It is with great disappointment that I inform our members that Australia Post’s Chief Operating Officer Jim Marshall yesterday rejected the Union’s offer to attend urgent EBA talks involving himself and Managing Director Graeme John to resolve outstanding issues preventing a new EBA7 being reached.
This decision by Australia Post’s most top paid executives was made following the Union acting in good faith by withdrawing all active protected industrial action bans currently in place.
Therefore, I must firstly inform all members that protected industrial action of any kind whatsoever is no longer in place effective immediately up and until at least midnight, Tuesday 22 December 2009.
Secondly, due to Post’s decision to reject the Union’s offer to hold talks, the CEPU resolves that it is essential for all CEPU members at Australia Post to be prepared to participate in a nationwide 24 hour stoppage commencing on Tuesday 22 December 2009.
Thirdly, the CEPU is holding a protest rally to be attended by as many members as possible at 12 noon to 2pm, Tuesday 22 December outside Australia Post headquarters, Prince Alfred Park 219-241 Cleveland Street Strawberry Hills.
Finally, the CEPU will be seeking instructions from members in attendance at this protest rally to consider a further stoppage to occur as from Wednesday 23 December and beyond.
Further confirmation and information regarding the stoppage and the protest rally will be forthcoming to all members employed in all occupational areas of Australia Post shortly.
So please, I ask all members to be vigilant in being alert and passing on all communications to other members received from the Union via SMS, e-bulletin and website at www.cepu.org.
It is important that all members do this given Union circulars by mail to workplaces are being intercepted by the management in a lot of areas.
Local workplace representatives are currently being contacted by their Union Officials for the potential organising of busses to be hired to provide the ability of regional members to be transported from reasonable country locations to the protest rally.
I urge all ACT and regional NSW local representatives to determine whether members in their areas would consider making the trip to Sydney and discuss their bus transport requirements with their allocated CEPU official directly.
Can I take this opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices made by all CEPU members who have participated in action and have been prepared to give up their wages over the past week in pursuit of a new Agreement that protects their job security, safety and pay.
This includes the record number of new CEPU members joining the Union in the past two weeks who have made this decision in order to participate in protected action side by side with their workmates. A warm welcome to the Union to all of you.
The choices for CEPU members are clear, being either we collectively kick in to fight for our rights or just give up and concede that Australia Post’s anti-worker management regime can continue to do whatever they please, whenever they please – forever!
Members should also be assured, your Union will not be canceling any further protected action notices until an in-principle agreement is reached with Australia Post that provides for your security, safety and pay at work.
Again all members are asked to share this information with those who may not receive this email to ensure we are well organized for maximizing the affect on Australia Post commencing from Tuesday’s nationwide action.
For further information and the latest news on your EBA7 campaign members they can contact their Branch Official or watch for updates on our website at www.cepu.org.
SMS text messaging and e-Bulletins will be the source of communications to all members leading into the actions and events that are to occur from next Tuesday.
As always, I encourage and welcome all our members’ feedback, which can be sent by emailing feedback@cepu.org or simply replying to my email.
Yours in Unity,
JIM METCHER
BRANCH SECRETARY
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