Workers First Union is pressuring banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions to bend over backward for employees struggling with commuting costs.
Fuel prices have jumped sharply over the past month, driven by unrest in the Middle East pushing up global oil prices. According to fuel price monitoring app Gaspy, 91 is up more than $1 per litre in the last 28 days, reaching an average of $3.39. Diesel has risen $1.61 to $3.29, and 95 is up $1.07 to $3.59.
Callum Francis, national organiser for finance at Workers First, complained that employees are now spending a larger share of their wages simply getting to work. He demanded that banks and insurers suspend attendance requirements, provide work-from-home options wherever possible, and even subsidise transport for on-site staff.
“Finance workers offer care and consideration to customers every single day,” he said.
“We’re asking their employers to offer them the same. This is no longer a nice-to-have – it is becoming a necessity.”
Francis compared the current situation to the Covid-19 pandemic, insisting that organisations proved they could rapidly adapt to remote work when required. “Businesses showed during Covid that they could act quickly and pragmatically when workers needed them to.”
“We’re asking for that same approach now.”
“Billion-dollar institutions like banks and insurance providers can and should provide relief and convenience to their workers whenever it’s possible – especially during a crisis.”