RE: royal mail group national conduct code procedure 
Further to LTB 374/2015 dated 9 June 2015, due to an administrative error the result figures provided to my department and published for the above agreement were incorrect. The branch returns have now been re-checked. 

 
Please find detailed below the correct figures for the ballot result on the Royal Mail National Conduct Code Procedure which closed on 9th June 2015 at 14.00 pm.

 
Votes in Favour 88,923

Votes Against 3,007

Spoilt Papers 0

 
Number of Ballot Papers Despatched 105

Number of Ballot Papers Received 72

 
Two ballot papers were received at HQ this morning. As they were received after the closing date they have not been included in the result. 

 
As discussed at the National Briefing representatives will now be approached to attend joint training sessions over the next few weeks. 

 
Any enquiries on the ballot should be addressed to the SDGS department sdgs@cwu.org.

 
Any enquiries relating to the agreement should be addressed to Ray Ellis’s department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/335. 

Email address: rellis@cwu.org  

 
Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis,                                              

A/Deputy General Secretary (P)                                            

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Month – June 2015 – The Mike Findley Story and Fund:
Mike Findley a brave and incredible man was 70 on 14th February 2015. This is a big year for Mike, celebrating his 70th birthday, 10 years since he was diagnosed with MND, 50 years as a member of the CWU (and 60 years supporting Fulham football club!).

As many will know, Mike is CWU Gold Badge Holder and a Former CWU Regional Secretary, Divisional Representative, Branch Secretary and Branch Chairman, serving the Union with distinction for over 30 years before retirement from Royal Mail in 1999.

After retirement, Mike became an active and distinguished leader in both his Local Community Association and in Pensioners organisations. He also became a local Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Council.

After diagnosis of MND in June 2005 he formed the Mike Findley MND Fund and has raised over £155,000 for MND, wining many awards and accolades for his efforts including an MBE in 2010. He was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland in 2012.
On 17 June 2005 Mike was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and was told the average lifespan is two – five years. In 2007 after more tests he was told that he had the slower type of the condition called progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) which has a lifespan of 5+ years.
On 15 September 2005 along with family and friends he launched the Mike Findley MND fund and since then has organised many events to raise awareness of MND and to raise money for the MND Association’s ‘central research fund’, plus he has helped local people suffering with the disease through the MND care centre at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.
Mike says “There is no treatment or cure for Motor Neurone Disease and the only outcome is death, with the majority of people with MND dying within 14 months. So it is vitally important that we continue to do all we can to raise awareness and money for research, in the hope that one day the world will be free of MND. So any support people can give will be much appreciated.”

Mike’s condition update is that he has been in remission for three years, although his shoulders and neck are a little weaker. He is still unable to use his arms and hands properly and he uses speech recognition computer software for communications such as writing e-mails. Thankfully, his legs are still strong, although he still needs an electric wheelchair to get around. He told me that he is feeling upbeat and great in himself and in fact better than he has for a few years, and after a four-year break he has just been elected back onto the local Council.

Mike is hoping to attend CWU Annual Conference next year, for his good friend Dave Ward’s first Conference as CWU General Secretary and also hopefully to meet many old colleagues and for a CWU Divisional Representatives reunion.
Mike Findley would be happy to hear from anyone in the CWU wanting to help during Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Month. Attached is a list of this year’s fundraising events organised by the Mike Findley MND Fund. Anybody wishing to know more about the events can email Mike, especially the MND Walk which is an enjoyable walk along the coast from the village where Mike lives in Marske by the sea to Redcar. Anybody wishing to enter a team can obtain registration forms which are available now.
Attached is a photograph of Mike Findley (centre of bottom row) with his dedicated team of volunteers.
Please visit Mike’s Website:- http://mikefindleymndfund.com/

Contact details are:-

4, Northfield Road
Marske-by-the-sea
Redcar, Cleveland
TS11 6EJ
01642/830220 (home)
07805764212 (mike)
07794612857 (judith – treasurer)
mikefindley@ntlworld.com
judithfindley@ntlworld.com
Website:- http://mikefindleymndfund.com/
Yours sincerely
 

 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety& Environment Officer

 

RE: ROYAL MAIL GROUP NATIONAL CONDUCT CODE PROCEDURE 

Further to the individual letter sent to branches dated 22nd May 2015 which contained a ballot paper for the above Agreement.

