Workers the United Kingdom's central bank, the Bank England, have voted to stage a four-day strike support a pay claim. It will be the first walkout by staff the bank in over five decades. Over 95 per cent of bankers who voted opted strike action over what they deem to be an unacceptable pay rise offer. The Bank offered its workers a collective one per cent pay rise its staff. The deal means that a third staff could get no pay increase all. The union that represents the Bank's workers said: "The result the Bank's unwillingness to negotiate fair pay will be that the Bank's sites, including the iconic Threadneedle Street [premises] the City of London, will effectively be inoperable."
The Bank of England was established 1694. It is the second oldest central bank operation today. Workers the bank are suffering along millions more public sector staff in the UK who have had their annual salary increase capped one per cent. This is below the level inflation, which currently stands 2.9 per cent. A union spokeswoman said workers would be taking action, "because the bank's total refusal to accept that its workforce is struggling to meet their costs of living". She added: "It is nothing short shameful that the iconic symbol financial services in the UK is choosing to ride roughshod the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose this derisory pay deal."
