Westpac members set to grow to win in Auckland

Finsec members Maxine Mullen from Levin branch and Michelle Newman from Orewa branch will be taking the next four weeks to get out and about in Westpac worksites in Auckland to grow our union.

This is the third year Westpac Union Council Chair Maxine has been part of our member organiser project which sees members take paid time off work to undertake union work in the lead up to negotiations.

Maxine said that being out there in uniform and talking to fellow Westpac staff is what Finsec is all about. “We’re all the same, all have the same issues and similar experiences, and so it’s that much more personal talking with Westpac staff about our union.”

“Previous years have been extremely rewarding and many Westpac staff have joined Finsec,” said Maxine. “I hope this year is more of the same!”

ANZ National delegates shaping up for campaign

ANZ National delegates are spending the next few weeks getting “match fit” in the lead up to their collective agreement negotiations.

Delegates in the main centres will be participating in half day meetings to ensure their sites are ready for this year’s negotiations.

Other delegates will attend conference calls on the evenings of 16-18 June. These calls will cover all the information needed to run pre-negotiations meetings.

Information about these meetings and calls are in the post to delegates.

Thanks to all the members that took part in claims development meetings in your worksites. Your ideas are currently being analysed. We swap our claims with the bank next week so keep your eye out for more info on that.

Open season for exploitation of Pacific workers?

The Government’s removal of minimum wage protections for workers on the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme has drawn serious criticism from unions.

Employers will now be able to make deductions which will reduce pay rates below the minimum wage of $12.50.

The RSE scheme facilitates the temporary entry of overseas workers, mainly from the Pacific, to plant, maintain, harvest and pack crops in the horticulture and viticulture industries. “There have been significant examples of unauthorised and unfair deductions from RSE workers’ pay even under the existing regulations,” said CTU Vice President Richard Wagstaff. “Relaxing the minimum wage rule will only result in more blatant exploitation of already vulnerable workers as unscrupulous employers shift costs onto them.”

“These workers are not in the same situation as any other New Zealand worker. They do not have any choice about who they work for once in the country. They often have little or no understanding of what their rights are or whether deductions from their wages might be reasonable, and they often feel obliged to accept deductions if they want to keep the job.”

“The Government is opening the door for employers to treat the Pacific islands as a source of cut-price captive labour.”

Major problems in the Mainland

Around 200 Finsec members from 26 South Island Westpac branches have signed a Collective Letter that raises serious concerns about staffing, targets, and the work culture in their region.

Westpac Union Councillors presented the petition to the bank at their regular meeting, and a joint investigative process has been established to examine members’ concerns.

The Gossip will keep you posted on any developments on this matter.

ANZ staff join to strengthen our voice at negotiations

ANZ National Union Councillor David Baker from the National Bank in Te Rapa gave the Gossip some good news this week that staff from ANZ in Hamilton have been joining our union in order to strengthen our hand in negotiations.

“Talking to ANZ staff, the message has come through strongly that non-members are joining us because they want to make sure we protect the conditions we have fought for and won in the past,” said David. “They see the value that every new member joining brings to our collective issue – this year more than ever.”
Successful recruitment in the Hamilton area is building on work from last year’s member organising project, and also on work involving new delegates in the lead up to negotiations.

Too SAD to get out of bed?

Finding out that this Monday was only the first day in winter was a depressing shock to the Gossip. We’ve already been suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – though the symptoms of sleeping too much, lacking energy and craving sweet and starchy foods may be difficult to detect in many!

We’re surprised to hear that there is such a thing as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder, which some poor misguided souls get in summer too.

BNZ members stand up to bank – and keep their current hours

Finsec members in BNZ Lending in Wellington have kept their current working hours by joining together and telling the BNZ their plan to extend working hours couldn’t be pushed through due the rights we have in our collective agreement.

Our BNZ collective agreement says staff don’t have to change their hours of work if they don’t want to and that the bank has to take into consideration a staff members personal circumstances.

Finsec members joined together and told the bank on mass all the reasons they couldn’t change their hours. These included things such as childcare, looking after sick parents and partners, study commitments, care of children with disabilities, PTA commitments and volunteering in the community.

Nearly all Finsec members have kept their current hours of work. Those who have changed their hours have done so either by request or have been ok with the proposal to change their hours.

Well done BNZ lending staff!

Budget good for banks – how about customers and workers?

This week’s budget looks to be better for banks than their staff or customers, with its primary focus on maintain the country’s credit rating.

“New Zealand’s credit rating is important, however, the average New Zealander will be no better off as a result of this budget while banks get a no-strings attached Government policy focused on their cost of credit,” said Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell.

He said that Government should require banks to pass on the benefits of our credit rating to staff and customers.

Other union leaders raised concerns that the budget did not do enough to create jobs. CTU secretary Peter Conway said the Government could have done more in the short run to boost employment and reduced planned funding on industry training.

Public Service Association national secretary Brenda Pilott said the budget “continues the government’s rolling maul of restructuring and job cuts in the public sector.”

Finsec meets with Finance Minister in budget week

Finsec met with Finance Minister Bill English this week despite him being very busy with getting ready for the budget.
The meeting was to followed up Finsec members petition seeking the government to step in and make job security a condition of the bank guarantee scheme.

It was a positive meeting, and the Finance Minister is now looking at Finsec proposals and considering them. He will get back to members within a couple of weeks with his response.

Summit shows youth unemployment must be addressed

A Youth Jobs Summit hosted last weekend by Labour Youth Affairs Spokesperson Jacinda Ardern has shown that youth unemployment is a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell facilitated the Summit and says that the recession must not be allowed to create a new generation of long-term unemployed. Youth unemployment always runs higher than overall unemployment, but young people are even harder hit in difficult economic times.

In the March quarter unemployment for those aged 15-19 years rose from 17.9 percent to 19.6 percent. Sadly the news is much worse for those aged 20-24, where unemployment jumped 7.3 percent to 12 percent. That’s an extra 10,300 young people who are now without jobs

“The summit generated new ideas, such as guaranteeing employment or skills training for long-term unemployed people under the age of 25. A host of ideas emerged today during the formal sessions and the workshops, and I am looking forward to collating these and promoting debate about them wherever I can,” said Jacinda.