Postal
Justice, Australia Post style: wear a badge, lose a day's pay
(11 December, 2009): Disruptions to Christmas mail deliveries may become a reality following controversial moves by Australia Post to dock large slabs of pay – for observing bans for as little as 15 minutes.
“Our members understand they will lose pay if they stop work but Australia Post is now telling them they will lose their day's pay if for following bans - such as wearing a badge at work - for as little as 15 minutes," said CEPU National President Ed Husic in a media release today (download).
“This is completely over the top and it’s a telling example that highlights the heavy handed, unfair approach we have to constantly battle against within Australia Post.
“This dispute now becomes harder to sort out, due to Post’s actions. Disruptions to mail deliveries are more likely because our members see no point being at work if they’re not getting paid for following a ban.
“They’re telling us that they’re not putting up with being bullied like this – they know Australia Post is only doing this because management think fear of losing a day’s pay will keep people on the job.
“But it’s doing the opposite, at the worst time of year for mail deliveries.”
The union said its members preferred to use bans in its industrial action campaign because of its impact on management, while limiting the effects on the public.
Over the last 48 hours Australia Post employees have been handed what amounts to stand-down notices telling them that:
“Australia Post refuses to accept the performance of any work by you until you are prepared to perform all of your normal duties.”
Employees were also told that they will not be entitled to any pay on a day in which they engage in any of the partial work bans – even if it is only for 15 minutes.
“Under the law, employers can choose to ignore a ban, partly deduct or fully deduct pay from employees carrying out work bans. Australia Post is deliberately choosing the hard path, telling people not to bother turning up to work if they follow a ban," explained Mr Husic.
“We wrote to Australia Post calling on them to re-think their hardline approach and we asked them to respond, before bans commence today. But Australia Post, in the style demonstrated through the EBA negotiations, has refused to budge.
“We now have to reconsider options available to us under the protected industrial action and disruptions to Christmas mail unfortunately may now become a reality."
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