Bargaining newsflash

Of course its not just Finsec members in the big banks in bargaining this year – throughout the insurance and finance industry, Finsec members are working to improve their pay and conditions through collective bargaining.

So, here’s some of what else we’re up to:

·       Finsec members at Vero last week voted to ratify an offer including an average pay increase of 3%

·       Finsec members at Asteron participated in collective bargaining last week – a report back to come tomorrow

·       Finsec members at Sovereign enter negotiations tomorrow.

At Heartland Building Society (the merger between Marac, Southern Cross Building Society and CBS Canterbury), members will be having an indicative vote this year to determine members’ response to bargaining outcomes.

Our industry, our union – Finsec meetings for insurance members

Finsec members working in the insurance industry in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will have an opportunity to get together and discuss industry-wide issues at paid union meetings in early December.

Here’s the places you need to be if this includes you (times include 30 minutes for travel to and from the meeting):

Auckland

Date: Thursday 2 December

Time: 8.30am to 10.30am (meeting commences at 9.00am)

Venue: Pioneer Womens Hall, 2 Freyberg Place

Wellington

Date: Wednesday 1 December

Time: 8.30am to 10.30am (meeting commences at 9.00am)

Venue: St Andrew’s on the Terrace, 30 The Tce

Christchurch

Date: Thursday 2 December

Time: 8.30am to 10.30am (meeting commences at 9.00am)

Venue: Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street

If you have any questions about the insurance industry forums, ring 0800 FINSEC or email union@finsec.org.nz

Finsec members – we’re everywhere!

As well as ANZ National and Westpac, many other Finsec members from smaller employers have been involved in collective employment agreement negotiations recently.

Members at AIL Insurance, an Auckland-based workplace insurance company, have just settled their agreement. The new agreement includes wage increases of 8-10%, new minimum wage rates, and additional annual leave for staff with six or more years of service.

“Members still want to see ongoing improvements to their wages,” said Finsec delegate Mario Soljan. “However, we voted to settle the Agreement because of these other positive steps.”

In addition, Finsec members from Southern Cross are currently voting on a 4% offer from their employer.

Tough negotiations at Southern Cross Building Society

Finsec members at Southern Cross Building Society voted to ratify a collective agreement offer last week. The offer was accepted by 68% of members voting.

The full settlement includes a pay increase of 4.25%, backdated to 1 July 2007 and a 6.7% increase in the minimum rate payable after two years from $15 per hour to $16 per hour. There are also improvements to the eye testing allowance, sick leave accumulation and redundancy notice.

However Finsec delegate, Anne Lapwood, says the negotiations were tough and some issues also went unresolved.

“If it wasn’t for our strong membership and being united we would not have gotten the result we have.  It was very hard this year, one of the toughest years we have had. We had to go back in twice. It was a reject vote to start with… Southern Cross members have got to the point where they are a little fed up with being on the back foot as compared to other finance institutions as far as our pay system is set up, and we just wanted recognition for the extra work that we are going to be called on to do now.”

Finsec advised Southern Cross of the accept vote in a letter, but also took time to outline ongoing concerns raised by Finsec members about existing staff working on lower wages than new staff, and plans to make major changes to the work that staff perform.

As Anne Lapwood notes, one of those issues will be a fairer pay system:

“We don’t actually have a pay system unfortunately. It‘s basically we’ll give you want we think, which is frustrating and a little unfair. It’s one of the things we are working on and have advised the company that next year we will be going for a transparent wage system.”

“Most members were all very loyal and very determined and I think it was good that we were very united really… There is still quite a bit of unhappiness there. But there is hope and understanding that we can make better progress next year.”

(thanks to joka2000 for the photo)