Good News For Postal Workers!

Australian Industrial Relations Commission
Approves New Post EBA6 for
34,000 Australian Postal Workers

Australia Post EBA6 Certified by Australian Industrial Commission as of 24 November 2004

The recent High Court Electrolux decision had created uncertainty for all Unions and Employers about some enforceable matters included in Federal Enterprise Agreements. Despite this uncertainty and after some delay, Vice President Michael Lawler of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) has on 24 November 2004, certified the Australia Post Enterprise Agreement 2004 – 2006 (EBA6) covering some 34,000 Postal Workers across Australia. The new EBA6 wage increases including all of its terms and conditions are now enforceable by law.

According to Q’LD CEPU Branch Secretary Cameron Thiele, “34,000 CEPU Postal members are the deserving winners and should not under value their achievements with winning higher than average wage increases and new benefits/conditions under the new EBA6.

Cameron said, without doubt the Union’s EBA6 Securing Our Future campaign, has delivered a good deal for the immediate and long term interests of Postal workers at all levels and their families.”

The CEPU will be holding Australia Post accountable to ensure that the terms and conditions of the new EBA6 are all implemented without delay. A range of important matters, such as joint examinations and reviews including future EBA6 wage increase instalments, will need to be the subject of further discussions with Post following the delay by the AIRC in certifying the new Agreement.

New additional maternity leave, carer’s leave and paternity leave entitlements are all effective as of 24 November 2004.

The CEPU urges all Union representatives, members and their workplaces to implement the new section 3 “Employee Consultation” and Section 12 “Dispute Resolution” processes given the legal requirement of management representatives to abide by these two new important provisions contained in EBA6 as of 24 November 2004.

Regular EBA6 information shall be provided to all CEPU members and their local Authorised Union representatives

Sourced from "The Latest"
Thank You Ian for your regular informative newsletter.
Anyone wishing to be added to Ian's Email list should send him an E mail at cdtsqld@cepu.asn.au

Govt Move To Deny Pay Rise For 1.6 Million Workers An Abuse Of Power

02 December 2004
From ACTU http://www.actu.asn.au/public/news/1101961598_23184.html

The Howard Government's move to delay the national minimum wage case until after the May Federal Budget would deny 1.6 million low paid workers a pay rise and is an abuse of its power says the ACTU.
Responding to the proposal announced today by Minister Kevin Andrews ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said:
"Unions will strenuously oppose the Government's move to delay the minimum wage case in a hearing before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission tomorrrow (Friday 3 December).

The ACTU is concerned that the Government wants to delay the minimum wage case until after 1 July 2005 when it will control both Houses of Parliament and can bring in laws that would make it almost impossible for low paid workers to get a pay rise.

This would be an unacceptable abuse of power striking at the lowest paid most hard working Australians.
It would also be a salutary lesson in the Howard Government's true character and its values if the first thing it did with its new-found Senate majority was to deny the lowest paid Australians their one opportunity each year for a pay rise.
The Government says it wants to delay the minimum wage case until beyond the May Budget until new economic forecasts are available but Australia's economic growth is still strong and even the Government acknowledges that unemployment is at historic lows.
All of the facts and all of the economic forecasts are carefully considered by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the minimum wage case.

There is no credible evidence that rises in minimum wages in the recent years have had a negative impact on jobs growth - pay rises for the low paid in award-reliant industries have not cost jobs. And yet the Government still wrongly asserts the contrary.

This move speaks volumes about the Government's dishonesty.

For the whole election campaign the Government trumpeted the strength of the economy and less than two months later it now says low paid workers should not benefit from the economic growth they have helped generate."

New Howard Govt Law Threatens Right Of Employees To Union Representation

From ACTU http://www.actu.asn.au/public/news/1101960964_22337.html
02 December 2004
Employees faced with unsafe or unfair workplaces will find it harder to access information, advice and support from unions under new laws introduced into Parliament by the Howard Government today.
Commenting on the proposed new ‘right of entry’ laws tabled in Federal Parliament today, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
“The very important role that unions play in the community by ensuring workplaces are safe, advising employees of their rights and entitlements and representing union members will be threatened by the Government’s new ‘right of entry’ laws tabled in Parliament today.
Industrial organisers and staff of unions visit workplaces to check their members are safe and to view pay records to ensure employees are being paid according to the relevant award or agreement.

This is part of the day-to-day work of unions and is a fundamental human right.
These unnecessary and intrusive new laws will disrupt this important role and infringe on the right of employees to be effectively represented by unions and to be free from exploitation or abusive work practices.
Employers that have nothing to hide and are happy to allow unions to enter workplaces do not need these new laws. Blocking unions from visiting workplaces will hide from scrutiny bad bosses that underpay or harass their staff and protect sweatshops that overwork people.

Worrying aspects of the Bill include:
A cumbersome and rigid set of requirements for unions seeking to enter workplaces including giving unnecessarily detailed information in a written notice.

Lifetime bans from visiting workplaces for union officers that infringe the law’s strict requirements - a more severe penalty than most drink drivers.

A limit on visiting workplaces to sign up new union members to just twice a year - this is a major restriction on the fundamental right of employees to join a union.

A ban on including ‘right of entry’ provisions in Certified Agreements even when employers consent to union access.

Limitations on the application of State right of entry laws. This will complicate rather than simplify existing State and Federal industrial regulations.

Allowing employers to determine where discussions between employers and employees are held. This could mean discussions are held next to the manager’s office and could stop employees raising personal or sensitive issues such as bullying or harassment.

This proposed new law is clearly an important part of the Howard Government’s radical agenda for workplace relations. It is designed to prevent unions from entering workplaces so that other aspects of their agenda such as casualisation, low pay, job insecurity and the erosion of basic entitlements can take place hidden from view.
This is a fundamentally flawed and dangerous piece of legislation that should be rejected by the Senate and withdrawn by the Government.