CONSULTATION LAUNCH: FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN THE NON-RECOGNISED SECTOR TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE CWU AS A STANDALONE TRADE UNION

Consultation link: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90445009/Securing-the-future-of-the-CWU

The entire union acknowledges that the future of the CWU as a strong, independent trade union ultimately depends not only on our ability to recruit and retain members in our core recognised areas like Royal Mail and BT, but that we must also prioritise efforts to identify areas for new membership growth and broader union expansion amongst non-recognised employers too.

Motion 11 at last year’s CWU Conference reaffirmed this position. The GROW campaign, which ran throughout March, has succeeded in refocusing the majority of branches attention onto the importance of weaving recruitment and organising into everything we do, as we emerge from the unique circumstances of the last couple of years. As a result, we have seen a welcome increase in membership density, with new joiners primarily coming from Royal Mail and BT.

Work will continue to ensure that an ongoing culture of recruitment and organising is embedded across all union structures and remains a high priority. Follow-ups to ensure the 13 Measures of Success workbooks are being completed as required by all branches will also provide the union centrally with a wealth of invaluable data and information to help us further shape what ‘future-proofing’ the CWU really needs to look like.

The formation of the United Tech and Allied Workers Branch in late 2020 saw us take solid steps in the right direction in regards to growing and future-proofing the CWU in an ever-changing world of work, and despite barriers presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and an increased culture of remote working, the branch currently sits with an active membership of 604 members (correct as of 04/04/2022 and consisting of 674 joiners – 70 leavers over the branches lifetime).

As the department with direct responsibility for growth amongst the CWU’s non-recognised membership we are now launching a major listening and engagement exercise with every single region, branch, officer and rep, to kick-start this important conversation and get every level of the union thinking about the barriers we currently face when it comes to organising in newer areas and how we could best make changes to overcome these.

Please help us in this process by taking the time to complete the consultation using the link at the top of this LTB, and by sharing it with your branch members, encouraging them to complete it too. Our department will also have a presence at conference and be encouraging all attendees who haven’t already taken part in the consultation to do so. Please come and see us on our Recruitment and Organising stall if you’re planning to attend.

For any questions in relation to the contents of this LTB please email: rodept@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

RAY ELLIS
Head of Recruitment, Organising & Membership Growth Department

22LTB157 CONSULTATION LAUNCH

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Royal Mail & CWU Capture Photo on Delivery Joint Statement Addendum

As Branches will be aware the future success of Royal Mail is dependent upon the ability to offer customers products that meet current and future needs and increasingly Royal Mail’s large Account Customers are asking carriers to capture a photographic image as proof of delivery; their rationale for wanting this capability is that it helps to reduce ‘denial of receipts’. It is with this in mind and further to LTB 054/22 (dated 07/02/22), regarding Capture Photo on Delivery, that Royal Mail are now issuing an addendum to Phase 2 as a consequence of the expansion of the service offering and the impact that this is having on the operation and with customers.

Competitors already offer this capability as do Parcelforce, in order to retain and grow market share and we are committed to act quickly to enable this capability within the Royal Mail Core Network.

Phase 1 was deployed before peak 2021 enabling the Capture Photo on Delivery service for Boohoo Tracked items, initially and subsequently extended to M&S and the Very Group.  Phase 2 saw this capability extended to all Tracked Non-Signature Customers from the 10^thMarch 2022.

Background

Following the deployment of Phase 2, i.e. Capture Photo on Delivery for all Tracked Non-Signature Customers, many delivery colleagues have provided feedback, that they have existing agreed arrangements and understandings in place with the receiving customers to leave items in a safe place. The introduction of Capture Photo on Delivery has highlighted these arrangements, the cessation of which could impact on ‘Trust at the Doorstep’ relationships with receiving customers & delivery colleagues and could lead to an increase in customer complaints.

This Joint Statement seeks to make a change to the current Standard Operating Procedure recognising these existing agreed arrangements between the receiving customer and the delivery colleague. Both Parties have considered using a written physical document for customers to sign in order to confirm these arrangements, however, due to GDPR issues this is not possible. Accordingly, it has been confirmed that this is an interim change only until a digital solution is in place, which will enable customers to express their preference formally. This digital solution is expected to be in deployed pre-peak 2022.

