RM & CWU National Joint Statement, Resourcing & Quality Checklists – Update May 2018

Dear Colleagues,

Branches and Representatives will be aware that the 2018 Guiding Principles Agreement, contained within Sections 8 (Resourcing) and 9 (Quality of Service) it was agreed that both parties would produce a jointly agreed checklist to assess each Unit against the application of our National Agreements and ensure that all scheduled mail is being cleared on a daily basis.

Following discussions with Royal Mail we have now agreed the content of both checklists, which is supported by the attached Joint Statement and we are now in the process of working with RM to provide a solution that will allow units to complete these checklists using an online platform. Subject to the online solution being developed to timescale, the intention is to launch these two checklists as one combined exercise during the week commencing 21st May 2018.

The purpose of the exercise is to build confidence that all delivery units are compliant with all National agreements and joint statements. Where it is identified there is non-compliance, an agreed action plan will be worked up locally as a priority. In addition, we have also included a number of questions within the resourcing checklist pertaining to annual leave in order to avoid further duplication and deal with this element of the National agreement within one combined joint exercise.

In line with the commitment within the Guiding Principles Agreement, both the unit manager and local CWU rep will complete this exercise together as a part of the weekly resourcing meeting. Accordingly it is essential that the local or area CWU representative where there is no local rep in place, is provided with sufficient release time to jointly complete this exercise with the Delivery manager.

Units will have a maximum of three weeks to complete this exercise and all returns must be completed online no later than Friday 8th June 2018.

The completed online checklists will be made available to the CWU Area Reps and RM Ops Managers and also the CWU Divisional Reps and RM Delivery Leads both where compliance has been agreed and where non-compliant remedy action plans are being worked up, these will also be made available to the CWU Divisional Reps and RM Delivery Leads for their respective units, as well as the overall outputs being shared with the Department Nationally.

Further updates will follow once the process is completed and finalised, any queries to the content of the above, please contact the Outdoor Department, reference 230.03, e-mail address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 280.18 – Joint Statement RM & CWU Checklists Update May 2018

RM_CWU Checklist Joint Statement Final

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2018

• CWU Young Workers Committee  

The NEC has agreed the 2018 election arrangements for the National positions listed above. Accordingly please find enclosed the Regulations, Nomination Forms and Candidate Consent and Biographical Details Form.

Nominations are on the basis of one member coming from the TFS Constituency and one member coming from the Postal Constituency for each of the 10 CWU regions. Additionally all candidates must be aged 29 or under at the time of the election.

The term of office for the 2018 CWU Young Workers Committee will be from 1st July 2018 for a two year period.

• Each candidate needs the nomination of their own branch.

• The election is by means of a branch ballot within each respective constituency i.e. branches with members in the Postal Constituency will vote for the 10 Postal members of the committee and branches with members in the TFS Constituency will vote for the ten 10 TFS members.

The Timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open: 14 May 2018

Nominations Close: 29 May 2018

Ballot opens: 1 June 2018

Ballot closes: 15 June 2018

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB281

Election Regulations 2018

Nomination Form – Postal Constituency

Nomination Form – TFS Constituency

Candidate Biographical & Consent Form 2018

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Royal Mail Save As You Earn Scheme (SAYE) 2014

This LTB relates solely to members in Royal Mail’s Save As You Earn Scheme (SAYE) 2014.

Employees in the SAYE 2014 Scheme have the option to convert their savings into Royal Mail shares at a discounted price of 360p. Those who wish to exercise this option could benefit financially by £1,121 (while the share price is around 550p). After the 31st May 2018, the option to acquire shares at a discounted rate will lapse and the savings will be repaid.

Royal Mail estimate there are currently 4,538 Royal Mail employees who have not yet exercised their option to buy shares and a further 2,836 who may have mistakenly opted to have their savings returned to them (rather than convert their savings into shares).

While Royal Mail have issued reminder letters to the affected employees (Attachments 1 and 2), they have asked the CWU to issue advice to those members affected.

• For those who wish to buy shares at 360p, they need to complete and return the instruction form (Attachment 3) by the 31st May 2018 to avoid missing out financially.

