Royal Mail Group: Pay and Change Disputes – Programme of Strike Action

Branches are advised that following an all-day Postal Executive meeting, along with a consultative meeting of our Senior Field Officials, the following programme of strike action has been endorsed and is being announced to our members.

The programme of action below is specifically designed as a serious statement of intent with the clear purpose of bringing Royal Mail Group to the bargaining table to negotiate a resolution to both disputes.

It should also be noted that only last Thursday 22^nd September, Royal Mail Group served notice on the Union to cease a number of major agreements, including legal protections, which was extremely provocative.

October – National Action – all Members Across all Functions

• 24 hours from 04:00 Thursday 13th October into Friday 14th October (Pay)

• 24 hours from 04:00 Thursday 20th October into Friday 21st October (Change)

• 24 hours from 04:00 from Tuesday 25th October into Wednesday 26th October(Change)

November – Functional Action (with the Exception of a Single Day’s National Action)

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Wednesday 2nd November into Thursday 3rd November = All Network

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Thursday 3rd November into Friday 4th November = All Processing, Area Distribution, International, Collections, Admin and MDEC

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Friday 4th November into Saturday 5th November = All Deliveries

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Tuesday 8th November into Wednesday 9th November = All Network

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Wednesday 9th November into Thursday 10th November = Processing, Area Distribution, International, Collections, Admin and MDEC

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Thursday 10th November into Friday 11th November = All Deliveries

• 24 hours from 04:00 Monday 14th November into Tuesday 15th November = All Network

• 24 hours from 04:00 Tuesday 15th November into Wednesday 16th November = Processing, Area Distribution, International, Collections, Admin and MDEC

• 24 hours from 04:00 Wednesday 16th November into Thursday 17th November = All Deliveries.

Black Friday week

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Wednesday 23rd November into Thursday 24th November = All Network

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Thursday 24th November into Friday 25th November = All Processing, Area Distribution, Collections, International, Admin and MDEC

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Friday 25th November into Saturday 26th November = All Deliveries

• 24 hours all out on Cyber Monday 28th November into Tuesday 29th November = Everyone

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Wednesday 30th November into Thursday 1st December = All Network

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Thursday 1st December into Friday 2nd December = All Processing, Area Distribution, Collections, International, Admin and MDEC

• 24 hours from 04:00 on Friday 2nd December into Saturday 3rd December = All Deliveries.

Parcelforce, Fleet and Engineers will be aligned to the most appropriate functional dates following consultation between the Officers and the Senior Reps.

The Postal Executive is certain that all members will understand this is a serious escalation of the dispute and this decision has not been taken lightly.  However, Royal Mail Group has steadfastly refused to enter into meaningful negotiations for many months now and they have imposed an insulting 2% pay increase.  Aligned to this is the recent removal of all key protections and safeguards for our members.  As a consequence, the Postal Executive felt there was a need for a very strong programme of action to be announced.

We would like to thank our members for their continued loyalty and support which ultimately will bring about a settlement to these disputes.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey                                                                 

A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)          

Dave Ward

General Secretary

Mark Baulch

Assistant Secretary                                                          

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary                                                    

Carl Maden                                                                      

Assistant Secretary                                     

Andy Hopping

Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 388/22 – Royal Mail Group Pay and Change Disputes Programme of Strike Action

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ERRATA: LTB 389/22 – CAPITA TVL: PAY AGREEMENT 1ST JANUARY 2022 – 31ST MARCH 2023 – BALLOT TIMETABLE

Further to LTB376/22 dated 16^thSeptember.

I would like to advise Branches that we have now finalised the timetable for the individual Capita TVL members’ consultative ballot for ratification of the 15-month pay agreement from 1st January 2022.

Ballot Timetable

• Ballot papers despatched (first class post) Monday 3^rd October
• Ballot closes Monday 17^th October

Assuming a YES vote in the ballot, the plan is for the pay increase, all arrears and the first lump-sum payment of £400 (pro-rata for part-timers) to be implemented with October salaries.

