Member-Nominated Trustee Director – Royal Mail Pension Plan
The Trustee of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) is a company called ‘Royal Mail Pensions Trustees Limited’. This company is legally responsible for ensuring that the RMPP is run properly. The board of directors of this company comprises nine trustee directors, of whom
- one is an independent Chair appointed by Royal Mail Group and Post Office Limited with the agreement of the unions,
- four are nominated by or on behalf of the membership (three through the CWU process and one through the Unite/CMA process), and
- four are nominated by Royal Mail Group and Post Office Limited.
One of the member-nominated positions through the CWU process is due for selection with effect from 1 April 2022 and so nominations are now being sought. The position is currently held by Paul Kennedy and we understand that he will be seeking re-selection for a new term of office. Nominations can be from any individual who is a current, retired or deferred member of the RMPP, irrespective of Union membership.
A self-nomination form is attached to this LTB. The completed form should be returned by email to pmetcalfe@cwu.org and must be received by 24 January 2022.
All Candidates will also be required to submit a 200-word (maximum) statement supporting their candidature for election to the position when returning their nomination form.
Individuals wishing to understand the role of a trustee can visit the Pensions Regulator’s website and read the section: ‘An Introduction to Trusteeship’ which is in the ‘Trustees’ tab and then by clicking ‘Understanding Your Role’.
Upon receipt of a nomination, an information pack will be dispatched by email to the individual who has submitted the nomination. The pack will contain information on the role and responsibilities of a Trustee, a detailed job description and a personal specification for a potential Trustee.
Prior to a ballot taking place all candidates who have submitted a fully completed nomination form will be required to attend a half-day pre-election familiarisation seminar in London on 7 February 2022, which will be organised by the RMPP Trustee. At this stage, candidates will be asked to re-confirm that their names should be added to the ballot paper and will also be given the opportunity to make any textual changes to their supporting statement.
If there is more than one valid nomination, a ballot will be held of all individuals who are employee members of RMPP and who are employed in CWU represented grades, irrespective of Union Membership. The ballot will be conducted by the distribution of ballot papers direct to individual home addresses.
Completed Postal ballot papers must then be returned in the envelope that will accompany the ballot paper to Popularis, who have been appointed as Independent Scrutineer for the purposes of this election.
There will also be an option included in the ballot pack for eligible members of the RMPP to cast their vote electronically via an online secure portal. The details for this will be included with the ballot paper. Eligible RMPP members will only be entitled to cast one vote in the ballot.
The candidate who receives the most votes in the ballot will be selected as the CWU MND. In the event that there is only one nomination forthcoming then that nominee will be deemed to be selected without the need for a ballot and should there be no nominations at all, the nomination and selection process will be re-run no more than three years later.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary department for the attention of Peter Metcalfe or you can email to pmetcalfe@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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