Not sure either Rommel. But from this and previous articles it seems to me they are paid 1/13th for 11 months and 2/13ths in December.

From what I gather, the senior management are paid 1/13th each month and 2/13 in December, which is why they are still getting it, whereas the employees that are having it withheld get paid 1/12 of their salary and have usually received a bonus in December.

Unless it’s in their contracts that they will get a 1month bonus, irregardless of performance etc, I don’t think they’ve a leg to stand on… just because a bonus was paid every year for the last 45 doesn’t mean it has to be paid this year, and if they were daft enough to rely on a payment that isn’t contractual, then more fool them imo

From a previous article, linked below the article above:

“The payment, a ’13th month’ amount, equivalent to one month’s salary, was due to be included in pay packets this week. The provision is specified in employees’ contracts.
The payment has been made every year for the past 45 years.
It is not performance-related but is an annual payment paid at the end of each year.”

According to their contracts the 13 th month is part of their yearly saleries some people opted to be paid over twelve months the majority didn’t
Under legislation brought in by the late Brian lenahin the government have the power to over ride their contracts

Yes Rommel they get their salary divided over 13 months so they have extra money at christmas. This isnt a bonus this isnt an extra pay this is part of their salary that they earned during the year. Its almost like a saving scheme within the company – and anyone who put money aside for a year and than to be told no u r not getting what you saved would be angry and anyone in their situation would act the same.

Something similar happened in Eason’s a few years ago with management removing the “bonus” but when the unions went to the Labour Court they ruled that it was not a bonus but part of the staff wages even though it wasn’t in the employment contract, I suspect the EBS staff would be entitled to it if they went to court. The use of the word bonus is inflammatory as it creates the impression that the staff are getting it based on profits earned. The management have effectively cut the wages of their workers.

I “pity ther plight”. Why should they just roll over and accept this? If it is not possible to pay this part of their salary they should at the very least have been given an acceptable period of notice. But that would require management respecting the staff. And even then, they have every right under Irish laws (the same laws that allow top managers and directors to continue to fleece the Irish public) to strike. In times like these management will always try to impose cuts on their staff knowing full well the public will not support the workers. Well I for one do, and hope many more will see the bigger picture and support them too.

The notice period may be short, but they can’t have expected to continue receiving bonuses as a loss-making pseudo-financial institution. Striking certainly wont change anything, it will just bring more negative press for the industry at a time when we are trying to convince the world markets that we are rebuilding our economy.

It seems it’s ok to pay managers bonuses when the state is broke! I hope the EBS workers stick together on this!

Well no matter, they should have been told well before this, plus if it’s ok for the managers then it’s good enough for the rest, descrimination is rife within the workplace..

The 13th payment can hardly be classified as a bonus. Only extreme right-wingers would side with the management on this. The higher managers and authorities are pursuing a strong inequality agenda and it has to stop soon. The austerity measures are so biased to the weaker people in this society. It’s a real cause for shame. Go for it, Unite.

Could someone clarify whether it’s a ‘bonus’ or 1/13th of their annual salary? Management say its a bonus, I’d like to hear the other side. Either way it’s short notice and unreasonable, justifying some industrial action. Anyone in that situation would do the same.

Once again its not a Bonus its part of their salary.By taking this away staff of EBS have suffered 8% decrease in wages.

I agree with the staff of the EBS THINK ABOUT IT there are 52 weeks in a year they are paid every 4 weeks so the the thirteenth month is just wages NOT a bonus I would not expect any employee to work for nothing. Stop Bonus’s by all means

If only our economy was in as good a shape!

Seriously guys, just because they work for a financial institution for often fairly low renumeration doesn’t make them the devil incarnate. If any company did this, the employees would be up in arms. Unions, despite their obvious agenda, still have their place in cases such as these.

Two points:

-If you worked for the much praised MNCs, you wouldn’t have a prayer-because they tend to operate in many cases under a policy of maintaining a non unionised workforce. It’s not all milk and honey, at either side of the fence.

-Further to that, this is their SALARY, not a BONUS (capitalised for emphasis). EBS (who I used to have mortgages with) went from a mutual building society, started by a couple of teachers, to a mini Anglo, all at the behest of the management and directors. And, guess what? The management are maintaining their 1/13th salary portion, at the expense of the frontline clerical staff in branches around the country, who are themselves on salaries that are surprisingly modest. They have now been hit by an 8% paycut, literally in one fell swoop at Christmas, not spread over a year, that many of them were, excuse the pun, banking on.

These are family people, young, with mortgages (yes, by their own choice), but they, like many, have little job security these days, low morale, and I’d imagine, little confidence in their management either-given this totalitarian move. In the middle of December.

A bit of fairness, please.

I changed my opinion on this story when I heard an employee tell her story on the radio last week. Her salary is 24,000 a year. Now it will be reduced to 22,000 because she won’t get this so called ‘bonus’. In reality it’s part of her pay but another effort by the elite to avoid paying contributions. They are dead right to stand up for themselves. People shouldn’t instantly jump I guess on the ‘it’s another bank bonus’. These workers are the small fry. They are a millions miles from the Fingletons. Why hasn’t his bonus been denied? He’s the elite of course.

