In view of the spectacular way strikes brought the Post Office to a halt for four months in 2014, new CEO Mark Barnes is taking no chances. Much of his first year in the job was spent trying to settle management-worker relations and boosting morale. "There were a lot of bullied and demotivated people and much of the infrastructure was dirty and inoperable," says Barnes, warning that the way back from the brink will be slow and hard work. Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) president Clyde Mervin says things have stabilised "but relations are still strained and we need to engage on a lot of issues around the restructuring management wants to implement." Mervin is determined to see all casuals made permanent. He describes management — many of whom "don’t fully understand the ICT revolution" — as being poorly organised and acting unilaterally. For example, allowances were ended without consultation. And there is still racism at regional level. "Some managers create havoc."
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