Frankfurt - The European Central Bank (ECB) said Tuesday that its operations will not be affected by an employees' strike scheduled for June 3.

The European Public Services Organization (IPSO), which represents 40 per cent of the bank's 1,500 workers, called the 90-minute stoppage in a dispute over benefits.

The ECB plans to increase staff pension contributions and reduce incentives for employees to leave before the normal retirement age of 65, the union said.

IPSO accused the bank, headed by France's Jean-Claude Trichet, of adopting "undemocratic and archaic" relations with its staff.

If it goes ahead, the strike will be the first in the European Central Bank's 10-year history. The industrial action takes place a day before a meeting of the ECB's rate-setting council.