Westpac pushing ahead with plan to cut staff and service further in Levin despite huge profits

Despite an announcement last week that their profits had surged by a massive 41%, Westpac is pushing ahead with plans to further cuts to staffing numbers in Levin.
"Service to customers is already seriously compromised by understaffing," said FIRST Union organiser Duncan Allan. "Long queues every day show how the branch is running with not enough staff. The situation will get even worse with Westpac planning to reduce staffing numbers even further."

Allan said that given their big increase in profits, Westpac should be investing in communities like Levin, not running branches on less than bare bones. "One of the main reasons that Westpac is shedding staff in Levin is because staff haven't met their sales targets and sold enough debt to customers. Staff know that customers don't need to get into debt they can't afford to repay."

"There has been a staffing crisis at Westpac Levin that pre-dates the latest plan for job cuts," said Allan. "We have made a series of official health and safety complaints about the serious shortfall in staffing but the bank is pushing ahead with further cuts in the middle of a Department of Labour investigation."

Allan said that staff at the bank were working unpaid overtime, were sometimes unable to take the breaks they are legally entitled to, and are suffering from extreme stress on the current staffing levels. "The bank's further cuts will be devastating for existing staff, they already have customers complaining to them about long wait times and pressure to buy products."

FIRST Union members are calling on Westpac to stand by their Levin customers and staff, and urgently increase staffing levels to ensure a safe working environment and better customer service.

ENDS

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