The Union over recent weeks has had cause to intervene on extended trading hours and CCTV matters of concern that has resulted in high level discussions with Australia Post at the state level.
Extended Trading Hours at Australia Post Retail Outlets
It is understood that two Area Managers has caused some significant grief with Retail employees at all levels in Retail Outlets over their enthusiasm to introduce potential rostering of employees to perform duty during extended trading hours and in particular Saturday trading.
Examples of this grief had all part time employees in a particular large Retail Outlet rostered to perform additional Saturday trading with the other example of planned Saturday trading being introduced throughout the whole network irrespective of employee including Postal Managers objections with being compelled to perform additional work during Saturday trading.
What the Union has said to Australia Post at the highest State Level?
The State Secretary Jim Metcher has made the following observations and outlined the position of the Union representing retail members in NSW /ACT very clear to Australia Post in terms of extended trading at Retail Outlets:
- The Union does not oppose Australia Post introducing extended trading hours at any Retail Outlet where such a proposition is economically viable;
- The Union does not oppose the opportunity for Retail members having access to additional income in terms of extended trading;
- The Union however objects to Australia Post rostering employees to perform duty as one of their normal shifts during Saturday trading given Retail members are not defined as shift workers; and
- The Union solely rejects any proposition where Retail members are compelled to perform additional duty during any proposed extended trading hours.
As a consequence of the Union representing the interests of all Retail members’ circumstances associated with any extended trading proposition, the following principles have been agreed to with Australia Post at the State level:
1. Any proposal for extended trading hours at any Retail Outlet in NSW/ACT shall be escalated to the State level for consultation and consideration.
2. No Retail member shall be compelled to perform additional duty outside of their normal duty during extended trading hours.
3. Retail Outlets where extended trading hours are proposed, shall be subject to consultation involving Retail members for rostering against extended trading hours by means of labour resources under the following agreed principles;
- Voluntary resources within Retail outlet; and/or
- Voluntary resources outside retail outlet and within network; and/or
- Voluntary resources from adjoining network; and/or
- Casual resources.
Union highlights CCTV Matters of concern and holds Australia Post accountable with legal requirements under NSW Surveillance Laws
It is understood that eight Retail Outlets located in NSW/ACT have had additional CCTV installations installed within the back office operations of the outlet.
The Union involving the State Secretary Jim Metcher in discussions with Australia Post at the high State level, is objecting to CCTV installations that do not comply with the FWA agreement in terms of consultation or statutory legal requirements under the NSW Surveillance Act.
Whilst the Union doesn’t oppose the introduction of a CCTV facility as a security and safety measure within Australia Post workplaces, the Union however objects to the installation of such CCTV measures being introduced for spying on or measuring employee performance or without proper consultation with Retail members or meeting statutory legal requirements.
The Union is presently finalising with Australia Post for the introduction of agreed protocols associated with the introduction of any CCTV facility as a security and safety measure only within an Australia Post Retail Outlet.
Australia Post is yet to provide valid reasons to why additional CCTV facility is being installed into the back office operations of eight Retail outlets.
The Union is also requiring Australia Post to provide information of the locations of where a CCTV facility have yet to be installed in public areas of Retail Outlets as a security and/or safety measure.
In the meantime the CCTV installations at the eight Retail outlet back office operations within NSWACT remain inactive (switched off) until the agreed protocols are finalised and consultation has occurred in accordance with the agreed protocols and the Australia Post Fair Work Agreement 2010.
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