• For those members whose SAYE savings have already been returned to them and who wish to buy shares, they must complete and return the instruction form by no later than the 16th May 2018.

• For those SAYE members who do not wish to convert their savings into shares, no further action is required.

Colleagues are reminded that the operation of the share scheme is a matter for Royal Mail and Equiniti. Any enquiries relating to SAYE and shares should be directed in the first instance to the following number: 0800 012 1213.

What individuals choose to do with their SAYE savings is a matter for them but we wanted those employees affected to be fully aware of the potential financial benefits of using their SAYE savings to purchase Royal Mail shares at a discount price.

Any enquiries relating to the content of this LTB should be directed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Ray Ellis

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

18LTB272 – Royal Mail Save As You Earn Scheme 2014

Attachment 1 LTB 272.18 Royal Mail – 2014 3YR – Repaid reminder letter

Attachment 2 LTB 272.18 Royal Mail – 2014 3YR – Non respond letter v 20180423 (002)

Attachment 3 LTB 272.18 – Royal Mail – Savings Related Share Option Scheme – 2014

REDESIGN CONSULTATION WITH BRANCHES

Thank you to all the Branches that have participated in the consultation thus far.

A few Branches have had difficulty uploading their responses to the Redesign Consultation. Please therefore find attached a Word document version of the questionnaire. Please note that submissions will be accepted via email to re-design@cwu.org until the extended closing date of close of business Tuesday 15 May 2018.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to send any enquiries to the following email address re-design@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward – General Secretary  

Tony Kearns -Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB279 Redesign Consultation with Branches

Redesign-Booklet-Questions (3)

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EQUALITY OFFICER’S SEMINAR, 20TH JUNE 2018 & OTHER DIARY DATES

CWU HQ is pleased to confirm that this year’s Equality Officer’s Seminar will take place on Wednesday 20th June 2018. The seminar is held to make sure that Equality Officers are kept up to date on the latest developments on legislation and the businesses we represent. The seminar is to be held at CWU Headquarters on the 4th Floor (Rooms 2 & 3). Registration will commence at 10.00am for a 10.30am start, to finish at approximately 3.30pm.

The Union is keen to stress to branches the importance of ensuring that all Equality Officers are made aware of the seminar and every effort is made to encourage them to attend. This is especially important for newly elected Equality Officers.

For clarification, all expenses will be met by Branches.

It is important that anyone interested in attending, will need to register with the Equal Opportunities Department here at CWU HQ as soon as possible. Please let us know of any access/mobility issues, and contact us as soon as possible if anyone requires a prayer room so that we can also arrange this.

Dates for your Diary

BAME Officer’s Seminar – CWU HQ, Thursday 13 September 2018.

Women’s Officers Seminar – CWU HQ, Wednesday 26 September 2018.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Equal Opportunities Department as soon as possible at the following email address: dnoel@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

18LTB278 – Equality Officers Seminar 2018

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BT Pension Scheme Valuation

BT and the Trustee of the BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) have announced today that they have reached agreement on the 2017 triennial funding valuation. This includes confirmation that the funding deficit in the Scheme has risen over 60% to £11.3 billion, and a 13 year deficit recovery plan.

The key points are as follows:-

• • The valuation shows BTPS assets of £49.1bn and liabilities of £60.4bn.

• • The funding deficit as at 30 June 2017 was £11.3bn and means the BTPS is 81% funded. This compares with a £7.0bn deficit and a funding level of 85% in the previous valuation. The increase in the deficit since 2014 reflects the fall in long-term real interest rates.

• • A 13 year deficit recovery plan has been agreed. As part of this BT will pay a total of £4.5bn into the BTPS before the end of June 2020. This will be followed by regular annual payments of around £900m until 2030.

• • The agreement continues with a range of other protections for the Trustee that have been previously agreed covering issues such as: payments to shareholders; share buy backs; disposals; and acquisitions.

The next valuation is due to take place by 30 June 2020.

The scale of the deficit and the increases in BT’s funding commitments underlines the significance of the recent Pension and Pay Agreement between the CWU and BT. This has secured the option of a new Hybrid pension for existing BTPS members that will include a mixture of defined benefit and defined contribution benefits, as well as an improved BT Retirement Savings Scheme.

