ABOUT 300 unionised workers at FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIB) plan to strike tomorrow in protest against what they say is the banks unilateral implementation of a labour policy that led to the partial closure of the credit card centre in Jamaica.

“We are protesting against the phasing out a department without any consultation with the union,” said Ruddy Spencer of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU). “We are concerned the bank did not advise us about the programme.”

The decision to strike was unanimously agreed to by 170 FCIB workers yesterday at an emergency meeting at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston.

On June 10, FCIB transferred a part of its credit card centre to Barbados and informed the BITU the following day. The move angered the union which argued that it could lead to job cuts.

“How can you get rid of any department and there is no consultation?” asked Spencer.

On Friday, senior BITU negotiator Kavan Gayle said that he had received unconfirmed reports that half of the 24 persons assigned to the bank’s card centre had been laid off. But the bank denied the allegation.

“When we strike, we will not say when we will halt action, but you will be hearing during the course of the day,” said Spencer, adding that Monday’s advisory would be followed by a general mid-week meeting to discuss a strategy going forward.

The card centre transfer forms part of a wider move by the bank to implement a fresh labour policy reflecting the new realities of the bank spawned from a merger between CIBC and Barbados-based Barklays Bank.

The merger increased FCIB’s economies of scale but also created job duplication across its Caribbean network. As such, the policy relates to job cuts, staff benefits and job shifts.

Spencer said that the labour policy was circulated to over 500 staff in booklet form last week, even though negotiations were still ongoing with the union.

“We are concerned about harmonisation, but the bank has blatantly refused to have meaningful discussion with the union on the matter,” said Spencer.

But Friday, Cecile Watson, director of retail banking at FCIB, said “the union can object to the policy set” but “management sets policy”. She, however, said that the bank was willing to meet with the union.