News

UNI has protested to Standard Chartered Bank over the dismissals of two key union leaders in Zimbabwe.



Philip J. Jennings, General Secretary of UNI Global Union has written to Mr Matsaira, Managing Director at Standard Chartered Bank in Zimbabwe calling for immediate reinstatement of the two officials who were dismissed.



The full letter is below:-





Dear Mr. Matsaira,



Dismissals of Mr. Peter Mutasa and Shepherd Ngandu



We are reliably informed by our affiliate the Zimbabwe Bank Workers’ Union (ZIBAWU) that Standard Chartered Bank - Zimbabwe has dismissed the chairman of the bank’s National Workers Committee Mr. Peter Mutasa, who is also the Vice-President of ZIBAWU and the National Secretary for carrying out their legitimate union duties of representing and communicating with the workers.



We are disappointed to learn that a reputable company such as Standard Chartered Bank is failing to respect recognised union rights and has instead resorted to victimising union leaders through unfair suspensions and dismissals.



The right to represent workers without hindrance is a fundamental union right enshrined in the ILO Conventions for which no union representative should be punished. The action taken by your company goes against ILO Convention on Workers’ Representatives and should be rescinded forthwith.



As a global union representing over 15 million workers in the skills and services sectors, including ZIBAWU, we condemn the action taken by Standard Chartered Bank and demand that you prevail over these dismissals and ensure that the two union officials are immediately reinstated in their employment.



Yours sincerely,



Philip Jennings

GENERAL SECRETARY

UNI Global Union