Bank staff take rate heat
(4 November 2010 – Australia) The Finance Sector Union (FSU) has said that bank staff are coping the brunt of public anger over decisions to raise interest rates above the recommendations of the Reserve Bank.
Leon Carter, secretary for the FSU said that staff at banks had had abuse and even objects hurled at them over the past two days.
Mr Carter told reporters that the union had been contacted in the last 48 hours by members who had been accused of working for criminal organisations.
'We have had customers walk in and say: 'I hope you are happy, I'm now going to lose my house, I now can't afford to buy the Christmas presents that I was going to buy for my kids', " Mr Carter added.
Mr Carter said the anger was misdirected and should instead be aimed at bank chief executives and boards who 'slug ordinary Australians with increased charges'.
Mr Carter once again called on the government to introduce regulations to force banks to link any fees and charges to customer service levels, and to stop rewarding staff with bonuses for selling debt and credit products.
Mr Carter told reporters that the union had been contacted in the last 48 hours by members who had been accused of working for criminal organisations.
'We have had customers walk in and say: 'I hope you are happy, I'm now going to lose my house, I now can't afford to buy the Christmas presents that I was going to buy for my kids', " Mr Carter added.
Mr Carter said the anger was misdirected and should instead be aimed at bank chief executives and boards who 'slug ordinary Australians with increased charges'.
Mr Carter once again called on the government to introduce regulations to force banks to link any fees and charges to customer service levels, and to stop rewarding staff with bonuses for selling debt and credit products.
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