Government bargaining policy a “slap in the face” for workers off the back of profit announcement
Throughout the recent EBA9 bargaining process, management maintained they were bound by the terms of the Federal Government’s Public Sector Workplace Bargaining Policy – restricting wage rise outcomes to an average of two per cent per-annum.
This position was reinforced by Departmental staff and the Minister for Communications during Senate Estimates hearings.
National Secretary Greg Rayner said that while workers played a key role in the company’s successful turnaround, the restriction on their wage rises was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Thirty thousand-odd postal workers last week picked up newspapers and learned not just how well the company had performed, but how that outcome was reflected in excessive salaries and bonuses paid to the company’s top executives, including the former CEO’s final $10.8 million package.
“The Turnbull Government’s interference in our bargaining process prevented our members from achieving a wage outcome that too reflected their contribution to the company’s successful commercial outcomes.
“This is nothing less than a slap in the face for each and every postal worker.”
Greg said the Prime Minister, in his former role of Communications Minister, was personally aware of the arrangements pertaining to the remuneration of the former CEO.
“Malcolm Turnbull himself defended the executive remuneration process citing the independent nature of Australia Post’s board.
“However, that independence wasn’t extended to the determination of wages for workers at the bottom of the food chain.
“The Prime Minister should apologise to every postal worker for subjecting them to his Government’s unfair wage policy while executive remuneration continues to run rampant.”