 

Please find detailed below the ballot result of the Royal Mail National Conduct Code Procedure which closed on 9th June 2015 at 14.00 pm.

 

Votes in Favour​91,930

Votes against​0

Spoilt papers​0

 

Number of ballot papers despatched​105

Number of ballot papers received​72

 

As discussed at the National Briefing representatives will now be approached to attend joint training sessions over the next few weeks.

 

Any enquiries should be addressed to Ray Ellis’s department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/335. 

Email address: rellis@cwu.org  

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 
Ray Ellis, ​

A/Deputy General Secretary (P)​​

 

I.T. FOR REPS COURSE 

In response to motion 80/2014 at postal conference we have now launched the IT For Reps course. This is an online course designed to give reps the IT skills they need to save them the time and effort in their busy lives.

 

Aims of the programme:

This course is divided into 4 sections:

 

• Word In The Workplace: Creating Address Labels, Setting The Agenda, Creating Attendance Sheets, Posters & Flyers

• Making Data Work: Creating Expenses Claim Forms, Creating Contact Lists, Analysing Branch Membership, Calculating a Pay Claim, More About Formulas

• Mastering Mail Merge: Creating Numbered Ballot Papers, Mail Merge Letters, Mail Merge E-mail, Mail Merge Labels, Mail Merge Envelopes

• Presentations: Getting Started, Using Tables & Charts, Formatting & Animating Text, Body Language

 

Who should take this course?

Any CWU reps who want to develop their competence in using computers and the Microsoft Office package. It focuses on Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint and provides links to further learning.

 

For those who are completely new to computers there is an introductory course, Getting To Know Your Computer, which is also available on Left Click and can be accessed directly from this course. This is designed to get people used to using their PC, laptop or tablet, internet and e-mail, although if they are really new to computers they might need a ULR or friend to sit with them for the first few minutes until they get going.

 

Release

We are seeking agreement from employers for this course but agreement has not yet been reached. However, Branches will be familiar with Paragraph 27 of the Code of Practice relating to time off for union duties which states that e-learning tools should be used where available and appropriate. It makes the point that their best use is as an additional learning aid and goes on to explain that time normally needs to be given during normal working hours for union representatives to take advantage of e-learning where it is available. We hope this assists branches in achieving local understandings regarding course participation.

 

 

 

Dates

This course is available now in the Learning for Reps section of CWU Left Click. Just go to http://www.cwu.org/leftclick . If you are logging on for the first time you will have to create an account. This should be self-explanatory but in the event of problems please contact learn@cwu.org

 

Please refer any enquiries regarding this LTB to Trish Lavelle at tlavelle@cwu.org

 

Best wishes,

 

 

Trish Lavelle

Head of Education and Training

 
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

URGENT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS

 Facebook: Dave Ward CWU @DaveWardGS

 

PROFIT RELATED INCENTIVE SCHEME 

All CWU Postal Branches will be aware that until a new incentive scheme is finalised, an interim position was secured that put in place a one year profit related incentive arrangement directly linked to business performance – specifically over achievement of the company’s operating profit target.  

 

The results of the scheme for 2014/15 are as follows:

 

1. The company operating profit target for incentive payments in 2014/15 was £620 million before transformation costs.

2. The profit before incentive payment and at the budgeted foreign exchange rate was £628 million, meaning that the over achievement pot created to share amongst employees was circa £8 million.

 

3. At the actual foreign exchange rate and post incentive payment the reported profit was £611 million. 

4. The scheme covers all CWU Represented grades across the Royal Mail Group (including Parcelforce).

5. The £8 million pot is divided by the total number of full time equivalent staff (adjusted to include part timers’ overtime hours) of 117,868 FTE’s. This equates to a payment of £61 per full time employee.

