The FSU reported to members recently on significant developments resulting from the union’s long running campaigns to stop offshoring, and to promote responsible lending practices by our banks.

The union welcomes moves by both the Commonwealth and Westpac banks, to cease offshoring jobs, and as reported last week, we will be seeking concrete commitments, and continuing to apply pressure to stop the practice of off-shoring jobs that is happening across the whole industry.

FSU Workplace Reps will receive information in the mail shortly about the union’s Invest in Australia campaign to secure Australian finance jobs. The information booklet we have sent will enable Reps to talk about the campaign in the workplace, in greater detail.

The Federal Government’s release of its new Consumer Credit Bill is another win for workers in our industry, and the FSU will continue to press key stakeholders in the industry and government, to ensure the provision of training and accreditation for members involved in the provision of credit.

You can read the Bill, your union’s response, and the FSU Charter of Responsible Lending by clicking here.

And just this week, Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan announced a national Paid Parental Leave scheme would be funded in the Federal Budget, and would commence in 2011.

The achievement of these outcomes on three key areas of campaigning by FSU is worth celebrating. However, we cannot rest on our laurels. Whilst offshoring continues, whilst the professionalism of our industry is affected by lending practices out of step with community expectation, and whilst our industry remains captive to an aggressive sales culture rather than promoting a service culture, the FSU must, and will, continue to campaign to build a better finance industry.

There are simple things you can do to support our campaigning efforts, and one of the easiest things you can do is help spread the word. Make sure you forward this edition of FSU Online to colleagues in your workplace. Talk about the things that have been achieved so far, and the things we can work towards achieving in the future.