AusPost - Essendon Fields posties out as new system gets sor

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Essendon Fields posties out as new system gets sorted

http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/ne ... 03955.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MORE than 30 workers at the Essendon Fields Australia Post mail delivery centre have been sent home without pay for refusing to use a new delivery and sorting system.

The 33 workers, with support from the Communication Workers Union, have sent letters to their manager indicating that the new delivery system they are being asked to use is in breach of the organisation's occupational health and safety guidelines.

The new protocol known as the separate bundle delivery system, requires posties to deliver mail from two bundles on their rounds rather than one.

It's the belief of workers and the CWU that the new method will keep workers on their bikes for longer, increasing an existing health and safety risk.

CWU branch organiser Chris Spindler said the new system left posties on their bikes near letter-boxes and driveways for longer while they arranged mail.

He said the most common injuries to posties came from being backed into while at letter boxes.

Comcare, the agency responsible for workplace safety in the Australian Commonwealth, has approved the new system but has never seen it in operation and acknowledges it could pose risks.

Australia Post hopes to introduce the system nationally.

Mr Spindler said Australia Post was "jumping the gun" by introducing the separate bundle delivery system to the Essendon Fields Centre considering Fair Work Australia had not yet determined whether it was safe.

Australia Post spokesman Jeff Mollet confirmed that a number of staff had refused to undertake separate bundle delivery work as requested.

"We hope these staff reconsider their decision. Australia Post is committed to operating in accordance with our enterprise agreement."

Mr Mollet refused to answer questions about Australia Post introducing the system before Fair Work Australia had made a decision about its safety.

He said the standing down of staff was having "minimal impact on our services at Airport West".

However, the Weekly understands that mail is being delivered only to some suburbs, including East Keilor, Strathmore, Essendon and other parts of Moonee Valley's north-west, every second day.

[DGP1]

How are you supposed to deliver from 2 bundles??? This seems yet another idea thought up by management who've never actually done the job

[POSTMAN]

I don't get it,the USPS are doing this as well,it just doesn't make sense.

[PhilthyPhil]

Isn't it supposed to be to save time merging sequenced mail with manual mail? I seem to recall it was all kicking off at Canada Post when this system was introduced just before Moya legged it

[POSTMAN]

Oops that's what i meant,Canada not the other lot,and it's still going on there.