The Finance Sector Union (FSU) says Commonwealth Bank’s multi-billion dollar profit result makes its decision to dismantle the Bankwest brand in Western Australia even harder to justify.
The profit result shows CBA can afford to maintain Bankwest as a distinct Western Australian institution, the union says.
While CBA announces another massive profit, Bankwest workers and customers in WA are watching the steady erosion of a bank they have long felt proud to call their own.
The FSU says CBA has effectively called time on Bankwest as an employing entity, moving to combine its operations and its workers under the one CBA banner.
As part of this process, CBA is seeking to merge the Bankwest enterprise agreement with the Commonwealth Bank agreement – a move that places the hard-fought conditions of approximately 1,400 Bankwest workers at risk.
More than 500 Bankwest workers have signed a petition calling on CBA CEO Matt Comyn to maintain Bankwest as a separate entity and respect the rights and conditions of its workforce.
The FSU says it will continue campaigning to protect Bankwest jobs and conditions in Western Australia.
Finance Sector Union National Secretary Julia Angrisano said:
“Workers are deeply concerned about what could be lost if the agreements are combined.
“Bankwest jobs in WA, rostered days off, annual leave loadings and overtime loadings are all potentially on the chopping block – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“Bankwest workers have negotiated and secured strong conditions over many years. They should not be forced to surrender those rights because CBA wants to streamline its operations.
“CBA can afford to keep Bankwest alive as a proud WA brand. Instead, it is dismantling a local institution while announcing billions in profit. That decision sends a very clear message to Western Australians that the bank is putting profits before people once again.”
Media contact: Kate Shuttleworth – 0447 418 726
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