QUADRANT PAY AGREEMENT 2020 – BALLOT ARRANGEMENTS

Branches are advised further to LTB135/20 issued on 17th March 2020, that following consultation with the SDG(S) department arrangements for an individual member’s ballot in respect of the Quadrant Pay Agreement 2020 have now been finalised and the timetable will be as follows: 

Ballot Papers Dispatched: Thursday, 26th March 2020 

Ballot Closes: Wednesday, 8th April 2020 

Branch Secretaries are requested to ensure that our members are made aware of the content of this LTB and that every effort is made to encourage our members to use their vote.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org, quoting reference 301.09.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

20LTB140

RE: Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Latest Questions & Answers Guidance (V12) Dated 17 March 2020, Managers Update, Guidance, Links, Support & Good Practice Posters:

Royal Mail Questions & Answers Guidance:

Royal Mail Group has established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all heads of department and this team meets daily to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and update communications to Managers and Questions and Answers information which is cascaded out to the business.

Attached for the information, reference and use of CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps is the latest version of the ‘questions and answers’ communication version 12 (17 March 2020). These are normally circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link in the ‘Managers Update Messages’.

Managers Update Message:

Also attached for the information and reference of CWU Reps is a copy of the ‘Managers Update Message’ dated 12 March which details the procedure for managers to follow in situations where a member of the workforce has a positive Coronavirus Covid-19 diagnosis whereby the Line Manager must contact CPC (Central Postal Control) which is Royal Mail’s first point of contact for any business continuity issue.

Positive Coronavirus Covid-19 Cases in Royal Mail:

Positive Cases in Royal Mail now stand at 5 – Manchester NWDO, Mount Pleasant MC/DO, Atherstone DC, Abingdon DO and Eastleigh DO.

Posters:

Finally, attached are copies of the good hygiene practice posters on ‘How To Handwash’ and the National Health Service (NHS) ‘Catch It, Bin It, Kill It’ Poster.

The latest Q & A’s covers the following questions:-

Q What is the key preventative advice to reduce the risk of coronavirus?

Q What is defined as “close contact” with someone with a confirmed case of coronavirus?

Q How should a manager record that an employee is self-isolating?

Q What is the latest government advice re self-isolation for employees.

Q What should I do if an employee receives a positive coronavirus test result?

Q A manager is concerned whether an employee should be self-isolating, what should the manager advise the employee to do?

Q If an employee is on immune suppression drugs what should we do?

Q What is the current advice for returning travellers?

Q How can I order gloves and antiseptic wipes?

Q The hand wash in our dispensers does not contain alcohol, will it be powerful enough to kill any virus? If not, can we get hand sanitiser gel?

Q Will Royal Mail be providing face masks?

Q if I have any questions relating to an employee absence, leave or other policy question where do I go for advice?

Q Where do managers or employees go for First Class Support?

Q What advice is available for first aider’s who may need to respond to a patient with coronavirus symptoms? Version 11: Monday 16th March 2020.

Q What new cleaning processes have Royal Mail put in place?

Q Are we likely to run out of cleaning products e.g. soap, toilet rolls etc?

Q A colleague has a child whose school is closed and needs to be at home to look after them – how do I support the individual?

Q A colleague has less than a year’s service and is worried about losing pay if they go off with symptoms of coronavirus.

Q Will absences due to coronavirus be counted within the attendance procedure?

Q Is it safe to deliver a package from China or any other place where the virus has been identified?

Q If a colleague is in self-isolation should we request a deep clean of the colleague’s vehicle?

Q My delivery/collection colleagues have made a delivery/collection from premises which has since been temporarily closed as a coronavirus precaution. What should we do?

Q Are colleagues required to sign health declarations when collecting or delivering mail to an address?

Q If a customer has had to close their own premises due to an outbreak, what would colleagues do with the customer’s mail?

Q A customer is blocking their letterbox until the threat is over. What is the guidance on delivering mail?

Q Contractor is due on site, should they still be allowed on site?

Q Royal Mail is changing Operational Delivery processes for the delivery of any parcels which cannot be posted through a letter box or that requires a signature.

Q What about the process for Customer Service Points?

Q A colleague was due off on leave, but is now not able to travel, can they cancel holidays and re-arrange for a future date?

Q A colleague went home today mid-delivery, colleagues are questioning if it’s safe to touch the mail he left, and if they should be using the van the colleague was using.

Q Staff in my unit are self-isolating which has created a resourcing shortfall and I have failed USO how should I report this?

Q Staff in my unit are self-isolating which has created a resourcing shortfall and I have failed workplan how should I report this?

Important Useful Links:

My Royalmail.Com site includes the latest Q&A and general detail: https://www.myroyalmail.com/Coronavirus

Public Health England latest advice and guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

NHS common questions and answers: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Reporting a Positive Coronavirus Case:

If a member has a positive Coronavirus diagnosis, the line manager must contact Royal Mail Central Postal Control (CPC) on: 0345 266 1060.

