Xmas mail could be free
Date: 30 November 2009
Consumers across Australia can look forward to potentially sending their Christmas mail for free as postal workers vote to take protected industrial action.
"Among the actions postal workers are voting on are periodic bans on checking that letters and cards are stamped. Bans would mean that unstamped mail is not returned to the sender - but goes through free of charge", said Communications Electrical Plumbing Union National President Ed Husic.
"Around 18, 000 postal workers have until this Friday to vote for the right to take action after months of inaction by Australia Post," said CEPU National President Ed Husic.
"Our members know Christmas is a special time and we want to limit public inconvenience, while sending a message to management: stop acting like Scrooge with our conditions and entitlements."
This action could affect 70 million Christmas cards, with revenues of $35 million, according to Australia's Post's own predictions of mail volume this Christmas period.
"Taking this ballot - along with possible industrial action - is the only way we can send a message to management: our members want a better enterprise agreement to protect their jobs, safety and pay."
The ballot was launched last Tuesday night with ballot papers being distributed by the Australian Electoral Commission and will close 10am Friday, December 4.
"More than 50 percent of the CEPU's 18,000 members at Australia Post must participate in the ballot and a majority of these voters must vote YES to see the actions go ahead.
"Bizarrely Australia Post is asking their employees to do management a favour and vote NO - after Post previously robbed their own workers of the right to vote following three legal attempts to stop the vote going ahead at all", said Mr Husic.
Employees are calling on Australia Post to provide:
A clear commitment to protecting and promoting full time jobs in Post- Full access to an independent umpire with the power to sort out any future disputes, along with improved consultation on workplace change
- An end to the use of Facility Nominated Doctors (FND or company paid doctors) who are forcing employees back to work even when they are still sick or injured
- Protection of penalty shifts and rosters
"Our members' claims are modest, aimed at protecting their jobs, safety and take home pay. But these claims have been rejected by the same senior management team that can find a way to take home nearly $8 million in salaries," said Mr Husic.
For further information or media interviews
Ed Husic, CEPU National President, 0437 371 372
BJ Jafari:0431 549220
For further information
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