Lots of members are asking where they can watch the Select Committee tomorrow at 2:15pm.

Here is the link! Share it as far and wide as possible.

https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Guide

WeAreStillHere

ROYAL MAIL PROPERTY & FACILITIES SOLUTIONS LIMITED (RMPFSL)
PAY AND ASSOCIATED ISSUES

We are pleased to announce we have reached a negotiators’ agreement for our Members in RMPFSL, which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive.

The agreement covers all members in Cleaning, Engineering and Generic Admin.

Attached to this LTB is a Joint Statement which hopefully you will find is self-explanatory.

We appreciate the dispute with RMPFSL has not been easy for you and we would have liked to have concluded these negotiations earlier and thank all Reps, Members and Branches for their patience.

We will provide a further LTB next week which will include the details of the negotiators’ agreement.

We are also in the process of arranging a National Briefing along with the timetable in order to place the negotiators’ agreement before our RMPFSL members for endorsement.

Any enquiries on this LTB should be sent to Nickie Jones njones@cwu.organd Kerry Hay khay@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Carl Maden                            Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary                Assistant Secretary

23LTB041 Royal Mail Property & Facility Solutions Limited (RMPFSL) Pay and Associated Issues

Attachment 1 to 23LTB041

Some media articles to share

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/postal-workers-vote-overwhelming-to-continue-strike

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23327227.royal-mail-strikes-action-way-record-vote/

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/royal-mail-dave-ward-london-mps-b1060925.html

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-16/posties-vote-for-another-six-months-of-strikes-at-royal-mail?srnd=premium&leadSource=uverify%20wall

https://www.independent.co.uk/business/royal-mail-workers-vote-to-continue-strikes-campaign-b2283777.html

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-royal-mail-workers-overwhelmingly-29235270

https://labourlist.org/2023/02/postal-workers-vote-overwhelmingly-to-continue-strikes-in-historic-ballot-result/

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/royal-mail-workers-vote-continue-26258096

Royal Mail workers in Communication Workers Union vote ‘overwhelmingly’ to continue strikes campaign

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23327227.postal-strikes-way-record-breaking-union-ballot/

The result of the Royal Mail Group strike ballot broadcast live today at 4pm

https://youtube.com/live/g6d5rBONS5M?feature=shares

Live aftermath of the ballot results

https://www.youtube.com/live/EojTy_7kfBQ?feature=share

WeAreStillHere

2022/2023 Dispute relating to International Distributions Services (previously Royal Mail Group) for all CWU represented grades in Royal Mail Group (including Parcelforce and Fleet). Pay, unagreed change, job security, disciplining CWU Reps, activists and members. Breaking and terminating various collective agreements and protections

Please find atached a copy of the declaration of the result for the recent industrial action ballot of the above CWU members employed by 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 as a minimum contain the information as detailed at items a) to f) inclusively above.

Branches are also reminded that only the Industrial Executive Committee has 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,Dave WardTony KearnsAndy FureyGeneral SecretarySenior Deputy General SecretaryActing Deputy General Secretary Postal            

23LTB040

T0403_1_CWU_ROYAL MAIL

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTES – Claims for TU detriment & unlawful deductions

Further to LTBs 477/22 and 500/22, discussions have taken place with Acas concerning over 1000 claims that currently exist relating to Trade Union detriments and unlawful deduction of wages. Thank you for all the work that Branches have performed on these claims, which are a vital part of the fightback against RMG’s unacceptable treatment of CWU members.

The two main groups of claims relate to:

• preventing CWU members from performing normal overtime in response to taking part in or organising industrial action; and
• the unlawful deduction of sick pay.

RMG have indicated they are taking the following approach:

For sick pay – RMG solicitors Weightmans will now be entering into individual conciliation on cases through Acas.  It is possible some members will be offered money to settle their cases.  It is up to individual members if the amount on offer is sufficient, or if they wish to pursue further compensation, for example if bank charges have occurred as a result of the stoppage.  This means it is vital that all cases that Branches are aware of, relating to unlawful deductions of sick pay are quickly registered with Acas for early conciliation.  Acas have already begun to contact members and Branches with requests for further information and Branches may wish to enter into discussions.

In order to assist with the collection of further information on these cases, a new national web form has been set up at:

https://www.cwu.org/sick-pay

Members who have filled in the previous national claim form will be emailed to fill in a copy of this form.  This will then be shared with Branches to forward to Acas in order to assist with the conciliation process.

If Weightmans indicate that they are not willing to conciliate on a particular case, an early conciliation certificate will be issued by Acas.  This will also happen if the claim reaches the end of the six week Acas timeframe.  This means the clock will start ticking again for the Employment Tribunal, and the ET1 then needs to be submitted, especially in light of the 3-month minus 1-day deadline.  The fact the above form has been filled out should assist Branches greatly for the detail needed at Employment Tribunal.

We are extremely grateful for the Branches ongoing work in this area, which has already successfully delivered money back to our members that had been unlawfully deducted. The decision to stop sick pay for individuals at a time when they are at their most vulnerable is appalling; however, we are confident that further gains will be made for our members.

