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