Postal
CEPU continues to negotiate for easier process for leave
(4 May, 2009): From next year Australia Post employees in the Mail & Network Division will have the option to elect 2 x 2 week periods of recreation leave as opposed to the current situation in most MND workplaces where employees must apply for leave in a 1 x 4 weeks block.
The issue of a more flexible recreation leave roster has been a while coming. It was first raised by the CEPU in 2007.
Australia Post’s Commercial Division was first to roll over allowing employees access to 2 x 2 weeks recreation leave last year.
Now MND’s fanciful hope of being able to cling to allowing employees to only nominate 1 x 4 weeks block of recreation leave and then leaving it to individuals to try and arrange a swap with their work mates when this rostering arrangement doesn’t suit is gone.
From next year MND employees in operational areas will have the option to elect a 2 x 2 weeks period of recreation leave.
Australia Post has also agreed to provide directions to their State offices so that there can be no confusion about an employee’s right to nominate leave in a combination other than a 1 x 4weeks block. A Staff Information Bulletin will also be issued so that everyone is aware of the change to rostering arrangements.
While the above is good news for CEPU members wanting greater flexibility in accessing recreation leave the CEPU claim was for employees to be able to nominate to take leave in one, two, three or four week blocks and Australia Post is on notice that flexible recreation leave rosters encompassing these options will continue to be pursued.
The union will of course be watching to see that members are able to not only nominate leave in 2 x 2 week blocks but that such leave is actually authorised.
Issues of: what happens when a public holiday occurs when someone is on recreation leave and managers not allowing the employee to add the public holiday onto the end of their leave; employees not being allowed to take long service leave; inadequate relief staffing and the blocking out of periods when employees are not permitted to take leave; have also been raised with Australia Post. We are awaiting a response on same.
Have a view? Let us know what you think via feedback@cepu.asn.au