NMB workers go on strike today

WORKERS of the National Microfinance Bank (NMB) will go on strike effective today, protesting non-payment of their benefits. “During the strike NMB will do its utmost to ensure crucial services are provided including those through ATM (automated teller machines),” NMB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ben Christiaanse, said. Mr Christiaanse, however, declared the strike as illegal, pointing out that there is an order of the High Court that outlaws the strike. He also said that the matter was still being discussed by the government and NMB management. The NMB Branch Chairman of the Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (TUICO), Mr Joseph Masana, told the 'Daily News' that the workers would go on strike effective 8:00am today. “We have given the management 48-hour notice after failure to co-operate despite protracted negotiations,” Mr Masana said. NMB, the largest commercial bank, has almost 2,000 workers in its 121 branches across the country. Mr Masana said the government and the NMB management have reneged on an agreement reached at a joint meeting in Dodoma. He said while in Dodoma they met a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr Jeremiah Sumari and Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, Mr Juma Kapuya. Masana said they were pursuing their demands as per the country's labour laws. He said the employees through TUICO were asking for better working conditions which are being ignored by the management of the bank. Last month the government offered for sale 21 per cent out of its 51 per cent shares in NMB, out of which five per cent of the shares will go to the bank's employees. A consortium led by the Rabobank of the Netherlands owns 49 per cent stake in NMB.