BNZ staff seek safety net

Press, 5 September 1988, Page 7

BNZ staff seek safety net

PA Wellington The Bank Officers’ Union hoped to meet Bank of New Zealand management this week to negotiate a redundancy deal for staff, said the union’s general secretary, Mr Don Aimer, yesterday. Staff were still fearful for the their futures, in spite of an accord reached at the Labour Party conference in Dunedin at the week-end. Under the accord, the Government’s plan to sell BNZ and Postßank will be put under review. Party delegates indicated at the conference they would look towards the reconsideration of the sales as a test of the new accord. But Mr Aimer said the union still wanted to sort

out a redundancy deal so that staff would have a framework for whatever might happen. The union was concerned about two issues. There was the question of the management review being made by the bank and whether that would result in lay-offs. Workers were also concerned that the bank might be sold to a large international bank which would not want to retain the BNZ’s existing staff and resources. A BNZ spokesman, Mr John Callam, confirmed the union had lodged a redundancy claim. They would meet and talk with the union about it on Friday. The bank had no further comment, Mr Callam said.