FSU representatives attended last week’s Suncorp AGM to put a question to the Chairman and to urge shareholders to reject the Directors’ remuneration package unless Suncorp guaranteed Australian insurance jobs would not be sent offshore.

Shareholders arriving at the AGM were greeted by a group of concerned finance workers and fellow unionists, who provided information sheets about the FSU’s fears for the job security of Suncorp employees. The reception from shareholders was one of interest and shared concern.  One shareholder asked the Chairman “Are you actually investigating this with an idea of implementing it”?

Suncorp CEO Patrick Snowball responded by confirming “Yes we are looking at it.”

Send a message to the Suncorp CEO: Keep Suncorp Jobs in Australia.

FSU Acting National Secretary Chris Gambian then posed this question to the meeting: “This year’s report tells the story of a business that is as strong as ever, and I know you would agree that the strength is made possible by the 17,000 Australians you employ. I know you would also agree that it is made possible by the people of Queensland and the people of Australia who have been loyal customers of this business for many years.  This is a great Australian company.

With that in mind, Mr Chairman, will you now do what your management team have thus far failed to do, and unequivocally rule out the outsourcing of local Suncorp jobs to overseas third parties? In short, Mr. Chairman, doesn’t loyalty work both ways?”

Click here to read the full FSU question to the AGM

The Chair’s response to the FSU’s question: “My response to the question is that we cannot rule out outsourcing……Our responsibility as a board is to operate in the best interests of the shareholder.”

The campaign to Keep Suncorp Jobs in Australia continues to attract broad community support. The day after the AGM a meeting of Transport Workers Union members at Brisbane Airport heard about the threat to Suncorp employees’ job security and it was clear to these workers, predominantly baggage handlers and catering staff, that there are parallels between planned offshoring at Suncorp and the Qantas dispute. 



TWU members at Brisbane airport voted in favour of a motion of support for Suncorp workers facing the offshoring of their jobs.

More than 1000 people have supported the FSU online campaign to keep Suncorp Jobs in Australia, and Qld Premier Anna Bligh, Qld Treasurer Andrew Fraser and Senator Claire Moore have called on Suncorp to halt offshoring plans.

Read Qld Treasurer Andrew Fraser’s letter to Suncorp here.

Read Senator Claire Moore’s letter to Suncorp here.

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