Over the past few days members have had an opportunity to provide their feedback to their Union and also during workplace briefings by management on the Australia Post EBA8 offer made to the Union. The feedback received by members has been overwhelming and we would like to acknowledge all those members who have taken the time to share their views with us.
Where members say in general – the EBA8 offer meets the mark
The general feedback from members say the EBA8 offer meets the mark in the following areas:
- Protection of all existing Award entitlements and the RRR Agreement and benefits
- Job security along with the renewed commitment to maximise quality full time employment across the business and for employees to have access to additional earnings
- Establishment of key initiatives such as amongst other things – safety, employee respect and recognition with a focus on delivery modelling around job design for maximising full time employment
- A commitment to continue to progress on non – financial claims and joining with Post to identify productivity improvements and innovations to benefit Post’s profitability, customer satisfaction and employee working conditions without a requirement to reach productivity benchmark.
Where members say the EBA8 offer falls short
From the feedback members have shared with us, Post’s pay offer mix has fallen short. Members have been very vocal regarding the manner of how the 1.5% + 3% +3% +3% pay increase is structured and it is clear that Post’s desires to link pay outcomes to profit and mail/parcel delivery service standards being met is not popular, however reaction has been somewhat divided on this point.
What is unequivocally clear though is that members are fundamentally opposed to any APSS/CSS Final Average Salary (FAS) freeze affecting retirement benefits!
The obstacles within your Union affecting you – NEW INFO!
Your Union is structured by a National (Divisional) Office and six relevant state branches (NSW/ACT, QLD, WA, SA/NT, TAS and Vic).
The issue facing members internally within their Union is where some very senior officials (not in NSW/ACT, not in Qld, not in WA, not in SA/NT, and not in Tas) are advocating and more so inciting the preference for the APSS scheme to close altogether and are promoting the notion that members would be better off fending for themselves by exercising choice of fund at the Superannuation Guarantee Contribution (SGC) rate currently at only 10%.
We think that the option to close the APSS that is being advocated by these senior officials within your Union is not only bizarre, but very dangerous in terms of how out of touch and deranged these senior officials really are.
It would not be unfair for members to demand for these senior Union officials to stop placing their political ideals ahead of securing an EBA8 to provide certainty for the many thousands of members ahead of this year’s Federal Election.
It is common knowledge that Australia Post is confronting a serious situation in having to transition its business and has no choice other than to engage in significant capital investments. In addition, there is the outstanding (and growing) liability in superannuation expense associated with funding the employee defined superannuation benefits within APSS. But that said, the Australia Post position has always been to have the APSS defined benefit remain – in contrast to some senior Union officials who want otherwise in terms of ending APSS and the employee defined benefit plan.
Whilst we all note the financial pressures within Post, your officials in New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia / Northern Territory and Tasmania will continue collectively to work towards finalising a sensible new EBA8 package for CEPU members that contains the security and certainty our members deserve . We will also do whatever it takes with the involvement of our membership to prevent those senior officials within our Union from achieving their aim to destroy the APSS employee defined benefit plan.
We still want to hear from you on these important matters!
As mentioned to members on numerus occasions – any new EBA8 is subject to endorsement by the workforce.
We still want to hear from you and you can have your say by clicking here
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