Workers in the Zambian financial sector formed the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) in 1970 to represent workers and address issues like racism, poor wages, and lack of representation. ZUFIAW advocated for workers' rights and negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Over time, it expanded its membership as more financial institutions were established but also faced challenges like bank liquidations and loss of members. To sustain itself, ZUFIAW implemented reforms like building a training center, promoting gender and youth participation, and training negotiators. Today it continues to adapt while representing over 4,500 financial sector workers in Zambia.

2. Formation
Workers in the financial sector were unrepresented by trade unions for
a long time until at the end of 1961 when the Rhodesian Society of
Bank Officials (RHOSOBO) was formed on 17th November, 1961.

3. Formation
The main reason was for lack of representation was that sectors like
banks, insurance and building societies were dominated by whites from
South Africa where racism was dominant

4. Formation
The few blacks who had managed to penetrate the professions in the
financial sector were subjected to insults, abusive language, poor
wages and conditions of service.

5. Membership
After independence in 1964, local financial institutions such as Zambia
National Provident Fund, Workers Compensation Fund and Zambia
National Building Society were established

6. Membership
African workers decided to be represented by a trade union which
represented workers in similar industry. In this regard, the National
Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) was identified
and recommended by the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

7. Membership
However, NUCIW did not effectively organize workers in the financial
sector because of apathy from workers who had a superiority complex
of hoping against hope for promotion to higher ranks in the workplace.

8. Membership
It was not until 23rd November, 1970 when bank workers in Ndola from
Grindlays Bank International, Barclays Bank, Zambia National
Commercial Bank and Standard Chartered Bank formed the Zambia
Union of Bank Officials (ZUBO).

9. Membership
The Union was immediately recognized by the government and
affiliated to ZCTU. Membership recruitment son spread to other towns
on the copperbelt, Lusaka and Kabwe where branches were formed

10. Membership
Later in 1984 the name was further amended to include other allied
institutions and called ZUFIAW as it is called today.

11. Organising
The first decision which ZUBO made was to employ a full time
Organizing Secretary to recruit members throughout the country

12. Organising
On 16th October 1971, the first Conference was held in Ndola at
Haddon Hotel. It was officially opened by Hon Minister of State for
Labour and Social Services Mr Stephen Sikombe and addressed by the
acting General Secretary of ZCTU Mr Basil Kabwe. Delegates from other
towns attended the Conference.

13. Organising
On 16th October 1971, the first Conference was held in Ndola at
Haddon Hotel. It was officially opened by Hon Minister of State for
Labour and Social Services Mr Stephen Sikombe and addressed by the
acting General Secretary of ZCTU Mr Basil Kabwe. Delegates from other
towns attended the Conference.

14. Organising
It was at this Conference that a resolution to include nonbanking
members and change of name from ZUBO to ZUFI was made.

15. Organising
The first National Executive Committee was elected as follow:-
• Mr J.T Mayida President Workers Compensation Fund
• Mr O Wamuyi Vice President Grindlays Bank International
• Mr E. Nkole Gen Secretary National Commercial Bank
• Mr T. Chansa Vice Gen Secretary Barclays Bank
• Mr E. Simvula Gen Treasurer National Provident Fund
• Mr P Mulolo Vice Treasurer Barclays Bank
• Mr P. Shinondo National Trustee Barclays Bank
• Mr R.C Chibesakunda National TrusteeNational Provident Fund
• Mr Aldophus Mubanga Organising Secretary (full time)

16. Campaigns & Services
Soon after the Conference the union signed Recognition Agreements
with various employers. By 1973, membership reached 1,550. One of
the factors which attracted new membership was the campaign against
racism, discrimination and unfair dismissals

17. Campaigns & Services
In 1975, the Union upgraded its membership to include workers in the
supervisory grade and sub Accountants in the banking sector. The other
reason for increased membership was the efficiency in concluding
collective agreements with employers

18. Campaigns & Services
By 1977 during the Quadrennial Conference held at PTC Training
College in Ndola, membership had soured to 3,500. Bank of Zambia
workers joined the Union in 1979.

19. Campaigns & Services
The new executive which was elected at the PTC Quadrennial
Conference embarked on programs to improve bargaining skills and
upgrading the level of representation

20. Campaigns & Services
Due to the efficiency in which negotiations were concluded, very few
complaints were recorded from the membership

21. Campaigns & Services
• In 1985, the Union signed a development co-operation with the
International Federation of Clerical Professional and Technical
Employees (FIET) based in Europe (now UNIglobal Union) to support
ZUFIAW in the following areas:-
• Workers Education
• Women participation in trade unions and its activities.
• Research

22. Campaigns & Services
The Co-operation with FIET included the sponsorship of a full time post
of Director Workers Education at Secretariat, workers education
seminars and women workers activities and programs.

