Record of the Sasbo team's Service efforts

2005/01/03

For the period October 2003 to September 2004, Sasbo's organisers, recruiters, Membership Services and Legal officers and members:

• Conducted approximately 8 300 branch/departmental visits, i.e. about 33 every single working day of the year.
• Interviewed approximately 35 000 members and/or non-members, i.e. about 140 every single working day of the year.
• Recruited/reinstated approximately 11 000 new members, i.e. about 44 every single working day of the year.

The union's mini-call centre targeting members whose subscriptions had, for one reason or another, stopped and non-members, recruited/rein­stated some 4 300 members and made and received about 48 000 telephone calls.

Staff at Sasbo headquarters made and received:

• About 162 000 telephone calls, i.e. spent about 5 500 working hours (or about 690 man-days) handling telephone calls.
• Represented 1 503 members in disciplinary and grievance hearings, i.e. about six every single working day of the year.

The last year has, in an effort to improve service to members, also seen: The appointment of three assistant general secretaries (in the Nedcor, FNB (to replace Bakkies Preller) and COSATU/Smaller institutions portfolios) to enhance engagement with employers.

The introduction of additional organizing/recruiting staff in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein and Cape Town.

The introduction of the 'VAX' system at headquarters. This is a communications system that integrates e-mail and facsimile technology so as to increase the speed at which Sasbo communicates with members and structures.

• The extensive broadening of the workplace representation provided by Sasbo representatives: contact/Memnet/liaison/committee members' network. Current representation at the major banks in these categories is:
• Absa - 454 (325 in 2003)
• Standard Bank - 355 (189 in 2003)
• FNB - 383 (186 in 2003)
• Nedcor - 267 (54 in 2003)

During 2005, the union revamped Sasbo News, giving it a more modern and cleaner look, on a better quality paper, making it more readable.

During the last year, the union's range of value added services and benefits continued to assist members and save them considerable amounts of money.

The Sasbo legal line Europ Assistance, over the period October 2003 to September 2004, has:

• Dealt with approximately 3 600 calls from Sasbo members.
• Given advice on about 8 000 issues. In terms of frequency, the top five subjects (six- month average) on which members sought advice were:
• Divorce (10,83% of queries).
• Employment - third parties (7,34%).
• Landlord and Tenant (5,29%).
• Maintenance (5,24%).
• Criminal Law & Procedure (4,71%).
  • Referred approximately 270 members to attorneys (with first half an hour being free)
  • Saved Sasbo members a collective approximately R5 051 000 in terms of possible legal fees.

In terms of the Sasbo Study Grant Scheme, for 2004 the union made 50 grants of R2 400 to members to assist with their or their children's tertiary education.

As most delegates are aware, 1 January 2004 saw the introduction by Sasbo of a funeral scheme whereby Sasbo members are covered to the extent of R3 000 to help pay for expenses in the event of death whilst they are active Sasbo members. To date there have been 30 claims paid out to next of kin. However the union is trying to trace another 30-odd members' families who have not submitted claims.

Sasbo is continually exploring other avenues in regard to new value-added products/benefits. Congress delegates have been invited to contribute their ideas on possible new or improved value-added benefits to Sasbo headquarters.