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The Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe last week took a swipe at the Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers’ Union for organising collective job action and for picketing some banks saying the trade union was acting in breach of the Collective Bargaining Agreement: Banking Undertaking Statutory Instrument 273 of 2003.
Zibawu held demonstrations against Barclays Bank Zimbabwe last week and two pickets against NMB bank management in July. The demonstrations came after negotiations for salary increments collapsed. NMB workers wanted a 30 percent increment while Barclays Bank workers were demanding a 35 percent increases.
Management at both banks were offering 3,5 percent and 3,7 percent respectively. In a statement, BAZ said the matter was still to be heard in the Arbitration Court where it was referred after a deadlock was declared.
“The framework for salary negotiations in the banking industry is done at National Employment Council level in accordance with the operative agreement between BAZ and Zibawu as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement: Banking Undertaking Statutory Instrument 273 of 2003.
“The negotiations deadlocked resulting in the matter being referred for arbitration as provided for in the operative collective bargaining agreement,” the association said.
BAZ said Zibawu had not waited for the lawful due process of the resolution of the deadlock but had instead engaged in the demonstration putting them in breach of the agreement.
“In the premises, the conduct of Zibawu in encouraging and engaging in the collective job action is not only contrary to the letter and spirit of the agreement but is also against the provisions of the Labour Act thus rendering the whole process unlawful,” BAZ said.
According to BAZ, its members are currently paying the minimum wage for the lowest grade in banking industry which is US$604,14 in tandem with the Poverty Datum Line as stipulated by the National Employment Council minimums for each grade.
BAZ added that negotiations at institutional level can only be meaningfully conducted after the finalisation of the process at NEC level which awaits arbitration.
Zibawu said bank employers had failed to appreciate the provisions of the Labour Act in terms of collective bargaining.
The trade union’s secretary, Mr Peter Mutasa, said the Supreme Court had already ruled that workers have the right to negotiate for their salaries. He added that the issue of salary increments has been persisting for two years without any agreement being signed.
Meanwhile, BAZ apologised to members of the public customers and stakeholders who were being inconvenienced by the situation and assured them that its individual members will put in place measures to minimise such inconveniences.
Online Reporter