Bank workers rising in Croatia

Bank workers and unions gathered in Zagreb for a workshop to expand organising and collective bargaining in a sector undergoing massive transformations.

Bank workers rising in Croatia

In a time of sweeping transformation across the European banking sector, trade unions are stepping up to confront challenges with renewed determination. This spirit of solidarity was on full display during a recent workshop hosted in Zagreb by UNI Europa Finance and its Croatian affiliate, the Croatian Union of Bank and Financial Employees (SBF), as part of the EU-funded Barservice project.

The workshop on 15 and 16 April 2025 brought together union leaders, experts and researchers to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing finance sector workers in Croatia and beyond. With participation from Gareth Murphy, Head of Industrial Relations and Campaigns at FSU Ireland; Adi Lehner, Head of the Central Works Council at Bank of Austria and member of UniCredit’s European Works Council; and researchers from the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), the event served as a dynamic platform for strategy exchange and action planning.

A sector under pressure

Croatia’s finance sector currently employs around 18,000 workers – but a number in decline due to ongoing restructuring. Despite the high profitability of banks, the sector struggles to attract new talent, largely due to low pay and limited career advancement. Over half of bank workers in Croatia earn less than the average salary and 20 per cent earn €1,000 or less per month while top executives and banks report record-breaking profits.”The Croatian average salary is €1,392 EUR.

However, collective bargaining coverage in the banking sector is impressive. In a country with a 61 per cent average, more than 80 per cent of bank workers are covered by company-level collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Many of these agreements include progressive provisions such as one year of fully paid maternity and paternity leave, as prescribed by Croatian Labour Law. SBF has also negotiated a paid one-month transitional return-to-work period. CBAs in the sector also address equal pay and transparency – an essential focus given that 70 per cent of the workforce is female and a gender pay gap remains stubbornly persistent.

SBF President Davor Tomić didn’t mince his words: “If banks gave up just 6 per cent of their profits, every bank worker in Croatia could earn €500 more each month – but instead, employers hide behind talk of ‘sustainability’ while sitting on record profits. That’s why building strong collective bargaining strategies is so vital. This workshop, with support from UNI Europa Finance, has shown how powerful trade union exchange can be in turning numbers into action.”

Learning from Ireland

Gareth Murphy of FSU Ireland drew parallels between Croatia and Ireland, highlighting the potential for mutual learning between two countries with similar union structures and challenges. He emphasised FSU’s dual focus on renewal – strengthening the trade union – and organising – driving membership growth and embedding unionism into workplace culture. These efforts, supported by UNI Europa’s European Power and Organising Centre (EPOC), have significantly improved the finance trade union’s visibility and negotiating power in Ireland.

“Employers may hold the power by default,” Murphy said, “but when workers act collectively, we shift the balance. Strong trade unions don’t just demand respect, they command it – and that’s when results start to happen.”

European solidarity in action

Adi Lehner shared insights from Austria, where nearly 100 per cent of bank workers are covered by collective agreements. Austria’s most recent banking sector CBA secured a 3.15 per cent wage increase and additional benefits – hard-won gains achieved through determination and solidarity, especially after three difficult rounds of negotiations.

Lehner also underscored the importance of European Works Councils (EWCs) and cross-border Trade Union Alliances in strengthening worker power across multinational companies. “In today’s global economy, real strength comes from connection. European Works Councils and UNI Finance’s Trade Union Alliances give us the power to stand united in multinationals, across borders – because solidarity doesn’t stop at the workplace, and neither should our strategy.”

He highlighted the positive example of UniCredit’s joint declarations on responsible sales practices, work-life balance, remote work, equal opportunities and lifelong learning – though he acknowledged the ongoing challenge of turning these commitments into practice. Lehner also echoed the urgent need to strengthen the EU EWC Directive with enforceable rules, meaningful consultation and effective sanctions.

The workshop concluded with a message from Maureen Hick, Director of UNI Europa Finance: “Strong collective bargaining doesn’t happen in isolation – it’s built through solidarity, strategy and shared experience. This workshop with SBF is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when trade unionists come together across borders to learn, exchange and grow. The challenges are real, but so is our collective strength.”

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Protected: UNI Europa FATIMA Project – ICTS Workshop – Leuven – 28 April 2025

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Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to the sector workshop for ICTS in the framework of the UNI Europa project on “Fair Working Time Matters” (FATIMA). The event will take place on 28 April 2025 in Leuven, Belgium. The meeting will start at 09:00 CEST and end at 16:30 CEST.

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Apr

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