3 May 2005
Bank workers play netball in the streets
If ANZ and National bank workers are to work without additional compensation on the weekends, then they will need to
play sports games in the middle of the week. So, this Wednesday (12:30 pm, May 4) ANZ and National bank workers will
host a game of netball in Cuba Mall to highlight the types of activities that make weekends special to them.
The workers are currently in the middle of an employment dispute with their Australian employers. The key issue which
remains unresolved is the bank's refusal to recognise the value of weekends and late evenings. Currently bank workers in
Australia receive compensation if they work evenings or weekends, but the same Australian bank is denying this
compensation to many of its New Zealand workers. Weekends are normally the time that workers get to spend with friends
and family, play sports, or go to church.
"Weekends are when I get to catch up with my family and friends." said Julius Capillitan, ANZ National staff member.
"The bank should value people who work these unsociable hours, just like they value their Australian workers who have to
work during the weekend."
The bank was brought back to the negotiating table after a day of strikes and pickets on Friday 22 April. Those
negotiations are scheduled for 5 and 6 May (Thursday and Friday). If the bank does not respond to the workers' key issue
of compensation for working weekends and evenings the workers have authorised their union, Finsec, to call rolling
strikes at very short or no notice.
ENDS