April
Newsletter of the Finance Sector Union of Australia, NSW/ACT Branch
Extra relief at
NAB
FSUbites
Staff stick together and win
Authorised by Julia Angrisano, Acting Secretary, NSW/ACT Branch
against bullying
Staff at Westpac Kogarah branch led by FSU Workplace Rep Marcia
Byrnes have overcome their “private little hell” and won against “awful”
workplace bullying.
Staff at the workplace were threatened with instant dismissal for the most
trivial matters or things such as not balancing by a certain time. Staff were
also instructed to do things they knew were against bank procedure so it
could be used against them to threaten their employment at a later date.
As well, staff were taken aside almost on a daily basis into one on one
meetings where they were threatened and intimidated.
The constant bullying and harassment left staff at the branch feeling
fearful and intimidated as FSU Rep Marcia Byrnes describes:
“The behaviour of the person in question was quite awful”, said Marcia.
“The fear and intimidation tactics were over the top and for no apparent
reason. Most of us had our employment threatened at some point or
another”, she said.
“Some staff were having panic attacks and not able to enter the workplace
because of the fear of what the day would hold”.
“We all for a period of time were going through our own private little hell
and it was at that point I decided something had to be done”, said Marcia.
Marcia suggested everyone meet out of working hours to compare
notes and discuss the situation as it was quite impossible to talk in the
workplace.
“We all got together on the weekend and discussed the situation and
made a very conscious decision to all stick together, support one another
and enlist the help of our Union to protect ourselves”, said Marcia.
“Once we contacted FSU, an organiser was sent to our workplace
immediately who gave us advice on the spot about what to do and how
to document everything that had been happening to us”.
“We did that together and sent it to the Union office and FSU Lead
Organiser Joanne Copper approached the Area Manager on our behalf”,
she said.
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FSU Rep Marcia Byrnes with FSU member Sharyn Magner
“A meeting then took place between everyone at the branch as a group,
the Area Manager, FSU and HR where an investigation followed”.
“To the bank’s credit they acted swiftly to resolve the issues to the
satisfaction of all staff and the person concerned is no longer in the
workplace”, said Marcia.
If you’re experiencing anything similar to what Marcia and the staff at her
workplace did, contact FSU immediately and discuss your situation. By
working together, bullying and harassment can be overcome.
FSU Member Services
1300 366 378
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FSUbites
Secretary’s Report
Julia Angrisano, Acting Secretary NSW/ACT Branch
Pay Equity – closing the gap
by valuing women’s skills.
Last month we celebrated International Women’s Day and although it was a time
to remember the great work done by and for women in addressing the gender pay
gap, there is still a long way to go. I heard Sharron Burrow on the radio saying
that over a life time, a man on average can expect to earn $1 million dollars more
than his ‘sister’ doing the same job. This is a startling figure. It also illustrates
one of the problems with this issue, that 40 years since it became illegal to pay
men and women different rates of pay for doing the same work or work of the
same value that the gender pay gap still exists in 2010.
Sharron Burrow’s figure was based on the average Australian industry pay gap
of 17%; in the finance sector the gap is much wider at 28%. So why is it much worse in finance? Why do women on average earn just 72%
of men’s earning? There are some factors which are peculiar to the finance
industry. These include:
•
Market and performance based pay,
•
Women and men in jobs which are valued differently, for example male
dominated sales jobs earn higher bonuses than female dominated services
jobs,
•
Far more women than men work part-time or return to ‘family friendly’ but
lower paid, part time roles when returning to work from maternity leave,
•
A large amount of unpaid overtime is worked in understaffed retail banking – an area which is dominated by women.
Equal Pay Alliance
The newly formed Equal Pay Alliance represents 150 Australian organisations
including businesses, unions and community groups, who have joined together
to pursue practical action to ensure women’s work is properly valued and that
the inequity is brought to an end.
Louise Arnfield (FSU CBA Member Council President ) and
Michelle Munn (FSU Workplace Rep - CPS Credit Union)
the launch of the Equal Pay Alliance in Canberra on 11 March. Louise Arnfield
was able to discuss issues faced by women in the finance industry during
meetings she attended with Senator Jacinta Collins who has responsibility for
Work, Family and Pay Equity and MP Sharron Jackson who chaired the House
of Representatives Inquiry into Gender Pay Equity. This inquiry has made a
number of recommendations such as the establishment of a Pay Equity Unit in
Fair Work Australia which would have a significant impact in the finance sector.
