NSW: 850 parcel workers to strike for 24 hours from tomorrow

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2003
NSW: 850 parcel workers to strike for 24 hours from tomorrow

Australia Post's 850 parcel workers in Sydney will walk off the job for 24 hours from
tomorrow night in a move which could disrupt Christmas gift deliveries.

The industrial action follows a breakdown in talks between the Communications Electrical
Plumbing Union and Australia Post over proposed changes to parcel processing.

CEPU branch secretary JIM METCHER says workers will walk out from 10pm (AEDT) tomorrow
in the first of a series of planned actions.

The strike relates to Australia Post's $120 million project to upgrade its parcel network,
with a new parcel processing facility set to open at Chullora next March.

Staff from small-parcel processing plants around Sydney will be relocated to the Chullora plant.

The union claims the changes will result in unreasonable shifts and positions, a drop
in wages, and the loss of 200 jobs as full-time employees are replaced with part-time
workers.

Australia Post spokeswoman ELIZABETH RICH says the company has always had flexible
employment arrangements because of the seasonal nature of mail.

She says the company's working to minimise the impact of the strike.

AAP RTV smb/sd/jmt

KEYWORD: POSTAL (SYDNEY)

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