As you are aware, your Union issued a statement recently advising members of your NSW/ACT, Qld, SA/NT and Tas Branches’ decision in not supporting the Fas freeze in EBA8.
This decision was assisted given the overwhelming feedback received from members unequivocally opposed to Australia Post’s proposal to freeze the Final Average Salary (FAS) for defined benefit superannuation purposes for the duration of a new EBA8.
Following this announcement by your state branches – Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour has today revised the EBA8 offer by ditching the FAS freeze on defined super benefit.
Post’s revised EBA8 offer
Australia Post’s revised offer presents much more attractively.
The key features of Australia Post’s new offer are summarised below for members’ information:
- A commitment to keeping the APSS defined benefit fund running for existing members and the full pay rate increase of 10.5% will now count toward FAS
- A new back to back EBA8 continuing on from EBA7 commencing from 1 August 2013 and expiring 31 December 2016
- Protection of all existing Award entitlements and the RRR Agreement and benefits
- A renewed commitment to core workplace principles – safety, respect and recognition
- A commitment to work together on a new delivery model to maximise full-time employment and to consider a new mode of transport for posties
- A culture and productivity program to deliver new initiatives and innovations to benefit Post customers, employees and the business.
The above key features of the EBA8 offer are noted and welcomed by your Union and in our opinion puts members in the best possible position with the important certainty and security with their jobs and overall employment conditions moving forward.
This is particularly very important ahead of this year’s Federal Election where any change in Government may result in a return to anti worker Industrial Relations legislation.
But… pay offer still linked to $1 profit margin
Your Union still believes the offer falls short of providing members with the pay outcomes that they have worked hard for and deserve moving forward with any new Agreement.
Australia Post’s repeated pay offer of a total 10.5% increase between now and December 2016 (paid in instalments of 1.5%, 3%, 3%, 3%) is still dependant on Australia Post producing a profit margin of $1 in the preceding financial year where a wage increase falls due.
Although Post are fairly confident of producing increased profit margins off the back of significant infrastructure capital investments – this will take time and regardless of the forecasts, is not a sound guarantee for a wage outcome for members.
For these reasons your Union will continue to advocate for a wage outcome that is not dependant on factors which are out of our members’ direct control.
Where to from here?
Your Union will meet with Post again next week in an attempt to finalise negotiations to enable a back-to-back Agreement to begin.
Prior to this next Union summit with the CEO, we need to hear from you.
Tell us what you think of Post’s new offer
Members need to note that we are indeed reading every single piece of correspondence that has been received thus far and I thank our members for taking the time to provide their views as negotiations have progressed.
After all the members are the union and without members there are no union to represent employees employed within Australia Post on anything, let alone during the important EBA process.
It is important that we again hear from you again following this revised EBA8 offer from Post.
You can send us your feedback on Post’s revised offer by clicking here.
We look forward to updating you on the outcome of next week’s talks with Post.
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