Australia Post and postal unions CEPU and CPSU have finalised negotiations over a new Fair WorkAgreement that will give staff a pay rise of up to 10% over three years, protect penalty rates, and
offer enhanced benefits such as the cashing out of annual leave.The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the CEPU and the CSPU signed withAustralia’s Post CEO and Managing Director Ahmed Fahour in March this year. It outlined a newframework for negotiations signalling a major breakthrough in the relationship between the threeparties after negotiations on a new workplace agreement stalled late last year.
“The Fair Work Agreement is a three-year deal and provides staff and the business with thestability and certainty to focus on protecting and defending our existing products and services inthe face of a changing business environment,” Fahour said.
The pay increase of 10% over three years stipulated in the agreement equals a 3% increase eachyear. 3% of the pay increases will be based on meeting service performance and an overall increasein letters, parcels and international mail. This is consistent with Australia Post’s focus onbusiness performance, which is directly linked to providing a better service for customers.
Another key point relates to cashing out annual leave. As part of the agreement, staff who haveaccumulated more than six weeks, or four weeks for shift workers, will be able to “cash out” thisentitlement once a year.
The contract also protects penalty rates as shift penalty rates are recognised as an importantpart of an employee’s take home pay. Existing shift penalty rates will remain where possible andany changes to shift times will require consultation by all parties at the senior level.
An additional benefit concerns maternity leave with a one week increase from 13 to 14 weeks.
In terms of safety, Australia Post will work together with the unions to reach a safetyagreement that offers greater safety in the workplace. There have also been major changes to themanagement of injured workers, with a focus on employees choosing to access their own family doctorin the event of a workplace injury to treat and manage their safe return back into theworkplace.
Under the deal, workers will also profit from flexible workplace arrangements strengtheningflexible work hours including the request for caring for a child.
“This is a balanced agreement that engages and protects people’s rights, while also allowing thebusiness to meet its challenges. It gives us a shared sense of hope for the future and gives usconfidence that we can all meet these challenges together,” Fahour concluded.
The 100-page document of the complete agreement will be mailed to all staff before voting in aballot, Australia Post added.
