POST AIR CONDITIONING DISPUTE

Our Branch has advised the FWC of a dispute over working conditions in some parcel facilities. The notice stated in part"
In both summer and winter, Aus Post staff at a number of the newer parcel processing facilities in Victoria (and others) that do not have heating or cooling, are subject to risks to their health and safety. This is apparent where there mainly appears to be retrofitted warehouses that have now become a postal production facility (a parcels facility), involving large numbers of Aus Post staff (over 100 staff at certain times, dependent on volume), including Technicians and Operations staff. However, some newly constructed (and proposed) facilities in Victoria (eg Avalon) are also not providing temperature managed environments for staff.
Extremes of temperature at night in winter in the Tullamarine and Somerton facilities have been down to 1 degree at night, whilst in summer, the facilities in Victoria have experienced temperatures of 52 degrees in the middle of the day. This also occurs at the new facility in Adelaide.
Despite numerous representations to management over at least a year, there has been no improvement to the ongoing problems of hot and cold work environments. A number of proposals have been formally made to the Victorian Management.

NEW POST KEMPS CREEK PARCEL FACILITY

We inspected the new facility at Kemps Creek last week. It is a very large new building. It is currently being fitted out with parcel sorting equipment. The "upstairs" floor is concrete, unlike the metal flows at Chullora. The first point we noted was that there is no air conditioning. Only the office areas are air conditioned. The technical office is small and the lunch room for technical staff is proposed to be shared. (There are two other lunch rooms). Initially, only part of the facility will be used but there is room for major expansion. The facility may operate from March next year. We have major concerns about staffing and training of technical staff. Further talks are proposed.

POST RESTRUCTURE

The Technical Manager at Chullora is failing to abide by the national agreement to upgrade team leaders and create other positions. Are referring the problem to the national committee.

MEMBERS DRAG OPTUS RETAIL TO THE BARGAINING TABLE

For far too long, members at Optus Retail have been treated differently to employees across the rest of the telco. Working under a sub-par, non-Union Enterprise Agreement that expired in 2016, so flawed that it failed the Fair Work Commission's Better Off Overall Test, members were fed up with Optus outright refusing to sit down to negotiate a new Agreement.
Armed with the provisions of the Fair Work Act, CWU members kicked-off a campaign, circulating a petition, seeking a majority determination decision by the Fair Work Commission which would force Optus to the bargaining table.
We are pleased to report to members that all your had work has paid off.
Optus has reached out to your Union, confirming their intentions to commence negotiations with the CWU for a new Enterprise Agreement covering Optus Retail Co employees.
Negotiations are scheduled to commence early in the new year.

OPTUS RETAIL - WHY AN AGREEMENT

The Enterprise Agreement is your opportunity to improve your pay and conditions and to build in a pay increase each year. With inflation high, you need an actual pay increase to match inflation. Otherwise you are going backwards.
This is where you come in. If you, or somebody you work with, is not yet a member of the CWU - now is the time we need you to join. We can only deliver the best possible outcomes for pay and conditions for you and your families with the strength of numbers behind us at the bargaining table.
To join simple reply to this email.

TELSTRA E000 - RAT TESTING AGAIN

Telstra has advised that it is resuming RAT testing in E000. We have reservations as previous experience raised bullying complaints. RAT testing should be done in work time. Telstra said:
In last couple of weeks, the E000 had paused daily RAT testing and only asked that employees test if they had any symptoms. However, due to ongoing positive cases in the broader community, the business is planning to re-activate the daily testing requirement from Wednesday 13th Dec 2022. This will also enable us to keep the team safe and ensure the Triple Zero service is maintained. As always, RAT Kits will be provided for testing purposes. In addition, to ensure employee and workplace wellbeing is maintained we continue to adopt the following safety measures: 1. No Hotdesking 2. Not to attend work thy are unwell 3. Continue to practice good hygiene standard