Disgruntled First Capital Bank workers Tuesday evening staged a strike outside the bank’s offices along First Street in Harare calling for the management to increase their salaries as the economic woes continue to bite.
The relentless workers only dispersed around 20:00hrs after the bank’s CEO, Sam Matsekete, who had locked himself inside his office for close to two hours, agreed to hear their concerns tomorrow morning.
One of the workers who was picketing in the chilling cold said the employees had resolved to sleep in the banking hall but later resolved to do so tomorrow if their emergence grievances are ignored.
“We were waiting to talk to our CEO since around five but he ran away locked himself in his office. We then decided to sleep in the banking hall until the management hears us.
“However, the CEO then sent emissaries and told us that he will hear our issues tomorrow. If he failed, we will bring our blankets and pots to cook here because we do not have any money left,” said the worker.
When 263Chat arrived at the financial institution, several workers were milling around the premises, with some saying they can no longer afford the bus fare, as their salaries have become unsustainable.
The workers said they are will not accept anything less than a 100% ‘cushioning allowance’ similar to what fellow Agribank workers, who were on a strike, negotiated with their employer.
Efforts to get a comment from Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers’ Union (ZIBAWU) secretary-general Peter Mutasa were futile as his mobile was unreachable the time of publishing.
