Solidarity probes victimisation claims at Absa
Trade union, Solidarity says it is investigating cases of intimidation and victimisation of IT staff at leading South African bank, Absa.
It follows a report by IT Web that the bank will retrench up to 140 IT employees before the end of the month, after its human resources department sent out retrenchment e-mails.
Solidarity spokesman, Marius Croucamp told BusinessTech: “We are investigating complaints that some people have been intimidated and victimised. They have been forced to leave.”
In February, it was reported that up to 200 IT staff at the bank were put on ‘gardening leave’. Croucamp said that it was likely that the IT staff who were put on that leave were now being retrenched.
Croucamp added that the union has gone to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) claiming unfair dismissal in the retrenchment process.
In February, Absa said it would not consult with Solidarity in terms of the regulations of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, as it already had an agreement with the financial services union Sasbo, which represents the majority of affected employees.
“We don’t talk with Absa, we have been dealing with the CCMA,” Croucamp said.
In March, Absa denied rumours that it was planning mass retrenchments to cut costs.
Employees affected by its restructuring process, were being given the opportunity to apply for positions across the group, it said.
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