Romanian BCR Makes Final Offer To Employees To Avoid General Strike

"The management of BCR decided yesterday evening (Monday – e.n.), after a new meeting with union leaders, to draw up and present a seventh and final offer to the Federation of Independent Unions (FSI) within BCR,” the lender said in a press release Tuesday

The lender added the new offer meets nearly all the union’s demands and includes a potential bonus for employees based on clearly defined performance criteria.

"BCR hopes the step made to improve its offer will be evaluated carefully and maturely by the union and employees and the strike will be called off,” the bank added.

BCR employees demanded a 3% wage increase, beside an increase of 50% of the 2008 inflation rate and said they would go on a general strike starting Wednesday.

The bank’s management filed a claim at the Bucharest Court against its employees’ strike plans.

Union leader Ciprian Ionescu said the employees’ 20008 collective labor contract stipulated an increase of 50% of the inflation rate, as well as Christmas and vacation bonuses equal to one month’s salary, which the management planned to scrap in 2009.

BCR’s net profit stood at 1.24 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2684) in the first nine months of 2008, up 71.8% on the year. The bank’s assets increased 4%, to RON62 billion end September.