Proposed Change to the Standard Operating Procedure

Delivery colleagues are permitted to leave Tracked 24/48, Standard Barcoded Royal Mail 24/48 and 1C and 2C non signature items in a safe place where a pre-existing agreement or understanding is in place with the receiving customer. Delivery OPG’s will have sole responsibility and be free to use their initiative to decide where the item shall be left (based on their local knowledge and experience fully taking into account the security of the item/s and their own safety in line with below):

• For any avoidance of doubt delivery OPG’s are not permitted to ‘safeplace’ any signature product.
• Abide by the existing examples of permitted ‘safeplace’ locations i.e. enclosed porch, shed, greenhouse, garage or outbuilding. As a reminder the following examples are unacceptable ‘safeplace’ locations e.g. all bins, including recycle, front or back doorstep and underneath parked cars.
• Where available follow the ‘safeplace’ procedure on the PDA when leaving an item in a ‘safeplace’. This protects the delivery OPG should there be a complaint as Royal Mail will have photographic evidence and a GPS location for barcoded items only. For un-barcoded items or barcoded where the ‘Safeplace’ option is not available on the PDA leave the items in a ‘safeplace’.
• All items left in a ‘Safeplace’ must be recorded on either a ‘Something For You/P739 card’or for PM/Sunday deliveries on a ‘Sorry we missed you card/ P6737 card’.
• Where there is a customer dispute or complaint as to whether there is a pre-existing agreement in place, the delivery colleague will not face any repercussions or conduct action.

It is acknowledged that this change to the Standard Operating Procedure is based on a pre-existing agreement or understanding between the receiving customer and with the sole discretion of the delivery OPG, using their knowledge and experience. It is accepted that the possibility may exist for an incorrect assessment to be innocently made and the item delivered to a safeplace. It is therefore agreed that where genuine mistakes occur the delivery OPG will not be held responsible.

Involvement / Structures 

In order to ensure effective communication and deployment of this change to the Standard Operating Procedure, the Local Joint Working Groups (LJWG) will ensure consistent application across Delivery Offices with the full support and involvement of Workplace Coaches.

Safe Systems of Work and Standard Operating Procedures 

Health & Safety is of paramount importance to both Royal Mail and the CWU, therefore prior to any change to the current safeplace process it is agreed that a Safe System of Working, Standard Operating Procedures and all relevant safety compliance documentation will be fully developed and agreed between RM and the CWU National Health & Safety Department.

Review/ Summary

Royal Mail and the CWU both understand the importance of being able to offer consumers a first-class experience to enhance the trust that already exists on the doorstep. It is recognised that Royal Mail’s standards, integrity, brand image and focus on quality are of key importance and these must be maintained. Accordingly, RM will share key measures with CWU and the aspects contained within this Joint Addendum which will be regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure that the change will not lead to increased customer complaints or breaches of RM’s integrity or security and difficulties for front line delivery OPGs.

Any questions of interpretation, implementation or application of this addendum shall be referred to the signatories as a matter of urgency for resolution and any local issues will be subject to the industrial relations framework.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 540 , email address: njones@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 156-22- RM CWU Capture Photo on Delivery Joint Statement Addendum FINAL

JS – Capture Photo on Delivery_admendent v0.1 FWCP.doc cwu final

SOP D22.7 Deliver To Safeplace – 04.04.22

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Links to the interviews with national officers at the forum yesterday.

Deliveries – Mark Baulch https://fb.watch/c6ppTNxinL/

Processing, Network, Distribution and Parcelforce – Davie Robertson https://fb.watch/c6pqT5LU4P/

Policies, Procedures, Fleet and Engineering – Carl Maden https://fb.watch/c6prUKTmGo/

Please share.

POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE 2021/22

Our members have today received a letter at their home addresses from Angela Williams, Group Chief People Officer (attached) indicating that despite the significant ballot result for strike action Post Office intends to continue with its dogmatic and uncaring attitude towards pay for 2021.  Indications are that the members are further antagonised by the poor excuses contained within the letter and I am certain our members will be unimpressed by the lack of respect being shown to them by Post Office Directors.

