Media release: FIRST Union
Thursday 25 September, 2014
Bank profits rosy, so why is ANZ attempting to casualise its workforce?
Workers vote on strike ballot
As banks celebrate their windfalls today, workers at ANZ are considering going on strike to protect job security at New
Zealand’s most profitable bank.
A national strike ballot is currently being voted on by members of FIRST Union at ANZ, and some branches have already
begun local strike action.
It follows a second round of employment negotiations after 98.5% of members rejected the bank’s previous proposal.
FIRST Union’s Retail & Finance Secretary Maxine Gay said that KPMG figures out this morning show bank profits are again rosy, but ANZ wants to
make secure bank jobs insecure.
“ANZ wants to reduce security so workers would only know from one month to the next which days and start and finish
times they are working.”
“In response, ANZ workers have been prepared to allow up to 20% of the workforce to be flexible, but that’s not good
enough for the bank. They want every new worker to start on the insecure work contract.”
Workers in New Zealand are under enormous pressure from insecure jobs, Maxine Gay said.
“Insecure work may suit the boss – but it is unfair and does not work for workers. And for New Zealand’s wealthiest bank
to try and impose more insecurity is disgraceful.”
Maxine Gay said that the bank’s proposals in relation to hours of work would see the most significant changes to terms
and conditions since the amalgamation of the ANZ and National Bank employment agreements.
“The bank acknowledged workers’ efforts during the merger between the ANZ and National Bank brands.
“Now it is trying to turn ANZ jobs into poor, insecure jobs and offering pay increases below Government projections for
the average wage movement across the country,” she said.
Ends