The Guardian 31 January, 2007
Workers threatened over safety
Mail deliveries to the Sutherland Shire in Sydney’s south were disrupted last week because of Australia Post’s threats to dock half a day’s pay after a safety meeting ran 15 minutes overtime. Postal workers refused to return to work until they are guaranteed they would be paid for the hours worked.
The standoff has occurred following a meeting on January 27, organised by the Communications Union (CEPU) to brief workers at Rockdale Mail Delivery Centre about the dangers of a new bundling system.
CEPU State Secretary Jim Metcher said the meeting, scheduled during a meal break, went for a few minutes longer than expected because of the complexity of the new system being trialled at Rockdale.
Following the meeting Australia Post officials threatened to apply new IR laws specifying that any stop work meeting leads to half a day’s pay being docked.
"This situation shows how ridiculous the Howard Government’s anti-worker laws are in practice", Mr Metcher said.
"We have a group of 30 workers who want to go back to work, but are being told they will not be paid if they do so. We have management saying that under WorkChoices, even 15 minutes to be briefed on the safe operation of new equipment amounts to industrial action that draws punitive measures."
The workers are currently protesting outside the Rockdale Mail Centre, Garnett Street, Rockdale.