29 August 2007

Claims that Australia Post’s EBA7 pay offer isn’t keeping pace with CPI have been rejected by the corporation.

Australia Post is offering a 12 per cent increase over the life of the 2.5 year agreement plus one $500 performance bonus. The agreement also locks in all existing award entitlements and conditions.

Mr Rod McDonald, head of Corporate Human Resources for the corporation, said annual EBA wage increases in Australia are currently running at 3.7 per cent.

“Our offer is a very good one. In fact, since we first began enterprise bargaining agreements way back in 1992, the pay offer and bonus has always outstripped CPI. Our current pay offer will continue to provide increases well in excess of CPI,” he said.

Mr McDonald urged the unions to sign the agreement for the sake of Australia Post’s staff.

“We’re ready to pay and have been for months. It’s our people who are being disadvantaged.

“We just don’t understand the unions’ intransigence. We have had more than 40 meetings with them since negotiations began almost 12 months ago.

“During that time, we have compromised on a range of issues to try and get an agreement for our people,” Mr McDonald said.

The CEPU will be in the Australia Industrial Relations Commission tomorrow seeking leave to conduct a secret ballot amongst its members that could be a forerunner to industrial action.

Australia Post says that it will campaign vigorously to encourage staff to vote against strike action if such a ballot took place.

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Media contact:  Ian Cropper   (03) 9204 5362

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