![Australia Post chief executive Ahmed Fahour is expected to quit his $5.6 million job later today.](/content/dam/images/g/u/g/z/4/q/image.related.afrArticleLead.620x350.guhxbi.png/1487817527831.jpg)
Australia Post's top executive responsible for safety made a formal complaint against the government-owned company that accused it of allowing a union leader to endanger the welfare of head office managers and putting his interests ahead of staff.
Emma Blee, the head of Enterprise Safety, last April accused Australia Post of failing to act against secretary of the NSW postal division of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia, Jim Metcher, when he allegedly bullied staff in its workers' compensation department, according to current and former Australia Post managers.
The Work Health and Safety Act, which is rarely used against union leaders, sets strict rules requiring companies and boards to protect the health, safety and welfare of their staff.
Australia Post hired a law firm, Henry Davis York, to investigate the complaint, and asked four managers, including Ms Blee, to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, according to a former Australia Post manager.
![The head of NSW postal union Jim Metcher at a rally in 2011.](/content/dam/images/g/s/x/q/2/d/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1487808024212.jpg)
"The conduct by Mr Jim Metcher of CEPU included conduct that was individually and collectively humiliating and undermining of Australia Post employees," the complaint said, according to a letter from Henry Davis York seen by The Australian Financial Review.
"Australia Post failed to identify the behaviour of Mr Metcher as a risk that could affect the health and safety of workers and act to eliminate it or take action to minimise it as far as reasonably practicable.
"Australia Post responded to contact from Mr Metcher putting the interests of Australia Post, and/or those of Mr Metcher, ahead of the employees."
The alleged bullying occurred over a six-month period while he acted on behalf of an employee who had made a workers' compensation claim. Mr Metcher denies the allegations, his lawyer said.
A review into the handling of the claim said "several senior managers have noted this is the most stressful issue they have dealt with in their careers".
A regional manager in Victoria developed a severe anxiety disorder and was even placed on suicide watch after she suffered alleged abuse from the union leader over the claim.
Sources said Ms Blee, who has been an executive at Australia Post 11 years, told staff in tears that "in 25 years or more this is the first time I've been unable to protect my people".
Contacted for comment, she said: "Respectfully, I do not wish to discuss this matter with you or anyone else."
After the investigation, Australia Post told the Financial Review it implemented measures to ensure "our people feel safe and well-supported when dealing with elected union officials".
When asked this week about Ms Blee's complaint, an Australia Post spokeswoman said in an email: "We didn't and would never comment on an individual complaint."
She didn't return a phone call seeking more information.
Until he was forced to step down last year following allegations of domestic and workplace violence, Mr Metcher was seen as an powerful figure in Australia Post.
The confidential investigation into Ms Blee's complaint is now part of a Fair Work Commission case brought by Employment Minister Michaelia Cash that will determine if Mr Metcher was a "fit and proper" person to enter Australia Post premises and whether he should have disclosed the allegations.
Last week, Australia Post fought to keep the report secret after it was subject to notices to produce by the minister.
Chief executive Ahmed Fahour told the commission in a written statement he had asked the report to be prepared "for the purpose of obtaining legal advice" and Post's lawyers submitted it was for use in "future litigation" and so covered by legal privilege.
However, deputy president Jeff Lawrence rejected the privilege arguments since litigation could not have been reasonably anticipated at the time. He ordered Post hand over the report to the minister but with redactions on its legal, policy and industrial recommendations.
The report, along with Mr Metcher's police history, will be kept confidential to the public before a hearing on March 14 and 15.
For full coverage of today's earnings, go to the AFR Results Wrap Feb. 23