Managers of the People’s Own Savings Bank, a Zimbabwean financial institution, have suspended more than 20 staff members for allegedly launching a slowdown action.
Police on Wednesday ordered the workers off the institution's property at the request of management's after they tried to sleep in the savings bank's canteen for a second night claiming they could not afford to pay for their transport home.
The workers were served with suspension letters late Thursday as they prepared to leave for the day. Management accused them of slowing operations.
The workers said they acted as they did because POSB failed to honor a 165% salary increase that had been awarded them by an independent arbitrator.
Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union President Blessing Mujuru declined to comment on the situation until he had received an official update.
A POSB employee who declined to be named told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that management was insensitive to the plight of workers.
POSB Human Resources Manager Malvern Kujeke, who signed the suspension letters, could not be reached for comment.