Union visits to LPOs

Representatives of the CEPU (the union representing employees in the postal industry) have visited a number of LPOs recently.Licensees should familiarise themselves with some of the key parts of the Fair Work Act that deal with a union's right to hold discussions with employees.Here are some questions to ask yourself first:

• Do you have employees?
• Has the union written to you directly?
• Have you been given at least 24 hours notice?

Under section 484 of the Act, an authorised union representative may enter a workplace for the purposes of holding discussions with one or more employees who work in the premises and who wish to participate in discussions.Section 487 of the Act notes that notice must be given. Notice must be given during working hours at least 24 hours but not more than 14 days before the entry.The Fair Work Act also specifies that any notice given under section 484 must contain a declaration that the union is entitled to represent employees. The entry notice must also specify the provision of the union's rules that entitles the union to represent those employees. (Refer Section 518(3).)If you receive an entry notice from the CEPU, make sure it meets the requirements as legislated under the Fair Work Act.Full wording of the Act can be downloaded from the Comlaw website.