A team of new and experienced ANZ National Union Councillors have been confirmed for 2012. The councillors are member leaders for FIRST Union with the bank – developing strategy and campaigns, working with the bank to resolve members’ issues, and helping to grow our membership.

The council has a busy year ahead with negotiations for our collective agreement, and ongoing concerns about sales targets and staffing levels in the bank. Councillors will meet bank representatives in the first of their quarterly forums in early March.

New Union Councillor Kaye Kale is a Personal Banker at National Bank in Mt Roskill. Kaye has been a delegate on and off since the mid 90s, and is now going to put that experience to use at a national level representing union members. “One of the reasons I wanted to step up to this role is that I have seen a lot of changes over the last 20 years.” Kaye said the changes were not always positive, like the chipping away of conditions like bank holidays and that staff are not always treated with respect.

“I have a concern that staff right across the sector are being undermined,” said Kaye. One example Kaye gives is staff being required to come in early for meetings, and being reluctant to claim for overtime they’re entitled to. “Staffing is definitely an issue. We’re extremely busy and need to have better access to relief staffing to take breaks, holidays and sick leave.”