Bank staff defiant

Commonwealth Bank staff defied employer intimidation and went 
ahead with a protest against planned service cuts outside a 
meeting where their bosses announced a $2.57 billion profit. The 
move to silence the workers followed revelations senior 
management had categorised staff as "nerds" or "turds".

The references appeared in an internal e-mail circulated to 
branch managers, which said the nerds "have no life" while turds 
were good for nothing but "flushing".

According to staff, morale is being torpedoed by management's 
refusal to listen to proposals for improved workplaces and better 
service.

"People are feeling insecure about their jobs [and] can't access 
resources to improve customer service", said Sharron Caddie, from 
the Finance Sector Union (FSU). "CBA says one thing and does the 
opposite.

"People are now very disillusioned with this organisation and the 
way it has flatly ignored their efforts. They are going public 
and asking customers to support their ideas for a better bank."

Staff planning to take protected action against the bank received 
a letter from David Marshall, an executive general manager.

The letter reminded staff of the "good faith owed to the bank in 
your capacity as an employee" and told them that they were not 
allowed to speak to the media or even identify themselves as 
Commonwealth Bank employees.

Despite the letter staff rallied in Martin Place to oppose moves 
to slash over 4000 jobs and services to the public.

The bank is planning cuts to 3700 support staff and 600 positions 
in lending. These cuts are expected to impact heavily on rural 
and regional customers as the bank moves to "rationalise" its 
business lending services.

The FSU (Commonwealth Bank Officers Section) has begun a public 
campaign to improve service at the bank, launching a petition 
calling on the bank to lift its game.

"The CBA was indeed once the People's Bank", recalled Peter 
Presdee, Secretary of the FSU Commonwealth Bank Officers Section. 
"We will not rest until staff and customers are once again 
treated in a manner that was essential to the culture of the 
People's Bank."