TERMINATION OF HSBC UNION PRESIDENT RAYMUND ACENA, ILLEGAL AND IN VIOLATION OF LABOR RIGHTS!

ONLINE PETITION FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF RAYMUND ACENA AND FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE CBA FACTSHEET

October 2009 HSBC implemented Project Green, outsourcing an estimated 150 HSBC regular employees, cutting excessively union membership. Project Green not only resulted to the outsourcing of functions in HSBC but resulted to resignation of many union members due to dislocation. 2009-2012 Hongkong Bank Independent Labor Union became active in stopping outsourcing and joined various activities and alliances to combat such schemes such as BFU 268 (Banking and Financial Unions Against BSP Circular 268). HBILU launches wave upon wave of seminars and for a to discuss outsourcing and its dire possibilities of happening once again. February 1- Freedom Period preceding the CBA started, Hong Kong Bank Independent Labor Union, under the leadership of 27 year old Raymund Acena, remains to be the official bargaining agent of HSBC employees Defunct HBILU treasurer Kristine Esguerra with support of the HSBC management creates Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation Employees Association (HSBCEA) and campaigns for support from HSBC employees, discrediting HBILU for being too radical and progressive. HSBCEA, despite HSBC managements all-out support, providing at their disposal the use of company seminar rooms for fora, a priviledge never given HBILU, still failed to garner enough support from the membership. March 1, Hongkong Bank Independent Labor Union (HBILU) President, Raymund Acena was all of a sudden put on preventive suspension, on grounds that there was a need to investigate his sharing of his internal e-mail password to their non-HSBC employee union secretary, as it consists a probable company policy violation. The fact-finding team that investigated his case presented that the practice of sharing passwords with the union secretary have been in practice since previous union administrations, on account of a verbal agreement between the previous union leadership and the management due to non-provision of the company of an official e-mail account for the union On March 30, Raymund Acena was nonetheless terminated for divulging his password in violation of company policy. On the same day, management-sponsored union HSBCEA under the leadership of defunct HBILU treasurer Kristine Esguerra filed for a Certificate Election which however failed, due to legal infirmities. HBILU members stage protest to condemn the termination on April 4, 13 and 20. Union presidents from Bank outsourcing alliance BFU 268 join in on on the first and second protests.

Union experiences political harassment from HSBC, union secretary excessively frisked when going in and out of the union office. HSBC security photographs even small caucuses done by HBILU outside HSBC premises. Raymund Acena garners overwhelming support from HSBC employees, a petition-signing for his support garnered 80% signatures or 323 signatures in total. CEO Tony Cripps acknowledged the overwhelming support however denied the appeal forwarded by the union Raymund Acena filed a case against HSBC for illegal dismissal and unfair labor practice last April 19 before the NLRC HSBC, depiste the unresolved status of his termination, refuses to recognize him as head of bargaining panel, HSBC demands HBILU regroups, giving Acena only the role of Secretariat and not panel Chairman or Vice-Chairman.