The communication to our TVL members detailing the pay agreement, which will accompany the ballot papers, is attached to this LTB for your information.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

22LTB389 Capita TVL – Pay Agreement 1st January 2022 – 31st March 2023 – Ballot Timetable

Attachment 1 to 22LTB389

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Some media articles on the announcement to share

Guardian https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/sep/27/royal-mail-announces-further-19-strikes-over-next-two-months

BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63055394.amp

Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/royal-mail-strike-when-october-november-b2176702.html?amp

Sky https://news.sky.com/story/amp/royal-mail-workers-to-strike-on-19-days-over-next-two-months-12706558

Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/royal-mail-workers-strike-new-dates-october-november-communication-workers-union-b1028587.html?amp

StandByYourPost

Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions 2022 – Pay and Associated issues Dispute –Ballot Result

Further to LTB 344/22, at the close of the ballot on the 27^TH September 2022 the following result has been declared:

VOTES IN FAVOUR:           865    93.51%                 

VOTES AGAINST:                60       6.49%           

TURNOUT: %                               66.79%

Please see the letter from the certification officer, which is an attachment to this LTB for further details.

Please ensure this LTB gets the widest possible circulation.

We want to thank branches and reps who helped get the result and especially thank all members who took part in the ballot to give us this fantastic result.

Next Steps

We will be sharing the ballot result with the RMPFSL senior management team.  RMPFSL cannot ignore this ballot result, which absolutely rejects their proposal. We are now calling on RMPFSL to take our pay claim seriously, clear their diaries and meet with us to secure an agreement before the need for strike action.

We will be engaging with our branches, reps and members to discuss next steps in the dispute.

Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference number 320 email: khay@cwu.org or to the Outdoor Department quoting reference 120.12: email address: njones@cwu.org.  

Yours sincerely                                                           Yours sincerely

Carl Maden                                                                Mark Baulch                                

Assistant Secretary                                                     Assistant Secretary

22LTB386  

RMPFS Ballot Result

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP: TRADE DISPUTES – PAY & CHANGE

As reported in yesterday’s live Facebook session and meetings with the Postal Executive and our Field Officials, Royal Mail Group have now taken major executive action to escalate their dispute (two trade disputes – pay and change) with the union.

The CWU arrived to meet the CEO yesterday, expecting to discuss how we could find a resolution to our disputes and we were ready to put forward an approach that would have enabled meaningful negotiations to take place.

However, just before the meeting commenced, we received a number of messages that Royal Mail were simultaneously communicating their position directly with our members in the workplace. 

It became apparent that the whole meeting was staged managed for the sole purpose of reading out and handing the union two letters. 

The first letter announced that the company were serving notice on a range of agreements that amount to further major attacks on our members’ terms and conditions and signal Royal Mail’s clear intention to derecognise the union.  Bizarrely, after opening up a chasm between the two parties, the second letter stated that the company wanted to reach an agreement with the union to go to ACAS. 

During the short meeting the CEO refused to answer any questions from the union and refused to engage in any discussion about how we could resolve the dispute. 

A copy of the letter setting out the company’s position is attached.  You will see this represents a major escalation in our disputes.  A more detailed summary of what this attack means to our members’ terms and conditions and the union, will be forwarded to Branches early next week.

We also believe the company’s calculated move is designed to facilitate the breakup of the Royal Mail Group and the introduction of a separate gig economy style Parcel Network, whilst deliberately creating the circumstances to make the USO economically unsustainable.

There are a number of conclusions that we have reached from this meeting.

Firstly, that the company for the first time in the history of CWU/Royal Mail industrial relations have a deliberate policy not to engage in talks at the highest level of the business and the union.

Secondly, the offer of talks at ACAS, whilst at the same time announcing major executive action, is an absurd proposition and represents one of the most disingenuous acts we have ever witnessed from Royal Mail.

Thirdly, that currently the company have no intention of reaching an agreement with the union and are simply stalling for time, whilst they continue to move forward their own plans and await the outcome of the Government’s investigation into the VESA takeover bid.

Next Steps 

The Postal Executive will be meeting on Tuesday 27^th September to discuss a range of plans to escalate the dispute, including further strike action.  Following this an online briefing will be held with all senior field officials.

The union will also be responding in writing to Royal Mail’s correspondence as well as setting out our position on ACAS.

Further information on our next steps will be communicated to Branches, reps and members next week.  In the meantime, it is essential that we continue to galvanise support for our strike action on Friday 30^th Septemberand Saturday 1^st October. 

Finally, it is already clear from the reaction of our members across the UK, that Royal Mail’s unacceptable conduct means our resolve has never been stronger.

