Some movement on BNZ offer, ratification vote starts next week

Finsec members at BNZ will vote on a new BNZ offer, following a further day of collective agreement negotiations this week. The bargaining team say the offer has good movement from the bank in some areas, and little movement in other areas.

Changes include a small increase to the pay offer, now 2.75% for each of the two years of the agreement. BNZ has withdrawn some claims to overtime and to make sick leave and union access comply with legal minimums. They also agreed to Sunday opening hours being limited till 7pm, and to make the move to grade L for call centre optional for existing staff.

Ratification meetings for members to have their say on the offer will run from 27 September – 7 October.

New date set down for bargaining with BNZ

Finsec  members have a new date to resume bargaining with BNZ – 21 September. Bargaining was adjourned as progress on pay and other issues did not meet the mandate set by members.

Many Finsec members have already held meetings to discuss the issues arising from bargaining and identify what was most important to them heading back to the bargaining table. These meetings continue next week.

Most importantly, Finsec members have been completing collective activities to send a strong message of support for our bargaining team. If you haven’t filled yours out, get on to it and fax it back to Finsec on 04 385 2214 by Friday 16th September. .

Bargaining with BNZ adjourned

Bargaining with BNZ was adjourned last week, as the Finsec team wanted to go back to members to seek feedback. The outcomes of bargaining so far fall short of the mandate set by members.

Union Councillor Tania Cooper said the offer fell short on two areas: the pay, and the bank still pushing to reduce current terms and conditions of staff. “With regards to pay the BNZ is currently not even willing to meet CPI – let alone keeping up with what some other banks are offering.”

Tania said there had been movement on some of the bank’s series of claims, but that the balance was still in favour of the bank’s operations and shareholders, and against staff. “If this is the bank for New Zealand, that includes staff. Staff want the bank to show some flexibility to meeting our needs not just their own.”

Some non-members at the bank didn’t sign up to Finsec in the lead up to bargaining because they didn’t believe BNZ would seriously pursue these changes. Last week’s negotiations show they are serious. Those who oppose the bank’s proposed changes need to join to support the Finsec campaign. Finsec members were able to stop reductions in their terms and conditions in 2009 and can do it again.

Finsec members at BNZ will be holding meetings over the next few weeks to discuss bargaining and our next steps.

BNZ’s plan to remove staff rights

The BNZ have put forward a series of claims for bargaining that Finsec representatives say would seriously diminish the work rights of every staff member at the bank. Finsec Union Council Chair Callum Francis described the claims as aggressive, and that they seriously tilt the playing field in favour of management.

The bank’s claims include:
No restrictions on opening hours
No minimum shift span in the contact centre
Requiring staff to provide a medical certificate on the first day
of sickness
Make it harder for members to access your union
The power to alter your start/finish times by two hours without your agreement on a temporary basis
The power to send you to another workplace at any time without your agreement

Callum said that the bank can already do many of the things contained in their claims, but that they are currently required to consult with affected staff. “BNZ’s claims turn a conversation about your hours and place of work into a demand. They show no consideration for work-life balance, despite their previous position that this is a priority.”

Callum says it is essential that Finsec members at every BNZ store hold pre-negotiations meetings, which run over the next two weeks, to formulate a plan to ensure that staff retain the right to say no to unreasonable demands.  Back office and call centre meetings will be run by Finsec organisers.

Finsec members take on human rights at BNZ

Finsec members have made an important change to the BNZ NPS system, after making a Human Rights complaint about concerns with the system. The NPS (net promoter score) means call centre staff’s pay is partly determined by customer feedback. The bank is now removing ‘detractor scores’ where customers make malicious or racist comments.

Finsec had raised the issue when the scheme was introduced, concerned that customer prejudices could materially affect staff pay, but the bank responded by saying “We would remove NPS scores on a case by case basis only. We have to acknowledge that some Customers prefer to speak with someone without a foreign accent and are entitled to their views.”

After Finsec raised the complaint with the Human Rights Commission some time ago, BNZ eventually agreed to the change.  Finsec communicated the change to members this week, as Finsec and the bank are still having discussions about the system.

Finsec Campaigns Director Tali Williams said that removing detractor scores for racist and malicious comments was important, but it was only a first step in ensuring that pay systems in the bank were fair for all staff. Finsec are considering ways to ensure that the inherent problems within NPS are addressed by the BNZ.

Hey, BNZers!

BNZers, your detailed claims for bargaining will be released this week – keep an eye out.

While you’re waiting for those, you can take a few minutes to complete the survey for the targets forum coming up soon. The survey has been sent to all members, or you can download it here http://www.finsec.org.nz/Have+your+say+on+targets+at+BNZ

There will also be a report back on results of the last forum released shortly.

Shouldn’t you be at a union meeting?

If you’re a Finsec member at ANZ National or BNZ the answer is yes!

BNZers are in the middle of the process of developing claims with half hour paid union meetings. The meetings are discussing important issues including our pay claim, and the fairness of current pay systems.

ANZ National folk, your meetings start next week. A pack to run the paid one-hour meetings at your work-site was sent to all delegates at the beginning of this week. Any questions about the info in the pack? Call us! Didn’t get the pack? Call us!

These meetings are an important part of achieving good outcomes in BNZ bargaining and in the ANZ National mid-year review. Make sure you’re there.

BNZ and ANZ National members: we need to talk

ANZ National and BNZ members are getting ready to talk, with planning further underway for paid union meetings to discuss our collective agreement negotiations coming up.

ANZ National delegates have conference calls next Tuesday and Wednesday to set up the one hour paid meetings for members. We’ve just added some new morning and afternoon times, if the evening sessions don’t suit you. Members meetings start 20 June.

BNZers, your meetings start next week. Make sure your organised to attend – it won’t be difficult, as your meetings are onsite, and only for 30 minutes.

Don’t forget it’s your legal right to attend these paid union meetings in work time, and the banks are all on board with them. They’re your opportunity to make sure bargaining is focussed on the most important issues for you.

Further forum facts

Our quarterly and targets forums with the big banks means there are regular opportunities to get issues and concerns raised at the highest level. Finsec representatives are aiming to optimize these opportunities with regular updates on progress on issues.

Westpac – thanks for participating in the survey. Your forum takes place next week, and we’ll be reporting back as soon as we can on all the issues you identified.

ANZ National – your targets survey is currently online at http://www.finsec.org.nz . Some of you have had blocks from accessing the links, but you can just click on the tab on the left side of the home page. It’s helpfully called “ANZN survey”. You have until 13 May to complete, but why not do it today and cross it off your to do list.

BNZ – the status of issues following your forum was emailed out last week.

Rugby World Cup – how will finance sector workers fare?

Tickets are being purchased, travel plans are made – but finance sector workers will have to consider not only our plans as rugby fans, but what it means for our work over the period of the tournament.

BNZ staff have already received communications from managers that they can anticipate a huge increase in workload over the period. The bank’s response – that annual leave over the November-January period will be strictly limited.

BNZ Union Councillor Tania Cooper said that staff understood that workloads would be increased, but that they needed to be part of planning on how to manage the increased workload.

“Even during the Rugby World Cup, life goes on – including Christmas and school holidays,” said Tania. “Many staff need to take leave over this period. We want to work with the bank to ensure the workload is manageable, but we also need the impact on staff to be considered.”

Finsec will be raising planning for the Rugby World Cup with all of the major banks as part of our quarterly forums this year.