Interim authorisation granted for collective bargaining
Interim authorisation granted for collective bargaining between licensed post offices and Australia Post
30 June 2017
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has decided to grant interim authorisation to LPO Group ltd (LPO Group) and its current and future licensed post office members to collectively negotiate, enter into and give effect to agreements with Australia Post. The scope of interim authorisation is limited to licensee payments and commissions as part of the annual payment review, as well as remuneration for any new services introduced by Australia Post.
"Interim authorisation will allow the applicants and Australia Post to engage in and give effect to collective bargaining arrangements. However, all discussions are voluntary and it is up to each party decide whether they would benefit from such negotiations," ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said.
"The ACCC is granting interim authorisation as it is unlikely to result in harm to the competitive process or to interested parties while ACCC consideration of the application continues."
With interim authorisation in place the LPO Group will seek to collectively negotiate with Australia Post, enter into and give effect to agreements on a range of issues as part of the annual review, including changes to licensee payments and commissions, as well as the appropriate level of remuneration for any new services introduced by Australia Post during the period of interim authorisation.
The LPO Group currently consists of about 20 per cent of the total number of Licensed Post Offices (LPO) in Australia. However, new members may join and current members may opt-in or opt-out of the negotiation group and collective negotiations at any time, and can continue to undertake individual negotiations with Australia Post.
"The ACCC is considering information provided by interested parties and expects to publish a draft determination on the substantive application in August 2017," Dr Schaper said.
The ACCC will give the Applicants and interested parties the opportunity to provide a further submission on the draft determination before the ACCC issues its final decision later this year.
Further details are available here: LPO Group Limited - Authorisations - A91583 & A91584
Background
Australia Post currently has a network of 2881 LPOs. LPOs are private businesses which are granted an indefinite license by Australia Post to operate a post office using Australia Post products, branding and systems. LPOs provide a number of products and services as part of Australia Post's retail network. Australia Post provides each LPO with specified fees, commissions or discounts in relation to these products and services.
Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit resulting from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
The ACCC's interim authorisation does not provide immunity for the Applicants to participate in any collective boycott activities. It also does not impose any obligation on either negotiating party to participate in collective bargaining.
The ACCC may review its decision on interim authorisation at any time. The ACCC's decision in relation to interim authorisation should not be taken to be indicative of whether or not final authorisation will be granted by the ACCC.
Release number:
MR 106/17
ACCC Infocentre:
Use this form to make a general enquiry.
Media enquiries:
Media team - 1300 138 917
Mr Duncan Harrod - (02) 6243 1108 or 0408 995 408
Comments
Blackstar
Fri, 30/06/2017 - 4:32pm
Permalink
You bloody beauty ! :)
You bloody beauty ! :)
Well done all involved. While I know it's only a first step great work on getting us here !!
Margee
Fri, 30/06/2017 - 6:29pm
Permalink
Wonderful news. Well done,
Wonderful news. Well done, great work by all involved. One small step..... Leads to many others....
Bagman
Fri, 30/06/2017 - 9:00pm
Permalink
Great stuff ! Appreciation to
Great stuff ! Appreciation to all those who were involved in the ground work.
seaview49
Sat, 01/07/2017 - 11:55am
Permalink
Awesome news. Thanks to all
Awesome news. Thanks to all those working really hard.
Treads
Sat, 01/07/2017 - 2:29pm
Permalink
wow some good news for a
wow some good news for a change, well done team.
gully
Sat, 01/07/2017 - 5:51pm
Permalink
Congratulations to everyone
Congratulations to everyone who worked on this.
I've moved my question to the relevant forum:
http://www.lpogroup.com.au/content/accc-interim-authorisation-discussion
The Terminal
Mon, 03/07/2017 - 9:24am
Permalink
I have just received my
I have just received my advice from AP about the annual review, what a joke, I hope we can do better, well done team and very much appreciated, your efforts are heroic.
ASHA300
Mon, 03/07/2017 - 10:58am
Permalink
Excellent news,we now have a
Excellent news,we now have a starting point for serious discussion.Congratulation to our Executive.
This what LPOG is all about combining and togetherness in the interest of ALL members, and for the livlihood of OUR
LPOS.
Great job, now the discusions commence,
Wonderful if we could be flies on the wall and listen on to comments from AP and of course that other mob.
lucklpo
Tue, 04/07/2017 - 1:48pm
Permalink
i love lpo group, thanks all
i love lpo group, thanks all
westie
Thu, 13/07/2017 - 9:47am
Permalink
Has there been any reaction
Has there been any reaction to this from AP?
webmaster
Mon, 17/07/2017 - 11:46pm
Permalink
LPOG has extended a formal
LPOG has extended a formal invitation to AP. We await a response.
Horrie N Murtle
Tue, 18/07/2017 - 1:58pm
Permalink
THANK YOU LPOG AND ALL OF THE
THANK YOU LPOG AND ALL OF THE ABOVE.
Treads
Wed, 19/07/2017 - 5:40pm
Permalink
GREAT NEWS WEBBY
GREAT NEWS WEBBY
westie
Wed, 19/07/2017 - 6:41pm
Permalink
Well, that depends treadley.
Well, that depends treadley. AP's response or cooperation are not mandated. If they do not respond, the ACCC may take that into consideration when issuing their final verdict. But there really is little or no pressure on AP to do anything. Given the forces at work in the Govt. currently, it would be unsurprising if they simply ignored the whole thing. Compared to armed troops on the street and Dutton's ascension to Lord High Executioner, the explosive loss of Greens Senators and the rise of One Nation & Cory Bernardi's Conservatives, they could get away with any damned thing and no-one will even notice.
Col Burns
Thu, 20/07/2017 - 5:42pm
Permalink
Yup....
Yup....
Treads
Thu, 20/07/2017 - 7:23am
Permalink
Totally agree Woolly one,
Totally agree Woolly one, however, it is a significant milestone that we have reached!
westie
Thu, 20/07/2017 - 3:25pm
Permalink
For sure. I don't want to
For sure. I don't want to talk down this significant achievement. Would have seemed impossible only a year ago. I just reckon it might take a bit more pressure before AP is forced to show their hand.
Jan
Thu, 20/07/2017 - 10:17am
Permalink
I think it is a step in the
I think it is a step in the right direction, all of the things happening will hopefully start to add up. The new CEO might at least have a think about some of it?
Blackstar
Fri, 21/07/2017 - 9:59am
Permalink
Yep, that's what I reckon Jan
Yep, that's what I reckon Jan. If you look at her history I would suspect there will be a few of APs management team a little worried about their employment future. She is certainly more product image focused than the outgoing managment.
westie
Tue, 01/08/2017 - 6:45pm
Permalink
Are we still awaiting a
Are we still awaiting a response? Has AP shoved this on the back burner until the new CEO takes over?