MEDIA RELEASE - Problems at Australia Post go Deeper than Luxury Watches - Union
The union representing postal workers is disgusted at today’s revelations that Australia Post’s CEO and Board gifted $12,000 in watches to senior employees – and says it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems plaguing Australia Post.
CEPU Communications Union National Secretary, Greg Rayner said “It’s outrageous that Australia Post’s CEO and Board gifted $3,000 watches to four senior, highly paid employees. But it’s not surprising given the other shocking decisions coming out of Australia Post’s leadership this year.
“In the middle of a pandemic, Australia Post decided to slow down deliveries right when Australians need the service the most. This seriously says something about the motivations of Australia Post’s Executive team, Chair and Board.
“The watches scandal today is just the tip of the iceberg. If you look below the surface – there are far greater problems plaguing our network.
“The Government needs to intervene further than just wiping out the CEO – Australia Post needs a whole reshuffle to get their leadership team right. The Board must step aside too.
“At the forefront of every decision made by Australia Post should be the safety of their workforce, and the quality of services they provide. That’s clearly not on their minds otherwise they would not be slowing down deliveries and putting incredible pressure on their workers in the middle of a pandemic.
The results of a survey released today of over 1000 CEPU members participating in Australia Post’s Alternate Day Delivery Model, has given a dire warning, as posties are engaging in unsafe work practices in an attempt to clear delivery backlogs and postage delays that are still being experienced across the network.
The survey found:
- 57% of traditional posties, delivering both letters and small parcels predominantly by motorcycle, said they left letters-based products behind at the delivery centre, or brought them back where they remained undelivered for more than one business day.
- Of those, the average number of letters were 201 per postie per response
- 51% of posties said they left behind, or brought back, parcel products (including premium products such as Express Post) they were unable to deliver on their run, on the day the parcel was due for delivery.
- Of those, the average number of parcels undelivered on the day they were due was 44
- 43% of posties admitted to not adhering to all footpath and nature strip speed limits whilst performing the delivery function of their role
- 84% of posties said they were unable to complete their duties within their rostered hours. 34% of those said they considered the level of overtime required to complete their run to be unreasonable
- 55% admitted to not taking all their applicable breaks in order to complete their duties
“These delivery backlogs are a direct result of Government changes allowing Australia Post to neglect their regulatory obligations by slowing the network down to second day deliveries.
“We’ve warned from the very beginning that reducing the frequency of deliveries in the middle of a global pandemic is a recipe for disaster.
“These survey results paint a seriously bleak picture of what’s happening behind the scenes on our postal network. Now the watches scandal needs to be a watershed moment to get our network right.
“Australians are relying on our postal service now more than ever – and they’re being let down by the Federal Government and Australia Post management.
“We will continue to engage with Australia Post to pursue a delivery model that provides job security for posties and provides the efficiencies the company requires to remain sustainable. However, our members’ health and safety and the quality of services expected by the public must be at the forefront of those considerations”
Media contact: Amelia Brock, 0430 187 161