For more information on the Equal Pay Alliance or how you can get involved in
our campaign for equal pay go to www. http://www.fsunion.org.au/Campaigns/
Workplace-Campaigns/Pay-Equity/Equal-Pay.aspx
FSU workplace representatives, Louise Arnfield (FSU CBA Member Council
President), Michelle Munn and Maureen Weeks (CPS Credit Union) all attended
NSW/ACT Executive
FSU
The NSW/ACT Executive is made up of finance industry workers and is the
Contact governing body of FSU in NSW & the ACT.
Details
Ph.
1300 366 378
Fax.
(02) 9320 0099
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.fsunion.org.au
ANZ Member Council &
NSW/ACT President
Joy Buckland
ANZ Learning Services
Australia
Ph. 0466 151 870
Commonwealth
Bank
Member Council
Louise Arnfield
CBA West Gosford
Ph. 02 4324 5484
Westpac
Member Council
Carolyn
Blackburn
WBC 60 Martin
Place
Ph. 02 8254 4744
Mid Sized Banks
Member Council
Greg Owens
St. George Kogarah
Ph. 02 9952 3331
NAB
Member Council
Dale Mills
NAB Lake Haven
Ph. 02 4393 3429
Insurance
Member Council
Kim Bryant
IAG Wollongong
02 4222 4649
Multiple Employers
Member Council
Amy Patrk
Members Equity
Ph. 02 8296 0321
Reserve Bank
Member Council
Marc Bampton
Reserve Bank
Ph. 02 9551 8963
FSU NSW/ACT
Branch Secretary
Geoff Derrick
Ph. 1300 366 378
FSUbites
News
April sees extra
relief staff at NAB
Relief numbers in NAB’s retail bank will increase by 36% after constant pressure and collective
action by NAB FSU members.
Staffing was one of the major issues the bank failed to address in negotiations for a new Collective
Agreement during 2009 that saw the staff ballot split almost 50/50, forcing the bank to review its
position.
Following a review and new discussions with FSU, NAB committed to significantly increase the
number of relief days each year.
FSU NAB Member Council Rep
Aileen Gallagher
This number will increase the average relief allocation per full time equivalent employee in the network by an additional eight days. This will account
for the average number of RDOs and personal leave days per person per year.
NAB has established a team to implement the increase to relief numbers and FSU will meet regularly with this team to monitor progress.
However, as Aileen Gallagher from the FSU NAB Member Council says, it’s very important for NAB staff to monitor the situation in their own workplace
themselves and report problems to FSU.
“Through our actions we got NAB to listen to our concerns and won extra relief staff but now isn’t the time to take our eye off the ball”, said Aileen.
“As implementation of the new relief model takes place, it is up to us on the frontline to monitor the situation and make sure that what has been promised
is being delivered and works within our workplaces”, she said.
“If you think it’s not going well, or are having problems with relief or the new model, make sure you raise your concerns immediately via your local
workplace rep or contact the FSU Member Rights Centre on 1300 366 378”, said Aileen.
$1995.86 recovered in
overtime
CBA Castle Towers Shopping Centre branch staff have been successful in recovering $1995.86 owed to them after not being properly paid for working overtime.
Staff at the branch were often directed by their manager to stay back and work
without any mention of being paid. While the staff agree no one minds working
back occasionally, doing it all the time without being paid isn’t on.
The amount of unpaid work people in the branch were doing became difficult
for people to continue with.
Some of the staff have small kids and staying back almost every day was really
hard, particularly when people just wanted to get home to their families.
Things took a turn for the better when FSU Organiser Jennifer Butschek visited
the branch.
The staff approached Jennifer as a group to talk about the problems with
working extra hours and not being paid.
FSU then completed a time and wages inspection at the branch and submitted
that claim to the bank which was approved.
With staff having their outstanding overtime paid and no longer required to say
back on a regular basis, FSU workplace Rep Alka Singh has one message
for any other staff who find themselves in a similar position.