6. Payment is pro-rata for part timers, although payment will be based on the actual hours worked by individual part timers over a 12 month reference period, where this is higher than their contractual hours.

7. Payment will be made on 26th June for weekly paid staff and in June salaries for monthly paid.

 

We have attached to this LTB a communication that should be copied to CWU members in the workplace.  

 

We have also been advised by the company that eligible full time employees with 729 free shares, will also receive a dividend of around £104 on the 31st July 2015.

 

It is important to emphasise to CWU members that the interim profit related scheme was a holding position until such time as new incentive arrangements are finalised. As such, expectations were never high as to the payment that could be generated, particularly given it was always related to over achievement of the company’s stated profit target.  

 

We should remind CWU members that the union’s priority for 2014/15 was to ensure the 2.8% basic pay increase was delivered in full irrespective of the inflation review clause. Going forward the union will now prioritise negotiations to hold the company to account on the commitment to introduce new incentive arrangements.

 

Any enquires on the content of this LTB should be addressed to the Acting Deputy General Secretary, Ray Ellis.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

​​​​​​​​

 

 

Ray Ellis ​​​​​​​Dave Ward

A/ Deputy General Secretary (P)​​​General Secretary ​​​​​​

Errata to LTB 363/15 – Government Announcement to Privatise Remaining 30% of Royal Mail
 

Branches will wish to note there was an error in LTB 363/15.

 

The following paragraph should read as follows:-

 

The Union will strongly oppose this final part of the sale as well as continuing to campaign against competition and the race to the bottom, which privatisation inevitably brings. All CWU Branches will be able to discuss this development and the response required by the Union as part of our Postal Branches National Briefing on the 19th June.

 

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

 

Any enquiries on the above should be addressed to the General Secretary.

 

Yours sincerely

 

​​​​​

 

Dave Ward​​​​​​​​​

General Secretary

Government Announcement to Privatise Remaining 30% of Royal Mail 

Following on from yesterday’s announcement that the Government intends to proceed with the sell-off of its remaining 30% stake in Royal Mail, I am writing to let you know the immediate steps we have taken in response to this.

 

Firstly, we have written to the Government Minister responsible for Royal Mail, Anna Soubry, outlining our opposition to the plans and asking for an urgent meeting with her to discuss this. Secondly, we have contacted the Labour Party and Chuka Umunna (in his role as Shadow Secretary of State for BIS); again asking for an urgent meeting to discuss how they will campaign against this. We have also contacted the SNP to build an alliance against the Government’s proposed action.

 

There is a clear link between the issues we have been campaigning on with regard to competition, the future of the universal service and employment standards in the postal sector and Government’s latest plans. Full private ownership of Royal Mail will inevitably put greater pressure on these and removes any public voice from the company.

 

We will give Branches more information about how we will move all of these issues forward at the Postal Branches National Briefing on the 19th June.

 

Yours sincerely

 

​

​​​​

Dave Ward​​​​​​​​​

General Secretary

Government Announcement to Privatise Remaining 30% of Royal Mail 

The Government has today announced its intention to sell off the remaining 30% of Royal Mail. In response the Union has sent out the attached press release condemning the Government’s action.

 

Following the earlier privatisation fiasco, the sale of the remaining 30% shows the Tories true colours. They have no interest in standing up for working people and are only interested in privatisation dogma to make the rich richer. Neither does this Government have any interest in maintaining the Universal Service Obligation and this action will threaten the very existence of our six day delivery service.

 

The Union will strongly oppose this final part of the sale as well as continuing to campaign against competition and the race to the bottom, which privatisation inevitably brings. All CWU Branches will be able to discuss this development and the response required by the Union as part of our National Briefing on the 19th June.

 

The CWU has made it clear to both existing and any potential new shareholders that any attempt to undermine the legally binding agreement that protects Royal Mail workers’ terms and conditions will be defended, if necessary, through industrial action.

