Australia Post subcontractor launches legal action

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Australia Post subcontractor launches legal action saying she has been 'underpaid

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-20/a ... ection=vic" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are claims that some workers who deliver parcels for Australia Post are being paid less than the minimum wage and are not covered by worker's compensation or superannuation.

Fiona Lawson claims she is owed almost $16,000 by the contractor who employed her and is planning to launch legal action in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Ms Lawson took a sub-contractor job sorting and delivering parcels at an Australia Post depot for about two years because she and her husband needed the money.

But she claims the contractor who employed her required her to work from 5am to 7am for a salary below the minimum wage.

Ms Lawson says she scanned and loaded parcels for two hours with no pay and then got $1 for every address she visited which amounted to somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000 a month before tax.

She also had to use her own car, pay for petrol, and had no worker's compensation nor superannuation.

The contractor who employed Ms Lawson declined to comment when contacted by the ABC.
Union says it's not an isolated case

Joan Doyle of the Communication Workers Union says Ms Lawson's case is not an isolated one.

"From going around the delivery centres every day, we talk to these subcontractors, and we know what pay they are getting," she said.

Obviously they (Australia Post) are taking advantage of cheap labor and that's a very poor position for a government enterprise to be taking.
Joan Doyle, Communication Workers Union

"Traditionally they get a parcel rate. They get 80 cents a parcel, $1 a parcel, $1.10 a parcel.

"Anyone that gets any more than that are going really well, well they're not going really well, but that sort of seems to be the going rate.

"Those people are paying for petrol, and costs of a vehicle out of that money.

"When they are not getting superannuation, not covered by workers compensation, the pay rate is under the award wage, and it's very hard for them to make a living."

Ms Doyle says Australia Post should be more pro-active.

"Obviously they are taking advantage of cheap labor and what we're saying is that's a very poor position for a government enterprise to be taking," she said.

Australia Post says it makes all contractors sign a document saying they will abide by employment law.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Franchise Royal Mail Letters - anyone..

[UnhappyGremlin]

Franchise Royal Mail Letters - anyone..

Hope this doesn't give RM ideas.
It's bad enough for us as it is.

[NWpostie]

Franchise Royal Mail Letters - anyone..

Hope this doesn't give RM ideas.
It's bad enough for us as it is.

Thats already happened in New Zealand