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SUFIAW HEADS FOR STRIKE ACTION AT STANDARD BANK ESWATINI



Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze (Publishing Editor)

Standard Bank Eswatini workers ,who are members of the  Swaziland Union of Financial and Allied Workers (SUFIAW), are set to embark on a legal strike action commencing on Monday 22 May 2023 countrywide. The strike comes after the failure by Standard Bank Eswatini (the bank) and SUFIAW (the union) to reach an agreement on pay increases at the bank. 

The Times of Eswatini Sunday (21-05-2023) reported that at the negotiations table Standard Bank Eswatini is currently offering SUFIAW members a wage increment of 5.2% while SUFIAW is demanding 8.5% increment. So far none amongst the two parties has shown inclination meet the other halfway. In the same report the bank has expressed that they hope the grievance can be resolved before Monday ,the commencement date of the strike action.  

The same newspaper report indicated that a process of balloting for the strike action had been done in compliance with the labour laws of the country and workers had overwhelmingly voted to go on strike. It was reported that 268 workers voted to go on strike while 14 voted against going ahead with the strike action.

SUFIAW Secretary General Jabu Shiba (sourced online)

The Secretary General of the SUFIAW Jabu Shiba confirmed that the strike action will commence on Monday 22 May as per their plans. On reports that the bank has expressed hope on the resolution of the deadlock before Monday 22 May SG Shiba informed this reporter that a meeting had been scheduled at 0700 hours in the morning of Monday 22 May 2023 and as a SUFIAW they are hoping that the employer will table something that can tangibly be presented to workers for their consideration. Otherwise she indicated that the strike action continues in full steam.

It stands to be noted that Standard Bank Eswatini, reported to be the biggest bank in Eswatini in Capital and Assets, had earlier (31March 2023, Times of Eswatini) posted record profits for its 2022 financial year. Their after tax  profits of around E203M represented an increase of around 14% from profits reported at the end of 2021.  

Standard Bank Eswatini Chief Executive Officer  Mvuselelo Fakudze (Picture sourced online)

Workload grievance

One of the issues that is reported to be affecting  the workers' willingness to meet Standard Bank Eswatini halfway ,and  settle the wage stand off ,is an issue of workload that workers endure at the bank. Insiders have stated that workers at the bank are quietly expressing that they are tired of carrying more and more workload from colleagues who have either resigned, retired or are deceased. The bank, according to workers is not keen to hire more workers or to fill vacancies, instead  work pressure and workload is  piled on the already stretched  work force. As a result workers often find themselves having to work long hours, in evenings as well as on weekends ,in order to keep up with the workload. 

All this for no compensation in terms of overtime payments from Standard Bank Eswatini, in a majority of cases. 

SUFIAW SG however indicated that the issue of the workload is not a part of the issues that have been tabled by the union to Standard Bank.

More reports will follow as the strike action commences and on outcomes of the meeting between the the Bank and SUFIAW.

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