Union Begins Protests Against Layoffs at Santander on Tuesday
The National Union of Bank and Technical Workers (SNQTB) begins a series of four protests in Portugal on Tuesday to actively protest against the layoff plans at Santander Totta. The first protest takes place in Lisbon, followed by others in different cities. Although the bank announced a 'temporary' postponement of the layoff process, the union considers this measure 'manifestly insufficient', with president Paulo Marcos emphasizing that 'to postpone does not mean to suspend indefinitely'. SNQTB argues that the provision of 164.5 million euros for staff reduction persists in the bank's accounts, describing the postponement as merely a 'game of shadows that does not resolve the fundamental issue', and classifies the proposed layoffs as completely unjust and unacceptable for workers.
Core Event
The National Union of Bank and Technical Workers (SNQTB) began on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, the first of four protests in Portugal to contest the layoffs at Santander Totta. The protests take place in Lisbon (Tuesday), Porto (Wednesday), Coimbra (Thursday), and Faro (Friday), from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, targeting the provision of 164.5 million euros for staff reduction, which the union insists is still reflected in the bank's accounts. Santander Totta announced in April an agreement for the departure of 68 workers and the elimination of an additional 100 to 150 jobs.
Direct Quote
In a statement, SNQTB president Paulo Marcos expressed his dissatisfaction with the bank's decision: 'SNQTB learned through the media that Banco Santander Totta decided to temporarily postpone the unilateral layoff process. This postponement is a first sign that the measures taken by our union are starting to yield the desired effects, although, at this time, manifestly insufficient. To postpone does not mean to suspend indefinitely.' SNQTB qualifies the layoffs as 'a completely unjust, inqualifiable, unjustified, unacceptable measure and an offense to workers.'
Background Information
At the end of April, Santander revealed plans for restructuring involving the departure of workers, but after meetings with unions affiliated with UGT, the bank announced a 'temporary' postponement of the implementation of unilateral measures. An internal note, which Lusa had access to, indicated that Santander Totta seeks to avoid collective layoffs and maintains 'proposals already presented to the involved employees', in addition to opening the possibility for 'any employee to request the presentation of exit agreement proposals'.
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