on a part time/seasonal basis from the 15th of May until the time/seasonal basis from the 15th of May until the 15th of September every year. Additionally during 15th of September every year. Additionally during the Christmas and Easter holidays banks can the Christmas and Easter holidays banks can employ students, preferably bank employees’ employ students, preferably bank employees’ children.children.


particular reference to:particular reference to: professional responsibilities reduction,professional responsibilities reduction, Banks some times proceed with departmental Banks some times proceed with departmental

transfers of ‘over 55’ employees, in an effort to transfers of ‘over 55’ employees, in an effort to reduce professional responsibilities. In such reduce professional responsibilities. In such cases our organization intervenes in order to cases our organization intervenes in order to reinstate the level of professional reinstate the level of professional responsibilities, since our collective agreement responsibilities, since our collective agreement provides that no employee can be made worst provides that no employee can be made worst off due to a transfer. In general our off due to a transfer. In general our organization demands the increase of organization demands the increase of professional responsibilities up to the age of professional responsibilities up to the age of retirement. retirement.

valorisation of elder workers’ expertise,valorisation of elder workers’ expertise, Elder colleagues, at their majority, retain the Elder colleagues, at their majority, retain the

same job positions during the last years of their same job positions during the last years of their working lifeworking life

7. Collective agreements at sector level 7. Collective agreements at sector level on active ageing issues, with particular on active ageing issues, with particular

reference to:reference to:

early retirement incentives,early retirement incentives, In the past financial sector In the past financial sector

organisations, in Cyprus, have introduced organisations, in Cyprus, have introduced very satisfactory early retirement very satisfactory early retirement schemes open to all employees, which schemes open to all employees, which were agreed prior to implementation with were agreed prior to implementation with our Organisation. Nowadays, due to our Organisation. Nowadays, due to increasing liquidity problems, the increasing liquidity problems, the financial organizations are providing financial organizations are providing early retirement schemes only on a case early retirement schemes only on a case by case basis, but always after our by case basis, but always after our approval. Usually employees consult our approval. Usually employees consult our Organisation prior to making an Organisation prior to making an agreement with the Bank.agreement with the Bank.

7. Collective agreements at sector level 7. Collective agreements at sector level on active ageing issues, with particular on active ageing issues, with particular

reference to:reference to: Welfare, health and safety provisions, Welfare, health and safety provisions,

incentives to social commitment/charity work,incentives to social commitment/charity work,- The Cyprus Bank Employees Welfare Fund has - The Cyprus Bank Employees Welfare Fund has

been established by our Organisation, with 2/3 been established by our Organisation, with 2/3 of the board members appointed by our of the board members appointed by our Organisation and 1/3 appointed by the Cyprus Organisation and 1/3 appointed by the Cyprus Bankers Employer Association. Annually every Bankers Employer Association. Annually every March all Banks contribute to the fund 0.3% of March all Banks contribute to the fund 0.3% of the previous year’s total gross payroll. the previous year’s total gross payroll.

- Both active and retired employees are - Both active and retired employees are entitled to spend their vacation at our hotel entitled to spend their vacation at our hotel apartments in Cyprus and Greece with very apartments in Cyprus and Greece with very favourable accommodation prices.favourable accommodation prices.

- Our Organisation has managed to create the - Our Organisation has managed to create the Retired Bank Employees Association. One of Retired Bank Employees Association. One of the future goals will be the establishment of a the future goals will be the establishment of a Health Scheme covering the increasing health Health Scheme covering the increasing health cost faced by retired persons. cost faced by retired persons.


particular reference to:particular reference to: In every Bank we have established a Health and In every Bank we have established a Health and

Safety Committee where employees can apply for Safety Committee where employees can apply for relevant issues. In cases were the Bank does not relevant issues. In cases were the Bank does not respond adequately to employees complaints and the respond adequately to employees complaints and the issue is not resolved, employees contact our issue is not resolved, employees contact our Organisations’ Heath and Safety Officer who Organisations’ Heath and Safety Officer who undertakes to resolve the issue. undertakes to resolve the issue.

Collective agreements also provide for the following Collective agreements also provide for the following issues:issues:

Bank employee’s accident insurance coverage.Bank employee’s accident insurance coverage. Bank employees enjoy insurance coverage for any Bank employees enjoy insurance coverage for any

personal accidents occurring during the execution of personal accidents occurring during the execution of their normal duties, on very satisfactory terms. their normal duties, on very satisfactory terms.

Bank employee’s life and total disability insurance Bank employee’s life and total disability insurance coverage.coverage.

In case of death or total disability of a bank In case of death or total disability of a bank employee, an insurance coverage is paid to the legal employee, an insurance coverage is paid to the legal beneficiaries or to the employee, which amounts to beneficiaries or to the employee, which amounts to 60 times the monthly gross salary of the employee at 60 times the monthly gross salary of the employee at the time of the incident.the time of the incident.

8) Collective agreements at 8) Collective agreements at company level on active ageing company level on active ageing

issues, with particular reference to issues, with particular reference to the same topics as of question n.7.the same topics as of question n.7.

Collective agreements at company Collective agreements at company level are the same as at sector level.level are the same as at sector level.

