Labor National Conference delegates Jim Metcher and Susan Sheather from within the CEPU have received support from Federal Labor’s supreme governing body, the ‘National ALP Conference’, and Minister Conroy for a Federal Government Inquiry into Australia Post’s treatment of its sick and injured employees.
Following negotiations between the Federal Government and the CEPU the National ALP Conference voted on a resolution agreeing to the inquiry. The Conference noted with concern the way Post workers are being treated. The full resolution is listed below;
| 45th Australian Labor Party National Conference. 31 July 2009
Resolution 101R—Chapter 11 Mover: Jim Metcher—Seconder: Susan Sheather “Conference notes with seriousness the growing number of reports that are critical of the way Australia Post manages the claims and cases of sick and injured employees who sustain work-related injuries. Conference is concerned that through various measures by Post management—including the use of Facility Nominated Doctors—employees’ rights to workers compensation entitlements and workplace rehabilitation are being undermined. Conference further notes with concern the claims of Australia Post misappropriating the powers available to it under section 89 of the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 by making a determination that deliberately creates a legal conflict with provisions set out under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and the industrial instruments for the purpose of accepting liability for injuries sustained in the workplace and/or the management of sick and injured employees. Conference therefore resolves that the Federal Government undertake an immediate independent inquiry into these alarming circumstances. The inquiry should consider whether the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 needs to be amended.” |
CEPU NSW Branch Secretary Jim Metcher said “we’re pleased that the Union’s long standing call for an Inquiry into Australia Post has now been sanctioned by the Federal Government.
“The Inquiry into Post’s treatment of its sick and injured workers is necessary to highlight and – more so – remove the inappropriate conduct against sick and injured employees by Australia Post involving their company Facility Nominated Doctors (FND).
Mr Metcher labelled the inappropriate conduct a scam;
Ø “whereby employees are failing to receive their rights to workers compensation entitlements or having limited access to proper workplace rehabilitation arrangements to recover from medical conditions caused from workplace injuries;
Ø purposely designed by Australia Post senior management to limit records and liability associated with loss time injuries sustained in the workplace that creates false report cards on workplace health and safety;
Ø being supported by a culture that rewards managers with cash bonus incentives as a share of the savings achieved in reducing the costs associated with sick and injured workers receiving their rights and entitlements;
Ø compelling sick and injured workers to attend company paid doctors when notifying an injury or the employee suffers the consequences with disciplinary action.”
Mr Metcher further claimed “the role of the company doctors in the scam is to provide medical reports to Australia Post for the purpose of determining workers compensation claims against liability for loss time injuries that resulted in employees forced to utilise their accrued unused personal leave entitlements or access taxpayer funded sickness benefits for survival and treatment of medical conditions as a result of their workplace injuries.”
Mr Metcher said “the scam is ‘Cash for Compo’ and it needed to stop now!”
Mr Metcher concluded saying; “discussions will be held with the Federal Government over coming days on the arrangements for the Federal Government Inquiry to commence and conclude to enable its findings and report to be made as soon as practicable to ensure that no more sick and injured workers and their families fall victim to the scam”
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