Any enquiries on the above should be addressed to General Secretary at jdunn@cwu.org and Andy Furey, Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal) at hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward                                                      

General Secretary                                         

 Andy Furey

Acting Deputy General Secretary (P)

 Mark Baulch                                        

Assistant Secretary     

Carl Maden   

Assistant Secretary 

Davie Robertson

 Assistant Secretary

LTB 384/22 – ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE

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TERRY PULLINGER – DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY POSTAL

We are writing to advise you that Terry Pullinger, Deputy General Secretary Postal, was taken ill last Wednesday and is currently on sick leave.

Terry is currently at home and has been advised by his doctors to take a complete rest.

I know I speak on behalf of all our Branches, representatives and members in wishing Terry a speedy recovery and we all look forward to seeing him back very soon, playing a full role in leading and supporting our members in our current disputes.

In the meantime, Andy Furey, will carry out the role of Acting Deputy General Secretary Postal.

Yours sincerely             

Dave Ward                                                     

General Secretary                                        

LTB 385/22 – TERRY PULLINGER – DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY POSTAL

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SHE Flash FY22 019 Vehicle Loading Injury

Background and Description 

Royal Mail Group’s Safety Team have issued RMG SHE Safety Flash FY22 019 following a recent injury to an employee.  Whilst loading a vehicle the employee struck his head on the exposed metal at the top of the sliding door. The rubber seals that should have been in place were missing making the injury much worse.

Impact/injury 

Severe Impact to the top of the head. The employee suffered a deep cut.

Learning points from the incident

The van was missing the rubber seal which should run round the door so exposed the sharp edge. Fleet can repair this upon presentation of the PMT1 defect report. Vehicles must be loaded from ground level using the rear and side loading doors.

Actions to avoid similar incidents 

1. Check your vehicle to make sure no seals are missing, if so please complete a PMT1 and send to the Vehicle Workshop for repair.
2. Carry out loading and unloading from ground level. See Loading and Unloading SSOW.
3. Managers to focus on loading and unloading activity when completing SMATs, ensure that staff are loading correctly for both delivery and collections. Ensure vehicle checks are taking place.

CWU ASR/WSR Action

Please ensure that this Safety Flash and SSoW are communicated to all members and managers.

Attachment:

• SHE Flash FY22 019 Vehicle Loading Injury

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB382 SHE Flash FY22 019 Vehicle Loading Injury

SHE Flash FY22 019 – Vehicle Loading Injury

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Uniform Allocation Issues

The Outdoor department has received a number of enquiries regarding comments made by the CEO Simon Thompson regarding uniform rollout. It was previously relayed to the Union some weeks ago by the National managers who have direct responsibility for this issue that the rollout might start to slow down due to “global supply chain issues outside of Royal Mails control”, but this was explained as minor delays. However, it has been reported to us that Royal Mail’s CEO has seemingly replied to a comment on the company’s propaganda Workplace site attempting to blame the delays on the company’s ‘current financial situation’.

Whilst there are contradicting explanations to the delay from Royal Mail, our direct concerns, which are also shared by a number of branches and members, are the length of time before new uniforms will be available to individuals and the lack of plans to deal with the issues that this is beginning to cause, particularly as we head towards the winter period.

If the CEO’s comments are to be believed and the business do not foresee uniform being available for all employees until the New Year, then of course this is totally unacceptable.

Our joint code of practice which is included in (LTB 467/18) states in the first bullet point that there must be a ‘commitment from Royal Mail to supply the required uniform to all customer facing employees.’ Any attempts to blame delays on cost is a clear breach of the agreement and further confirmation of the disregard with which the Royal Mail current leadership holds its employees.

We have written to Royal Mail on this issue raising our concerns and are still awaiting a response and full explanation from them on whatever contingency plans need to be in place for our members who are faced without proper uniform allocation. This is particularly concerning as we approach the colder and busier months within the operation. As always we encourage branches and individual members to escalate the issues through the regular procedures including the IR Framework where necessary, and in particular where this is causing issues for our members in carrying out their day to day roles.

The CEO has clearly chosen to use the issue of uniform delays as a further opportunity to antagonize our members whilst attempting to justify his narrative around the company’s finances. We reiterate that we are making every possible representation to ensure that Royal Mail act responsibly in line with uniform agreements. The Outdoor department will update branches on any further correspondence.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 500, email address: njones@cwu.org

Yours sincerely, 

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 380 – Uniform Allocation Issues

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