Postal
After dithering, Post thinks a recession is a good time to cut jobs
(26 May 2009): After sitting on their hands for years, Australia Post announced with lightening speed – in one afternoon – to smash the jobs of nearly 300 call centre workers.
And instead of working with unions to find other ways to approach the restructuring of its call centre function Post decided that now – in a recession – is the best time to throw its employees out on the street.
- The matter received sharp focus at a Senate Estimates hearing yesterday. Senators Catryna Bilyk (TAS) and Dana Wortley (SA) pressed Post over their decision and the way it was carried out ... read more here
By making this decision without any input from unions, Post has broken their own industrial agreements – agreements that tell them they must consult and give unions a chance to influence their decision … before the decision is made.
This is the current attitude that has gripped senior management in Australia Post. We’ve written to Post letting them know exactly how we feel (letter attached).
They have been recently hauled in front of courts about this and measures have been taken to prevent them from making snap decisions that affect the livelihoods of their employees.
What is especially disgraceful about this is that the Managing Director of Post vowed to unions in February this year that this abysmal approach to consultation would stop. We ask members to measure Post’s words against Post’s actions.
Key points:
- Post told call centre workers about the job cuts at the same time we were told.
- Post has been working on this plan for months, but withheld information from the union about what was happening.
- In February this year national officials of the union asked Post what was happening – Post replied that NO DECISION HAD BEEN MADE ABOUT RATIONALISATION OF THE CENTRES. But reading their letter makes you think this was a matter of regular discussion - wrong! (here's their letter to us)
- Two weeks ago union officials from our NSW branch asked management what was happening with the call centre in Sydney and management pretended not to know about anything that would be happening to the centre.
- Post’s letter to the unions focussed on the good news about 137 jobs to be created in Melbourne’s call centre. That is good news – but did they give any information about the jobs of current employees? No. We estimate over 200 jobs will be cut.
- Urgent discussions were held with Post on Thursday about why it is doing this now - further talks are scheduled for tomorrow.
- The union’s absolute focus will be to save jobs for union members who want them.
Have a view? Let us know what you think via feedback@cepu.asn.au