LPOG Executive members met with Barnaby Joyce today and put forward our concerns in regard to recent events that saw the PM put the Community Licensed Post Office network back 10 years. For decades the financial outcomes for Licensees have not been on the agenda for either Australia Post, or the Government of the day.
From 27 October people from all over Australia started sending $5 to the Prime Minister to cover the cost of the watches. LPOG asked senders to use a registered envelope so the delivery could be tracked.
Most of the tracking shows the letters have arrived at various mail facilities in Canberra, but very few of them have been delivered according to the tracking.
Recently a sender lodged an enquiry about his letter, and today received an apology from Australia Post. Seems his letter has been deemed lost in the mail!
As it is a bank note, it is not covered for contents compensation, however a refund on the postage is offered on proof of purchase.
UNBELIEVABLE! Lodge an enquiry if yours has not been delivered. You paid for proof of delivery, it must be provided!
Dear Licensees,
It is with great sadness; that today I have offered the Chair and the Board my resignation as Chief Executive of Australia Post with immediate effect. Attached is a copy of my Media Statement.
As Christmas approaches it is critically important that the business is absolutely focussed on supporting our customers and communities. We have prepared significantly for this Peak, but we still face significant challenges, keeping our people safe, managing the biggest Christmas ever and planning in the face of unpredictable seasonal weather. I firmly believe the ‘ship’ needs a strong captain at the helm to help navigate the business through this. The current issue I am managing is a significant distraction and I do not believe it is good for either Australia Post or my own personal wellbeing. Consequently, I have made the very difficult decision to resign, hoping the organisation can get fully focussed on serving our customers.
I have found the last ten days very disappointing and I believe continuing in a holding pattern puts my own health at significant risk, whilst continuing to distract the organisation and its leadership.
I cannot begin to write how important your support to me has been through-out this time. When Angela first called me and challenged me to step up and continue, I was at a low point. Your belief and support gave me the strength to continue. As the days have continued, I am humbled with the literally hundreds if not thousands of letters of support, from customers, employees and many members of the public. However, ten days in, I fear that continuing brings distraction to Australia Post’s leadership, our customers and more damage to my own wellbeing and consequently early this morning I made the very difficult decision to resign. In recognition of my thanks to you, I have offered, when I am able to do so, support you and your Board, in developing your strategies and ensuring your ongoing viability. I have even offered to come and volunteer with you ahead of Christmas!
I deeply regret, that a gift I chose two years ago, to recognise the outstanding work of 4 employees, has caused so much debate and distraction and I appreciate in today’s eyes the optics of these gifts, do not pass the “pub test”. I still believe firmly that the people who achieved the Bank@Post outcome for Australia Post deserved recognition. The gifts were approved by the previous Chair, they were correctly accounted for, openly celebrated and I personally did not benefit at all from them. I would never intentionally ever do anything to damage the Australia Post brand and if my comments have offended any of you, I sincerely apologise.
There is never a good time to leave a job and an organisation you love. But loving Australia Post as I do, I know now is the right time to do this, as this gives the organisation you the best opportunity to get focussed ahead of a massive Christmas.
I am proud that I leave Australia Post growing again with a strong viable future ahead. And if I look back at my tenure, a true highlight has been for me, working with you all. I have always deeply respected the significant personal investments you have made to carry our brand and I wish you every success in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Christine.
Australia Post chairman must go after giant fail
We are asking Licensees, and staff and customers who are interested in showing support, to pop a $5 note into a registered envelope, just to keep an eye on it, and send it off to the PM to help cover the cost of the richly rewarded watches.
Prime Minister
POB 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2602
There has been calls from Licensees to close our LPOs for a day of mourning at the possible loss of the CEO Christine Holgate.
While LPOG is fully supportive of action to raise our voice, we have long resisted the call for strike, or closing our doors, throughout our years of lobbying for improved payments because it will cost us to close, and it is our customers who are ultimately impacted.
This situation is quite different from a protracted payment dispute, having far more urgency to the need for action, but ultimately, it will have the same impact on our customers and our communities if we choose to close our doors in protest.
Our EGM Nicole Sheffield has assured us that the viability of our businesses will continue to be considered in management decisions going forward, with or without Christine Holgate. Nicole Sheffield has been an outstanding success for the retail side of the business and she knows how important our survival is to us. So we have to trust that she will have our backs in this. She has been a power house for us in our payments, and business over all.
We have also received an email from Christine who very much appreciates our support, and said
Thank you enormously for your support, but Please Stay Open
So when the 2 people who have made such a difference to our outcomes since they have been in the job, ask us to stay open in support of the customers and our Brand it seems we should listen to that for the time being.
We can hope good judgement prevails, and this nonsense is over.
We will revisit action if that does not happen.
THE organisation representing the interests of more than 2,850 licensees of Australian Post's Licensed Post Office network has today pledged its strong support for Australia Post management and chief executive Christine Holgate.
In a letter sent to members of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, executive director of the Licensed Post Office Group (LPOG) Angela Cramp endorsed Ms Holgate and the current Australia Post management for their commitment to growing the business and supporting essential reform.
“Christine Holgate is a unique leader that has breathed life back into Australia Post, and has brought her experience and expertise to this business to provide Australia with a viable, fit for purpose postal service,” Ms Cramp said. “She is dedicated, dynamic and determined that this business can grow.”
LPOG has partnered with a small business consortium manufacturing Australian washable, reusable face masks to meet the demands of our customers in the coming months, or years if we are unlucky. These masks are being manufactured by struggling small manufacturing businesses, in several different states, and just like us, they would benefit greatly from our support by buying, and selling Australian manufactured products, to help them survive through to the end of this pandemic, and hopefully beyond. LPOG members will receive a discounted rate for the packs, and we have been able to make this availbe via the central billing payment system, which will add this invoice to your Australia Post stock account if you select that option.
Mask order form.pdf