Unions seek end to pay row at bank

Union leaders have offered to let industrial relations troubleshooters rule on a pay row at Bank of Ireland after disgruntled staff picketed the head office.

Hundreds of workers at the life and pensions division, who are among the group's lowest paid, took strike action at the Dublin HQ, claiming bank bosses have refused them performance bonuses.

But the Unite trade union said it was willing to return to the Labour Court seeking clarification on an earlier ruling. "Our members had won this battle for fair treatment. Then it was taken away," regional officer Colm Quinlan claimed. "They do not want to be on strike and are willing to submit to the court one last time to make the position unequivocal. We hope the Bank of Ireland management are willing to do likewise and accept the final answer."