MEDIA RELEASE: Monday 21 December 2009
Future of National Postal Service Hangs in the Balance
This week’s industrial campaign in Australia Post will have a huge
influence on the sort of postal service Australians will have access to in
the future, the Postal Workers Union warned today.
As workers prepare for a major rally in Sydney tomorrow, CEPU NSW
Secretary Jim Metcher said the dispute was about starkly different visions
for the future of Australia Post.
“Workers are fighting for a postal service that is run by a committed, full-
time workforce; where customers receive a reliable and quality service
when they need it.
“Australia Post management is driving an agenda that would see the
postal service dominated by part-time employment, fewer post offices and
much longer waiting times for customers.
“One of the reasons this industrial dispute has become so bitter is that the
workers are taking a stand against this management agenda that they see
as the death-knell for a reliable and quality postal service.
During the past three months Australia Post has slashed hundreds of post
office and administration jobs across the nation, with 225 post
office/administration jobs going in NSW alone.
Another 33 NSW Post Office administration employees were only recently
given notice of their jobs being no longer required after Christmas.
“This is not just a traditional pay dispute - throughout the negotiations we
have seen management determined to exercise their own version of
Workchoices to cut back on workplace conditions and job security.
“As recently as Friday, workers were offering Australia Post to return to the
negotiating table and drop all their bans to make way for this to happen –
but Australia Post seem intent on bringing on a full-scale industrial war
within the organisation with its 32,000 mums and dad dominated
workforce.
“While we know the public is inconvenienced by industrial action at this
time of year – we hope they will support the workforce as they make a
stand in the public interest.
Media enquiries can be made with Jim Metcher on (02) 9893 7822 or 0418
656262.
Note: A protest rally of postal workers is planned for 12 noon this
coming Tuesday 22 December outside Australia Post Headquarters
219-241 Cleveland Street Strawberry Hills
COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRICAL PLUMBING UNION
NSW Postal & Telecommunications Branch (ABN 81 643 762 631)
Level 3, 81 George Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150 — PO Box 250, Parramatta NSW 2124
Tel: (02) 9893 7822 Fax: (02) 9893 7396 E-mail: admina@cepu.org Website: www.cepu.org
COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRICAL PLUMBING UNION
NSW Postal & Telecommunications Branch (ABN 81 643 762 631)
Level 3, 81 George Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150 — PO Box 250, Parramatta NSW 2124
Tel: (02) 9893 7822 Fax: (02) 9893 7396 E-mail: admina@cepu.org Website: www.cepu.org
NEWS 
