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First industry wide Better Banks activity
Those who attended the launch of the Better Banks industry campaign will know that in order to improve our own terms and conditions we need to support other bank workers to raise standards across all the banks. Members who attended meetings committed to supporting other workers in the industry.
We are launching our first industry wide activity to support other finance sector workers. Please find enclosed Christmas postcards addressed to the CEO of Westpac, Ann Sherry, asking to bring her staff’s pay up to the level of other banks.
The postcards are postage paid so it won’t cost you a cent. All you need to do is sign it and put it in the mail – it’s as simple as that.
What you need to do:
There should be enough postcards enclosed for all the members in your site. Non-members can also fill in a postcard and send it in if they like. It is important that all the postcards are signed and sent to make the activity work.
You will need to distribute the postcard to each member (if there are spares non-members as well) and explain the following:
- This is the first Better Banks industry wide activity supporting other finance sector workers.
- Westpac workers need our help to get their pay levels up. Raising pay levels in one bank will help to lift pay levels in your workplace too.
- It is best to get them to sign the card then and there and collect it back up. Alternatively you can collect them at the end of the day.
- Put all of the signed postcards in the mail. It would be great if this can be done before Christmas.
- If you have spare postcards you can pop into another bank site close to you (if possible) and see if they need any more. All bank workers are participating in this activity so other worksites may need some spare cards.
- If you have any spare after that encourage friends or family to fill them in. We want Westpac to receive as many of these as possible to really build pressure on Westpac to improve wages.
- Contact your local Finsec organiser or ring 0800 FINSEC or email union@finsec.org.nz if you have any questions or need support with this activity.
Why Westpac and why pay?
Westpac is the first of the major banks that we will bargain with in 2007. Pay is a major issue in this bank. Movement through the Westpac pay system is partly linked to meeting performance targets and though the very top of their salary ranges in some instances are comparable to the other banks many Westpac staff don’t reach the top of their salary scale. For example a teller at Westpac at 100% of his or her pay scale earns 22% less than the comparable role in ANZ – a difference of $7,724!
Please show your support for Better Banks and Westpac workers by signing the Christmas postcard
AND -
Thank you all for your hard work for Finsec in 2006. Have a merry christmas and a happy new year. We will be back in touch soon after the New Year with more about the Better Banks campaign.