Comments on social media from members range from “this must be an April fools joke” to “how condescending are they” and my personal favourite “the letter has been returned to sender“.  Our members are far from enamoured by the attitude of Post Office and all they have done is to harden their resolve.

Clearly, it has taken a massive yes vote to force Post Office to come clean on its pay policy, which it could have communicated a year ago but they obviously didn’t have the courage of their convictions.  We will respond with a Fact versus Fiction communication to our members, as the arguments put forward by management are utterly spurious.

In respect of next steps, we are meeting with our Post Office Reps on Tuesday 5^th and a Postal Executive has been scheduled for Thursday 7^thApril where I imagine a decision will be made in regard to serving notice on the employer for strike action (we have to provide 2 weeks’ notice).  The letter from Post Office has really left us with no option in this matter.  It is clear they are putting their heads in the sand and pretending this dispute will simply go away, which of course it won’t.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 22LTB155 Post Office – Pay Dispute 2021-22

Attachment 2: Attachment to 22LTB155 – Letter to Members from Angela Williams

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CAPITA TVL: COST OF LIVING CRISIS – PAY TALKS

Further to LTB136/22 dated 23^rdMarch.  I’m pleased to advise Branches and our TVL members that following the recent rejection of the pay offer we have now arranged to meet again with Paul Johnston, Managing Director on Wednesday 6^th April.  In further correspondence, we have urged Capita to improve upon their rejected offer and have made the case for some tangible improvements over and above the headline numbers.  Specifically, these fall into two key categories:

• Real Living Wage: Capita’s current offer is to increase the hourly pay rate from £9.50 to £9.90 applicable from 1^st April (I would stress we believe they can do better in this regard). Bearing in mind the pay review date is 1^st January 2022, this in effect means no pay increase for those on the lowest pay on the TVL contract for the first three months of this year.
• 15-month Pay Proposal: Capita’s proposal is to move the pay review date by three months from 1^st January to 1^st This means the rejected offer, if accepted, would apply for a 15-month period.  Whilst we have no in-principle objection to moving the pay date, there does of course need to be a commensurate increase in pay to take account of the extended duration.  Clearly we can’t accept a 12-month offer being applied over 15 months as our members would lose out.  It follows this position has been strongly represented to Capita.

As a consequence, we are taking steps to write directly to our TVL members to explain the rationale for our stance in respect of the above aspects.  This is an important level of detail and complexity when considering the overall quantum of the offer, which is patently not good enough when viewed against the cost of living crisis.  Hopefully Capita will recognise this position and a revised offer will be made.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

22LTB154 Capita TVL – Cost of Living Crisis -Pay Talks

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RMG Pay Award 2022

Following on from video updates regarding the above issue, please find attached correspondence to the CEO, Royal Mail Group, the content of which is self-explanatory.

It would be appreciated if Branches could please ensure that this information is given the widest possible circulation and that our members are fully briefed accordingly.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                 

22LTB153 RMG Pay Award 2022

Attachment 1 to LTB 153-22 31.03.22 Simon Thompson – RMG Pay Award 2022

Attachment 2 to LTB 153-22 – 24.02.22 Zareena Brown – RMG Pay Award 2022

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Terry Pullinger writes to Royal Mail Group CEO on Pay.

RMG PAY AWARD 2022

I am writing to you in regard to the above with a deep frustration and a growing sense of injustice which I believe is shared by all CWU members. This is an open letter because the silence of the Board on this issue is deafening.

I wrote to Zareena Brown, Chief People Officer, on 24th February 2022. The thrust of that pay claim letter was crystal clear – to genuinely reward CWU members for all that they have done during unprecedented times and also to get in front of and protect them from the current cost of living crisis. I appreciate that we have spoken since then where I have repeated that message and urged an early response.

I have been involved in pay negotiations for many years and therefore know that the RMG Board has to clear a pay remit for you to make an offer. As far as we are concerned the RMG Board has had plenty of time to do this and yet have failed to do so.

The RMG Board’s failure to do that is quite frankly hugely disrespectful to a workforce that have surpassed themselves as key workers during the pandemic, and have served with distinction.

