Bank dismisses four employees
ALEXANDRA – Youth and Cosatu condemn FNB's dismissals.
The National Youth Development Agency waded into the recent outcry in the media on the dismissal of four First National Bank employees for their comments on private WhatsApps and emails.
The comments said to contain political overtones allegedly disparaging of DA leader Mmusi Maimane were also condemned by Cosatu, among others.
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In a statement, the agency’s chairperson Sifiso Mtsweni condemned the dismissals as regrettable and disgusting.
“The decision is extremely unfair and unnecessary and, smells of intolerance to divergent political views. It’s against freedom of speech. Youth are the hardest hit by triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. If it’s a matter of discipline, it must not be harsh but corrective,” Mtsweni said adding that they registered their complaint including how to resolve the matter with the bank. “Its in our interest to protect the right to freedom of speech but also guide the youth to exercise their rights in a responsible manner. No young person should lose the privilege to provide for his or her family due to intolerance.”
Also in a statement, Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla condemned the dismissals as unfair and, called for the victims’ immediate reinstatement. “No worker should be denied their right to earn a living because of some verbal tirade. The victims have a constitutional right to hold and express their views. “While employers have a legitimate curiosity on what their employers do and say during working hours, we reject the punishment of workers for participating in national discourse, regardless of the tone.”
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Pamla said the matter revolved around economic transformation, which shouldn’t be postponed indefinitely, particularly in the banking sector, which shouldn’t be intolerant of anti DA views within their ranks. “The bank’s reaction reflected its support for opposition parties. If they want to enter the political arena they need to be treated like a political party,” the statement concluded.
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