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AGREEMENT FOR EXTENDED SHIFT ARRANGEMENTS FOR TECHNICAL STAFF

      PDF Copy of Agreement

      A.  SCOPE
      B.  OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES
      C.  CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
         1.  Shift Duration
         2.  Shift Cycles/Rosters
         3.  Penalty Payments
         4.  Overtime
         5.  Emergency Duty
         6.  Meal Breaks
         7.  Annual Recreation Leave
         8.  Sick Leave
         9.  Special Leave
         10. Bereavement Leave
         11. Other Leave
         12. Long Service Leave
         13. Higher Duties
         14. Staffing
         15. OHS  
         16. Review Process 

A. SCOPE

1. This agreement applies to the introduction of 12 Hour shifts for technical staff employed in mail processing facilities.

2. The agreement is between the Australian Postal Corporation and the Communication Workers' Union (Telecommunications and Services Division).

3. The agreement shall operate for 2 years from the time it is agreed to by both parties.

4. During the period of the agreement any disputes or problems over the application or interpretation of the agreement shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute settling procedure outlined in the 1992 Enterprise Agreement between the parties to this agreement.

B. OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES

1. This agreement only applies only to Technical Staff located at Mail Processing Facilities. The introduction of extended shifts will not be automatic and will be subject to consultation and agreement with staff, the staff organisation and Australia Post.

2. The introduction of these extended shifts will be on a centre by centre basis and must not adversely affect the viability and operations of the Mail Processing Facility.

3. The introduction of extended shifts shall not result in oxi increase in either staff numbers or costs.

C. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

1. SHIFT DURATION

The ordinary hours of duty shall be 36-3/4 per week or an average of 36-3/4 per week over a cycle of shifts.

1.2. The daily hours of duty shall not exceed 11 hours 45 minutes plus I unpaid meal break of 30 minutes duration.

1.3 Shift times will be subject to consultation between the parties. must take into consideration operational requirements and will be subject to regular review,

1.4 The actual hours and minutes worked may vary at different mail processing facilities to suit local requirements.

2. SHIFT CYCLES / ROSTERS

2.1 Rosters are to cater for operational requirements and are to be determined by consultation between local management, staff and the relevant staff organisation, and, where deemed necessary, with an input froth an agreed 01-1S Adviser. ( See Section 16)

2.2 The cycle of shifts is to be agreed between patties subject to the following conditions.-

(1) As a general principle no more than three consecutive day shifts should be rostered. but in any event no more than four will be worked.

(2) As a general principle no more than two consecutive night shifts should be rostered, but in any event no more than three will be worked.

(3) working additional shifts beyond those rostered will be voluntary.

2.3 Consecutive night and day shifts are riot to be rostered performed.

2.4 Alterations to rosters may be implemented following consultation between the parties concerned and, where deemed necessary. by. -an agreed OHS Adviser.

2.5 Roster swaps should be avoided. -Where required they 'will be subject to the approval of the Officer-In-Charge, All parties must ensure that adequate between-shift breaks are provided and fundamental Extended Shift Roster Principles are applied.

2.6 Staff called in for non-rostered duty, cg Change of Shift (Personnel, Policy and Procedures - Clause 18_12.13), should be 12 hours elpt2r of duty on either side of the, shift.

3. PENALTY PAYMENTS

Shift duty penalty payments shall be in accordance with Clause 15 of the Australia Post General Conditions of Employment Award 1989.

3.2 Pursuant to Clause 11 of the Australia Post General Conditions of Employment Award 1989, where ark officer is not able to be released for a days leave the employee shall be paid in its stead one normal day's pay (ie either 7 hours 21 minutes or S hours 10 minutes depending on the.conditions in existence prior to commencing Extended Shift operations) at the ordinary rate,

4. OVERTIME

4.1 Overtime is not to be performed where it will fall within a period of 12 hours either side of a normal day or night shift, except in emergency situations when immediate relief Is unavailable. In such situations overtime shall be restricted to a maximum of 2 hours.

