B of A Tellers Get Squeezed : Hours Slashed, Benefits Eliminated for Some Full-Timers

Bank of America, looking to cut costs after last year’s merger with Security Pacific Corp., has begun slashing the hours and eliminating the benefits of some full-time tellers.

The action reflects a trend among big employers away from full-time employment, as companies crunched by the recession and heightened competition seek to save money at every turn.

Since the merger last April, B of A--the state’s largest financial institution--has closed about 240 branches and reduced its work force by about 7,000, to 83,200 employees.

Richard Beebe, a spokesman for the San Francisco-based bank, would not say Friday how many workers will be affected by the latest cutback. But he said fewer than 10% of B of A tellers now work full-time.

Beebe explained that the bank wanted more flexibility in staffing.

“We’re open more than 50 hours a week in most of our branches,” he said. “We’re staffing so that we have the flexibility to bring staff in during peak hours.”

The first of the affected tellers were notified last week in San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento, according to Beebe. Within the next few months, staffing decisions will be made in Los Angeles and Orange counties and other areas where the bank operates, he added.

“Most of the employees are unhappy about something, and many saw this coming,” said one teller at a B of A branch in the San Diego neighborhood of Allied Gardens. “I’m part-time, as are most of the people here, and I’ve tried for years to get my hours increased, to no avail. I’m sure today’s news won’t make anybody happy.

“Times are very hard in San Diego,” noted the teller, who asked not to be identified .

“The mood is pretty tense around here, and I can’t talk about it,” said a teller at the Hillcrest branch in San Diego. The woman immediately summoned her supervisor, who gave a terse “no comment” and referred inquiries to San Francisco.

Beebe noted that full-time tellers whose hours were reduced to fewer than 20 per week would be entitled to a merger-related compensation package that would include a minimum of three months’ pay and continuation of health and some other benefits for three to 18 months, depending on length of service. After that period, the benefits would be eliminated.

On the other hand, some tellers at busy branches could see their hours increased, Beebe said. Experienced full-time tellers in San Francisco earn an average of $19,000 a year.

Groves reported from San Francisco, Granberry from San Diego. The Associated Press also contributed to this story.