Good Hygiene:

It is important that everyone follows basic good hygiene techniques. Wash hands regularly particularly before eating.  Regularly clean with antiseptic wipes any shared equipment such as keyboards, PDA’s and scanners.  Cough and sneeze into tissues. Dispose of any tissues immediately. ‘Catch It, Bin It, Kill It’.

Royal Mail First Class Support:

First Class Support is available to all Royal Mail Group Employees free 24/7 providing a confidential support helpline 0800 6888 777 as well as a range of support services including health, counselling, debt and legal advice and practical help.

The attached is for the information, reference and assistance of Health and Safety Reps, Branch Officers and Reps and Divisional and Regional Officers for reference in any local discussions. The Q&A’s cover off a number of issues raised by CWU Reps.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

20LTB137 Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Latest Questions & Answers Guidance (V12) Dated 17 March 2020

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v12 170320

how_to_handwash_poster

NHS Winter Health

RMG Managers Coronavirus Update 12.3.20

An important video message from DGSP Terry Pullinger. Please share as widely as possible

IAmTheUnion 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

Some decent articles to share

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/cwu-use-strike-ballot-victory-offer-postal-workers-become-fourth-emergency-service

Royal Mail CWU workers vote to strike (but want to support the country)

Some bits to share

Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8122187/Royal-Mail-workers-vote-strike-HOLD-mass-walkout.html

Express https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1256532/royal-mail-strike-action-coronavirus-latest-covid-19-boris-Johnson-rishi-sunak/amp

Mirror https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/coronavirus-posties-offer-halt-strike-21708436.amp

Financial Times https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/beceb382-686a-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75

Reuters https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKBN2143NC

Morning Star https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/cwu-use-strike-ballot-victory-offer-postal-workers-become-fourth-emergency-service

Yahoo https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/uk.finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/royal-mails-cwu-members-vote-191000873.html

Quote from Age UK https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/newslanes.com/postmen-delay-strikes-and-volunteer-to-help-protect-the-vulnerable/%3famp

IAmTheUnion 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

QUADRANT PAY AGREEMENT 2020

Branches will recall that in recent years the pay review date for Quadrant members was moved to April each year, in order to align with the annual review of the National Living Wage. As in previous years both parties were committed to early discussions in 2020 to ensure that any agreed arrangements can be concluded to meet the April deadline. Discussions have therefore been taking place with Compass Group to meet that aspiration.

It would be fair to say however that two issues have had a significant bearing on the talks. Firstly, the decision by Royal Mail to move to a tender process for the future of Catering Provision across the business. Branches will be aware that while Compass Group/Quadrant have advanced to the latter stages of the tender process, no final decision has as yet been taken by Royal Mail. The CWU continue to campaign for the retention of Quadrant as the sole catering supplier to Royal Mail Group and are committed to protecting the job security of our Quadrant members.

In addition, in 2020 the annual review of the National Living Wage has produced a 6.2% rise, from £8.21 to £8.72 per hour. The department’s aspiration remained to continue to keep our Grade C members above the National minimum, which in Quadrant would require a rise of 4.6% just to match the April 2020 rate. Clearly for our Grade C members this far outstrips not only the rate of inflation measured by RPI at 2.2% but also the median level of pay increases for the sector, currently 2.3% as advised by the CWU Research Department.

To ensure that we did not just match the legal minimum but retain a differential the focus for this year has therefore been on maximising the increase in basic pay. We also sought to retain a universal percentage rise across all grades. Branches will also be aware that the 2019 pay settlement set Premium Overtime Rates (above 37.5 hours) at £1 above the appropriate hourly rate for each grade and as such they will automatically move with any increase to basic pay.

Following positive discussions, a negotiators agreement has been reached with Compass Group/Quadrant on a pay settlement, which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive at its meeting today the 17th March 2020. 

The agreement meets the CWU aspiration of retaining a differential with the National Living Wage for our Grade C members, while delivering percentage pay rises for all grades which are extremely favourable when considered against inflation.

The agreement has two phases:

 All grades will receive a 5% increase in basic pay from 1st April 2020. 

 All grades will receive a further 1% increase in basic pay from 1st October 2020. 

The agreement represents a full year increase to the value of 5.7% with an exit rate of 6%. For our Grade C members, the rate from October 2020 increases the current level of differential over the National minimum, which in the circumstances we believe is a significant achievement. The next pay review date will be April 2021.

Given the current situation the Postal Executive has no hesitation in recommending the 2020 Quadrant Pay Agreement to our Quadrant members.

