Nafinu withdraws court case against FNB

THE Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu) has announced that it will withdrew its labour court case against First National Bank Holdings after an agreement was reached between the two parties.

Nafinu President Alex Kamaundju said at a joint media briefing with FNB Holdings yesterday that the union had decided to withdraw the court case after the bank promised not to compromise the interest of the workers. The union took the company to court after some former Swabou employees claimed that FNB had “unilaterally” changed the terms of their employment.The 89 workers alleged that the time they worked for Swabou counted for nothing and that the new management refused to take their years of service into consideration when they applied for leave and other benefits.Kamaundju said some former Swabou employees wrongly interpreted their conditions of employment and the union registered the labour court case before proper consultations with the bank.FNB Holdings Human Resource Manager Stanley Similo said the company fully recognised the work experience of all former Swabou staff and had even transferred their pensions into the new fund.”Our doors remain open to always amicably resolve issues that affect our employees and their welfare.We made a firm commitment at the time of the merger that there would be no job losses for the non-managerial cadre and we have kept our promise,” he said.The union took the company to court after some former Swabou employees claimed that FNB had “unilaterally” changed the terms of their employment.The 89 workers alleged that the time they worked for Swabou counted for nothing and that the new management refused to take their years of service into consideration when they applied for leave and other benefits. Kamaundju said some former Swabou employees wrongly interpreted their conditions of employment and the union registered the labour court case before proper consultations with the bank.FNB Holdings Human Resource Manager Stanley Similo said the company fully recognised the work experience of all former Swabou staff and had even transferred their pensions into the new fund.”Our doors remain open to always amicably resolve issues that affect our employees and their welfare.We made a firm commitment at the time of the merger that there would be no job losses for the non-managerial cadre and we have kept our promise,” he said.