Workers of CGD Raise Alarm Over Service Failures Ahead of CEO Hearing

Workers Unite Against Service Failures

In a unified voice, the workers' committee of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) and the Union of Workers of Companies of the CGD Group have brought to light a series of practices undermining the institution's public service. These allegations were made in Parliament, just before the scheduled hearing of CGD's CEO, Paulo Macedo, on January 14, concerning the reduction of services and workforce that adversely affects communities.

A Call for Accountability

The hearing was initiated by the Portuguese Communist Party following a report by PÚBLICO regarding the reduction of services in rural areas and islands, which now limits cash withdrawals and deposits to customers with bank cards only. This raises concerns about the transformation of traditional bank branches into Noma Smart locations, which are small counters without cash handling services.

Diminishing Public Service

The Budget, Finance, and Public Administration Committee (COFAP) first heard from the CGD Workers' Committee, which criticized CGD's recent approach of converting nearly 60 branches into small agencies with limited hours and personnel, failing to adhere to their mission statement to provide comprehensive services across all Portuguese municipalities.

Jorge Canadelo, president of the workers' committee, stated that the recent strategy involves creating mini-counters with only one employee, which do not meet the needs of the populations and local authorities. He warned that this trend is likely to continue.

Concerns Over Territorial Cohesion

Canadelo emphasized that the territorial cohesion is at stake, arguing that regardless of the millions spent on automated kiosks, the public banking service cannot be fulfilled without a detailed, case-by-case analysis. The committee also highlighted the deteriorating working conditions in the public bank, with significant staff reductions leading to high-pressure work environments that can escalate into harassment.

Union Action and Petitions

Following the workers' committee's testimony, COFAP also engaged with the STEC, the most representative union of the public bank, in light of a petition titled “For a Caixa Geral de Depósitos at the Service of the Country that Values Its Workers”, which garnered nearly 2800 signatures, necessitating its discussion in the committee.

Demands for Change

The petition calls for an end to branch closures, hiring of non-precarious workers, cessation of harassment practices, and the appointment of a management team committed to the economic, social, and territorial development of the country. It also includes salary demands, specifically the recovery of career years lost between 2013 and 2016.

STEC justified the petition by pointing to the continuous degradation of CGD's public banking mission and the worsening working conditions, asserting that CGD operates more like a private bank, increasing revenue through fees.

A Pressured Work Environment

The union described the daily operations of the branches as characterized by intense and stressful work, with insufficient staff to handle the workload. Contrary to CGD's claims, the introduction of machines has increased rather than reduced work, leading to long queues and a lack of seating for clients in the new agency model, resulting in both physical and verbal aggression towards employees.

Despite the transition of branches staffed by multiple employees into the Noma Smart format, where cash withdrawals and deposits are limited to automated machines, the administration under Paulo Macedo insists that there has been no reduction in services.