5 May 2009 - 79% of New Zealanders think the government should require banks to maintain existing staffing levels and not send jobs overseas in exchange for the taxpayer support they are receiving through the bank guarantee schemes.

Bank workers union Finsec released the results of the UMR public opinion poll today and presented a petition to the Prime Minister of over 10,500 signatures asking the government to make job protection a condition of taxpayers underwriting the banks.

"New Zealanders want the government to be active in protecting local jobs. The banks are making big profits and can easily afford to keep people in work. It is time for the government to require that to happen," said Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell.

"79% of New Zealanders want the government to defend local jobs. The big banks are getting tax payer support and are making good profits. The least they can do is provide job security to their local workers and not worsen unemployment figures," said Campbell.

"These are difficult times, and the government needs to show that keeping New Zealanders in work is a priority. The big banks have cut close to 1000 jobs in the last year alone, and some continue to prove that they will put the needs of shareholders above social good or their own staff every time."

"John Key said that if private companies got a government bailout then he would expect New Zealand jobs to be maintained. The bank guarantee schemes are helping banks to make large profits yet the Prime Minister has made no requirement for them to keep Kiwi's in work," said Campbell.

"Now is the time to take action. The government has the mechanism to protect bank jobs and the backing of the public to do it," said Campbell.