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HARARE – The Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (Zibawu) on Tuesday picketed at the Central African Building Society (Cabs), accusing the financial institution of unfair labour practices and violating workers’ rights.
Members of the union descended on Cabs headquarters along First Street in Harare holding placards, some of which read: “Human Resources Managers, we say no to harassing workers, “Cabs please bring him back”
and “No to victimisation of workers.”
While Cabs did not immediately respond to the protestors, Zibawu is alleging the institution unfairly fired one, Pikirai Guvheya, who was the workers’ committee chairman.
While the bank claims Guvheya was fired for an offence committed three years ago, the union insisted that he was fired for trying to establish a workers union and recruiting other workers to join, and described CABS’
allegations as “frivolous.”
“Are you aware that your subsidiary CABS is victimizing workers for joining the trade union? We are currently demonstrating against such colonial/ apartheid labour practices. This is not in keeping with your
values: Responsible to our employees. Stop them,” Zibawu said petitioning Cabs’ parent company Old Mutual.
The union said the banks management needed to be educated on “what a trade union is and that workers have a constitutional right to belong to a trade union of their choice.”
“The practice of victimizing workers for joining a union of their choice is archaic and a legacy of colonialism and apartheid,” Zibawu said. – New Ziana
Online Reporter