By Own Correspondent| First Capital Bank manager locked himself in his office following a strike by the bank’s workers Tuesday evening.

The workers, who staged their strike outside the bank’s offices along First Street in Harare are demanding a cushioning allowance arguing that their salaries had been eroded by inflation and were no longer sustainable.

The bank’s manager Sam Matsekete, who could not stomach facing the disgruntled workers however remained locked up in his office only to emerge after 20:00 hours. This was after the workers had disbursed following negotiations to table their concerns Wednesday morning.

The workers, however argued that the bank’s management was not responding to their grievances hence the move to stage a strike.

Said one of the workers:

“This is the only language that they understand. It does not require a rocket scientist to know that we, like everyone else need a cushioning allowance. We cannot afford to come to work, every thing has just gone up. We had resolved to sleep in the banking hall until our issues are resolved.”

One of the workers revealed that the workers had requested to see their CEO around 5pm but he had instead locked himself up in his office and refused to hear their grievances.

Matsekete however sent messengers to tell the workers that he would hear their concerns Wednesday morning.

The workers however threatened to “make the banking hall their permanent home” starting tomorrow evening if their grievances are not met.

Last week, Agribank workers camped in their banking hall arguing that it was no longer possible for them to go home and report for duty in the morning due to the high cost of living.

They brought blankets and slept in the banking hall in a development which saw their employer reviewing their “allowances” upwards.