Australia Post workers resist cuts, restructuring
Bob Brition Postal workers involved in campaigning for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement have been involved in a tense battle with Australia Post management over recent months. Even though the old EBA — known as EBA5 — is due to expire on February 20, Australia Post has shown no willingness to negotiate reasonable terms on key union demands. In fact, efforts to conclude an EBA6 — the Communications, Electrical, Electronics, Plumbing Union's (CEPU) "Securing Our Future" campaign — have had to be refocused on moves by Australia Post to restructure its Parcel Post Centres. In Sydney, Australia Post decided to close four centres and forcibly relocate workers to a new centralised facility at Chullora. In Victoria, workers have been bundled off from Port Melbourne to the new Ardeer centre in West Sunshine. Workers in Sydney first took strike action over the move on December 11 last year. Australia Post's application to the Federal Court for an injunction preventing the 24-hour strike was rejected. CEPU's NSW Secretary Jim Metcher pointed out that only 13 of the 850 employees affected had accepted the terms of the change. Among other things, workers would lose a $1000 a year parcel allowance. In its own defence, Australia Post said that it had offered "generous" relocation payments of $500 to $1000 to workers and ruled out forced redundancies. The union was not able to get adequate assurances from Australia post about full-time jobs and entitlements last year and nothing has changed since. Two thousand Australia Post, Parcel Post and transport workers went on strike again last Thursday over the same issues. Management is still keeping tight-lipped about the full consequences of the restructuring due to be completed in March. Right to be concerned The Sydneysiders are right to be concerned. Workers at the Ardeer centre in Melbourne know more about what the changes will bring. Their new parcel facility was opened on Australia Day. Facilities for staff at the new centre are poor. The union has asked for a small canteen to be established. Some workers have been put on "interim duties" that are bound to run out. Part- timers have had their overtime taken away. Penalty payments have been halved by roster changes. Workers starting a shift after 9pm are entitled to a 30 per cent loading. Before nine, the loading is only 15 per cent. You guessed it; the affected shifts now start at 8pm. Joan Doyle State Secretary of the Postal and Telecommunications Branch of CEPU in Victoria condemned this attack on the incomes of lowly paid workers: "Australia Post's actions are even more outrageous when you consider [its managing director] Mr John earns more in four days than most of these people earn in a year." It was revealed recently that Graeme John is Australia's highest paid public servant, pulling down $1.88 million last year. CEPU has conducted a very effective campaign involving the 250 workers disrupted by the move. They staged a 24-hour strike on January 29 and protests outside parcel handling centres across Melbourne. Australia Post resorted to hiring juniors from Ready Workforce to work alongside managers to minimise delays. Australia Post obtained an order from the Federal Court the day after the strike banning further industrial action. The determination was made even though the actions were protected. Though CEPU has now decided to resist changes through non- industrial means, Australia Post is proceeding with legal action against the union and Joan Doyle. Australia Post is determined to push ahead with its restructuring of the Parcel Post service. Success in this anti-worker venture is essential if even more ambitious changes are to be pulled off. The CEPU is bracing itself for a campaign over the next twelve months to prevent mail delivery rounds being converted to part- time jobs with outdoor work only. The Netherlands has already replaced 9000 full-time postie positions with lower paid delivery-only staff. Australia Post would love to follow this overseas example.