17 April 2008

For immediate release

ANZ National proposal puts profits before people with up to 500 Kiwi jobs going to India

Bank workers’ union Finsec says that today’s announcement by ANZ National proposing to send up to 500 New Zealand jobs to Bangalore puts increasing their billion dollar profits ahead of their Kiwi customers and staff.

“ANZ National is leading a race to the bottom for cheap labour in India by proposing to send these jobs offshore. ANZ National keeps increasing its profits so there is no need to take these jobs away from Kiwi workers and from the local economy,” said Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell.

Campbell said the jobs being sent to India are good jobs with good wages, some of which are in the top third of New Zealand incomes. “ANZ National is an Australian owned company that is a guest here. Customers and local communities expect the bank to be loyal to New Zealand rather than abandon us for the lowest bidder,” said Campbell.

Union member Bernadine McGinniss works at one of the affected sites and says that staff are shocked by the announcement. “We’ve been recently meeting with the bank about increasing staffing numbers here. Now, we find out they have been planning to get rid of us. This announcement heralds a bleak time for hundreds of ANZ National staff not knowing what our future will be,” said McGinniss.

McGinniss said the proposal shows how little the bank values their own people and that the offshoring would affect morale right throughout the finance industry.

Finsec is launching an email campaign where customers and their communities can tell ANZ National how they feel about this proposal and voice their opposition to it.

“Bank workers are asking for the support of customers and the public to argue against this proposal. Banks listen to customers and together we can fight for a fair banking system that delivers good jobs and good customer service in this country,” said Campbell.

Andrew Campbell and Bernadine McGinniss will be available for media comment at the largest affected site 107 Carlton Gore Rd, Newmarket, Auckland.

ENDS

Attached PDF also contains Q&A on the ANZ National Proposal

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