23. Campaigns & Services
Between 1986 and 1994, ZUFIAW was developed capacity in
organizing, collective bargaining and leadership development.

24. Split from ZUFIAW
ZUFIAW was the first union to record a splinter union in 1992 when the
Bankers Union was formed by one of the national executive official
after the conference elected more non-bankers during the Conference
held in 1991 at Co-operative College in Lusaka. The majority of workers
who joined BUZ were from Grindlays Bank, which later became Stanbic
Bank.

25. Dismissal of 500 Bankers
In the same year 1992, 500 members of ZUFIAW were dismissed from
employment for going on an illegal strike. This development brought
about fear in the membership because despite the Union seeking legal
redress in the court their dismissal were upheld by the Courts.

26. Zambia Bankers Employers Association
Between 1993 and 1996 collective bargaining with the Zambia Bankers
Employers Association (ZBEA) became difficult because most of the
Banks faced financial challenges due to structural adjustment programs
which resulted into closure and liquidations of companies and some
banks alike.

27. Zambia Bankers Employers Association
During this period, members in the banking sector were subjected to
poor collective agreements compounded by the fear factor of losing
their jobs at any instigation for strike action.

28. Zambia Bankers Employers Association
In order to address the concern of poor collective agreements, ZUFIAW
demanded for the disbandment of the Zambia Bankers Employers
Association so that bargaining is done at enterprise level as opposed to
industry level.

29. Zambia Bankers Employers Association
This was achieved in 1997 when ZBEA was disbanded after ZUFIAW
dragged the Association to the Industrial Relations Court to justify its
poor offers during negotiations. The Court ruled in favour of ZUFIAW.

30. Recognition Agreement at Enterprise Level
After disbanding the ZBEA, the implication was that collective
bargaining would only take place after each bank signs a recognition
agreement with ZUFIAW.

31. Recognition Agreement at Enterprise Level
All the banks refused to commence negotiations with ZUFIAW until
they provided proof of more members than the splinter union Bankers
Union of Zambia, which some management officials sympathized with.

32. Recognition Agreement at Enterprise Level
For two years between 1997 and 1998, ZUFIAW embarked on
sensitization of workers through workers education and general
meetings across the country. Eventually in 1998, all the banks signed
the recognition agreements with ZUFIAW after proving to command
more members than BUZ.

33. Bank Liquidations
ZUFIAW lost members during the period 1993 to 1998 when some
banks were liquidated such as Meridien Bank, African Commercial
Bank, Prudence Bank, Commerce Bank, Lima Bank and Bank of Credit
and Commerce.

34. Bank Liquidations
Coupled with the introduction of computers, membership declined
from about 15,000 to 5,000. The loss of membership had a
corresponding effect on income

35. Sustainability
In order to sustain the operations, ZUFIAW maintained a lean
Secretariat and national executive council which embarked on
structural reforms in the following areas

36. Sustainability
• Construction of training centre
• Mainstreaming Gender in all structures
• Promotion of Youth participation
• Establishment and support of the Informal Sector Desk
• Intensification of Workers Education
• Training of ZUFIAW Professional Negotiators
• Information technology

37. Sustainability
These measures resulted into maintenance of unity and effective
delivery of services to the membership which currently stand at about
4,500.

38. Sustainability
ZUFIAW continues to adapt to changes in the legal framework and
social economic development affecting the labour market. For instance,
the training of Professional Negotiators has improved the outcome of
negotiations thereby encouraging members to maintain unity of
purpose.

39. Collective Bargaining
It is worth noting that ZUFIAW negotiates with twenty eight financial
institutions every year and this goes on throughout the year. In this way
bargaining skills are sharpened and experiences shared between
members in various enterprises where we have recognition
agreements.

41. Conferences
• Quadrennial Conference – 4 years
• Annual Conference - Every year
• Youth Conference 2 years
• Women’s Conference 2 years

42. Rights to be elected into office -
Solidarity

43. Annual Conferences

45. Advocacy Campaigns

49. ZUFIAW Training Centre
With regard to the ZUFIAW Training Centre, which is situated in
Olympia Extension in Lusaka, it is fully operational and provides service
to members. The facility is however open to other trade unions and
organisations at a reasonable

59. Sports

68. ZUFIAW Website
www.zufiaw.org