Monday, December 09, 2013

NSW: Postal Service Downgrade

Communication Workers Union (CWU) officials have “grave concerns” that relocating Australia Post’s mail sorting services from Bathurst to Sydney will result in job losses and delivery delays.
In an effort to save costs, Australia Post is considering whether it will transfer sorting services from the Central West Mail Centre in Kelso to a larger metropolitan facility.

An Australia Post spokeswoman has confirmed the proposal was on the table, however, she said consultations were still in the early stages.

The Central West Mail Centre services communities from Lithgow to Broken Hill and from Lightning Ridge to Grenfell, including Bathurst, Orange, Cowra, Dubbo, Parkes and Mudgee.

If proposed changes to mail distribution centres in regional NSW go ahead, the CWU fears there would be a dire effect on the region’s next-day mail service.

CWU assistant national secretary Martin O’Nea said a reduction in the overall number of jobs was also likely as the business looked to automate more of its services.

“From the information I’ve received, there’s a proposal on the table that would see letters currently sorted at the Bathurst mail centre sent to Sydney to be sorted,” Mr O’Nea said. “If the proposal was to succeed, there would most likely be changes to the region’s next-day mail service.

“Let me be clear – the national office of this union will not ... support the removal of any existing services, especially in regional Australia.”

Mr O’Nea said the union felt Australia Post had “lost its way” in a number of key areas, but was dedicated to helping Australia Post get back on track.

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