Posties set for more strikes

Christmas mail may not be delivered on time with postal workers planning to walk off
the job on Tuesday.
The union representing postal workers said on Sunday further industrial action would
go ahead after Australia Post declined to meet with them and discuss their demands.
The nationwide strike will begin at 12.01am (AEDT) on Tuesday.
It follows a strike last Wednesday when up to 20,000 Australia Post workers walked
off the job or were involved in rolling stoppages, disrupting mail services.
The Communications, Electrical, Plumbing Union (CEPU) wants a new workplace
agreement that protects penalty shifts, rosters and take-home pay and improves
workplace safety.
It has rejected an offer of a four per cent pay increase, 14 weeks paid maternity
leave and no forced redundancies.
The dispute has raged since 2006, with the latest talks breaking down last month.
NSW CEPU secretary Jim Metcher said Australia Post had stonewalled the negotiation
process, leaving no choice but for workers to engage in stoppages.
"We have been trying to negotiate for three years without any industrial action, and
Australia Post still rejects our offer," he told AAP.
"We are totally amazed and it has increased the anger."
Mr Metcher said he hopes the majority of the 32,000 workforce will take part in the
second round of action.
"The public are not going to be happy with regard to disruptions, but clearly we
expect the public to understand why postal workers are taking this stand," he said.
"It's just not about now, it's about the future of services of Australia Post."
Australia Post spokesman Alex Twomey said the organisation had offered to hold talks
with the union, and the industrial action was "completely unnecessary" in the week
before Christmas.
"The union has refused to do the right thing by the public and call off next week's
planned strike," he said in a statement.
Mr Twomey said it's expected 75 per cent of staff will not participate but Australia
Post has contingencies in place to minimise disruptions to mail delivery.
A union-organised rally will be held at the NSW headquarters of Australia Post at
Strawberry Hills in inner Sydney at midday on Tuesday.