DISPUTE RELATING TO THE ROYAL MAIL GROUP PROPOSAL TO CREATE PARCELFORCE LIMITED A SEPARATE LEGAL TRADING COMPANY WITHIN ROYAL MAIL GROUP 

Further to LTB 599/19 please find attached further material that we would ask you to circulate. This provides clarity around the timescales, following the conclusion of the External Mediation.

The poster should be used for notice boards and we would encourage every Parcelforce unit to ensure this is displayed. The attached can also be handed out at gate meetings and circulated on social media.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your ongoing support and the work you are doing to ensure we reach a successful conclusion to this dispute.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson                            Ray Ellis                                 

Assistant Secretary                          Assistant Secretary

LTB 610- 19 –

ATT LTB 610

RMPFS – Pension Salary Exchange (PSE)

RMPFS has sent letters on Pension Salary Exchange (PSE) to staff at home addresses. Unfortunately the Union was not advised that this communication was to take place and it has already generated some concern and a significant level of enquiries from members.

The Union has no in principle objection to Pension Salary Exchange, which was introduced to the rest of Royal Mail Group after discussion with CWU in June 2015.

The communications from RMPFS appear to have been sent solely to members of the Royal Mail Pension Plan and as far as we are aware members of the Defined Contribution Schemes currently operating in RMPFS have not been invited to participate in PSE.

The Union has written to RMPFS to clarify the position and a further LTB will be issued when clarification is received.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 302. Email address: khawkins@cwu.org or contact the Outdoor Department, reference 120.12, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org. 

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis
Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

19LTB607

Average Pay on Leave (Holiday Pay Claims) – Non-Payment of Agreed Settlements

The Department has been made aware that a number of individual settlements agreed and signed via the COT3 have not yet been paid within the agreed timescale. For clarity this money should be paid to the claimant via the payroll system “no later than 21 working days following receipt by the respondent’s representative of this agreement duly signed by or on behalf of the claimant”.

The CWU sought advice from ACAS in relation to the issue of non-payments and this is reproduced below for the attention of those Branches with members who have not been paid within the agreed timescales.

If the settlement sum is not paid as agreed, the Claimant or their Representative should contact ACAS, or alternatively see www.acas.org.uk/COT3enforcement for information on the enforcement procedures under s.142 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. Please note that as from 6^th April 2016 a party may be liable to a financial penalty not exceeding £5000 if a payment due under the terms of the settlement is not made. 

Branches are also advised that a further meeting to pursue a collective agreement with Royal Mail Group has been arranged for 6^th November 2019. In the interim, I would like to thank you all for your continued hard work and reiterate that Branches are encouraged to continue to maximise the number of claims through ACAS.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)  

19LTB606 – Average Pay on Leave (Holiday Pay Claims) Non-Payment of Agreed Settlements

Post Office Ltd (POL) – Free Flu Jab Vaccination Scheme 2019:

This is to inform all CWU Branches with Post Office Ltd (POL) ‎members that the provision of ‘Free Flu Jabs’ has been discussed and POL’s National Health and Safety Manager has confirmed that POL will again be providing ‘Free’ Flu Vaccination Vouchers for employees this year.

A communication has been sent out to POL Offices confirming that the Post Office will offer employees an opportunity to have a ‘Free Flu Vaccination.’

A communications article has been issued on the POL Intranet site and POL field team leaders are being contacted to ensure staff are aware of the flu jab scheme offer. Office managers are being contacted by the POL health and safety team and responses requesting Flu Vaccination Vouchers are being processed and non-responders are being chased up this week requesting prompt action from office managers in collecting names of those employees wishing to accept the offer of a ‘Free Flu Jab Voucher’ which will be ordered for those requesting them and despatched promptly. Members will have two months to use them in a high street pharmacy/chemist.

The attached flyer is also being circulated.

The POL Intranet Comms are available here:

https://poluk.sharepoint.com/sites/thehub/SitePages/Flu-vaccinations.aspx

Members taking up the opportunity of a ‘Free Flu Jab’ will be expected to attend for their flu jab in their own time and can use the ‘Free Flu Jab Voucher’ at listed pharmacies.

Any POL managers requiring further advice or information should call Martin Hopcroft Post Office Head of Health & Safety‎ on 07889 045810‎ or e-mail: martin.hopcroft@postoffice.co.uk.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB609 Post Office Ltd (POL) – Free Flu Jab Vaccination Scheme 2019

A5 Flu

LGBT+ 

At a recent NEC meeting, it was agreed that future references to LGBT matters shall now be referred to as LGBT+. The updating of this terminology is regarded as being much more inclusive of the diversity that exists within the rainbow spectrum.

This new terminology also allows for a degree of future proofing and we would be grateful if updates can be implemented accordingly in the Branches and Regions.

Our department would like to place on record our thanks to Helen Cooper, NEC LGBT+ National Lead, for her assistance in this matter.

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to the Equality, Education & Development Department.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

19LTB605 – LGBT+

CWU Response to Government on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace 

The CWU has made the attached response to the Government Equalities Office consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.

Sexual harassment at work is a persistent and widespread problem, as evidenced by surveys and polls conducted by trade unions and women’s organisations and reported on previously in LTBs 634/17 and 391/2019.

The CWU’s submission supports the Government’s proposal to introduce a new preventative duty that requires employers to protect workers from sexual harassment in the workplace. We also support the proposal for a new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) code of practice to underpin the duty. The submission calls for new powers for the EHRC to take enforcement action against companies that breach the duty, including the power to issue and enforce substantial fines.

The submission also expresses support for the TUC’s ‘#ThisIsNotWorking’ campaign and its call for a new, easily enforceable legal duty that would require employers to take all reasonable steps to protect workers from sexual harassment and victimisation. The CWU has joined the TUC’s ‘#ThisIsNotWorking’ alliance, which was launched earlier this year, along with nearly 40 other organisations including trade unions, charities and women’s rights organisations.

Bill Taylor
Head of Research

LTB 603.2019 – CWU Response to GEO Sexual Harassment at Work Oct 2019

CWU Response to GEO Sexual Harassment at Work Oct 2019