3 September 2007

Australia Post has decided to give its staff a 4 per cent pay rise effective immediately.

“The recent decision of the CEPU to seek approval from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to run a secret ballot among members to take industrial action demonstrates to us that they have no intention of returning to the negotiating table any time soon,” said Mr Rod McDonald, Australia Post’s Group Manager, Corporate Human Resources.

“Meanwhile the majority of our employees - many of whom are not union members - are losing at least $50 every fortnight and have been doing so since May,” he said.

“We have been negotiating with the unions and making a number of compromises and alternative proposals over the past 12 months, but we continue to be unable to get a consistent or clear view from them on their claims.

“This latest move to apply to the AIRC means that there will be further delays.  The unions are demonstrating no sense of urgency whatsoever towards delivering a pay rise to Australia Post staff.

“Further delays are not fair to our employees and they’re not fair to Australia Post.  We need to pay competitive rates to retain and attract the staff we want to run the business,” he said.

The 4 per cent pay rise is the first instalment of the 12 per cent increase over 2.5 years, plus a $500 service performance bonus that has been offered as part of EBA7.

Our EBA7 offer also locks in all existing entitlements and award conditions and guarantees job security, however these further improved benefits cannot be provided until an agreement is reached.

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