As you may have seen in the news, our economy is beginning to bounce back. As unexpected as every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been for the impacts on our way of life and the way that we work, the nation’s economic outlook throughout this period has become equally unpredictable.
Across many parts of the country, the rebound has taken markets and economists by surprise. As our cities emerge from various states of lockdowns, the housing market continues to perform strongly, rents are increasing and employers are on a hiring spree.
With this, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped to 3.5% for the 12 months to the December 2021 quarter – a massive increase to economists’ predictions just months earlier.
Whilst CPI for the current quarter has not yet been determined, the conflict unfolding in Ukraine will only add further pressure to members’ cost of living – driven largely by an increase in transportation costs as western nations continue to apply sanctions against Russia, which includes their fuel exports.
Your Union moved quickly to secure agreement with Australia Post late last year for safeguards to the wages of members, employed under the Australia Post EBA, against any freak upward trends in CPI. A commitment to ensure that wages raised under that EBA would increase by at least the rate of CPI was subsequently secured.
Today, we’ve secured the same arrangement for members employed by Decipha.
Put simply, if CPI rises above 3% during the life of the Decipha EBA, our members’ wages will not be increased by just 3%, but will at least match the rate of CPI for the preceding 12-month period.
This important outcome guarantees that members will not be left behind being unable to keep up with the cost of living, as our economy continues to rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine continues to develop.
This is an incredible outcome to be reached outside the bargaining period and one which would certainly not have been secured without the strong density of our Union’s membership across Australia Post and Decipha.
It is important that we continue to grow in strength at Australia Post, to continue delivering the best possible outcomes for our members and their families. If you work with somebody who is not yet a CEPU member, ask them to join today.
Should you require any further information, please contact Branch Assistant Secretary Peter Chaloner or Branch Officials Cade Anderson, Phil Kessey, TK Ly, Liam Murphy, Peter O’Connell, Giselle Saba, Dharmpal Singh or Dennis Williams on (02) 9893 7822.
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