Bank workers take to the street

Protesting bank workers on their way to the ANZ Centre in Albert Street, Auckland. Picture / Richard Robinson

About 250 ANZ National Bank workers marched in downtown Auckland today, protesting the Australian bank's latest attempt to end a dispute with its New Zealand workers.

Union members voted in favour of the one-day strike last Wednesday, saying that ANZ's offer did not provide night and weekend compensation for New Zealand workers. Australian workers receive overtime pay.

"All of the members have decided to strike for the day," said Michael Wood, a Finance and Information Union organiser who took part in the march. "The bank is trying to divide the work staff."

At a meeting following the march, he added, workers voted to act again "if the bank doesn't listen".

The strike affected call and processing centers, as well as bank branches, Wood said. Union officials put the number of ANZ members at 3700.

However, an ANZ spokesman said that of 310 branch offices in New Zealand, only 13 had closed during today's strike.

"Not all of the members attended," he said.

The rift followed the first collective employment negotiations after the merger of the ANZ and National banks.