THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

CHAIRPERSON OF THE BARGAINING UNIT

DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY FIN AND INV

BRANCH LEADERS

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

MD, I WILL START BY AFFIRMING ZUFIAW’S COMMITMENT TO THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS. ALLOW ME ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND INDEED ON MY OWN TO PLACE ON RECORD THAT ZUFIAW WILL REMAIN A KEY PARTNER IN ENSURING GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BANK. WE WILL ADVOCATE FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR, HARD WORK AND PRODUCTIVITY AMONG OUR MEMBERS. MAY I APPEAL TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO LOOK AT THE UNION AS PARTNER IN THE MANAGEMENT THE BANK. OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT IN MANAGING ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL ASSETS OF THE BANK WHICH IS HUMAN CAPITAL CAN HELP TRANSFORM THE BANK GOING FORWARD.

MD, ZUFIAW WILL PARTNER WITH ALL OUR STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING YOUR TEAM IN MAINTAINING INDUSTRIAL HARMONY AND PROFESSIONALISM. HOWEVER, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT GOING FORWARD MY OFFICE AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL PROTECT AND DEFEND THE RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR OUR MEMBERS BY LIVING OUR VALUES OF INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, HARD WORK, SOLIDARITY AND IMPORTANTLY OUR MOTTO “WORKERS FIRST”.

MD, ZUFIAW IS ALIVE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BEING REFERRED TO AS MIDDLE MANAGEMENT AND YET THEY DO NOT MEET THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW AS GUIDED IN PART II SECTION 4 OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND LABOUR RELATIONS ACT. WE WILL BE WRITING OFFICIALLY TO STATE OUR POSITION AND ALLOW THESE EMPLOYEES TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO BELONG TO A UNION OF THEIR CHOICE. ZUFIAW WILL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY ENSURE OUR MEMBERS ARE PROTECTED AND ALL EMPLOYERS ABIDE BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LABOUR LAWS.

MD, THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN OUR COUNTRY REMAINS UNSTABLE EVIDENCED BY THE CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING DESPITE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORT TO REVIVE OUR ECONOMY HENCE WE APPRECIATE YOUR GESTURE IN AWARDING K1, 200 ACROSS THE BOARD PLUS OTHER ADJUSTMENTS IN CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.

FINALLY, TO THE BARGAINING TEAM, I WILL REQUEST THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE INTELLIGENT CONVERSATIONS IN YOUR QUARTERLY MEETING AS WAY OF BUILDING UP FOR NEGOTIATIONS AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SITTINGS DURING BU. TO THE BRANCH LEADERSHIP, MAY I AFFIRM MY AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S FULL SUPPORT AS YOU CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES. WE WILL NOT ENTERTAIN ANY EMPLOYER INTIMIDATING OUR LEADERS ACROSS ALL STRUCTURES.

OVER AND ABOVE WELL DONE TO BOTH TEAMS.

THANK YOU

KASAPO SUNDREA KABENDE

GENERAL SECRETARY