CWU achieves improved deal with Post Office on career breaks

Post Office (PO)

A new collective agreement, which enhances the rights of workers in Crown post offices, admin and supply chain to take career breaks, will be introduced from next week.

The deal, which was negotiated and agreed by Lynn Simpson, postal executive member and Janene Mellor, Post Office employee relations manager, outlines eligibility and principles, explains the process from request to returning, and gives clarity to the conditions while on a career break.

Lynn explains that, “despite the ongoing attack on the Crown network and our members’ jobs, it is important we continue to pursue the interests of all our members within the remaining Crowns, Supply Chain and Admin. 

 “And that’s why delivering robust collective agreements such as this newly agreed Career Break policy, which enhances our members’ overall terms and conditions, remains a key objective.”

Among the benefits to members of the new system are the end of the prohibition on employees on career breaks taking on other work, or a requirement for them to come in and work for a particular number of days each year.

There is also now a discretionary clause, meaning staff with either poor attendance or ill health are no longer automatically disqualified, while a robust appeals process has been put in place to address grievances and complaints.

“It’s a much fairer and more transparent process than we had before,” says CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey.

“And Lynn Simpson has done an excellent job leading on this for the union.”

 For further details, please see

LTB 084/20 – Post Office: Collective Agreement – Career Break Policy