Union Admits Free Mail Day Won't Work

Union Admits Free Mail Day Won't Work

CEPU National Secretary Ed Husic was today forced to admit that `free mail for Christmas Cards' will not work.

Asked at a media conference this morning to give a guarantee that Christmas cards without stamps being delivered, Mr Husic said he could not, and admitted that much of the mail sent without postage will not get through.

"A few cards could get through and a lot may not," Mr Husic said when asked to provide a guarantee.

"This is a completely irresponsible message from the union and now they admit that sending a Christmas card without postage will be unlikely to get through," said Australia Post spokesperson Alex Twomey.

"Our message to the public is clear; only mail with correct postage will be delivered."

"It would be very upsetting for people if their Christmas cards were returned or not delivered because the union is promising something they now admit they cannot guarantee."

Australia Post is pleased to note that 75 percent of Australia Post's 35 000 staff did not vote for industrial action. Further to this, less than 50 percent of union members voted in favour of industrial action.

"Only 8876 staff voted for industrial action out of 17,970 union members and 35,000 staff. This isn't even half of the union membership and represents only a small minority of our total staff," said Mr Twomey.

"Australia Post have delivered a four per cent pay increase to staff this year and guaranteed another four per cent next year."

Australia Post last night confirmed to the union that the negotiation team was happy to meet with them.

Australia Post has been negotiating in good faith on a generous EBA which delivers job security and wage increases. At the same time the union have twice been found by Fair Work Australia to not be genuinely trying to reach agreement with Australia Post.

The figures quoted in this release regarding voting are from the Australian Electoral Commision.

Mr Husic's quotes are from a media conference this morning and can be made available in full.

For further information:
Alex Twomey
(03)92045362

Australia Post is the oldest continually operating organisation in Australia. Every day Australia Post delivers 20 million items to 10.7 million addresses across Australia. With 4,433 outlets across the nation we are the largest retail network in Australia with 2,541 of these outlets in rural and remote areas. We are a self-funding business and receive no taxpayer funding.

SOURCE: Australia Post