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European bank workers demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt calling for a radical change in the sales practices of financial service providers.

UNI Finance Global Union, German union ver.di, bank workers and representatives of finance unions in Europe demonstrated in Frankfurt as part of the global action week organised for bank workers to share their stories of unscrupulous sales pressure from banks.



Under the motto “Fair Banking Advice? Fair Working Conditions? Now!” finance workers across the globe held actions in Brazil, Belgium, Australia, Iceland, and France.



They offered solutions to push for change in the banking sector globally.



“An HSBC bank worker from Latin America reported she had to work from her hospital bed to bring in half a million US$ in a week to reach sales targets and save her chance of promotion,” said Head of UNI Finance Oliver Roethig. “Banks cannot continue to make profits through these practices; it’s immoral.”



Bank workers in Europe and around the world have talked of the extreme pressures they feel to meet sales goals and to push certain types of financial products on customers who don’t necessarily need them.



In Frankfurt, workers presented their demands on a giant scroll for people to sign, to send the message to regulators and banks.

Local German union Ver.di announced its call for banks to introduce necessary changes to their sales practices, particularly with a view to the collective bargaining round which was due to start on 19 April.