EBA7: Australia
Post and Unions agree on way forward
Thursday 18 March
2010
The CEPU, CPSU and
Australia Post have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU),
outlining a framework for negotiations to achieve a new Fair Work
Agreement.
The MOU
is a result of recent discussions between Australia Post, the CEPU
and CPSU.
The MOU
is a major step forward in building a stronger relationship between
Australia Post and the CEPU and CPSU, after a breakdown in
negotiations late year resulted in members taking protected
industrial action.
CEPU
National President Ed Husic said, “The MOU provides a great platform
to bring everyone together to help get an agreement between us.
We’ll be devoting all our energies to this process, because our
members know it’s vitally important for the security of their wages
and conditions.”
There’s
still much work to be done, to make sure we get an agreement that
satisfies members’ priorities for security, safety and pay. The MOU
doesn’t give us the new agreement – but it does help create a better
negotiating environment to get it.
The MOU
commits all parties to a relationship of mutual obligation built on
consultation, transparency and trust.
As a
gesture of good faith the MOU contains commitments from all parties
that will apply immediately:
-
Australia
Post will honour its previous commitment of a 2 per cent pay
increase in August 2010 and a further pay increase of 2 per cent
in December 2010;
-
The CEPU and
the CPSU agree not to organise or take any industrial action
while negotiations are progressing;
-
Australia
Post will host a summit in April
between senior executives including
the Managing Director and senior CEPU representatives on the
future challenges facing the business, the unions and their
members; and
-
The
removal of Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate’s in bonus targets
for managers.
The
agreement signed today will operate while the parties negotiate a
Fair Work Agreement this year with negotiations commencing next
week.
Planning will begin
next week for the timetabling of the talks and issues that need to
be covered off, ahead of the major summit between the parties in
April.
The
CEPU would like to thank members for their support throughout this
long campaign. We look forward to promptly reaching an agreement,
which will protect members’ pay and conditions.
MEMBERS CAN DOWNLOAD AND PRINT A COPY OF THE MOU BY CLICKING HERE
If you
require any further information, please contact Branch Assistant
Secretary Shane Murphy or Branch Officials Peter Chaloner, Gil
Enzon, TK Ly, Nathan Metcher, Greg Rayner or Aaron Stockdale on (02)
9893 7822.
