Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains. Karl Marx.
CWU DEATH BENEFIT
In accordance with the terms expressed in CWU Rule 4.1.11 Branches are advised that from the 1st October 2022 the CWU Death Benefit payment will be increased to £941.
This information will also be published in the Voice.
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 Secretary
NATIONAL DISPUTES – CWU/RM MEETING ON MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER
Following a meeting earlier this week with the Postal Executive and conversations with the company, CWU and Royal Mail have agreed to meet on Monday 10thOctober to establish exactly where we are and to try and find a way forward in our national disputes.
Although we welcome this development, given how bitter these disputes have become, it is important that we do not raise any expectations that this meeting will be fruitful.
The reality is there remains huge differences over the company’s unilateral change programme and Royal Mail’s unacceptable actions and behaviours have led to unprecedented levels of mistrust.
The union’s position going into these talks is set out in the attached letter to the CEO. You will see from this that as well as offering a constructive approach, we are also asking fundamental questions about Royal Mail’s future plans.
The National Briefing will take place next week on Tuesday 11th October, where Branches will be updated on the meeting with Royal Mail and receive reports from the National Officers on all aspects of our current disputes.
The industrial action programme notified last week will be continuing, with the next strike scheduled for Thursday the 13thOctober. It is essential that all Branches and representatives focus all their efforts on ensuring legal pickets are in place and that we deliver the same fantastic levels of support from our members, as in the previous strikes. There will be further communications to our members and a live Facebook session next week.
In the meantime, please share the content of this LTB to our members in all workplaces.
Further information will be sent out in due course. Any enquiries should be sent to the GS/(A) DGS (P) departments jdunn@cwu.org/hford@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward Andy Furey
General Secretary Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
22LTB398 NATIONAL DISPUTES CWURM MEETING ON MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER
TO ALL BRANCHES WITH ROYAL MAIL PROPERTY & FACILITIES SOLUTIONS LTD (RMPFSL) MEMBERS
Dear Colleagues
RE: ROYAL MAIL PROPERTY & FACILITIES SOLUTIONS LTD (RMPFSL) – PAY & ASSOCIATED ISSUES DISPUTE
Following the fantastic ballot result in RMPFSL we have contacted management in an attempt to reach an agreement.
We have today served notice for Industrial Action for all of our members in RMPFSL for the following:
We have made it clear to RMPFSL Management we want an agreement and we are prepared to clear our diaries to do so.
RMPFSL Management have picked up this offer and we are scheduled to meet next week.
We will keep you updated on this, however Reps, Branches and Members, should prepare for the two strike days listed above.
Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference number XXX email: khay@cwu.org or njones@cwu.org
Yours sincerely
Carl Maden Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary
Royal Mail’s Un-Agreed Position Regarding Year Two Productivity Targets & Revision Activity in Delivery (Royal Mail’s Latest Approach)
Dear Colleagues,
Branches and Representatives will recall Letter To Branches (299/22 and 323/22) issued on the 7th and 28th Julyrespectively concerning Royal Mail’s position in regards to ‘Year-Two’ productivity targets for both Table Top and Structural Revisions which were being outlined by the Company as part of the Productivity Section of the Pathway to Change Agreement, and which were supplemented by three Outdoor Department Memos (ODM) 021/22, 023/22 and 027/22 issued during August.
On the 21st September, we further issued ODM 032/22, which outlined a short note received from Royal Mail about these un-agreed revisions and which informed the Union that Royal Mail has subsequently revised all Delivery units’ revision targets based on a revised forecasted traffic decline level of 7% compared to the former 3.5%.
Additionally, but not shared directly with the Outdoor Department by Royal Mail, we have now had sight of a document entitled ‘Delivery Revision Governance Guide’ (attached for reference), and which seemingly now seeks to re-position this un-agreed revision programme with the suggestion that this is now an opportunity for local level engagement by our Reps.
As set out below, these revisions are un-agreed and outside of several National Agreements. The purpose of this LTB, therefore, is to confirm the CWU position of non-cooperation and non-involvement to our Area and Local Representatives when approached by Royal Mail in terms of these un-agreed revisions and regardless of what are clear attempts by Royal Mail to seek to re-brand and re-position these revisions.
To recap, the revision processes and the criteria set out by Royal Mail for these revisions, have not been shared or agreed upon with the Union at a National level and the revisions remain based on the following un-agreed parameters, contrary to several National Agreements:
The Postal Executive have been in discussions and considered, alongside legal considerations, the advice we could and should issue to our Representatives, on how they deal with both the former and now this seemingly new approach by Royal Mail, when confronted with these un-agreed revisions plans.
However, it remains the case that Royal Mail’s revision plans are based on completely un-agreed targets, parameters and criteria, as such, it is impossible for our Reps to engage effectively or table counter-proposals as the revision hours and duty outputs are already pre-determined.
Equally, the clear limits and restrictions set out by Royal Mail on the application of the IR Framework negates any opportunity for meaningful engagement at local level and, in short, the suggested engagement being offered to our Reps by Royal Mail is effectively meaningless, as our Reps will have no opportunity to influence the revision pre-determined plans or their direct impact upon our member’s jobs and working lives.
Accordingly, the Postal Executive has no alternative but to confirm the position of non-cooperation and non-involvement to our Representatives when approached by Royal Mail on these un-agreed delivery revisions.
It is fully understood that this is not an easy task, but we cannot lose sight of the need to remain collective and united in response to Royal Mail and what is executive action against our members.
