Australia Post’s Authorised Holiday proposal
Since announcing Post’s proposal to remove the Authorised Holiday in lieu of an additional day’s annual leave instead, your Union has been swamped with feedback from members in strong opposition to the proposal. The many hundreds of emails and website messages received from members over the weekend were in support of your Union’s position to oppose the change to the long standing Authorised Holiday.
Your Union will now formally oppose any new EBA that contains the change to the annual Authorised Holiday (Union picnic day) provision that our members currently enjoy and is normally scheduled between the Christmas and New Years break.
Working in extreme weather conditions
With weather extremes occurring more and more often, your Union has proposed a study to identify how best to protect the health and safety of our members forced to work in such conditions. Your Union has recommended to Post that members need to be involved in any such study and recommendations as a result of the study.
Sunday rostering and additional annual leave
Currently shift working members who are rostered to perform work on Sundays are eligible for additional annual leave whether they work these days or not (maximum of 1 week additional). The additional annual leave is a long standing compensation for shift workers who are required to work on Sunday and do not have the opportunity to spend this day with their families. Post is proposing that if you swap out your Sunday shift, it will no longer contribute to being eligible for attracting the additional annual leave.
Working alone
The health and safety risks of members working alone have again been raised with Post. Examples such as assault against box sorters in high crime areas and an employee being trapped underneath a roller door for four hours were provided to Post. Your Union has made it clear we are opposing any changes that jeopardises the security and health and safety of employees.
Meal allowance
Post is again proposing to convert all remaining cash overtime meal allowance to being paid directly into employee bank accounts with your wages. The Union continues to remain opposed to this change as the meal allowance is to provide cash in advance to an employee to allow them the purchase a meal when undertaking overtime duty and having this paid with wages undermines the purpose of the allowance.
Consultation on the purchase of new plant and equipment
Your Union is seeking agreement that there will be a formal process involving the union when Post purchases new plant and equipment such as machinery and uniforms. In recent time, purchases like wet weather gear in delivery, new vehicles in transport and uniforms have bypassed the consultation process and has resulted in major conflict in some circumstances that could have been avoided.
Your Union has put Post on notice that firmer commitments to consultation prior to making such purchases, including proper OH&S assessments should feature in any new EBA8.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on these topics and encourage members to send us their comments by clicking here.
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