Post ratification approaches completion

25 July, 2008

Nationwide ratification meetings for the New Zealand Post terms of settlement finish this Friday and results are expected to be known by Monday afternoon.

While the details of the offer can't be published before ratification is finished, the headline pay increase is 12.54% stepped over a thirty three month term.

EPMU Postal and Logistics NIO Anna Kenny says the offer is the best from Post in a long time. 

"The beauty of this deal is that it allows for hourly rates to move 12.54% in 25 months, which for many postal workers is a rise of around two dollars an hour."

"Based on historical deals this level of pay rise would normally take four years of twelve month increases, says Kenny, "instead the stepped increases mean each rise compounds on the next." 

The offer's steps occur at intervals of nine months, and three steps of eight months and Kenny says it has been recommended.

"We have certainly recommended this offer," says Kenny, "but as with every negotiation the final decision is up to the members to decide on. That's the basis of democratic unionism and we will support whatever decision our members make. 

"This is the union's largest collective agreement and it covers over three hundred sites so ratification is a pretty big logistic exercise."

The offer also includes the guarantee that an extra week's service leave with be introduced over a stepped period and non-union members would not be entitled to get the 1 July backpay. 

The ratification process is based on a 50% + 1 simple majority to determine the outcome.