EBA8 negotiatons continued last week covering the topics of recent employment freeze announcement, allowances, full time employment, relief resources in Retail and Delivery and the use of contractors. National committee negotiations are scheduled for this week with retail and transport committees meeting on specific matters .
EMPLOYMENT FREEZE – STATES TO HOLD SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK
After significant pressure from your Union, Australia Post have agreed to apply interim arrangements under the employment freeze announced last week until m eetings are held this week between State Secretaries and senior management representatives representing all business units to discuss and resolve matters associated with the employment freeze .
ALLOWANCES
Many of the allowances in the current agreement have not increased for well over long periods and we have made it very clear we expect all allowances to be indexed to pay rises in the new agreement. After the review of member feedback, an increase in the level of allowances and broadening their coverage has been suggested to Post by your Union. This includes:
- Increasing the meal allowance
- Increasing the shoe allowance
- Extending the forklift allowance so that it applies to all forklift operators not just the SP01 category
- An allowance for all members operating load shifting powered equipment
- Extending the recall allowance to cover all instances of staff being recalled – not just for emergencies
- State specific ‘remote locality’ travel subsidy
- Post has indicated that it will look at reimbursement of airfares upfront prior to travel
FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND RELIEF STAFF
Consistent with our commitment to maximising full time employment opportunities, the Union wants part time workers who regularly work full time hours to be converted to full time positions. In addition, the Union is arguing that:
- Seniority should apply when permanent full time positions are being filled by part time to full time or to part time permanent or full time roles by fixed term employees.
- Casuals employed on a regular basis should have their length of service recognised so they can move through the incremental levels and not be stuck on the lowest pay level forever.
- An increase in leave reserves and permanent relief staff employed on a regional basis is necessary to enable members access to and approval of long service leave entitlements .
CONTRACTORS
Given Post’s ongoing announcements and concern of significant mail decline, the Union has argued that existing work that has been contracted out over the years should be in sourced to maintain the employment of members employed in occupational groups that are hit hardest by mail decline. In an attempt to offset the incentive to contract out, the Union suggests that where contractors are utilised , then they should not be engaged on terms and conditions of employment of any less than Post employees.
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