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Following the bank announcing changes that will see 145 jobs cut and hundreds more impacted in the bank’s technology division, our union immediately sought an urgent hearing on the basis that management had failed to provide the sufficient information required for genuine consultation.

Our case was about enforcing greater transparency, ensuring workers had all relevant information, and a suitable consultation timeframe was provided.

Our dispute resulted in the bank extending its consultation period, allowing us more time to raise specific concerns.

Health and safety concerns escalated

As part of our dispute, we also raised issues about Bendigo Bank’s compliance with their health and safety obligations – specifically, to identify hazards and assess and control workplace risks during the change process. 

Our concerns have been escalated to relevant health and safety regulators in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. We are continuing to engage with these regulators. 

Now that Bendigo Bank has agreed to participate in a more collaborative approach regarding health and safety matters, we expect meetings between the bank and our union will be scheduled soon. 

If you are a Health and Safety Representative, or you are otherwise interested in being part of a working group to address health and safety matters at Bendigo Bank, please reply to this email and let us know.

Further scrutiny at AGM

We will also be attending Bendigo Bank’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 21 October, 11am at Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. It’s an opportunity to raise important issues such as job cuts, offshoring and the use of artificial intelligence directly with CEO Richard Fennell and the Bendigo Bank board.

If you have any specific issues or questions you would like posed to the board at the AGM, or are interested in attending, please also reply to this email and let us know.

We’ll continue to keep you updated as consultations and health and safety meetings progress.