Kiwibank workers are on strike again today, walking off the job from 11:30am until 1:30pm after the bank failed to improve its 2.25% pay offer. The strike includes customer service workers in branches and on the phones, along with workers in other roles across the bank.
It’s the second strike in just over a week. E tū members walked off the job on Monday 19 October, but Kiwibank has not come back with a new offer since. Workers who were due a lunch break that day didn’t get one. Kiwibank says it is rescheduling those breaks for another day as a sign of good faith.
Kiwibank made a net profit after tax of $174 million in the year to June 2026 and grew its lending by $3.1 billion, faster than its major competitors.
E tū delegate Leanne Paterson says workers are frustrated they’ve had to strike to be taken seriously.
“We work longer hours than staff at the Big Four banks, yet we’re paid less. We fell behind inflation last year too, while the cost of living continues to bite,” Leanne says.
“Staff deserve to feel valued and fairly paid for the work we do. It’s disappointing that we’ve had to take strike action just to be heard.”
E tū Director Amy Hansen says the bank’s silence since the first strike has left workers with no choice.
“Workers made their point loud and clear last week. Kiwibank’s answer has been nothing. There’s still no new offer on the table,” Amy says.
“This is a bank that made $174 million last year and keeps telling everyone it’s investing more than ever. Its own workers are falling behind the cost of living, and it’s offering them 2.25%. That doesn’t add up.
“Every week Kiwibank drags this out, it’s choosing to keep its own people underpaid. Workers will keep standing together until the bank pays them what they’re worth.
“Kiwibank says it wants to make Kiwi better off. Its own workers are still waiting.”