Sensational allegations of cover ups, number rigging and management malpractices at the major Sydney postal facility lift the lid on Australia Post as it continues to hike charges for commercial mail.
In an explosive anonymous email sent to Christine Holgate, CEO Australia Post, (and copied to Patrick Howard, Print21,) ‘post worker’ details numerous bad practices and fraudulent behavior by management at the Sydney West Letters Facility at Strathfield. It’s claimed that Australia Post is targeting workers over 60-years-old for redundancies, fast tracking mail that measures performance through embedded microchips and rigging figures to show lower volumes than actually being processed. Favoritism is extended to large postal contractors by allowing them extended hours to lodge post at no cost giving them an unfair competitive advantage
The whistle blower prefers to remain anonymous due to lack of trust in Australia Post’s Whistle Blower Policy. He/she maintains they fear being sacked or loose their superannuation if their identity is revealed.
The email arrives on the very day Christine Holgate is visiting the Sydney West Letters Facility. She has reached out to meet with ‘post worker’ and assures he/she there will be no retribution.
- Among the dramatic claims made by the whistle blower are that Australia Post is taking up to and more than three weeks to process and deliver large letters, in both priority and regular deliveries. This is despite extra charges for overnight delivery.
- Postal workers are tipped off to watch for and fast track mail used to measure performance. They term these micro-chipped items ‘Red Train’ so they can be processed urgently to improve performance measurements.
- Conversion factors for calculating mail volumes are changed to show lower than actual volumes of letters being processed. One of Australia Post’s continuing justifications for increased charges is the falling volume of letters.
- Management bonuses are linked to the reporting of serious incidents, which ensures that not accidents and incidents all are reported.
- Support staff dedicated to major mail users are being reduced in numbers meaning the mail cannot be processed in a timely manner, no matter how many hours of overtime are worked.
‘Post worker’ writes that he/she hopes their letter makes it to the right people who are able to rectify these problems.
‘I love Post and have to do something to stop this destruction of the letter service, and our good name. All the staff disagree with the managers steering these changes, D.B and G.S
I hope that some one can address these matters. An external body needs to check and monitor all delivery delays. As when left to our managers no delays are been reported. This practice is common across all Facilities around the country.
I'm sure the public will be outraged as I certainly am.
Please fix post.’