Australia Post and the posties' union have struck a peace deal as the organisation deals with the COVID-19 crisis.Credit:Louise Kennerley
Labor has sought to overturn the government's relaxation of regulations permitting the changes,which were then referred to a Senate inquiry. Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate has criticised"false claims"about the strategy and the government accused Labor of perpetrating a"baseless scare campaign".
Australia Post and the union announced on Tuesday they had signed a memorandum of understanding to protect employee conditions and secure the jobs of 33,000 workers.
Under the agreement that lasts until August 2021,no postal workers directly affected by the change will be sacked. The union has also agreed there will be no industrial action during the period.
Loading
Ms Holgate said the agreement provided certainty to workers and reiterated that the changes were designed to allow posties to be redeployed in the booming parcels delivery business.
"We look forward to continue to collaborate with the union as we implement the alternating letter deliveries in metropolitan areas and we welcome the CEPU’s recognition of the importance of this temporary change is to help Australia Post safeguard the business,"she said.
CEPU communications national president Shane Murphy said the union had fought hard to protect posties'jobs.