The trust agenda is a fundamental strand to our cultural change agenda, it is all about emotional intelligence, empathy, real connection and understanding of the needs of our brilliant workforce working at the ‘coal face’ as it were. The Board’s behaviour in this regard is extremely damaging to that agenda.

The perception and the reality is that shareholders are more important than the business’s greatest asset and ambassadors – its workforce.

CWU members played a crucial role in helping maintain the mental health of UK citizens by keeping them connected and delivering letters, packets and parcels throughout the pandemic lockdowns.

CWU members played a crucial role in maintaining the health of UK citizens and controlling the spread of the pandemic by delivering and collecting test kits.

CWU members delivered the very financial turnaround that allowed the Board to rush to afford shareholders a return and bonus worth £400 million. Yet when it comes to our members they are dragging their heels. Our members are battling the cost of living crisis now, they need and deserve a cost of living matching pay rise now.

We absolutely believe that there is a debt of honour owed to our members, they have stepped up for the last two years and now it is time for the Board to step up. Our claim is just and we are determined to ensure our members get justice in this regard.

In closing I urge you to make us a serious offer now which demonstrates that you respect all of the above and that you genuinely have pride for what our members have done.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

BOGUS SELF-EMPLOYMENT IN THE PARCELS INDUSTRY REPORT

Please find attached a CWU report on bogus self-employment in the parcels industry, which follows the NEC’s agreement last year to produce a report on this issue as part of our new deal for workers campaign.

The report examines the extent of bogus self-employment in parcels; the ways workers are being mistreated and exploited; and the need for action to address this.  The NEC has agreed to publish the report and to carry out its recommendations.  The report has also been endorsed by the Postal Executive Committee.  It was produced by the CWU Research Department working in conjunction with the General Secretary’s Department and the Postal, Central Organising and Communications Departments.

The report is based on the results of a survey and interviews of parcel delivery workers – both CWU members and non-members – which evidence exploitative practices in the sector.  The findings show that self-employed drivers are much more likely than employed drivers to report poorer outcomes on a number of metrics, including on income and unfair treatment.   However, self-employed drivers are more likely to report that their work is flexible.

The report recommends carrying out further research to fully understand the specific problems facing parcel workers in different companies; establishing what kind of membership offer would be attractive to owner-drivers in this sector; and to continue our work with other trade unions to establish minimum acceptable labour standards.

In the meantime, the CWU will continue to defend and enhance our directly employed members’ terms and conditions in Parcelforce, as well as reviewing the best way to address our concerns over the company’s position on self-employed drivers.  Equally, we must recognise that it is only through sector wide collaboration that we can lift standards for all drivers and tackle the race to the bottom on pay and conditions that presents a growing threat to all postal workers.  This is particularly the case as the parcels market expands and competition intensifies.

Work will continue with the GS, Postal, Central Organising, Research and Communications Departments and the NEC to take these objectives forward.

The report has been published on the CWU’s website at the following link:

“Levelling Up” the Parcels Delivery Market

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

22LTB151 BOGUS SELF-EMPLOYMENT IN THE PARCELS INDUSTRY REPORT

Bogus self-employment in the parcesl industry report 

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Reinstatement of Doorstep Signature Capture on Signed-For Deliveries – Dog Awareness Briefing & FAQ’s Briefing:

Further to the recently issued LTB 134/22, dated 23 March, and the Royal Mail Delivery Office Staff Briefing entitled ‘Reinstatement of Doorstep Signature Capture on Signed-For Deliveries’, see attached two further follow up Royal Mail Delivery Office Staff Briefingswhich are being issued today in support of the original communication to staff via DOMs and WPCs. It is important to stress that these are Royal Mail Communications.

This LTB should be read in conjunction with LTB 134/22 and its attachments.

The two Delivery Office Staff Briefings attached are entitled:

• ‘Dog awareness’ and ‘Confrontation Risk’ as we re-instate Signature Capture and embed Capture Photo on Delivery.
• Signature Capture: frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Dog Awareness: 

As indicated in LTB 134/22, a second detailed staff WTLL Briefing on dog awareness would be produced and delivered to the Delivery Office workforce in preparation for the reinstatement of PDA ‘Signed-For’ delivery, reminding and raising awareness of all delivery staff to be vigilant at all times and to always take the safe course of action regarding dogs.