Arrangements and a timetable are currently being confirmed with the SDGS department for a ballot of our Quadrant members in order to ensure that the increases can be included in April salaries.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: shayman@cwu.org, quoting reference 301.09.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

20LTB135

ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE

Following the result of our industrial action ballot, conveyed in LTB’s earlier today, the purpose of this LTB is to update Branches on developments in the dispute and explain how we must now prioritise the Coronavirus crisis, which is unfortunately having a major impact on our members, the country and the business.

In the last week there has been a significant exchange of correspondence between the Union, the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Royal Mail Group Board.

This culminated in the union making a formal proposal to the company last Friday, addressing the Coronavirus pandemic, all Royal Mail executive action, any potential for imminent industrial action and a process for talks to resolve the dispute.

It is clear that the country faces unprecedented times and as the Coronavirus crisis deepens and the government restrictions on self-isolation and social-distancing increase, it’s crucial that the union places this at the forefront of our considerations.

Therefore, we have made it clear to the company that we must now jointly prioritise the health and safety of our members, consider how we can help the country by utilising the infrastructure and daily reach of Royal Mail to play an expanded social role and discuss the sustainability of the business.

We have also made it equally clear that the company must immediately cease all executive action and jointly resolve any changes that have already been imposed in workplaces.

We are meeting Royal Mail tomorrow the 18th March and we will advise Branches of developments in due course. At this juncture, the Postal Executive has agreed that it is not appropriate to call any industrial action.

Please convey the full content of this LTB to our members in all workplaces. 

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward 

General Secretary 

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (P)

20LTB134 Royal Mail Group Dispute

Postal Organising/Recruitment Strategy – Motion 81

Further to LTBs 064/20 and 89/20 and subsequently LTB 128/20 issued today.

In light of the current situation in relation to Coronavirus/Covid-19, the Postal Organising/Recruitment Strategy Seminar due to take place in Liverpool on 26th March 2020 has been cancelled. This decision has not been taken lightly but we are mindful that delegates’ protection against the virus is our priority at this time.

We have however rescheduled the event for Thursday 22nd October 2020 in the same venue. It is hoped therefore that Branches can rearrange their hotel bookings and travel arrangements accordingly with minimal expense.

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)

20LTB133 – Postal Organising-Recruitment Strategy – Motion 81

ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE

Following the result of our industrial action ballot, conveyed in LTB’s earlier today, the purpose of this LTB is to update Branches on developments in the dispute and explain how we must now prioritise the Coronavirus crisis, which is unfortunately having a major impact on our members, the country and the business.

In the last week there has been a significant exchange of correspondence between the Union, the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Royal Mail Group Board.

This culminated in the union making a formal proposal to the company last Friday, addressing the Coronavirus pandemic, all Royal Mail executive action, any potential for imminent industrial action and a process for talks to resolve the dispute.

It is clear that the country faces unprecedented times and as the Coronavirus crisis deepens and the government restrictions on self-isolation and social-distancing increase, it’s crucial that the union places this at the forefront of our considerations.

Therefore, we have made it clear to the company that we must now jointly prioritise the health and safety of our members, consider how we can help the country by utilising the infrastructure and daily reach of Royal Mail to play an expanded social role and discuss the sustainability of the business.

We have also made it equally clear that the company must immediately cease all executive action and jointly resolve any changes that have already been imposed in workplaces.

We are meeting Royal Mail tomorrow the 18th March and we will advise Branches of developments in due course. At this juncture, the Postal Executive has agreed that it is not appropriate to call any industrial action.

Please convey the full content of this LTB to our members in all workplaces. 

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward 

General Secretary 

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (P)

20LTB134 Royal Mail Group Dispute

2020 Dispute Relating to Honouring & Deploying the Four Pillars of Security & Pay/Guiding Principles National Agreement between the CWU & RMG

Please find attached a copy of the declaration of the result for the recent industrial action ballot of CWU members employed by Parcelforce Worldwide within the Royal Mail Group.

The current legislation requires the union to provide all persons entitled to vote in the ballot and the relevant employers “as soon as is reasonably practicable” after holding of the ballot the following information:

1. The number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot.
2. The number of votes cast in the ballot.
3. The number of individuals answering “Yes” to the question, or as the case may be, to each question.
4. The number of individuals answering “No” to the question, or as the case may be, to each question.
5. The number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned.
6. Whether or not the number of votes cast in the ballot is at least 50% of the number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot.

Therefore the ballot result meets the required threshold.

Accordingly you must now take immediate steps to publicise the result to all relevant members, however it is essential that any communications regarding the result must be as a minimum contain the information as detailed at items a) to f) inclusively above.

Branches are also reminded that only the National Executive Council have the authority to instruct members to take industrial action.

Further information regarding the next steps of the dispute will be circulated by the DGS (Postal) in due course.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General SecretaryTerry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary Postal

20LTB131

CWU Parcelforce Four Pillars – Report of Voting