Post workers offer halt to action

Date: 18 December 2009

Postal workers are ready to halt all industrial action planned for today through to Monday evening if Australia Post senior management agrees to meet to resolve outstanding issues in the postal dispute.

"We've been asking for a meeting with senior management for some time. Chief Operating Officer Jim Marshall has said he is now willing to meet us on the enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA7)", said Communications, Electrical, and Plumbing Union (CEPU) National President Ed Husic.

"This was in response to my letter to the Managing Director yesterday offering to restart talks.

"We have acted in good faith here and have offered to withdraw all bans, unconditionally. On top of that, there will be no stoppages from now until Monday - based on recent decisions of Fair Work Australia.

"As always, we want to minimise the impact on the public so close to Christmas and as a sign of good faith the Union has agreed to lift all industrial work bans today, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

"There will be NO industrial action over this time.

"Senior CEPU officials from around Australia are also prepared to travel to Melbourne this weekend to help promote a speedy resolution to our issues.

"We stand ready to hold constructive discussions with Australia Post over the weekend to help reach agreement.

"It's time for both sides to settle this dispute.

"What is at stake for postal workers is security in full-time jobs, protection of penalty shifts and rosters, an end to Facility Nominated Doctors (company doctors) who force employees back to work even when they are sick or injured, and access to an independent umpire in any future disputes," said Mr Husic.

For further information

Contact:	Ed Husic, National President
Union:	CEPU
WWW:	http://www.cepuconnects.org/

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