 

Further information will follow in due course.

 

Any enquiries should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Department.

 

Yours sincerely

 

​

Dave Ward​

General Secretary

For immediate release

04.06.15

 

CWU opposes final sell off Royal Mail shares

 

Responding to announcement today (Thursday) by the Chancellor to sell off the government’s remaining shares in Royal Mail, the general secretary of the CWU, Dave Ward, said:

 

“Today’s announcement shows the Tories true colours, they don’t stand up for working people; instead they are only interested in privatisation dogma and making the rich richer. 

 

“Neither do they have any interest in maintaining services to the public. And selling off the final 30 per cent of Royal Mail threatens the very existence of the one price goes anywhere, six day delivery service that Royal Mail provides to 29 million UK addresses.

 

“When the first part of this privatisation was completed by the Coalition we were told that this was because Royal Mail needed private capital to invest in its future, but if you ask the workforce they have seen hardly any new investment but have witnessed the worse type of short term investors making a killing without any regard to the long term future of the company or the services it provides to the public. 

 

“As a minimum, if this Government wanted to say they were interested in the workers then they could at least increase the workers’ stake in the company.

 

“The CWU will oppose this final part of the sell off and continue to campaign against unfair competition and the race to the bottom, which privatisation inevitably brings. Both existing and any new shareholder should be in no doubt – any attempt to undermine the legally binding agreement that protects Royal Mail workers’ terms and conditions will be defended if necessary through strike action.”

 

Ends

 

 

 

 

RE: ROYAL MAIL ALLOWANCE REVIEW 

Further to LTB 122 dated 20th February 2015, branches will be aware Royal Mail conducted an allowance review during the latter part of 2014. The review looked at the allowance(s) members’ actually received against allowances they were entitled to.

 

In February 2015, the union was informed the work had been completed and there were over 2,600 cases where members received allowances they were not entitled to.

 

Royal Mail was going to commence the recovery of these allowances using the overpayment procedure. Negotiations took place in an attempt to ensure that any recovery of overpayment was performed within an orderly and logical process, ensuring our members fully understand and have the opportunity to challenge any alleged overpayment.

 

Due to several obstacles put in the way during the negotiations, it was proving difficult to reach agreement. However, whilst this has taken longer than originally anticipated, a process has now been agreed which is in line with the longstanding overpayment payment policy and ensures our members have the opportunity to:-

           

 

Fully understand how the overpayment occurred and have a breakdown of any alleged overpayment.

 

Comment on and challenge the overpayment.

 

Have their local representative present at discussions.

 

Refer the overpayment for national review with reference to the relevant collective agreement, if after discussion, any alleged overpayment (or part thereof) is still disputed.

 

Have their personal financial circumstances taken into account in agreeing any repayment plan.

 

 

I would like to thank Carl Maden who led the negotiations and will continue to lead the process on behalf of the DGS (P) Department going forward, including the national review.

 

A copy of the agreed process and joint statement are attached to this LTB.

 

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 
Ray Ellis,                                         

A/Deputy General Secretary (P)      

Black History Month 2015 

Further to motion 5, which was carried at the last CWU Black Worker’s Conference, our department is writing to ask Branches and Regions to consider organising a Black History initiative in order that our members can be better informed around the significant contribution of black people in history.

 

We are in possession of a number of interesting black history pull-ups, which feature various characters both from the past and present. These pull-ups, which are part of a wider exhibition, have been used and celebrated by organisations such as the Labour Party and other trade unions.

 

Use of the pull-ups is completely free but carriage costs would be met by anyone agreeing to use them. We also ask that any Branch or Region who uses the pull-ups considers making a donation to the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT).

 

We are confident that all CWU members irrespective of their colour, creed etc. will find a black history initiative of great interest. Our Race Advisory Committee will be preparing a special leaflet to support Black History Month.

 

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be referred to the Equal Opportunities Department.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Linda Roy​

National Equality Officer​