News

UNI Global Union has condemned Standard Chartered Bank's chairman, Mervyn Davies, for not intervening to reinstate two union leaders sacked in the bank's Zimbabwe subsidiary. Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe dismissed two trade union leaders, the Chairman of the bank's National Workers Committee, Mr. Peter Mutasa, who is also the Vice-President of UNI affiliate the Zimbabwe Bank Workers' Union (ZIBAWU), and the National Secretary, Mr. Shepherd Ngandu, for carrying out their legitimate union duties of representing and communicating with the workers - a clear abuse of international labour standards. Although the two employees have successfully appealed against their dismissal, the British-based bank chose to pay them damages and terminate their employment, instead of reinstating them. The two employees were awarded seven and a half years salary, calculated in Zimbabwe Dollars at the rate applicable at the time of dismissal. Taking into account hyperinflation, the bank paid them USD 15 and USD 16 respectively. The bank's chairman has refused to intervene and considers the matter closed. UNI Finance demands that Standard Chartered Bank either reinstates the two colleagues without loss of pay or compensates them appropriately taking account of inflation. "We strongly condemn the behaviour of Standard Chartered and consider that the company is failing to respect recognised union rights, resorting instead to victimising union leaders through unfair dismissals," says UNI Finance head of department Oliver Roethig. "The amount paid in damages is derisory and disgraceful. It shows that Standard Chartered Bank does not take seriously its social responsibility." Rob MacGregor, of Unite and UNI-Europa Finance Vice-President, says: "Instead of acting like a leading company and a responsible employer, Standard Chartered is profiting from the political, social and economic hardship that Zimbabwe and its people are facing."