
Issue No 104		27 July 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Aussie Post Workers Rally

By Mark Morey

A spirited crowd of postal workers and their supporters were on hand last Monday at Australia Post 's headquarters to voice their disgust to management over Australia Post's blatant and insidious attack on the job security of its workers.

This recent move against workers is in addition to the immediate concerns of CEPU NSW Postal & Telecommunication members given that over 2,000 full-time jobs have been lost in the past 2 years in New South Wales alone.

Branch Secretary, Jim Metcher delivered a stirring oration that highlighting the important history of the Redfern Postal Centre. Once one of the most militant mail centres in the country it was now one of the most efficient and effective mail centres in the country.

According to Metcher, Australia Post was now making a profit because of the hard work, commitment and loyalty of postal workers. It is they who have turned the postal service around and made Australia Post one of the best, if not the best, postal service in the world.

Senior management recently removed three local posties from Stockton and then contracted out their jobs. Australia Post management has signalled that they intend to use the Stockton model for contracting out additional postal workers jobs at Blayney, Dubbo and Helensburgh.

This action places at risk the future employment of every postal worker in this state. In addition Australia Post has announced they intend to close 100 corporate Post Officers at locations unknown to the union at this stage.

Labor Council's John Robertson called on Australia Post management to think about the benefits they have reaped from the loyalty and service of their workers. He called on Australia Post to remain committed to providing quality services to the Australian public and not to let fanciful management hyperbola about economic rationalism drive a contracting out of quality services to rural and regional Australia.

In his opinion, CEPU members, the Labor Movement nor the Australian public would or should tolerate this action. Robertson committed the Labor Council of NSW to supporting the workers in their campaign in ensuring Australia Post repaid its debt to its workers loyalty and commitment.

"Australia Post must commit itself to ensuring workers have job security in order for a quality postal service to be maintained in regional and rural Australia."

The meeting was also addressed by Federal MP's Roger Price and Laurie Ferguson and Joanne Yates from the Australian Democrats.

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Issue 104 contents

Interview: A Super Agenda
Labor's federal spokesman on superannuation Kelvin Thompson outlines the challenges a Beazley Government will face in managing the nation's savings.

E-Change: 1.4 The Shifting Sands of Ideology
Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel conclude the first part of their study of new politics by looking for core Labor values in a post-Cold War environment.

Corporate: Locking Horns
The same names keep cropping up in the business pages as the web of corporate control stays tied to a few big players. Georgina Murray has been looking at the extent and depth of the connections.

Unions: The Workers Bank
With banks on the nose, David Whiteley looks at how unions and super funds have got together to create the real deal ďż˝ the workers bank.

International: Phil Davey's Amazon Postcard
The CFMEU's Boy Wonder has downed the megaphone for three months in South America. Here's what he's been up to.

History: Faded Vision of The American Bounder
King O'Malley was an American ex-pat who dreamed of a people's bank. Neale Towart looks at what happened to his vision.

Activists: The Big Gee-Up
With the big guns of the anti-corporate movement in town, Mark Hebblewhite goes looking for a definition of globalisation.

Indonesia: Where to the Workers After Gus Dur?
At the end of a turbulent week, Jasper Goss looks at the impact of the overthrow of Wahid on Indonesian workers.

Review: Mixing Pop and Politics
'The Bank' is a new Australian film that takes a contemporary political issue and transforms it into a piece of compelling popular culture.

Satire: Milosevic's Defence: "I Was Just Issuing Orders"
Disgraced former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic has brushed off against charges for war crimes against humanity and mass genocide.

» Community Banks Are No Collectivists

» Labor Vows to Widen Royal Commission

» WorkCover Finally Fesses Up ďż˝ Premiums the Problem

» Unions Launch 56 Hour Watch

» Call Centre Campaign Bares First Fruit

» Justice at Last for One.Tel Workers

» Entitlements Push Gathers Momentum

» Employer Dirty on Leave Win

» Rights Put In Too Hard Basket

» AMA Move on Doctorsďż˝ Hours Welcome

» Aussie Post Workers Rally

» Strike by Airport Guards Lawful

» Workers Rejects Brough Deal

» Unions Will March at CHOGM

» Average Response to Robberies

» Coca-Cola Sued for Using Paramilitary Force

» Activists Notebook