5. EMERGENCY DUTY

5.1 Emergency Duty rates, in accordance with Clause 16 of the Australia Post General Conditions of Employment Award 1989, shall be paid where staff were not informed of the requirement whilst on duty.

5.2 Emergency duty shall not apply to staff whose duty for the day is varied by alteration of the commencement of the scheduled shift to meet an emergency,

6. MEAL BREAKS

6.1 Where two meal breaks are required on a shift, one paid meal break of 30 minutes duration and a second unpaid break 01'45 minutes duration, are to be taken.

6.2 Provided that no employee is required to work for a continuous period of more than five hours without a meal break, the time of taking the meal breaks shall be agreed between the parties.

6.3 Staff shall remain, on-site and be available for duty during paid meal breaks. 

7. ANNUAL RECREATION LEAVE

7.1 Accrual of Annual Recreation Leave will be based on four weeks at 36 3/4 hours per week.

7.2 For the purposes of additional Recreation Leave provided by Clause 23 of the Australia Post General Conditions of Employment Award 1989, the working of two 12 Hour Shifts, for example, shall be deemed to be the equivalent of working three ordinary shifts of 7 hours 21 minutes duration.

8. SICK LEAVE

8.1 Sick Leave accrual will be based on 73 hours 30 minutes full and 73 hours 30 minutes half pay per annum.

8.2 The number of hours allowed without the production of a medical certificate in any Sick Leave year is to be regarded as 36 3/4 hours.

8.3 Three consecutive days Sick Leave for the purposes of the meaning of Clause 14.12.9 (11) of Australia Post's Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual shall be read as 24 hours 30 minutes in consecutive shifts.

8.4 Sick Leave will be denoted in hours and minutes.

8.5 .Sick Leave on a Public Holiday where an employee is rostered on duty will result in no debit from his or her sick leave credits and no payment of penalty rates or payment in lieu for the shift not worked.

9. SPECIAL LEAVE

9.1 Special Leave entitlements are to read as 24 hours 30 minutes.

10. BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

10.1 Leave entitlements under Clause 27 of the Australia Post General Conditions of Employment Award 189 are to be read as 24 hours 30 minutes.

11. OTHER LEAVE

11.1 For all other leave entitlements, an extended shift will be regarded in hours and minutes.

12. LONG SERVICE LEAVE

12.1 All details and entitlements relating to Long Service Leave will remain unaltered, ie accrual will be at the rate of 3/10 calendar month for each completed year of service.

13. HIGHER DUTIES

13.1 Performance in another position for one shift will, subject to normal higher duties principles, accrue that amount of time (eg - a shift of 11 hours 45 Minutes would count for 1 day 4 hours 24 minutes based on a 7 hour 21 minute day) towards a higher duties increment.

13.2 A higher duties increment will accrue after 261 days. based on a 7 hour 21 minute day, in any two year period,

13.3 Leave which affects higher duty service will do so at the equivalent rate of one shift per absence, except for part shift absences.

14. STAFFING

14.1 The introduction of extended shifts shall not result in an increase in staff numbers.

14.2 Staffing arrangements for extended shifts shall be the subject of consultation and agreement between staff and management on a facility basis.

15. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

15.1 To identify and control safety and health hazards associated with extended shift rosters and to facilitate compliance with the OHS (Commonwealth Employment) Act. 1991, the impact of proposed rosters on staff health and safety is to be determined during the development of the rosters, The assistance of a mutually agreed OHS Adviser is to be sought to determine this impact and if necessary, to advise on alternative rosters.

15.2 Consultation between management, unions and staff on the development and implementation of extended shift rosters Is to be in accordance with the Australia Post OHS Agreement.

15.5 Extended shift operations within any mail processing facility will be subject to review involving technical staff. Health and Safety Representatives and the facility's OHS Committee.

16. REVIEW PROCESS

16.1 If adverse indicators in performance or staff health and safety are evident. the roster is to be revised or discontinued.

16.2 Where there are other significant changes in circumstances which may warrant either party withdrawing from extended shift operations the conditions applying prior to the introduction of the extended shift operation will apply.

Source - Human Resources. Headquarters
October, 1992



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