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FIRST Union members at ANZ have voted for nationwide industrial action to protect job security at New Zealand’s wealthiest bank.

Almost 85% of ballots cast were to take a national strike.  It follows several local strikes over the past fortnight.

“ANZ is proposing contracts where workers would only know month by month which days, start and finish times they will be working,” said FIRST Union Retail & Finance Secretary Maxine Gay.

“Bank staff have lives outside of their job.  They have childcare requirements, commitments to community, faith and sports groups.  Many bank workers undertake tertiary study with set lecture times.  Chopping and changing hours may suit ANZ, but it does not work for workers.”

Bank workers don't take strike action lightly, but the bank’s proposals had prompted a strong reaction from staff, Maxine Gay said.

“ANZ workers want jobs that they can plan their lives around, and they want a pay offer that respects their hard work that delivers such big profits, $1.37 billion last year, for the bank.”

“ANZ needs to show some respect and decency towards its workers by offering a pay increase that values the contribution they make and that is significantly greater than the current 2% to 3% offer, and it needs to pull back on its proposal to casualise hours of work.”