Video: Former Mainstreet bank staff protest ‘unpaid salaries’

Following their termination, former staff of Mainstreet Bank on Monday morning gathered at Channels Television to protest against the management of the bank for their unpaid salaries and other entitlements.
The protesters lamented their unpaid gratifications and alleged unfair treatment on them by the bank’s management following the mass sack of about 800 workers in June.
Mainstreet bank, formerly Afribank, is one the five banks whose management was sacked by  the Central Bank of Nigeria, in 2009, over fraud and mismanagement.

According to the leader of the protesters, Mr Mike Akintola, the workers who had put in over three decades of service to the bank are only paid a month salary instead of their severance package.
“Some of us have been working with them for 31 years now, yet, all they are giving us is a month’s salary……how do they expect us to send our children to school?” he asked.
Another sacked victim of the bank, who claimed to have put in 31 years in with the bank, Mr Eyo Osanran, described the bank’s move as ‘man inhumanity to man’, saying no reason was given for the dismissal letter given to them.
“They must give us our rights and all that they owe us” he added affirmatively.
The sacked workers who have spent over 20-30 years with the bank, alleged that every effort to reach the management of the bank have been futile. They also claimed that the bank has refused to respond to all their moves and letters.
They alleged that the president of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Mr. Sunday Salako, who should fight their course as the union leader has being compromised.
According to the protesters, Mr Salako is now the Public Relations Officer of Mainstreet Bank.
However, the ASSBIFI President,  in a live interview with the SUNRISE DAILY, gave the assurance that the case would be looked into.
The protesters demand the payment of severance package and live allowance. They also demand that the word ‘termination’ in the disengaging letter should be changed to service not needed any more.
The management of Mainstreet Bank Plc, formerly Afribank Plc,  sacked about 800 workers in June despite the Federal Government’s and organised labour directive to the management of the bank to maintain status quo pending resolution of labour issues between the management and labour.