What is Separate Bundle Delivery (SBD)?
In a nutshell, SBD removes the need for machine sequenced mail to be merged with (non machineable) residue mail. Residue mail will still be sorted into the Vsort frame but machine sequenced and addressed residue mail streams are kept separate, forming two separate bundles for delivery.
Posties are therefore required to sort and merge unaddressed mail and mail from the two separate bundles at the delivery point, rather than merging at the facility prior to commencing delivery duties.
Management say the Union has agreed to SBD, is this true?
NO! The Union has opposed SBD since it was first flagged many years ago and the position remains unchanged due to serious concerns for the health and safety risks of both the postie and the general public.
Further, the Union cannot understand why Australia Post would want to introduce the SBD system of work that is inefficient, more costly and of poor quality in terms of the level of mail missorts and mail delivery service to the community.
Management say Separate Bundle Delivery is safe
This is false. Both Australia Post and the CEPU commissioned expert independent OH&S assessments of the SBD method.
Australia Post maintains that they have addressed all safety concerns and Comcare (the toothless tiger) has ticked off on this.
However, the CEPU’s commissioned team of 3 of Australia’s leading independent expert OH&S specialists have reviewed Post and Comcare’s reports maintaining that there are serious OH&S matters that Post and Comcare have failed to address that do not meet the requirements of the Commonwealth OHS Regulations.
What has my Union done to fight Separate Bundle Delivery so far?
Conciliation conferences were held before Fair Work Australia on 12 and 27 July. The conferences were unsuccessful and the dispute concerning the proposed introduction of Separate Bundle Delivery on all modes of delivery remains unresolved.
At the conclusion of the last conference the CEPU, Australia Post and Fair Work Australia were in agreement that conciliation process had been exhausted.
The Union made it clear that it wished to take the matter to the remaining steps in the dispute settlement process to achieve a resolution, namely mediation and, if authorised, arbitration. The parties have agreed that the steps in the dispute settlement process should be completed as quickly as possible.
It is clear to the Union that Australia Post Senior Delivery Management refuses to recognise the serious OH&S issues identified by the independent consultants engaged by both the Union and Australia Post and are still willing to put Posties and the public at risk while ignoring their corporate obligations in providing a safe working environment.
Where to from here?
Legal proceedings and potential legal fixes are one thing, organising is another.
It is now a requirement for all Union members to react to Australia Post and show them that we won’t settle for unsafe work practices and/or a poorer mail delivery service as result .
We are now embarking on a nationwide campaign opposing the unsafe SBD work practice involving all delivery members across the nation.
The campaign will entail action both internally involving delivery members and also publicly involving the media on the ramifications to the community mail delivery service.
AURs, activists and contacts in metropolitan areas are being brought together in a series of briefings by the CEPU in preparation for workplace action and activities. Metropolitan delivery facilities are being treated as a priority due to the immediate threat of sequenced rounds already operational in workplaces.
Similar meetings and briefings will take place in regional and rural areas with special visits to delivery workplaces to be undertaken throughout NSW and the ACT NSW over the coming weeks.
What do I need to do to get involved with my Union campaign against this unsafe SBD?
- Download and print out the attachments at the top of this post and display them prominently at your workplace
- Get your workmates together and have a meeting and talk about the points raised in this bulletin using the attached campaign update and FAQ sheet
- Forward your contact details update sheet for your workplace back to the CEPU as soon as possible
Nominate a Union rep!
It is absolutely critical that all delivery workplaces who do not already have an Authorised Union Representative (AUR) hold immediate elections and elect a rep as soon as possible.
Communications during the campaign is going to be crucial and it is of utmost importance that your Union official and a nominated representative of Union members in your workplace are able to have access to communicate with each other at short notice.
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