Remember! There are 3000 dog attacks on postmen and women every year. Members need to be vigilant and aware of the risks that dogs pose and take no chances. Royal Mail and CWU agree that the safety of our delivery workforce is paramount, and dog awareness must be taken seriously.

We have recently, sadly seen a number of particularly vicious and savage dog attacks. One postwoman remains in hospital after having sustained very serious, life changing injuries in a dog attack. Another postwoman has suffered the loss of a finger which was bitten off as she pushed mail through a letter box. The dog was completely silent before it attacked! A thousand similar finger amputation incidents have occurred in the last 5 years! Sadly, also, three children have recently died in separate dog attacks within recent weeks.

The aim of this dog awareness briefing is to do what we can jointly to minimise the risk of dog attacks on members and to promote the staff dog awareness ‘AVOID’ acronym message. The ‘AVOID’ message, is outlined in the attached briefing and is crucially important at this time – the message is:-  ‘AVOID and Stay Safe’ –  Managers and Workplace Coaches have been requested to ensure that staff are thoroughly briefed on the importance of using ‘AVOID’ and being dog aware. All CWU Reps should support getting the briefing message across to all members.

Risk of Confrontation:

The risk of confrontation is to be briefed to staff and is included in the second WTLL Briefing along with dogs. The agreed position is that if delivery staff at any time feel threatened or find themselves in conflict with a customer then they should remove themselves from the threat and leave the item if necessary and leave the premises.  It is important that, if at any stage a frontline employee feels threatened or in danger, they should walk away from the doorstep (leaving the item if unable to take the item back) and inform the Security Helpdesk, their manager and the police (if required). 

Frequently Asked Questions:

A number of questions have been raised since the announcement by Royal Mail of its intention to reinstate Signature Capture on signed-for deliveries and these have been pulled together with the answers from Royal Mail HQ in the attached FAQs Staff Briefing. The questions broadly cover the following:

Start Date:

Royal Mail planned to re-instate Signature Capture from Monday 4 April and some concerns were raised about that date. Noting that units may need initial or refresher training or where there are concerns about current Covid-19 case numbers, the unit can choose a date later in April that suits the office and therefore the start date can be extended to Sunday 1 May when the service should be resumed.

Covid Transmissions: 

Questions were raised about transmission risks whilst capturing signatures.  The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is that staff are not to hand over the PDA but to get it signed at arm’s length.PPE is available to those who wish to utilise masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes. PPE will be provided to all delivery staff requesting it. The message to members is please do utilise and use the PPE items and maintain good hygiene standards. PPE use is recommended but not mandatory, in line with Government guidance. Good hygiene standards should be maintained.

Unit managers have been instructed not to take a heavy-handed approach but to work with staff and CWU Reps to resolve any problems or concerns staff have.

Some important facts provided to the CWU from Dr. Jonathan Fluxman of the Covid Clinical Assessment Service are as follows:

• Inside areas – the highest risk is indoors.
• Outside – the risk is minimal unless an unmasked individual infected person is very close and in your face.
• Face masks work as control for airborne aerosol transmission.

Professor Chris Whitty, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, has said; “The evidence is very clear that outdoor spaces are safer than indoors.”

Researchers say infections can happen outdoors, but the chances are massively reduced. Fresh air disperses and dilutes the virus. It also helps to evaporate the liquid droplets in which it is carried. On top of that, ultraviolet light from the sun should kill any virus that’s out in the open.

Self-Isolation Rules:

The legal requirement to self-isolate if you contract the virus has been removed by the UK Governments, but Royal Mail Group advise that those testing positive should self-isolate and avoid contact with others for at least 5 days after developing symptoms.

Coronavirus Help:

RMG helpline on management of COVID. The helpdesk number is ​0345 604 3657 or email: coronavirus.support@royalmail.com.

First Class Support:

RMG First Class Support is a 24/7, free and confidential helpline for all employees including direct access to counselling services. Call: 0345 266 5060.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary           

22LTB150 Reinstatement of Doorstep Signature Capture on Signed-For Deliveries – Dog Awareness Briefing & FAQ’s Briefing

Dog Awareness Brief V4 DJ

FAQs V2                                

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