For overtime cases, RMG’s solicitor Weightmans have indicated that they will NOT be entering into individual conciliation on cases through Acas.  This means that early conciliation certificates will be issued and, once again, it is important that ET1 forms are completed prior to the 3-month deadline.  ET1A forms can also be used to group claims of this type where the circumstances are the same, (for example claims from the same workplace).  The draft grounds of complaint were circulated in LTB 383/22 and should be used on the ET1 or ET1A form.

• Discussions have taken place with the CWU legal services department about grouping claims of this type together at Employment Tribunal and further advice will be circulated on how this will take place.

Acas have also requested that the following information is included on the early conciliation online form for each member to assist with the early conciliation of cases:

• What the issue is;
• Member’s Payroll number; and
• Workplace location (i.e name and area of country).

Furthermore, a list of frequently asked questions about progressing claims at Acas and at employment tribunal is attached.

For any questions about this LTB please contact Postal Executive members Rob Wotherspoon rwotherspoon@cwu.org, Saf Khan skhan@cwu.org or Luke Elgar lelgar@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Dave Ward
General Secretary 

LTB 038/23 – ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTES – CLAIMS FOR TU DETRIMENT UNLAWFUL DEDUCTIONS

Att: FAQs

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POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE – JOINT STATEMENT

Dave Ward, General Secretary and I met with Nick Read, CEO and Jane Davies, Group Chief People Officer last week and as a consequence both parties have now agreed to refresh our pay negotiations.  Clearly this is a positive development and we naturally hope that refreshed talks will lead to a settlement, which from our perspective should incorporate the 2023/24 pay review period.  The Joint Statement below has been published this afternoon:

Joint Statement – Post Office and CWU Pay Negotiations

 Following a productive meeting, we have agreed to refresh pay negotiations with the aim of arriving at a mutual solution for pay.

 Both parties feel that a new focus and momentum may be worthwhile and therefore we have committed to an initial meeting at the earliest opportunity.

We recognise that colleagues will be feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis which Post Office is not immune to.  However, we feel that some fresh thinking may present us with the opportunity to reach an agreement which both Post Office and CWU are keen to achieve.  In light of this news the ASOS within Supply Chain, DMB and Admin will be postponed pending talks.

Jane Davies
Group Chief People Officer
Post Office 

Andy Furey
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)   

Arising from the agreement for fresh talks, Branches will note, in the closing sentence of the Joint Statement is reference to postponing the Action Short of a Strike (ASOS).  We will be writing formally to Jane Davies to confirm this position.  Obviously if the fresh talks were to fail, it would be easy for the Postal Executive to re-ignite the ASOS if necessary.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 037/23 Post Office: Pay Dispute – Joint Statement

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Royal Mail’s Customer Service Points (CSPs) Rationalisation Plan & Automatic Redelivery

Following LTB (Letter To Branches) 033/23, issued on the 8^th February and which was further supplemented by LTB 034/23 issued on the same day, we have now received a formal reply from Royal Mail dated the 9^th February and which confirms that:

 ‘Having completed the first stage of the review this week and considered a range of options, we have decided to maintain the current estate of Customer Service Points as we seek to further improve our first-time delivery rates.’

Whilst this confirmation from Royal Mail is welcomed and significant, given their previous position on CSPs (Customer Service Points) the union remains cautious as the company has further advised that: ‘As footfall continues to decrease, it is important that we continue to improve the efficient running of our Customer Service Points. The next stage of this review will focus on ensuring that opening hours match demand, and ways of working. It is clear that as footfall continues to reduce, we will need to change ways of working in our Customer Service Points. This may require changes to staffing levels, and more flexibility from employees in terms of roles and responsibilities.’

As we have previously outlined, the CWU remains concerned and is opposed to the whole narrative that CSPs are just about the collecting of undelivered parcels, as important as that is. There are clear and numerous obligations upon Royal Mail as the DUSP (Designated Universal Service Provider) Condition 1 and the Communication Act which go beyond this single point. Moreover, we believe that CSPs should be seen as a real opportunity to both maximise and further expand additional commercial service offerings taking advantage of the unique interface that CSPs offer customers and the public.

In a further reply from the union today to Royal Mail, we have been quite clear that we are open to regular discussions with them surrounding these ongoing reviews of CSPs against changes in the customer footfall profile and the further planned national rollout of Automatic Redelivery on the basis of a genuine and two-way engagement. Indeed, it is relevant to point out that in both 2021 and last year we reached two agreed Joint Statements with Royal Mail on standardised and revised opening times based on changes in customer behaviours and a visible reduction in customers visiting CSPs.

Again, this development and confirmation from Royal Mail of a re-think on their imminent plans for CSPs is a welcomed development and has only come about as a result of direct pressure brought about by the CWU and its members. We also know that this outlined change in approach will come as a great relief to members that work in CSPs and, in particular, those with family-friendly needs, or who are covered under the Equality Act.

There clearly remain ongoing challenges that will need to be addressed in order to secure the long term future of CSPs and we remain committed and convinced that the national network of CSPs offers Royal Mail real opportunities to innovate, increase services and its revenue equally. In short, CSPs should be seen by Royal Mail as a growth opportunity, not a cost burden.

Further updates will be issued in due course and against further developments, but in the meantime any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 532, email address: njones@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

Andy Furey
A / Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 036-23 CSP – Rationalisaton Plan and Automatic redelivery

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