FSU welcomes UNI Finance conference to Dublin

Restructuring of banking sector needs to be done in collaboration with all stakeholders

The Financial Services Union (FSU) are today, Tuesday hosting UNI Finance delegates from across the world at a three-day conference in Dublin. UNI Finance, which is part of UNI Global Union, represents three million workers in the banking and insurance sector. The conference will discuss among other items a presentation from Eurofound, on restructuring trends in retail banking and managing the impact of the ongoing change in the sector. Eurofound is an EU Agency for the improvement of living and working conditions.

Addressing the Conference, the General Secretary of the FSU, John O’Connell commented:

“The FSU are delighted to be hosting and actively participating in what I expect will be a lively debate over the next three days on the future of the banking sector.

Across the world the banking sector is undergoing rapid change and this conference gives union delegates an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss future plans.

Managing change in the banking sector so that staff are protected, and customers are not adversely affected must be the goal of the union movement.

Unions need to be brave and stand in the way of change when their objectives are not met.

We stood up against the decision of AIB to convert 70 branches to cashless branches and won. We will continue to stand up against actions we consider will damage our members and society.

A new stakeholder governance model in the sector involving workers and consumer directors is required.

This would involve all relevant stakeholders plotting the way forward, A way forward that is consumer centric and customer friendly. A retail banking system that treats shareholders and stakeholders with equal esteem.

The banking review in Ireland gives the Government an opportunity to start to reset the public’s relationship with the retail banking sector.  They should embrace the opportunity and ensure that a collaborative approach between customers, staff and employers is taken to managing change in the retail banking sector.”

Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union said:

“In Ireland, in Europe and the world over, the banking sector continues to go through huge structural change. Across the globe, banks are slashing jobs, closing branches and reorganizing in the face of digitalization and competition from new online banking services.

However, unions have proven they are key to saving jobs, protecting conditions and safeguarding services for customers. That’s why it’s so important that we come together in Dublin, to learn from one another, to share our experiences and to use our global power to ensure a good deal for bank workers.”

Restructuring of banking sector needs to be done in collaboration with all stakeholders

The Financial Services Union (FSU) are today, Tuesday hosting UNI Finance delegates from across the world at a three-day conference in Dublin. UNI Finance, which is part of UNI Global Union, represents three million workers in the banking and insurance sector. The conference will discuss among other items a presentation from Eurofound, on restructuring trends in retail banking and managing the impact of the ongoing change in the sector. Eurofound is an EU Agency for the improvement of living and working conditions.

Addressing the Conference, the General Secretary of the FSU, John O’Connell commented:

“The FSU are delighted to be hosting and actively participating in what I expect will be a lively debate over the next three days on the future of the banking sector.

Across the world the banking sector is undergoing rapid change and this conference gives union delegates an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss future plans.

Managing change in the banking sector so that staff are protected, and customers are not adversely affected must be the goal of the union movement.

Unions need to be brave and stand in the way of change when their objectives are not met.

We stood up against the decision of AIB to convert 70 branches to cashless branches and won. We will continue to stand up against actions we consider will damage our members and society.

A new stakeholder governance model in the sector involving workers and consumer directors is required.

This would involve all relevant stakeholders plotting the way forward, A way forward that is consumer centric and customer friendly. A retail banking system that treats shareholders and stakeholders with equal esteem.

The banking review in Ireland gives the Government an opportunity to start to reset the public’s relationship with the retail banking sector.  They should embrace the opportunity and ensure that a collaborative approach between customers, staff and employers is taken to managing change in the retail banking sector.”

Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union said:

“In Ireland, in Europe and the world over, the banking sector continues to go through huge structural change. Across the globe, banks are slashing jobs, closing branches and reorganizing in the face of digitalization and competition from new online banking services.

However, unions have proven they are key to saving jobs, protecting conditions and safeguarding services for customers. That’s why it’s so important that we come together in Dublin, to learn from one another, to share our experiences and to use our global power to ensure a good deal for bank workers.”

ENDS