Christine Holgate’s ousting sets a dangerous precedent, says posties union

The posties’ union says Christine Holgate should, if she wants, be reinstated as Australia Post CEO if backed by a Senate inquiry.

The postal workers union says the saga of Christine Holgate’s departure from Australia Post is a matter of “workplace justice”, Picture:

The union representing postal workers says Christine Holgate’s departure from Australia Post sets a “dangerous precedent” for all workers at the government-owned enterprise, given the board stood her down as a “direct result of untested allegations”.

The CEPU has weighed into the saga engulfing Australia Post, labelling it “a matter of workplace justice”.

The union also supports the reinstatement of Ms Holgate as Australia Post’s chief executive if a Senate inquiry into her departure, which begins next week, clears her of wrongdoing.

“The CEPU states in the strongest possible terms that the treatment of all workers at Australia Post must adhere to Australian workplace laws, including the laws and processes relating to employee discipline and dismissal,” the CEPU said.

The union’s comments in a 15-page submission to the Senate inquiry adds to Ms Holgate’s claim that chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo unlawfully stood her down over the rewarding of four senior executives with Cartier watches worth $19,950.

It comes after a war of words erupted between Ms Holgate and Mr Di Bartolomeo, with the chair issuing a near 1000-word ­statement calling her claims ­incorrect, after her 151-page ­submission to the inquiry called him a liar.

The watches, which came on top of cash bonuses, were awarded in recognition of securing a deal worth $66m a year from three of the big four banks to allow post offices to perform basic banking services on their behalf.

New of the luxury gifts enraged Scott Morrison, who said that if Ms Holgate did not stand aside while ­investigations were conducted, “she can go”.

Mr Di Bartolomeo said he had phone records that proved he spoke to Ms Holgate and she agreed to stand aside as chief executive.

Ms Holgate said she never agreed to any such thing and communicated with him only via email, requesting two weeks’ sick leave. She also said she had a ­witness in Australia Post human resources boss Susan Davies.

The CEPU, while stressing it did not act for Ms Holgate, said her treatment had the potential to send reverberations across the government-owned organisation, which employs more than 75,000 staff and contractors.

“Ms Holgate’s departure from her position as chief executive of Australia Post was as a direct result of untested allegations that, in awarding these gifts, Ms Holgate was in breach of her employment conditions and her responsibilities to the Australia Post,” it said.

“It therefore remains unclear whether the board had legitimate grounds for standing Ms Holgate aside and may set a dangerous precedent in terms of the application and management of disciplinary processes for workers at any level.

“It is a matter of workplace ­justice.”

The CEPU said the Senate ­inquiry would ensure due process was granted to Ms Holgate, who has accused Mr Di Bartolomeo of a “vicious intent to ­defame her”.