Or because he retired in 2009

No because he and his fancy lawyers know the ins and outs of contract law to protect themselves. If it wasn’t for trade unions where would ordinary workers be? Some of the top boys in trade unions should have their pay cut. However, I know I would prefer to have them protecting pay and conditions rather than any gov who only protect where the votes come from.

Fingers was a crook but that is of no relevance to EBS going forward. The Irish financial system is being fundamentally restructured and AIB can’t be expected to keep antiquated EBS practices in place. Pay cuts and redundancies are an unfortunate inevitability for these institutions going forward and no amount of industrial action will change it.

Argh, “going forward” twice in the one comment.
If the Irish financial industry is being “fundamentally” restructured, and if AIB cannot be expected to keep antiguated EBS practices in place, how come they can keep antiquated overpayment and bonuses for senior management and directors in place?

@ Neil O’Donoghue they have worked for their wages this is not a bonus

A message that we don’t respect or give a f**k about you.

Noddy If u were one of thoese people who was affceted you would be singing a different tune. If you dont give a F**K why are you on here talking about it…

Anita, I was assuming the thoughts of EBS management – not my own. I’m 100% behind these workers. I hope my other comments here show that.

It is commendable that the ebs workers will not lie down and take it. I wish them well. They will have hard redundancy negotiations in the future and must prepare for them.

Joe its the EBS not ESB!!!

Joe bloggs so when you turn in to work and you get told we are not paying you this month…would you go ok then no bother??? these people have no other option and no one is going to return their wages and who knows this could be the last time they get it…some of these managers are getting an average of 7K payemnt…would you return 7K???I wouldnt and i think they are not being asked to do that – they just want what they earned and worked for.

@joe
That’s very easy for you to say joe,these people have been robbed of wages they have worked hard for. Why should they just understand that and move on. To be told two days before the payment was due is an absolute disgrace.im sure many of these people have had to cancel Christmas because they were relying on their wages getting paid to them.
Shame on ebs,shame on aib and shame on the dep of finance.
I’m sure all the fat cat bankers and the minister for finance won’t have to worry about where they will get money to pay their mortgage and buy presents for their children.

It’s not the fault of the EBS staff that so many are on the dole. And if we are to believe that they should just accept any paycuts thrown at them then we must also accept that we have no right to look for a fair wage from future employment. So let the race for the bottom begin and off we all go cap in hand to beg for low paid jobs while managers and directors continue to live lavish lifestyles. Seems the engineered public/private divide is having the desired effect.

Get a grip noddy! They’re not just, as you put it, accepting any payments thrown at them. They’re getting 12 months wages with a bonus of an extra month. In my job I get paid 12 months pay for 12 months work, no bonus. Their wages weren’t cut. They lost their bonus. Yes, they should have been told I agree but there’s no race to the bottom of anything here. The country is broke. No way of denying that. They have jobs, thousands don’t. Nobody is forcing them to cut their sages and they’re not being laid off. Lots of people no doing will find themselves redundant this December or January. I’m sure they’d rather lose a bonus but keep their jobs when the post Christmas bills come in. I’m just saying…

Noel, They will be loosing there jobs in early 2012 with the merger of AIB and EBS. There annual salary is paid over a 13 month year and not 12

You are so wrong and so un -informed. These people have earned this pay. This isnt a bonus as its referred to its part of their salary. They get paid over 13 months instead of 12 so therefore they get paid less each month and in december get an extra pay. Now with the merger of EBS and AIB wording in staff contracts is being used to stop this being paidIts not a Bonus. Staff of EBS for the past 45 years have chosen to have their salary paid over 13 months instead of 12 so in December they get 2 wages. Its basically a saving scheme within the company. No one in the right frame of mind would expect to be getting bonuses but this isnt a bonus its what these people have saved and earned over the year.. How would you like to save for a year and than be told we cant pay you.
Staff are not only angry that this will not be paid – there are more issues here: Management will be getting their pay as wording in their contracts is different, management knew this was going to be an issue in June/July but never made staff aware of this INSTEAD 3 days before they were due this pay they got told its not happening. The staff this affects are the lowest paid and yes it does affect Christmas in 300 households.

Get a grip Noddy? Charming. My opinion is as valid as yours Noel. More so if you care to read Anita’s comment above and recognise your own inaccuracies.

@ Noel Carroll they get paid for 52 weeks a year just like anyone in full time employment some people get paid every week which equals 2 payments… some people gets paid every 2 weeks which equals 26 payments… some people gets paid every month which equals 12 payments but some opted to divide their yearly salary by 52 weeks and get the 52nd payment in December as the 13th month it is NOT a BONUS it is Their WAGES

oops gets paid 52 payments it should read and not 2

A wage then. As a manager I would still show solidarity with my co-workers, hand it back/ divide it up among my team. It’s just poor management otherwise.

