AGENDA FOR GROWTH AGREEMENT: RESOURCING 

AGENDA FOR GROWTH AGREEMENT: RESOURCING 

Information provided to the union by Royal Mail Group indicates a level of agency staffing in some parts of the business which appears to be at variance with the terms of the Agenda for Growth agreement.

 

Agenda for Growth contains the following provisions:

 

Section three, paragraph 2.73 “Employees will be employed on permanent contracts, except where there is a genuine short term need identified by the employer after consultation with the union”.

 

2.7.4 “Agency workers are intended to cover short term or unforeseen resourcing needs, expected to last for periods of no more than 12 weeks, which cannot be covered by offering additional hours to existing employees whilst maintaining quality of service. In the rare circumstances that employment exceeds 12 weeks the provisions of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 will apply”.  

 

The default position is therefore that recruitment should take place on permanent contract – only if there is a defined short term need should a temporary contact be issued and only after consultation with the union. Agency staff should only be employed where the need for additional resource is not expected to last more than 12 weeks.  

 

Is it clear that in some units agency staff are being used on an ongoing basis, well in excess of 12 weeks, with no attempt by Royal Mail Group to regularise the situation in line with the terms of Agenda for Growth. We have received reports that in some locations employment agencies have offices on Royal Mail premises.

 

The union has strongly registered its concern nationally and has requested an up to date breakdown by location of all non permanent staff. We have made it clear that we expect Royal Mail Group to take appropriate action to ensure that all parts of the business are compliant with the Agenda for Growth.

 

It is necessary for the union at all levels to challenge breaches of Agenda for Growth. Head office is not aware of any registered disagreement on excessive use of agency staff, despite the numbers running into hundreds in some units. Head count figures, including agency numbers, should be provided to senior field officials on a regular basis to enable an overview to be maintained – I have written to senior field officials seeking confirmation that information is being provided. In addition, resourcing meetings should take place on a weekly basis at unit level. It is vitally important that management are challenged on use of non permanent staff where this is outside the terms of Agenda for Growth.

 

It is imperative that the union defends the terms of Agenda for Growth. Widespread use of agency staff outside the terms of the agreement can only serve to undermine the position of permanent staff in the long term. In some parts of the business it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that a two tier work force has in effect been established by widespread use of agency staff with no job security, recruited on minimum wage and in some cases on zero hours contracts.

 

Branches and representatives should therefore review staffing arrangements in every unit –

 

• If non-permanent staff are being used without consultation this should be challenged

• If the use of non permanent staff is inappropriate or excessive this should be challenged

• If the matter can’t be swiftly resolved disagreement should be registered.

If you have any further enquires please do not hesitate to contact the DGSP department.

 

Regards,
Ray Ellis

A/Deputy General Secretary  

 
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

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