Together we can make a difference!
Last week we wrote to Westpac about the serious health risks posed by COVID-19 and asked that the Bank allow staff to work from home wherever possible.
You can read our letter here.
We noted that COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations are dramatically increasing – including with the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5. Under work, health and safety laws, Westpac has a primary obligation to provide us with a safe workplace.
On Friday Westpac wrote to everyone across the Group notifying their decision to move from “green” to ”amber” workplace settings for corporate sites and offering staff the option to work from home Monday to Friday with a further assessment of this arrangement in mid-August.
This is a positive step by the Bank and congratulations to all of you who have acted together on this important issue.
While this decision helps to address aspects of the current health crisis, we will need to build on this outcome to ensure that the right to flexible work is maintained long term. Bargaining for our new Enterprise Agreement continues with further negotiation meetings scheduled for this week. Along with pay and other issues, we are hearing that flexible working arrangements continue to be a focus for FSU members.
All of us have shown throughout COVID-19 that we can work from home and still achieve great outcomes for our customers. Flexible working helps us balance work with our family and life outside work. It’s also a huge factor in protecting our health and well-being into the future.
How can we support long-term flexible working arrangements?
We’re interested to hear why long-term flexible work arrangements are important to you and your family. Please let us know here and share this with your colleagues.
If you belong in an amber workplace site and are having difficulty getting approval to work from home, please send an email to fsuinfo@fsunion.org.au or call your FSU Member Rights Centre on 1300 366 378.
Together we will win long-term rights to flexible work at Westpac!
A note on your Enterprise Agreement and pay…
Last week Westpac management again wrote to all Group employees and further outlined their position on pay rises in the current economic climate. The continued view by the Bank that pay increases should be limited to market measures is concerning when you consider that Westpac plays a major role in setting market pay. FSU members continue to call for real pay rises that keep up with real cost of living pressures.
Thousands of Westpac workers have already signed the petition to say “The Fix Starts with 6%” You can join with your colleagues and support the campaign for real cost of living increases by going here today:
