THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MR HERMAN HESEKANDE
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
CHAIRPERSON OF THE BARGAINING UNIT
BRANCH LEADERS
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE ZAMBIA UNION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND ALLIED WORKERS (ZUFIAW).
CEO, MAY I START BY CONGRATULATING YOU, THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP OF THE BANK AND OUR MEMBERS FOR SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHING YOUR NEW HEAD OFFICE WHICH IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND ALSO A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY WHICH HAS IMPROVED THE GENERAL OUTLOOK OF THE CITY OF LUSAKA. THE INVESTMENT OF $40 MILLION CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES YOUR STRATEGIC GROWTH AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE ZAMBIAN ECONOMY AND WE HOPE THIS WILL RESULT IN MORE JOBS AND MEMBERS FOR ZUFIAW.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT, THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, INFLATION, COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES, INSTABILITY OF THE KWACHA AND HIGH FUEL PRICES DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS IN UKRAINE HAVE HAD NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON OUR ECONOMY AND THIS HAS RESULTED IN INCREASED COST OF LIVING AND THE ACTUAL VALUE OF WAGES HAS EFFECTIVELY BEEN ERODED. IT IS THEREFORE CREDITABLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONCLUDE AT 20% SALARY ADJUSTMENTS PLUS OTHER CONDITIONS OF SERVICE. WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT CEO, YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO LEARN THAT HARD WORK IS ONE OF OUR KEY VALUES AS A UNION HENCE MAY I REITERATE ZUFIAW’S COMMITMENT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BANK AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR MEMBERS TO WORK EXTRA HARD AND HELP MEET SHAREHOLDER’S EXPECTATIONS.
CEO, ALLOW ME ON BEHALF OF THE ZUFIAW BOARD AND INDEED MY OWN BEHALF TO PLACE ON RECORD THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH TO THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS. HOWEVER, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT OUT OF 315 EMPLOYEES LESS THAN 40 ARE UNIONISED. WE WILL STRONGLY BE ENGAGING YOUR HUMAN RESOURCE TO UNDERSTAND THE OPERATING MODEL OF THE BANK AND ENSURE EMPLOYEES EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO ASSOCIATION.
PART II, SECTION 4 OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND LABOUR RELATIONS ACT DESCRIBES WHO AN ELIGIBLE MEMBER OF THE UNION AND WHO IS CONSIDERED AS A MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE AND CEO WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT, WITH YOUR PREVIOUS IMPRESSIVE LABOUR RELATIONS RECORD AS A BANK, MANAGEMENT SHALL ALLOW ANY ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE TO FREELY DECIDE WHETHER THEY WISH TO BELONG TO THE UNION OR NOT.
FINALLY, TO THE DELEGATION LEADER AND THE BRANCH LEADERSHIP, MAY I COMMEND YOU FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM, MATURITY AND PATIENCE DURING THE PERIOD OF NEGOTIATIONS. MAY I AFFIRM MY AND THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S FULL SUPPORT AS YOU CARRY OUT YOUR BRANCH DUTIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
KASAPO SUNDREA KABENDE – GENERAL SECRETARY