The CWU welcomes the agreement between BT and the Trustee, which clearly demonstrates BT’s continued commitment to funding the BTPS.

Further details are contained in the BT press release, and a statement from the Trustee which is attached.

Yours sincerely,

Nigel Cotgrove

Assistant Secretary

10.05.18 – LTB 273 – BT Pension Scheme Valuation

LTB 273 ATTACHMENT 1

LTB 273 ATTACHMENT 2

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BT Annual Results

Following BT’s annual results the CWU have issued the following statement to the press.

Following BT’s full year results today, and the announcement of the size of the pension deficit the CWU are clear that it was the right thing to do to reach a deal with BT over the future of its defined benefit scheme. We will also be talking to the company about the impact of any job losses, although, whilst any job losses are disappointing, we welcome, BT’s commitment to 6000 new jobs in frontline engineering and call centres.

Andy Kerr stated:

“We feel the size of the pension deficit has vindicated our decision to reach an agreement on the pension scheme which will provide an innovative hybrid scheme with part defined benefit and part defined contribution for our members, lessening future risk for employees.

 The profit results also show that reaching a deal on pay, which provides our members with 6.1% over two years, which is an upper quartile pay agreement provides some level of financial security during this period”. 

 “ The announcement of job losses is disappointing although BT have informed us that they are undertaking a major restructure of their organisation and that the number of jobs impacted are global, not just the UK. We will of course hold urgent talks with the company to understand any implications, however BT has made it clear to us that they plan major investment in frontline engineering and call centres, which we of course welcome. We have already committed to recruit over 3,000 field engineers in the coming year. We are therefore confident any job losses will have little impact on CWU represented grades and we welcome BT’s plans to invest and grow in the frontline areas in which our members are mainly employed.”

Please cascade this message to your BT members. Please contact my office should you have any enquiries in relation to this LTB.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Kerr  

Deputy General Secretary T&FS

274.2018

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Grenfell 1st Anniversary (14th June 2018)

 The CWU Women’s Advisory Committee in conjunction with our Regional Women’s Committees are hosting an event in remembrance of Grenfell. The event on the 14th June 2018 commencing at 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at CWU HQ, Conference Room 3, 4th floor will consist of a panel session made up of speakers linked to the Grenfell tragedy along with contributions from the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) General Secretary – Matt Wrack and Sabby Dhalu from Stand Up to Racism.

Following the panel session, we will be inviting delegates to join us on the Grenfell Silent Walk, which will commence at 7 pm outside The Notting Hill Methodist Church, 240 Lancaster Road, London W11 4AH. The nearest tube station is Ladbroke Grove.

A year on from the tragic events of the 14th June 2017 it is important that the trade union movement remembers Grenfell and those people who lost their lives continue to be remembered.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Equal Opportunities Department as soon as possible at the following email address: dnoel@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

18LTB277 Grenfell 1st Anniversary

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ERRATA TO LTB 277/18 – Grenfell 1st Anniversary (14th June 2018)

No. 277/18

Ref: FH/DGN

10th May 2018

To: All Branches

Dear Colleague

Grenfell 1st Anniversary (14th June 2018)

The CWU Women’s Advisory Committee in conjunction with our Regional Women’s Committees are hosting an event in remembrance of Grenfell. The event on the 14th June 2018 commencing at 2.00pm to 3.30pm at CWU HQ, Conference Room 3, 4th floor will consist of a panel session made up of invited speakers linked to the Grenfell tragedy along with contributions from the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) General Secretary – Matt Wrack and Sabby Dhalu from Stand Up to Racism.

Following the panel session, we will be inviting delegates to join us on the Grenfell Silent Walk, which will commence at 7 pm outside The Notting Hill Methodist Church, 240 Lancaster Road, London, W11 4AH. The nearest tube station is Ladbroke Grove.

A year on from the tragic events of the 14th June 2017 it is important that the trade union movement remembers Grenfell and those people who lost their lives continue to be remembered.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Equal Opportunities Department as soon as possible at the following email address: dnoel@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

8LTB277 ERRATA Grenfell 1st Anniversary ERRATA

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