Ahmed is offering a pay-rise of 0.5%* in September & 1.5%** in December each year.

The CPI is already 2.1% and rising. It is expected to be at least 2.5% next year.

• *0.5% for a base level postal worker on the top increment and with 15% penalty rates =14.5 cents per hour or $5.33 per week
• It is equal to 11. cents per hour or $4.15 per week for a postal worker on the first increment without penalty rates.
• **1.5% for a base level postal worker on the top increment and with 15% penalty rates = 43.7 cents per hour or $16.06 per week
• It is equal to34.08 cents per hour or $12.52per week for a postal worker on the first increment without penalty rates.

Australia Post has declared a $197 million profit for the half-year. We are done with tightening our belts. Remember EBA 7 with the three years of 1 ½ %. Remember the CEO’s and the General Managers pay hikes.

MYTH 1: There is a government directive. For the government policy to apply to Australia Post the share-holder Ministers would have to issue a Ministerial directive. This has not been done as confirmed during the Senate Estimates hearing (24/5/17). There is a considerable political cost for the Government if they did this. It is selfevident that the policy does not apply because of the bonus on offer and the huge pay-hikes claimed by Executives.

MYTH 2: You will lose the RRR Agreement or your conditions.

EBA 8 continues on until a new EBA is voted up. A majority of staff would have to agree to giving-up our RRRAgreement and other entitlements. This is not going to happen!

MYTH 3. A Bonus is as good as a pay-rise.
The bonus on offer has strings attached to it and is therefore not guaranteed. It does not count for salary (e.g.allowances, penalties or over-time) or for Superannuation purposes. Once taxed and spent it is gone! The facts ofthe matter are that given the expected cost of living increases, if postal workers accept this offer we will have lower salaries in 2020 than we have now.

MYTH 4: You can’t do better.

We can and must do better. This offer is worse than even the government’s policy because most of it is paid at the end of each year. The last 1 ½ % will only be paid for the last few weeks of the agreement. We need to pursue better protection for retail, secure our penalty rates, including for newer starters and make sure that the value of our Superannuation is restored.