9)9) Collective agreements at sector Collective agreements at sector level on thelevel on the

employment of young people, employment of young people, with particular reference to:with particular reference to:

The last collective agreement, signed on 12 The last collective agreement, signed on 12 January 2012, lowered the starting monthly January 2012, lowered the starting monthly salary of new employees by 2 annual salary of new employees by 2 annual increments (an average decrease of increments (an average decrease of approximately €60) in an effort mainly to approximately €60) in an effort mainly to provide an incentive to financial institutions provide an incentive to financial institutions for proceeding with new employments.for proceeding with new employments.

- - working time flexibility and/or reduction, working time flexibility and/or reduction, part time employment,part time employment,

There is an agreement between ETYK and There is an agreement between ETYK and Banks for part time employment, which Banks for part time employment, which gives priority to existing staff if they whish gives priority to existing staff if they whish to change their status to part time to change their status to part time employment. In practise however, part time employment. In practise however, part time employment in banks is very limited.employment in banks is very limited.

9. Collective agreements at 9. Collective agreements at sector level on the employment of sector level on the employment of

young people, with particular young people, with particular reference to:reference to:

- specific professional training,- specific professional training, Collective agreements provide for 2 days of Collective agreements provide for 2 days of

mandatory yearly professional training for mandatory yearly professional training for every employee irrespective of their age.every employee irrespective of their age.

- - employment of young people in exchange employment of young people in exchange for elder workers retirement,for elder workers retirement,

There is no any such agreement.There is no any such agreement. - - any other agreement on the issue.any other agreement on the issue. Our Union is demanding the replacement Our Union is demanding the replacement

of all employees who retire or leave earlier of all employees who retire or leave earlier at any financial organization so that all at any financial organization so that all departments are adequately staffeddepartments are adequately staffed

10) Collective agreements at 10) Collective agreements at company level on the employment of company level on the employment of

young people, with particular young people, with particular reference to the same topics as of reference to the same topics as of

question n.9.question n.9. Collective agreements at company level on these Collective agreements at company level on these

issues are the same as at sectoral level.issues are the same as at sectoral level.

TRADE UNION INITIATIVES AND TRADE UNION INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

12 Trade union initiatives on active ageing issues and/or 12 Trade union initiatives on active ageing issues and/or employment of young people (with particular reference employment of young people (with particular reference to the same topics as of questions n.7 and n.9).to the same topics as of questions n.7 and n.9).

Raising of the retirement age to 63 years Raising of the retirement age to 63 years Retaining all the existing vested rights that the bank’s Retaining all the existing vested rights that the bank’s

employees enjoy.employees enjoy.

13) Trade union strategies for future negotiations at 13) Trade union strategies for future negotiations at sector/company level on active ageing issues and/or sector/company level on active ageing issues and/or employment of young people (with particular reference employment of young people (with particular reference to the same topics as of questions n.7 and n.9). to the same topics as of questions n.7 and n.9).

Raising the age of retirement to 65 years Raising the age of retirement to 65 years Maintaining existing vested rights that bank employees Maintaining existing vested rights that bank employees

enjoy.enjoy. Increasing the period of obligatory training for all Increasing the period of obligatory training for all

employees irrespective of their age.employees irrespective of their age.

Contacting National Contacting National CoordinatorCoordinator

The contact between us and the The contact between us and the National Coordinator had the National Coordinator had the following objectives:following objectives:

1. We have informed the National 1. We have informed the National Coordinator on the project we are Coordinator on the project we are carrying out and its objectives carrying out and its objectives (active aging with reference to the (active aging with reference to the labor market)labor market) First Telephone conversation First Telephone conversation 14/06/201214/06/2012 Email sent (In Greek) on Email sent (In Greek) on 15/06/201215/06/2012 Try to Set up a meeting Try to Set up a meeting


Email sent on 15/06/2012Email sent on 15/06/2012


2. We have asked the National 2. We have asked the National Coordinator about the insertion of Coordinator about the insertion of the link of the website of our project the link of the website of our project (in English) on the website of the (in English) on the website of the National Coordinator;National Coordinator;

Actions TakenActions Taken The National Coordinator was The National Coordinator was positive concerning the addition of positive concerning the addition of the project link to their websitethe project link to their website


3. We gave our availability and 3. We gave our availability and request the availability of the request the availability of the National Coordinator to "network", National Coordinator to "network", sharing best practices and project sharing best practices and project results;results;

Actions TakenActions Taken The National Coordinator is willing The National Coordinator is willing to contribute to this projectto contribute to this project


4. We gave our willingness to 4. We gave our willingness to participate in the initiatives of the participate in the initiatives of the National Coordinating Committee, National Coordinating Committee, askingasking

Actions TakenActions Taken The National Coordinator inform The National Coordinator inform us that the Committee has already us that the Committee has already been created. They will inform us been created. They will inform us about the output and the work of the about the output and the work of the CommitteeCommittee


5. We have asked the National 5. We have asked the National Coordinator of the willingness to Coordinator of the willingness to participate (with a short written participate (with a short written speech) to our project's final speech) to our project's final conference (Malta, October 2012).conference (Malta, October 2012).

Actions TakenActions Taken We need to know the final dates We need to know the final dates that the meeting will take place and that the meeting will take place and then they will inform us accordinglythen they will inform us accordingly

Documents

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AT SECTOR AND/OR COMPANY LEVEL 7. Collective agreements at sector level on active ageing issues, with particular reference to: Professional