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Some managers, including the Boston Regional Manager, at Sovereign Bank have been trying to stop workers from coming together and organising a union by outright lying. After a Brazilian Bank Worker delegation marched in Boston, some Sovereign managers have told their employees that they cannot join a union because bank unions are illegal in the United States. The Bank has issued a policy that prohibits its employees from talking to union organisers at any time and any place, even at home.



They have also threatened workers by telling them they will get fired if they continue circulating a letter that lists their concerns about the poor pay, failure to pay overtime, and the high cost of health care.



But, they have not just made threats, they have carried them out. For example, the Bank first reduced the hours of and then fired two employees with more than 20 years each of tenure when they started discussing their support of the union. One of those employees was honored the week before at a gala event for being a top producing seller. Similarly, when workers started passing around a letter asking for a meeting with management, someone snatched it away and gave it to the managers, who then told other employees not to sign it. Because of these actions, Sovereign bank workers in the Boston area are afraid to sign on to the letter asking to meet with bank management regarding wage and hour issues, and are afraid to talk to union organisers for fear of being retaliated against.



We demand that Santander reinstate these workers NOW!



We ask you to write letters to Santander and express your outrage at Santander's under handed actions against their employees.



You can write today to both:

Sr. Don Emilio Botín Presidente Grupo Santander Ciudad Grupo Santander Madrid , España SPAIN	AND	D. José Luis Gómez Alciturri Director General Grupo Santander División Recursos Humanos Ciudad Grupo Santander Edf. Arrecife, Pta. 2 Boadilla del Monte Madrid - España SPAIN
Or fax to: +34 912517323

Visit our blog www.bankonrights.org for further information about the campaign "Banking on workers' rights in HSBC and Santander".





UNI Global Union will post more about this development in the next few days.