News

Fair Advice in the Banking Sector ! Stop the Sales Pressure !



The crisis that hit the financial markets was the cause for the largest global economic

downturn we have known since the 1930s. Had governments not taken forceful action to

counteract its effects, global financial markets would have collapsed. Millions of workers

lost their jobs as a result of the crisis, and some countries have even been brought to the

brink of bankruptcy.



Bank employees, too, have suffered from the effects of the crisis. Hundreds of thousands

of jobs in the financial services sector have been lost.



Many customers have lost faith in their banks. And yet, for bank employees, a trust-based

relationship with their customers is absolutely essential.



For this reason, UNI Global Union calls upon all bank employers, as well as the political

decision-makers, to learn the lessons from this crisis !



National governments, the European Union and the international community must live up

to their responsibilities. Financial markets must be regulated in such a way that banks and

other financial service providers cannot ever be in a position where their actions can

plunge entire economies into an existential crisis.



Banks need to change their business models. Banks have an essential role to play in

society. Their business models must be designed to help companies, private individuals

and governments to gain access to financial resources which can then be used to develop

the real economy. A focus on short-term or excessive profit targets has been instrumental

in uncoupling financial markets from the real economy.



This has put relentless pressure on employees to meet performance targets and to sell.

Bank employers are no longer advisors, they have become sellers. This situation is

making employees physically and psychologically ill!



The business policies of banks need to be completely re-thought and designed to promote

a sustainable society.



Our message to the employers



Stop the sales pressure!



We want working conditions which allow employees to provide customers with advice that

is both fair and adapted to their needs.





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