ANZ and finance union clash again

The ANZ Bank and the Finance Sector Union (FSU) are at loggerheads again after appearing before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) over a dispute relating to the union’s right of entry for its officers and officials as per the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

The dispute follows a recent resolution between the pair following a ruling in March by the AIRC in favour of ANZ over a two-year employee severance pay dispute relating to its joint venture armING Australia.

This time around, the FSU is claiming it is being “hindered” in seeking access to its members and potential members in the course of investigating a suspected breach of the Workplace Relations Act

The Act requires ANZ to allow union officials “to enter, during working hours, any premises where employees work who are members of the organisation of which the person is an officer or employee”.

FSU communications manager Rod Masson says this has not been the case with ANZ attempting to influence its dealings with members and employees.

“The Act does not give the employer the right to set the protocol on how we liaise with employees, such as having employees meet with our officials in a meeting room next to the manager’s office,” Masson says.

According to an ANZ spokesperson the bank will discuss the right of entry issue with the union over the next four weeks with the aim of reaching a mutually accepted resolution on the matter.

The AIRC’s March ruling in relation to the ANZ and FSU, a dispute that was first heard in April 2002, will save ANZ having to pay several million dollars to 476 of the 479 ANZ employees who transferred to new roles shortly after the combined venture kicked off in May 2002.