Until now insurance workers have been immune to the rampant offshoring that has occurred, and continues to occur in three of our big banks. Finance workers in banking continue to campaign against offshoring, and all of the problems that offshoring brings to the way they do their work.

When Suncorp confirmed in August that representatives from Indian based companies World Network Services (WNS) and Genpact were present in Suncorp workplaces (including AAMI and GIO) scoping insurance jobs for possible offshoring, there was community outrage.

A campaign to keep Suncorp jobs in Australia was launched, and to date, the pressure generated by this campaign has stemmed job losses to less than 100, rather than the 2000 jobs that were originally anticipated.

But the fight is not over. WNS and Genpact representatives are still in Suncorp workplaces in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and many employees at AAMI, GIO and Suncorp still face an anxious wait to learn whether they will have a job with the company in 2012.

Australian finance companies, Suncorp included, profit well from this community. These companies should be giving back to the community by investing in jobs and skills, rather than sending jobs offshore in order to cut costs. It is a betrayal of their employees and the community that have underpinned their success.

If we let Suncorp continue with their aggressive offshoring push, without protesting or putting pressure on the company, then we are signalling to the insurance industry that offshoring is an acceptable practice – and it’s not.

Before you head off for your Christmas break, and a well-deserved rest, please take a moment to stand up for colleagues at Suncorp, by taking these simple actions:

1. Sign the Queensland Parliament petition Offshoring: Not in our interest - 

2. Send an email to Suncorp CEO Patrick Snowball letting him know what you think about Suncorp’s offshoring plans. The email address is: patrick.snowball@suncorp.com.au, and we’d appreciate copies of your emails also going to qld@fsunion.org.au . If you’re looking for inspiration you can check out a sample email here,

3. “Like” the Keep Suncorp Jobs in Australia Facebook page and invite your friends to do the same

4. Share this video with your friends

5. Post a message on the FSU Online Forum

6. Read more about the campaign here

If every insurance worker in Australia spoke up and said no to offshoring insurance jobs, the mighty roar would make Suncorp think again about their offshoring plans.