A few years ago I cited a Westpac spokesperson who was quoted: "This is not about cost. It's about improving our skill capability by leveraging global scale of sourcing providers." That News.com article reported on Westpac staff being made redundant and being made to train Indian workers, who are in Australia on temporary visas.
One Westpac worker was quoted: "Basically sitting next to me like a sponge, sucking in as much information as possible. It's devastating. I feel insulted and very low." Again, another said: "It is extremely demoralising to train people who are highly incompetent to take your own role. We get constant stupid questions every single day. Basic tasks that we are expected to perform they can't perform."
The article quoted FSU NSW acting secretary Veronica Black who attacked Westpac, which made a $6.9 billion profit the previous year, for asking staff to "effectively facilitate the destruction of their own jobs". Moreover the government has warned that the companies could be breaching immigration rules by bringing in foreign staff to replace Australian employees.
Then comes this remarkable comment by a Westpac spokesperson - "This is not about cost. It's about improving our skill capability by leveraging global scale of sourcing providers," What does this actually mean?
Why is it that such situations as this have companies stretching their long arms into the bag of gobbledygook comments that show how really pathetic they are and simply cannot tell it like it is, leaving egg on their face and without a semblance of integrity.
How about this: "Australia has largely priced its labour out of the global market place. Westpac functions across the world and we're obligated to our share holders to secure these essential tasks as inexpensively as possible, yet maintaining our unquestioned quality of service."
These past few years hardly anything has changed in such 'speak'.
Three outcomes
In my mind there would have been three probable outcomes to such an honest and upfront statement.
The Federal politician in your area is undoubtedly pressuring the Government to find a way forward to keep Australian jobs in the financial sector, perhaps similarly as the Government had done for other industries.
Secondly, Australians would at least know upfront-and-centre the real issue behind such banking decisions. Multi-national banks clearly have no great interest in increasing Australian jobs and the welfare of additional Australians and thereby the nation. This brings into focus other financial options such as regional banks and building societies.
Perhaps the most critical of such a 'plain speak' statement, would be money walking out the Wespac door with millions of customers. Nothing speaks louder to a multi-national than bad publicity and money walking out their door.
Both these has a very salutatory effect at Board level and instead of saving a few dollars by such global decisions, it might bring near collapse upon an institution. It seems that Westpac has responded to such poor publicity and their staff that are being retrenched are not required to retrain the offshore staff.
Examples in reverse
Similar situations in reverse have occurred where mortgage householders have got together and pooled debt to reduce their interest rate and now similar ideas are unfolding with electricity bills. People power remains alive and well in Australia.
The same principle applies, but in an opposite numerical format within Christian thought. Jesus said that where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew chapter 18 verse 20). There are innumerable Scriptures that speak that when the Lord is with you, nothing can stand against such authority.
In other words there is a great crowd of unseen witnesses when we call upon the name of the Lord in whatever situation befalls us, and this is beyond comforting, as has been experienced through the centuries.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html