The Workers’ Union of the Companies of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) Group has filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the company’s collective agreement, the union announced.
In a statement, the union claims that CGD’s management breached the existing company agreement regarding travel expense reimbursements when employees are temporarily relocated.
Over the years, as noted in the statement, CGD has traditionally covered additional travel costs incurred by employees using their own vehicles for temporary relocations, when public transportation is not practical, based on terms set in the company agreement—at a rate of 0.50 euros per kilometer.
However, the union alleges that CGD unilaterally decided to apply the permanent transfer rules to temporary relocations, reducing the reimbursement rate to 0.125 euros per kilometer, “contradicting and inexplicably distorting the good faith with which these clauses were mutually agreed.”
The union labels this change as “abusive and unlawful,” claiming it has caused significant harm to employees and management staff.
“The amount reimbursed by the company for temporary work relocations does not cover the actual expenses faced by these employees, particularly in areas with insufficient public transportation or in the interior of the country, where agencies are located dozens of kilometers apart,” it adds.
The union also cites previous violations by the company concerning work relocations, stating that employees are “frequently transferred without the required prior written notice.”
Complaints have also been submitted to the Authority for Working Conditions, according to the union.
