GENERAL CONFERENCE 2016: MOTION 42

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2016: MOTION 42
Branches will be aware that Motion 42 accepted at General Conference instructed the NEC to review and change to a more appropriate, cheaper band subscription rates for all new entrant Romec cleaners until they have received parity of pay with existing cleaners.
The full terms of the motion reads as follows:
42 CATEGORY A:  
Conference welcomes the excellent news of ROMEC coming home and applauds what is a magnificent victory for this trade union.
However conference notes that part of the cost of this deal is that new entrants in the cleaning grade will now for the first part of their employment only be earning the National Minimum wage.
By definition these workers will be the lowest paid adult workers in the recognised sector.
Furthermore it is recognised that there is a legitimate organising challenge in ROMEC and it is vital that the CWU increase its membership percentage among cleaners in ROMEC.
Therefore conference agrees that it is wrong in principle, and in practice, for new entrant cleaners on minimum wage to be paying the highest rate of subscriptions that the CWU charges.
Conference consequently instructs the executive to review and change to a more appropriate, cheaper band, the subscription rates for new entrants in ROMEC until they have received parity of pay with existing cleaners.
The NEC is instructed accordingly.
Plymouth and East Cornwall
There is a paragraph within the new contract for new cleaners regarding incremental scales which states as follows; “An incremental scale will be introduced for cleaners recruited after the acquisition date, with progression from minimum to maximum over three years. The minimum rate will be set at adult (over 25) national minimum wage (plus London weighting where appropriate). The maximum will be the full Romec rate for cleaners (plus London weighting where appropriate).” 
We have now reviewed the new pay structure, with the assistance of the Outdoor and Central Services within the Postal Department and we have established that the difference in pay rates, for the first 3 years between existing and new entrant cleaners is minimal. 
The negotiators agreement further states; “and the maximum rate, payable from the third anniversary of appointment, will correspond to the full Romec rate for cleaners (plus London Weighting where appropriate)”. 
Conference has however decided that a lower rate should be introduced for new entrants and we believe the new subscription rates should be set 2 plans lower than our current rates for existing cleaning grades. We have chosen this rate in order to show that we are clearly embracing the terms laid out in the motion despite the fact that the difference in pay rates is not as great as the difference in our subscription plan rates.
For example if an existing full time cleaner is paying Plan 1 subscriptions (£14.56 opt out) rate, then a new entrant cleaner will pay Plan 3 £10.19 opt out rate. By setting the rates at this level we are not undermining the subscriptions currently paid by existing cleaners and ensuring we adhere to the terms of the motion.
The subscription plans for new entrant Romec cleaners for the first 3 years of membership will be as follows:
HOURS WORKED
Over 30 – Plan 3 £10.19 opt out
Over 25 up to 30 – Plan 5 £7.27 opt out  
Over 20 up to 25 – Plan 6 £5.82 opt out  
Over 15 up to 20 – Plan 7 £4.37 opt out  
Under 15 – Plan 9 £4.00 opt out
This rate allows us to implement the terms of the motion whilst remaining consistent by operating within our existing plans.
Branches should give the content of this LTB the widest circulation possible.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department by email to sdgs@cwu.org. 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
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LTB 709/16 – General Conference 2016: Motion 42