Australia's Finance Sector Union accused Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) of using "fake redundancies" to offshore jobs, according to a Friday statement from the union.
The union said it lodged a formal dispute with the bank, adding that the lender could potentially face further action at the Fair Work Commission if it does not disclose the true reason behind the recent job cuts.
The bank had said that 176 technology and engineering roles would be made redundant due to workflow automation, organizational realignments, streamlining, and the consolidation of existing functions.
Roles with "similar" job titles and functions as the redundant roles were advertised at CBA India, the union claims.
In an emailed statement to, a CBA spokesperson said the job advertisements in CBA India and the proposed changes in Australia are "separate and unrelated."
"[We] regularly review the roles and skills we need to deliver the best customer outcomes," the spokesperson said. "Some tasks and skills required are changing, some roles are reducing as programs finish, and new roles are being created."
The bank's shares gained about 1% in recent Friday trade.