By investadvocate

Jan 14 2011 15.12 GMT

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-Sacking is imminent at Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (UBN) over staff involvement in a recent strike action the Management of the Bank under Funke Osibodu, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) termed as illegal.

 

Following this, Osibudo announced Thursday January 13 2011 at a media parley in Lagos Nigeria that the Management of the Bank has withdrawn its recognition of its senior staff association under the auspices of Union Bank Association of Seniour Staff (UBASS) and the local chapter of Association of Seniour Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) affiliated to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

 

The industrial action which was held between December 14 and 15, 2010 paralysed the operations of the Bank nationwide for about three days.

 

Apart from the announcement Thursday January 13 2011 by Osibodu, the Bank issued a Press Statement to that effect dated January 12 2011 and made available to investadvocate in Lagos Nigeria.

 

The Statement titled “Withdrawal of recognition of Union Bank Association of Senior Staff (UBASS), Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (NLC Affiliate) (ASSBIFI)” reads thus:

 

“Following the unlawful operations of UBASS and ASSBIFI, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has withdrawn its recognition of the above named trade union bodies with immediate effect. All concerned have been duly advised. The general public should please take note”.

 

However, Management of Union Bank affirmed that the local chapter of National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), were not affected by the recognition withdrawal which affected UBASS and ASSIBIFI.

 

Osibodu said Management will definitely take disciplinary action against any staff found to have gone contrary to the terms of offer as regards their employment with the Bank.

 

She also confirmed that letters of the withdrawal of recognition of UBASS and ASSIBIFI has been sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), State Security Service (SSS) and other relevant agencies informing them of the latest decision of the Bank on its Seniour Staff unionism.

 

The Union Bank GMD/CEO further affirmed that some staff of the Bank were found to be exposing false and confidential customer information to the public, including shareholders. “We will do the right thing and will not victimise anybody” she said.

 

Prior to this time, investadvocate gathered from our source (name withheld) that the Management of the Bank is planning to sack some staff and mostly Union Leaders who spearheaded the mid-December 2010 industrial action of Union Bank.

 

Amongst the issues that brought about the face-off between the Osibodu led Management and staff of the Bank; was the allegation that the Management of the Bank failed to implement fully the agreement it reached with Members of its General Management and members of the local chapter of ASSBIFI on contentious issues that was raised before September 30 2010.

 

As earlier reported, some of the issues include, the workers accusing the Management of the Bank of mismanagement, massive layoff of workers without following due process, the cut off of workers’ salaries, and tax deductions.

 

Other allegations were the salary structure and pension policy rolled-out effective July 01 2010, reduction in terminal benefits (gratuity), ethnic prejudice, the wide disparity in the overseas medical allowances of members of General Management and the Directorate amongst others; which the staffs were unhappy with.

 

But the Management of Union Bank affirmed at the Thursday January 13 2011media parley which saw investadvocate in attendance; that most of the issues have been addressed prior to this time and others are being looked into; therefore no reason for the recent strike action embarked by its staff.