Commonwealth Bank did not alert the approximately 12 million affected customers to the loss. Photo: AAP
The Commonwealth Bank could owe “millions of dollars in back payments plus interest” in missed superannuation entitlements, the Financial Sector Union said on Tuesday.
The union said at least 7000 workers could be affected and the issue dated back to 2009.
FSU national secretary Julila Angrisano said 89 per cent of the underpaid Commonwealth Bank workers were women who did additional hours to manage staff shortages and peak periods.
“They are the lowest-paid, they are the frontline staff and we believe they have contributed to the bank’s profit-making machine,” she said.
“They deserve their superannuation to be paid — we’re determined to get justice for our members.”
“They have been paid superannuation to cover the hours they were originally contracted to work for, not the actual hours worked,”
“It’s bad enough that Australia’s most profitable bank pays some of the lowest wages in the banking sector — now we are finding that part-time staff aren’t getting their full superannuation entitlement.”
Ms Angrisano said the underpaid part-time Commonwealth Bank (CBA) staff work in branches, call centres and administration areas with set hours each week.
“The CBA has been ripping off some of its lowest-paid staff since at least 2009,” Ms Angrisano said. “We are committed to make sure the bank pays up.
The latest allegations embroiling the Commonwealth Bank follow a report late last year by Industry Super Australia and CBus showing around a third of Australian workers are being ripped off on their superannuation entitlements.
The Commonwealth Bank said the complaints were being examined but that the 7,000 figure cited by the FSU was inflated.
“We have assured the FSU that CBA understands the importance of superannuation to help secure and enhance the financial wellbeing of our employees, and are committed to ensuring that we comply with obligations to employees on this issue,” a spokeswoman said.
The union has received legal advice on the 9.5 per cent super underpayment and plans to lodge the complaint with the Fair Work Commission unless the superannuation is paid back.
According to the FSU, the part-time staff impacted have been paid employer super to cover a set amount of hours but have been denied superannuation for hours worked over and above the agreement.
A CBA spokeswoman was quoted by Fairfax Media as saying said the bank has advised the FSU it is reviewing its concerns.
It said it has assured the union the “CBA understands the importance of superannuation to help secure and enhance the financial wellbeing of our employees, and are committed to ensuring that we comply with obligations to employees”, Fairfax reported.
