
Issue No 56		02 June 2000

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News

CBA Staff To Strike Over Queues and Abuse

Commonwealth Bank employees Australia-wide have vowed to strike on Friday 9th June unless the Bank hires adequate staff to put an end to the lengthening queues and angry customers that have become part and parcel of work in the industry.

The action by members of the Finance Sector Union comes as the Federal Tresuer Peter Costello approved the merger of the CBA with Colonial - which will cost up to 4,500 jobs and 300 branch closures.

Branch secretary Peter Riordan says CBA staff hate inconveniencing their customers, but they know that unless they stand up to the Bank, it will continue cutting corners on service and treating employees and average customers with disdain.

"CBA staff want to see an end to their customers waiting in long queues, they want the abuse from customers to stop and they want to again feel proud about where they work. That can only happen if the Bank starts providing adequate staff in all areas", Roirdan says.

During Enterprise Bargaining negotiations over the past five months the FSU has also been demanding that the CBA provide its employees with a decent pay rise of 6.5% per year.

In the 43 EBA meetings so far, the CBA has arrogantly dismissed its customer and staff needs by offering no more staff, an insulting pay rise of 2% per year coupled with a risky performance pay scheme.

"The CBA has recorded profits of more than $2 billion dollars in the past eighteen months, so there's no question that it can afford to provide adequate staff and to pay them a fair wage, Roirdan says . "Other banks are already paying their staff more.".

Death to Regional Banking

Meanwhile FSU National Secretary Tony Beck says the Treasurer's decision to approve the merger of CBA/Colonial means "the future of regional banking in this country is in doubt.

"The Treasurer's failure to act in the public interest in this instance means the floodgates have opened for future mergers. And the only winner will be the banks who will boost their already massive profits," Beck says.

"The real impact on jobs and customer service needed to be examined, and only the Treasurer had the power to make that happen," he says.

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  Issue 56 contents

Interview: When the War is Over
Teachers Federation chief Sue Simpson has just come through the industrial dispute of a lifetime. But where to now for her members?

Politics: The Beazley Manifesto
Read the full transcript of Kim Beazley's Fraser Lecture develiered this week, where he unveiled Labor's new industrial relations platform.

Unions: Dudded on the Dock of the Bay
Until a few weeks ago Allan and Beverley Crelley had never ever heard of SERCO the big London multinational that specialises in winning contracts from governments committed to outsourcing their workers.

History: The Long March for Justice
Against the backdrop of the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that took place last Sunday, it is worthwhile recognising that trade unionists were actively promoting the issue decades ago.

International: UK Unions Turn the Corner
Union membership is on the rise for the first time in 20 years, indicating an early response to union recognition legislation set to come into effect next month.

Work/Time/Life: Flexible Clerks Save Hours
The Australian Services Union has successfully blocked an attempt by wholesaler Davids Limited to force clerical staff at the company's Blacktown office from flexible working hours to a standard 38 hour week.

Review: Who Really Won the War?
It might be being pulped for a reference to serial-suitor Peter Costello, but 'Waterfront' has sparked some lively debate about our recent industrial history.

Satire: Gosper's New Torch Role
A week after he was excluded from the Olympic torch relay as a result of public criticism, Kevan Gosper has been reinstated by SOCOG President Michael Knight for a special project.

» Long Service Leave Push for Short-Term Workers

» Carr Asked to Act on Fiji Crisis

» Major Blow to Government Outsourcing

» Beazley Blocks Contracts as Reith Hits New Wall

» Carr Makes Formal Offer on Olympics Pay

» Surfing Carnivals Highlights Beach Threat

» Mail Stopped Over Junk Deal

» CBA Staff To Strike Over Queues and Abuse

» Women's Bureau to Stay in DIR

» Joy's Winter of Discontent

» Advocate Pushes Pattern Bargaining

» Nike Versus The Workers

» New Safety Laws A First in Australia

» Workers March for Reconciliation

» Labour Movement Mourns Loss of Neil Marshall (11th June 1943 - 31st May 2000)