Bargaining talks are set to recommence between Bankwest and the Finance Sector Union for a new enterprise agreement, with the union continuing to agitate for pay rises well above 3 per cent over the next three years.
The new deal, which is expected to cover up to 4000 staff working at the CBA subsidiary, shapes as one of the most interesting of the 2021 bargaining season given the union’s pay claims and a push by Bankwest management to redeploy staff to the parent’s network.
According to briefing notes published on the FSU website, the union is opposing the redeployment request from Bankwest after receiving feedback from 1100 members employed at the bank.
Bankwest is now considering its position on the proposed redeployment changes.
The union is also advancing its case for sector-leading average pay rises of 3.25 per cent over three years to the end of 2023.
Only Westpac staff earning under A$100,000 a year have won pay rises at that level in the last 12 months. CBA staff received a 3.25 per cent rise in 2020 followed by a 3 per cent rise this year.
Bankwest last negotiated an enterprise deal in 2019 that expired at the end of June.
The bank’s management is also seeking variations to overtime provisions in the 2019 agreement which require staff to be paid up to 250 per cent of standard hourly rates.
The next meeting between the parties is due to be held in Perth on Friday.
Talks are also due to recommence in February between National Australia Bank and the union after negotiations were stalled last year due to the pandemic.
NAB staff earning under $95,000 a year have already received 3 per cent pay rises this year.
The bank has since agreed to boost the superannuation entitlements of all staff by 0.5 per cent.
NAB staff earning more than $95,000 have received a 2 per cent pay rise this year plus the superannuation increment.
Work intensification and unpaid overtime are big sticking points between the parties, after the union launched federal court proceedings against the bank earlier this year on behalf of NAB staff who allege they had been working additional hours without pay.