POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE 2021/22 – STRIKE ACTION

I’m pleased to report the strike action around the Platinum Jubilee weekend was supported by members in overwhelming numbers.  We gained good media coverage with our reasons for the dispute featuring highly in all press articles with plenty of powerful quotes from the Union.  Once again, Post Office made no attempt whatsoever to justify or defend the pay freeze position.  Indeed, this was also the case in respect of internal comms in the lead-up to the strike days.

Below is a link to a CWU web article on the strikes, published yesterday.

Post Office Supply Chain & Admin strike hits hard

We also saw various politicians on picket lines and received support particularly on Twitter from MPs & MSPs.  Attached are two examples of Tweets posted in support of the strikes, including one from Tahir Ali, Labour MP for Birmingham, Hall Green, who attended the Birmingham CViT Depot/Cash Centre picket line yesterday.

An on-line meeting with our full-time Reps is scheduled for tomorrow to review the situation and to consider next steps.  Further developments will be reported following the deliberations of the Postal Executive.

Finally, may I thank all Branches and Reps for their efforts in helping to make the dispute effective.  Also, my thanks go to all of our Post Office members for supporting this crucial action.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

22LTB248 Post Office – Pay Dispute 2021-22 – Strike Action

Attachment 1 to 22LTB248

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REVISED OPERATIONAL STANDARDS GUIDE (PROCESSING)

Branches and representatives will be aware that LTB 018/22 communicated the Joint Statement between Royal Mail and the CWU on the National Operational Standards Guide (Processing) and a copy of an Operational Standards Guide (Processing Edition). Following circulation of the document however it was identified that an incorrect diagram relating to Bull Ring layout had inadvertently been included in the guide.

The issue was raised with the business and a revised guide has now been provided, a copy of which is attached for your information.

As detailed in LTB 018/22 the Guide includes visual layouts for each machine or work area along with the agreed operational standards, with regard to traffic type, setup etc. and where appropriate the agreed number of operators for each application. The guide also provides reference to where the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for each work area can be accessed.
As detailed previously the department were also successful in persuading the business to remove the references to minimum throughputs for each area, as these are entirely dependent on many variable factors that can affect these figures.

It is recognised that the Processing Estate is very diverse with regard to capacity and layout and that site specific arrangements will continue to apply in some units. However, the department receives numerous enquiries on correct layouts and working practices and we hope that the revised guide will provide an easy and available reference point, which should contribute to ensuring that all kit and equipment is used correctly across the Processing function.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 714.02.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

246-22 – Revised Operational Standards Guide 06.06.22

Royal Mail Processing Standards Booklet_v20Standardsagreed

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Road Traffic Accident/Collision Procedure Launch

Branches will recall a revised Road Traffic Accident Procedure was agreed with Royal Mail in September 2021, LTB 395/21 refers.  The agreement was the subject of a National Briefing and was ratified through a Branch Ballot on the 6^thDecember 2021.

At the time discussions were ongoing on the supporting standard letters and documentation and whilst it was anticipated that these would be agreed at pace, in the opinion of the departments it is fair to say Royal Mail have for one reason or another dragged their heels in terms of a launch and implementation of the agreement.

This process has now been concluded and attached to this LTB you will find a copy of the agreement itself, the standard letters used in the process and a copy of the redeployment scoping forms.

The agreement will be launched and implemented on 1^st June 2022. A training module has been developed in conjunction with the DGS(P) department and Branches will be further advised in regards to this aspect.

Whilst we are pleased at long last this agreement will be implemented, we are far from happy with Royal Mail’s response. They have steadfastly refused to hold a joint briefing and instead have taken the decision to brief employees and managers via a Work Time Listening and Learning session.

We do believe a joint launch and also the development of joint training to be the most effective way of implementing the agreement as this would assist in avoiding inconsistency of the approach and application of the agreement.  Accordingly, we are very conscious of any further delay and potential knock on effect to our members who may unfortunately be involved in a road traffic accident.

We do believe our training module will give our representatives a great understanding of the agreement.

Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB please contact: The PTCS Department reference 420, email address: khay@cwu.org

 Yours sincerely,                                  Yours sincerely                       Yours sincerely

Carl Maden                                      Davie Robertson                Mark Baulch

Assistant Secretary                       Assistant Secretary           Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 22LTB245 Road Traffic Accident – Collision Procedure Launch

Attachment 2: Attachment 1 to 22LTB245 – RTACP 2022 Fully Signed

Attachment 3: Attachment 2 to 22LTB245 – RTACP 2022 Draft Letters v7

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Impromptu interview with National Officer Mark Baulch. Please watch and share as widely as possible https://fb.watch/dsy5JmYyKk/