“Go ahead and raise the issues”, she said.
“I know sometimes it can be a bit scary to raise things but go ahead and do
it and remember, our Union is there to help and you won’t know what can be
achieved until you have a go”, said Alka.
FSU Workplace Rep Alka Singh (l) with
FSU Member Nimisha Mankad (r)
FSU
Active:
For the period 1 Jan - 31 March
$1,412,416 recovered on behalf of FSU members
5225 calls to the NSW Office
596 new cases opened on behalf of members
619 cases resolved for FSU members
706 workplace visits by Organisers
FSUbites
Make this
Mother’s
Day a
Classic!
Two FSU teams will take part in this year’s Mother’s Day
Classic and we’d love as many FSU members as possible
to join us!
The Mother’s Day Classic is a great fun day that raises
funds for a very worthy cause, the National Breast Cancer
Foundation research programs.
You can register online and join one of the FSU teams
at Parramatta or the Domain at www.mothersdayclassic.
com.au/register-online
Look for the FSU on the day and we’ll see you on Sunday
9 May!
News
In 1998 a group of women in
the superannuation industry
started the first two Mother’s
Day Classic events in Sydney
and Melbourne by setting up
a fun run and walk to raise
money for National Breast
Cancer Foundation research
programs. From modest beginnings the
Mother’s Day Classic has
grown into Australia’s largest
charity event, with a record
80,000 people taking part
in 2009. From families and
friends, schools and university
groups the event encourages
the whole community to walk
or run and take steps to finding
a cure for breast cancer.
Training the
key for Peter
Attending FSU Reps training has proved invaluable for CBA FSU Rep Peter Lazell in his role as
FSU Rep at CBA’s Olympic Park site and he’s
encouraging others to step up and complete the
training as well.
“I think like a lot of people I could see the need
for someone to take on the role of FSU Rep at
my workplace but I was really unsure of how to
go about it and what was involved”, said Peter.
“The training provided me with not only the
knowledge and resources I needed, but most
importantly the confidence to go forward and
take on the role. It’s also good to know I have
the backing and support of our Union if I need it”, he said.
“Knowing I’ve completed the training staff now come to me with questions or concerns about
workplace matters and I think management also appreciate someone knowledgeable fielding
those queries and giving correct advice which is really satisfying”, he said.
The training has also led Peter into other representative roles and he now sits on the National
Occupational Health and Safety Committee as a staff representative and is also the floor warden
for his floor. Peter is also a member of the CBA FSU Member Council in NSW.
“If you’re thinking about stepping up to become a workplace rep and complete the training, or
just want to know more, I’d highly recommend you contact our Union and talk to one of the staff
about attending a training course or just go ahead and fill out the registration form”, said Peter.
Courses are run each month in the Union office and FSU will apply for paid training leave for
you to attend. Dates for the remainder of 2010 are available on the registration flyer included
with the hard copy of FSUBites or one can be downloaded online at http://www.fsunion.org.au/
Upload/workplace%20representatives/2010/reps%20training%20flyer%202010_nswact1.pdf
FSUbites
Gossip!
That’s hard
to wear
Members at a particular bank branch are
being forced to wear a “negativity bracelet”.
Evidently staff must wear this bracelet as a
form of public shame if they are seen as not
performing up to standard!
No need to
get stressed!
At a branch where understaffing is a major
issue, the staff were discussing how stress
can be a factor at work and can also affect
the customer experience when the manager stopped the discussion point blank
and said that he didn’t want to hear about
stress. The manager went on to say that
stress didn’t really exist, except in people’s
heads! FSUBites suggests that manager
familiarise themselves with the countless
medical studies done over the years about
the physical and mental effects of stress.
Satisfied?
An employer who put out a staff satisfaction
survey decided the best way to get staff to fill
in the survey was to put on a nice lunch and
get everyone to fill out the surveys together,
despite the fact the surveys are supposed
to be anonymous and individual. We think
at least management were satisfied with
the results!
Networking?
A member from an insurance company
who was doing a lot of overtime was told
that it didn’t actually count as overtime and
wouldn’t be paid because it was really just
‘after hours networking’.