'Go home' - Workers union protest against Heritage Bank, make several demands

The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions(ASSBIFI) has continued its face-off with the management of Heritage Bank Plc following the sack of some of its members.

The bankers' union warns that it will utilize its extensive networks and connections to rally affiliated trade unions and Nigerian workers in opposition to Heritage Bank Plc.

Vanguard reports that the union claimed that the Bank sacked its ex-workers without compensation or reasons.

President of ASSBIFI, Olusoji Oluwole, lamented the frustration of ASSBIFI trying to settle the differences amicably.

He said: “The Management of Heritage Bank disengaged over 30 members of ASSBIFI, including a Principal National Officer of the Association in May, 2023 without due process. ASSBIFI condemned this action as an outright violation of Section 20 of the Labour Act, Cap L1, LFN 2004, the ASSBIFI Industry Wide Collective Agreement, and the ILO Convention 158 on Termination of Employment, which specifically provided that the employment of a worker shall not be terminated unless there is a valid reason for such termination.

"This has been rightly recognized by the National Industrial Court (NIC), and we abide by it”.

Oluwole further said despite this, the Bank insisted on their dismissals based on company policy without negotiation or dialogue with the union as required by law.

He continued: "As the Statutory Representative of Senior Employees in the Nigeria Financial Sector, and in line with our policy on social dialogue, ASSBIFI engaged the Management of Heritage Bank on several occasions to demand justice for the vulnerable Nigerian workers’ whose employment was wrongfully terminated.

“The Management insisted on terminating the workers based on their company policy, without negotiation or dialogue with the Union as provided by law."

ASSBIFI asked the Bank's management to provide the Company Policy and information regarding the alleged payments and settlements of severance benefits for terminated employees.

"Over three months after this request, the Management has not been able to produce its own acclaimed documents.

“The employees have severally served the bank for periods covering between five and 25 years, and without any tangible or valid reasons, Heritage Bank asked the workers to go home empty-handed. This is exploitation and injustice of the worst order"