Online banking services provided by Australian financial service provider Westpac are to be disrupted throughout the week due to imminent industrial action initiated by the Australian Services Union (ASU) members against technology service provider IBM, who has so far refused to negotiate a collective agreement with its workers.

IBM has been in charge of Westpac’s information technology infrastructure and telecommunications services ever since 2000, when the two companies concluded a strategic outsourcing partnership. Under the current circumstances, IBM’s technical support staff is planning to hold four-hour rolling stoppages at the IBM Sydney headquarters starting 3 September. This is to have a direct impact on all of IBM’s business customers, including Westpac’s online banking service, particularly in the area of payment processing.

IBM employees are also in charge of performing computer systems maintenance for Australia’s national airline Qantas, the Australian Customs Service and Medicare, all of which will be affected to a certain extent by the coming strike.