Bank, union at impasse in pay talks

Bank workers protest over their wages and conditions in Newmarket yesterday. Picture / Kenny Rodger

No resolution was in sight to an industrial relations dispute between ANZ National Bank and bank workers' union Finsec yesterday, with both saying the ball was in the other's court.

Negotiations over a collective agreement broke down last Friday and workers have been on rolling strikes ever since.

It is the first time since ANZ bought National in 2003 that Finsec and the bank have tried to negotiate a collective agreement for the 3700 staff who are union members.

Finsec campaign director Karen Skinner said the strikers wanted a similar deal to that of the bank's Australian workers for working weekends and evenings.

"The fact that the bank will recognise Australian workers' weekends but is not going to do that for New Zealand staff is insulting," she said.

ANZ National Bank human resources general manager Andrew McSweeney said Finsec was running a selective and inconsistent line, as Australian workers got less annual leave and sick days than their New Zealand counterparts.

He said the cost of the strikes had been insignificant and customers had been largely unaffected. But the cost of opening all the bank's branches at the weekend would cost an extra $17 million.

The bank had offered a new agreement with 19 improvements including a 3.75 per cent pay rise.

It wants staff to vote on the offer whereas the union wants to talk about its claims.