UNI Global Union: Bank workers Demand Their Rights at Demonstration in Frankfurt

"Fair Banking Advice? Fair Working Conditions? NOW!"

NYON, Switzerland, April 16, 2010 - European bank workers will demonstrate in front of the headquarters of
the European Central Bank in Frankfurt this morning to call for a radical
change in the sales practices of financial service providers.

UNI Finance Global Union, German union ver.di, bank workers and
representatives of finance unions in Europe are in Frankfurt as part of the
global action week organised for bank workers to share their stories of
unscrupulous sales pressure from banks.

Under the motto "Fair Banking Advice? Fair Working Conditions? Now!"
finance workers across the globe will join the push to change what is a
global problem for bank workers.

Actions have been arranged in many countries, including France, Iceland
and Australia.

"An HSBC bank worker from Latin America reported she had to work from her
hospital bed to bring in half a million US$ in a week to reach sales targets
and save her chance of promotion," said Head of UNI Finance Oliver Roethig.
"Banks cannot continue to make profits through these practices; it's
immoral."

Bank workers in Europe and around the world have talked of the extreme
pressures they feel to meet sales goals and to push certain types of
financial products on customers who don't necessarily need them.

In Frankfurt, workers will present their demands with a giant scroll for
people to sign, to send the message to regulators and banks.

Ver.di will announce its call for banks to introduce necessary changes to
their sales practices, particularly with a view to the collective bargaining
round due to start on 19 April.

    Further information:

    www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/iportal.nsf/pages/sec_20081016_gbhqEn
    www.verkaufsdruckneindanke.de

    UNI Finance is the global trade union for the finance industry.

    Contact:
    Rachel Cohen
    E-Mail: rachel.cohen@uniglobalunion.org
    Mobile: +41-79-888-07-53

Contact: Rachel Cohen, E-Mail: rachel.cohen at uniglobalunion.org, Mobile: +41-79-888-07-53