By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Jabu Shiba,the Secretary General(SG) of the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers Union(SUFIAWU) has confirmed that, the voting for the First National Bank(FNB) eSwatini looming strike action commenced on Thursday and will be concluded on Monday.

The underpaid FNB workers are demanding a 8.5% salary increment,however, the “bank is offering” 5.85% and the workers have been consistently harassed systematically,by the Management in an effort to discourage them from engaging in the strike action.

But preliminary results in our possession suggest that,despite the harassment,the workers voted to strike next week(20th October 2023) and this,means some FNB services might be affected.

It has been disclosed that, at the FNB Gables-Ezulwini ,there are sixteen(16) unionized workers, fifteen(15)voted “yes” and only one(1)voted against the strike action.

The FNB Head Office had twenty-nine(29) who voted to go on strike while only four(4) were against the intended strike.

At the Mbabane Corporate Place and Nhlangano, all FNB employees voted to go on strike and this means,services might be grossly affected at these Branches as well.

“We will conclude the voting on Monday”, said the SUFIAWU Secretary General.

On another note,at the Manzini Branch, twenty-one(21) voted to go on strike while only two(2) voted against it.

This means FNB clients might not have alternative services in Manzini as even at the Manzini Lifestyle, all workers voted to go on strike.At the Bhunu-Mall FNB Branch,seven(7)employees voted to go on strike while only two(2)voted against the strike.

But Futhie Magagula, the FNB Manager Employees Relations told this Swaziland News earlier that, services won’t be affected by the looming strike action.

“FNB assures all our stakeholders that none of the matters at table are complex,we expect settlement within a reasonable time, and that we shall be guided by lawful processes in all our actions and responses.In the event that negotiations are extended,FNB wishes to advise customers that we do not anticipate material disruption to business operations as our self service platforms, which now operate the majority of client transactions,shall remain available,” said the Bank Manager Employees Relations when responding to this publication.