Bank of Ireland IT staff who are members of the Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) are to be balloted on recommendations regarding the bank's proposed seven year outsourcing deal with Hewlett Packard which led to a 24 hour walk out last month.
The bank's IT staff staged the strike in protest at plans to transfer 500 bank staff to Hewlett Packard.
The dispute looked as if it was nearing resolution this week after recommendations made by independent arbitrator Kieran Mulvey were met with approval by both the bank and the IBOA.
The proposals include a one-off payment of €5,500 and job security for two years for the staff who transfer to HP, with an option for redeployment within the bank for five years after that. Affected staff will also keep pensions rights and other benefits.
So far the bank has accepted Mulvey's recommendations, but the IBOA is still meeting with members to put the proposals to them ahead of a final ballot on 29th August. However, if all recommendations are not accepted by members, the alternative is likely to be another all out strike.
A IBOA spokesperson told IT newswire Silicon.com that if the deal is rejected the bank will face "total war" and any further strike action at the bank could "totally close it down."