The Finance Sector Union has called on Bendigo and Adelaide Bank to widen the coverage of its enterprise agreement to ensure all staff receive a pay rise this year. Negotiations for a new enterprise deal have reached a critical moment as the bank considers union claims for inflation-linked pay increases. The union on Monday posted a petition on social media seeking responses from Bendigo staff on whether the agreement should be extended to cover managers and other staff employed in technology and specialist roles. Bendigo’s enterprise agreement is currently expected to apply to around 2500 staff who are classified as Grade 1 to 5 employees. While this captures most staff employed in branches, customer service and back office areas, it excludes more than 2000 other salaried employees. Bendigo’s current enterprise deal with the FSU was certified by the Fair Work Commission in July 2020 and nominally expired on 15 December last year. According to disclosures on page 47 of that agreement, staff graded in the 1 to 5 bands earn between A$39,956 and $79,129. That pay range is likely to have changed since the 2020 agreement was certified to account for annual pay adjustments. Bendigo staff covered by the agreement received 3 per cent pay rises in December 2020 and December 2021. The union argues in the social media posts that the exclusion of staff from the enterprise agreement has caused division within the bank. It is asking staff not covered by the EA negotiations to sign a petition that calls on the bank to widen the number of staff covered by the next agreement. “The current scope causes inconsistency and division for everyone, including the Bank, and denies workers outside these grades with the opportunity to have a genuine say over their terms and conditions,” the FSU states on a website known as “actionnetwork.org”. “We now have an opportunity to negotiate consistent, and improved terms and conditions of employment, which should apply to everyone across the Bank regardless of their income or seniority and state.” A spokesperson for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank declined to comment on the FSU campaign.