Australia Post is trying to implement a new form of delivery called separate bundle delivery (SBD). SBD will force posties to sort part of their mail outside while straddling their motor or push bikes, hindering safety.
Currently, mail is sorted into delivery sequence inside the delivery centres and then delivered. SBD will move an hour of the inside work outside, exposing posties to traffic, extreme weather conditions and increased fatigue.
A particular danger comes from undermining the attention posties need to pay to their environment while riding -- to avoid cars backing out of driveways, low hung branches, pedestrians, dogs and other street hazards.
SBD means posties are expected to deliver from two bundles — taking mail from each bundle (as well as unregistered mail) before putting the mail in the letterbox. This means posties will be thinking more about the merging of their mail than their surrounds, increasing the risk of accidents.
These risks have been detailed, along with other concerns, in the Shaw Report, a health and safety study on SBD by independent health and safety consultants.
The study observed and interviewed 49 participants in three states in a trial of SBD. Australia Post ignored the increase in risk and continues to pursue the implementation of SBD, relying on the workplace safety agency Comcare to push it through.
Comcare admits it has not viewed anyone deliver by SBD and that it does increase some safety risks yet it is prepared to put its credibility on the line by supporting Australia Post’s implementation.
In recent months, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has run a campaign that has included a demonstration of 150 posties at the Australia Post headquarters in Melbourne, a petition in Victoria of more than 1300 posties, members meetings in all delivery centres and postcards being mailed to the CEO.
Posties are challenging Australia Post’s right to implement SBD on health and safety grounds using section 21 of the Commonwealth Health and Safety Act. The Act states you are not allowed to make a job less safe.
Despite this, Australia Post has trained some team leaders, one of whom has been disciplined for refusing to train other delivery staff.
Posties and the CWU will continue the campaign at delivery centres and by involving the public and through visits to politicians. Other protest actions are also likely to occur, particularly if Australia Post targets individual workers.