Kiwibank workers around the country are set to strike for two hours over a pay increase offer of 2.25 percent.
The strike from 12pm to 2pm on Monday includes customer service workers in branches and on the phones, along with workers in other roles across the bank.
E tū union assistant national secretary Mat Danaher said the bank could easily afford to improve its pay offer after posting a $174 million profit for the year to June.
In that same period the bank grew lending by $3.1 billion, and deposits by $2.4b, but net profit was down $191m, the union said.
“A $174m profit is a strong result by anyone’s measure. Kiwibank can’t point to a smaller number than last year and pretend times are tough,” Danaher said in a statement.
“This bank is growing faster than its competitors and telling everyone it’s investing more than ever. Then it turns to the people who actually do the work and offers them 2.25 percent. That doesn’t add up.
“Kiwibank workers open the accounts, answer the phones, and helped nearly 8000 people into homes this year. They need a pay rise that lets them keep up with the cost of raising a family.”
Kiwibank said in a statement there were 109 people involved in the strike, “around 4 percent of our workforce”.
“We remain committed to reaching an outcome that is fair and works for our people and our business,” a Kiwibank spokesperson said.
“Our services will operate as normal during the two-hour period.”