They are not public sector, cop on.

“For all of us I hope so.” So you want nurses, teachers, firemen, ambulance drivers et al striking to maintain a decent standard of living? A withdrawal of vital public services will hurt us all, can’t you see that? This recession is being used by major companies and governments as an excuse to erode hard earned workers rights and entitlements, public & private. I wish these people the best of luck in their dispute. A race to the bottom will hurt us all more I fear.

Under normal circumstances I would be fully in agreement with the workers but it is hard take seeing as these institutions are bankrupt and only surviving thanks to the taxpayer. Equally annoying on a day the indo reveals bankers average pay has actually increased by 3%. Unbelievable.

It’s not a bonus though!!! Their ANNUAL salary is divided over 13 months so it’s like a double payment in December, it’s a savings scheme!! It’s a disgrace that management can still avail of this.

Audrey, there is logical justification for it if they are on a set wage of say €24Kpa and getting €1,846.15 gross a month instead of €2,000 per month. In affect the there employer has taken €2K of them as the €24K for the year was not fully paid.

With you on the national mortgage strike, but us Irish don’t do solidarity, so where to start without ploughiung your own furrow and facing the might of the banks on your own? A route I may be forced to take either way in the new year.

Its not a Bonus. Staff of EBS for the past 45 years have chosen to have their salary paid over 13 months instead of 12 so in December they get 2 wages. Its basically a saving scheme within the company. No one in the right frame of mind would expect to be getting bonuses but this isnt a bonus its what these people have saved and earned over the year.

it is NOT a BONUS

Christmas is not about money but it is expensive. Those workers may have made commitments to buy presents, food etc. Will the bank take this into account?

Audrey, I am sure they know they are not the only ones making sacrifices but they will be sacrificed next year in order to merge the two banks/building society together. The management should have advised the staff weeks if not months ago this was coming down the track and work with the staff and prepare them for it. Good leadership and management is about bringing your staff with you. The staff at EBS have not even signed a contract with AIB by the looks of things and are yet expected to accept AIB terms full stop and when you look at people who messed up this country in the public and private sector walking away with bonuses etc you can’t blame the staff being furious when the staff and us are told “its in the contract, there is nothing we can do about it”. Can you imagine what a mess EBS/AIB management will cause next year bringing the two banks together. This is very very short sighted by management and the Dept of Finance

IT IS NOT A BONUS IT IS THEIR WAGES

Yes Audrey, you would get 2 payments in December if paid over a 13 month year and not 12. The point I was making is that if there ANNUAL salary is paid over 13 months then they are entitled to it. The case will probably be referred to the LRC and if they win it will cost the tax payer more. Most bank staff believe or not are not on great wages. The average teller would be on €22K to €25K and please don’t say its better than €188 a week as no one would work for €188 a week.

It is not a bonus. A bonus is given on top of pay for extra service. This bonus was part of the pay packet. That girl who spoke on the radio will now financially be better off on the dole.

Audrey, many public service staff are receiving pay increases in the form of increments. I’ll be surprised if the labour court does not find in favour of the ebs staff who have had the 13th payment disallowed. Let’s see what happens.

More than three days would have been nice !!!

I am certain they know they are in a recession as you and I do Joanne but they are already taking the sames cuts as EVERYBODY is without giving their employers a free months or 4 weeks pay on top

If what you say is true and you are a manager who has inflicted this kind of news on low paid workers with the blatant disregard for their personal circumstances that you’ve shown here you deserve to be unemployed and hopefully you’ll stay that way!

Well said Patrick – and Audrey Halpin its the attitude like yours why people of this country are suffering at the moment…we need to stand up to government to politicians to companies and show that we wont be walked over. Accepting what ever is thrown at you and still considering yourself lucky is stupid and when you end up un-employed its hardly a surprise.
You keep saying this is what happens when companies are being taken over and that they are trying to save jobs…what makes you think that??? the fact that they have decided not to pay their lowest paid staff but yet senior managers some who are on as much as 360K are still getting their 13th month payment…they really must be doing it to save money and jobs…makes sense!!!! NOT

you seem to be forgetting this is a pay cut for people on less then 30k on average some on only 22k, while directors who put in place the policies and strategies that got us all in this mess earn 360k a year and suffer no cut. How can you justify this?
this video gives the full story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkGcRWeqIbI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Audrey – they are now getting only 11 months of their salary that they earned…so they are worse off..no one is complaining about low wages they just want what is theirs what they earned…they have saved this money up during the year..how woudl u feel if same happened with your savings??? would u be happy???
Who knows that could be next!!!

if you’d read the previous comments you’d know It’s not a bonus that’s been stopped. they’ve been given an 8% pay cut and lost a months wages. It’s not an unreasonable sense of entitlement that’s driving this strike, it’s people standing up for fairness and the money they’ve worked for. Did u even bother 2 read what’s written before? which part don’t you understand?