In setting out the above, we would again draw Branches and Representative’s attention to LTB 379/22 RMG Disputes 2022 – Claims For Unlawful Deductions From Pay And Trade Union Detriments and LTB 383/22, Royal Mail Group Disputes 2022 – ‘Grounds of Complaint’ for Individual Claims against the company due to Unlawful Deduction of Pay and Executive Action.
It is also relevant to point out to Branches that following legal advice it has been confirmed that our national ‘Change Ballot’ can be used to announce strike action at selected units where executive action has either been announced or is taking place, provided the executive action is in breach of Pathway to Change and associated agreements as set out in the ‘Change Ballot’. There is no need for these units to ballot again separately but Branches would have to request additional strike action in time to allow for endorsement of the Postal Executive and the mandatory notice period to be given.
Finally, please find attached a Model Letter which has been drawn up for Branches and Representatives to use as necessary and to correct any misrepresentation at local level in terms of such un-agreed revision plans.
If and where Local/Area Reps are contacted or approached by management in terms of such un-agreed revision proposals, can they please refer this directly to their respective Divisional Reps.
Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 555, email address: njones@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary
Delivery Revisions – Goverance Guide v4
CWU AFFILIATION GENERAL CONFERENCE MOTION 13 – National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV)
Please note that further to LTB 375/22 dated 16th September 2022 a typo was noticed in the original affiliation form. I have attached the correct version below.
At this year’s CWU General Conference delegates endorsed Motion 13 in the name of the Eastern Regional Committee regarding affiliation to the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV). For ease of reference the motion reads as follows:
The CWU applauds the inspiring and lifesaving work of the National Centre for Domestic Violence.
Their mission is to help people identify the early signs of domestic abuse, make decisions for a better life and to make domestic abuse socially unacceptable.
Before the Centre was operational, the Police and victims faced two problems when using local firms of solicitors to obtain non-molestation orders. Generally, solicitors were only willing to accept clients that were either eligible for public funding or clients who could afford to pay privately, thus leaving all those people ‘not eligible’ with no access to funds, unprotected.
The other main issue was that solicitors were taking between two days and two weeks to get the client into court and obtain the order.
The NCDV were convinced that victims of domestic violence and abuse could be daunted by the vast amount of various legal agencies offering to assist. They saw the need for a one-stop-shop where the concerns of those in an abusive situation could be addressed in their language and on their terms. Furthermore this streamlined service, could and should be free and accessible to everybody.
The National Centre for Domestic Violence is targeted at the rapid relief of domestic violence and abuse. The majority of cases referred to the NCDV will result in a speedy action to the civil courts. They also provide services providing alternative refuge accommodation, and legal protection for children caught up in abusive or failing relationships.
The NVCDV is completely self-funding and the solicitors provide pro-bono case work for those suffering from domestic violence and abuse.
The NEC is instructed to:
The above list is not exhaustive, conference agrees that the work carried by the NCDV has a significant impact on the lives of those in an abusive relationship whether mentally or physically. The problem of domestic violence is personal and largely invisible the NCDV provides a free and fast service to those suffering from domestic violence and abuse regardless of their financial status, race, gender or sexual orientation.
We can confirm that in line with CWU National Rule 6.4.6 branches are now permitted to affiliate to this organisation and an affiliation form is attached for your use/information.
Regional Secretaries will be tasked to roll out the affiliation of branches in their respective Regions for NCDV sign up.
Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office on djeffery@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward
General Secretary
ERRATA 22LTB375 – CWU AFFILIATION GENERAL CONFERENCE MOTION 13 – NATIONAL CENTRE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE[2]
WEAR RED DAY” ON 21stOCTOBER 2022
Branches will be aware that the CWU has been a longstanding supporter of “Wear Red Day” and our links with the organisation Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) has been an important part of our wider anti –racism strategy to combat racism in our workplaces and communities.
We are delighted to be promoting ‘Wear Red Day’, which is taking place on Friday 21st October 2022. We would like to remind everyone of the support we need from all our representatives to make the day a huge success.
On Friday 21st October we are asking everyone in the CWU to wear Red.
Over 200,000 people have already pledged their support to Show Racism the Red Card campaign this year. We are hoping for a strong show support on the day. People supporting the campaign will be invited to share their pictures using the #WRD22 – wearing their red tops.
Wear Red day graphics and support cards can be accessed using the link below.
The CWU is committed to continuing our work in challenging racism both in the workplace and in wider society and your support across the country is very much appreciated.
Any further enquiries regarding this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward Kate Hudson
General Secretary Head of Equality, Education & Development
CWU ULR Networking Event
In light of the strike action being called throughout October and November, we have taken the decision to suspend the ULR Networking Event that was scheduled to take place over 16th & 17th Novemberin Glasgow. Circumstances allowing, we hope to reschedule in the New Year.
Equality, Education and Development remains a core part of the CWU’s activities going forward but, as we are sure branches will agree, nothing can be achieved without a strong industrial base and we offer our whole hearted support to all sections of the union currently involved in taking industrial action.
We will provide further information on the possible rescheduling ULR Networking event when we have it.
Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development
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 22nd 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
November – Functional Action (with the Exception of a Single Day’s National Action)
Black Friday week
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
ERRATA: LTB 389/22 – CAPITA TVL: PAY AGREEMENT 1ST JANUARY 2022 – 31ST MARCH 2023 – BALLOT TIMETABLE
Further to LTB376/22 dated 16thSeptember.
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
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
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 