Union Determined To Strike Next Week Despite Offer Of Talks

Union Determined to Strike Next Week Despite Offer of Talks

The postal union has refused to call off a planned 48 hour Christmas strike next week, despite Australia Post's Chief Operating Officer Jim Marshall offer to meet with them.

Yesterday, Australia Post agreed to the union's suggestion for a meeting with Mr Marshall, subject to the removal of notices of intention to take industrial action and current bans.

Union national President Ed Husic has written to Australia Post refusing to rule out a Christmas strike and offering to only remove bans that have limited impact on the mail system.

"This development shows the real strategy of the union is to interfere with the public's Christmas cards and presents and not to make every attempt to avoid a Christmas strike," said Australia Post spokesperson Alex Twomey.

"We have offered for our Chief Operating Officer to hold talks with the union which shows how committed we are to resolving this impasse. The union have refused to do the right thing by the public and call off next weeks planned strike.

"We believed the union's offer to meet was a real attempt to resolve this issue ahead of further disruptions to the Christmas mail. We are very disappointed this doesn't appear to be the case."

Australia Post will have contingencies in place to minimise any disruptions next week and expects 75 per cent of its staff will not participate in work stoppages.

"This was a sensible compromise that had the potential to move the process along, free from any disruption to Christmas cards and presents," said Mr Twomey.

"The public have every right to be angry at the union's refusal to remove the threat of a Christmas strike despite Australia Post offering to hold talks at the highest level."

Australia Post has an offer on the table which includes a four percent pay increase, 14 weeks paid maternity leave, an agreement of no forced redundancies and locks in existing entitlements.

This week Fair Work Australia ruled the union could not take industrial action on the 17, 18, 19 and 21 December. The union has sent Australia Post notices of industrial action for 22 and 23 of December.

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For further information, please contact:
Alex Twomey
03 9204 5362

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