CEPU members to vote on protected industrial action

The CEPU has today lodged an official application for a secret ballot of members to approve taking protected industrial action against Australia Post.

This will be  the largest ballot for protected industrial action since the start of the Fair Work Act.  It will ask nearly 18,000 CEPU members at Australia Post to take a wide range of actions in an effort to help reinstate a range of key job security conditions.

We’ve been trying for 18 months through genuine talks to get these conditions back – but Australia Post has refused to listen to our members’ concerns. 

Australia Post workers want an agreement that gives them greater job security. We know workplaces have to change but we don’t want to be stuck on a one way street – where management gets all the change it wants but all we get are cuts to take home pay or more part time work with fewer full time jobs.

It’s got to the stage where we think Post senior management has WorkChoices on ‘life-support’ at Australia Post.

We’ve tried talking.  Now’s the time for action.

This action has been taken to help members secure a fairer EBA7 – one that protects your security, safety and pay.

• Measures to help protect full-time jobs
• A strong dispute resolution clause
• Maintaining workers’ shift penalties, and take home pay
• An end to the use of company paid doctors who are forcing employees back to work even when they are still sick or injured

The ballot application was announced today at Parliament House, Canberra by CEPU National President Ed Husic, and CEPU NSW Postal & Telecommunications Branch Secretary Jim Metcher alongside Australia Post CEPU members. The Victorian Branch of the Union formally presented Australia Post management with a copy of the ballot application at Australia Post headquarters.  

WHERE TO FROM HERE

• Fair Work Australia (FWA) (which has taken over from the AIRC) will now need to hold a special hearing to process our application for a secret ballot.
• We have asked for the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct the ballot.
• We have also asked that members vote via a postal ballot, sent directly to their homes.
• We will provide you with more information once FWA make a decision on our application and we have consulted with the AEC over the ballot timing (if FWA approve our application).