Further to LTB 192/2020 the National Team has been informed of additional furloughing taking place across the garage network and Head Office Operations at Aquarius.
GARAGES
As reported previously, Rivus advised that they would review the situation moving forwards and have now confirmed that due to continuing reduction of work volume there has been a need to furlough more employees. As such a further 66 employees are now being furloughed in addition to the original 133 which were in phase 1. The second phase of furloughing will commence on 1st May 2020.
The same process is being followed as per the initial furloughing and volunteers are being sought in the first instance.
We have also received confirmation that Stirling garage has been closed temporarily due to the reduction in workload and employees will be furloughed. The union is seeking further details on the reduction of work in Stirling
HEAD OFFICE OPERATIONS
In addition to the reduction of workload across the garage network we have also been informed of the need to a furlough employees working at Head Office Operations at Aquarius. Rivus have confirmed that 14 employees will be furloughed in early May. We fully recognise this is a very worrying and uncertain time for members and their families but want to assure you we are in regular discussions with the company on these matters and will keep you informed accordingly of any developments.
The company FAQ’s are attached for your information.
Equality & Education – Opportunity, Development and a New Direction
I am delighted to issue the booklet, “Equality & Education – Opportunity, Development and a New Direction” to provide an important overview on how we are building our strategy into the future.
Since taking up the role in September I had been looking forward to Annual Conference and having the opportunity to speak with many of you, I was particularly disappointed that our very first “Equality Day” had to be postponed, but clearly the current situation took precedent and my thoughts are with everyone affected.
However, as trade unionists we must continue to be positive, learn from these challenging times and use any lessons to advance and promote our future plans.
I am confident that working together we can all play a part in delivering our future plans, aims and objectives
This document is now available for Branches to download HERE
Following Royal Mail’s announcement earlier this week that it was changing the USO for 3 months, there have been a number of very significant developments, including separate conversations with the Government and Ofcom and meetings with Royal Mail’s CEO Rico Back.
As a result, we have secured correspondence from the Government, Ofcom and the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, confirming that the change to the USO is temporary. These letters and our response to Royal Mail are attached.
Furthermore, you will see from the Chief Executive’s letter that Royal Mail have stepped back from all executive action and the temporary change will now be for six weeks, reviewed on a fortnightly basis, taking into account circumstances relating to the pandemic.
The letter from Rico Back also makes it clear that any duty changes will be voluntary, that there will be no job losses, no notice will be served on Scheduled Attendance and that the IR Framework is fully restored and will be utilised, where necessary.
On the basis of the correspondence from the Chief Executive, we can confirm that the Postal Executive has unanimously agreed that we will not be serving notice for industrial action relating to this six week temporary relaxation of the USO. Therefore, we are asking all CWU Representatives to engage positively in local discussions.
The company has also confirmed that they are prepared to meet with us next week to discuss a framework for talks to resolve our current dispute.
Further information from the CWU Postal National Officers dealing with the operational situation will be issued in due course.
In the meantime, we want to thank our Branches, Representatives and members, for the support you have given in ensuring that these crucial issue relating to the USO and our members’ jobs, has for the immediate future been satisfactorily resolved.
Temporary Relaxation Occupational Driver Medicals – Royal Mail Licence Renewals Q&A
Branches and representatives will be aware that LTB 212/20 communicated information relating to the relaxation of Occupational Driver Medicals (D4) due to the Covid-19 crisis.
The business have now also produced a Q&A document that they have shared with the department, a copy of which is attached for your information.
The department hopes that the attached will be of assistance to you in dealing with any queries that you may be receiving from members in relation to this issue.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference 014.14
This LTB is to update Branches, Representatives and members on the union’s response to the announcement made yesterday by Royal Mail Group regarding the company’s executive decision to suspend Saturday letter deliveries and to impose un-agreed changes to the current operational network and agreed duty structures.
By their actions Royal Mail has derecognised the union and disrespected our members and the customers we serve. They are refusing to adhere to any of our agreements, be they at local or national level.
It is quite clear that this current managerial leadership has no moral compass and has dragged standards of behaviour and industrial relations to an all-time low. Our members have lost full confidence and trust in these people and this planned national executive action is a despicable attempt to use a public health crisis to drive through long-term and highly damaging change.
The changes they advocate go to the very heart of our dispute and our ability to protect the 6 day USO, our members’ jobs and this great public service. We stepped back from our dispute to do the right thing for our nation during this pandemic and Royal Mail Group agreed to do the same but they are now breaking that agreement.
The timing of their action was also in our opinion deliberately planned to coincide with the CWU National Postal Workers day, so when the rest of the nation, including politicians from all parties, were showing their gratitude for our members and this excellent public service, RMG were rewarding them for their efforts with this highly damaging imposition and the very real potential of 20,000 job losses.
Against this backdrop the Postal Executive, following consultation with our Senior Field Officials earlier today, has agreed the following political and industrial response:
The union will explore with immediate effect and where possible utilise all legal options available to mount a legal challenge against the actions of the company, including if possible a challenge on the reduction of the USO being an unlawful act.
In line with the relevant legislation it is the union’s intention to draw up the appropriate notices to send to Royal Mail within the legal timeframe that will result in us calling upon our members in Royal Mail to take industrial action in line with the ballot result we announced on 17th March 2020.
With immediate effect Representatives and members should not cooperate or give any local agreement to any deployment of management’s plan.
In defiance of the company’s unilateral action, all members should continue to adhere to their currently agreed duty/attendance arrangements.
The union will issue further guidance on all aspects of H&S standards and compliance with HMG guidance relating to social distancing/PPE within the workplace, the legal obligations of the employer to comply with them as well as the legal requirement for the employer to consult the recognised Trade Union on changes in the workplace which have health and safety implications.
The DGS(P) Department in conjunction with the General Secretary, Postal National Officers and the Head of Communications will develop a high profile communications strategy, including as a priority an individual letter to all postal members that sets out and exposes in detail the actions of the company and reaffirms the CWU commitment to defend its members, their terms and conditions and the public postal service. The union via the office of the General Secretary will continue to explore all political avenues in challenging Ofcom and the Government.
Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.
“What type of company would use a national health crisis as cover to cynically pursue their own selfish interests?”
Answer.“A company like Royal Mail Group Ltd”
It’s despicable really. The announcement by Royal Mail Group yesterday, (28th April) that it is ‘temporarily’ suspending the delivery of letters on Saturday’s has absolutely nothing to do with the coronavirus crisis, and has everything to do with their plans to reduce the current Universal Service Obligation with the loss of up to 20,000 postal workers jobs.
Their announcement, done without any consultation with postal users, the public or the CWU is designed to achieve two objectives:1. They are removing letter deliveries on Saturday’s to begin the process of softening up the public for a permanent announcement of a reduction in the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and a reduction in the number of days per week letter deliveries will take place.2. They are removing letter deliveries on Saturday’s to facilitate an attack on the terms and conditions of their own employees, such as unilateral changes to your duty attendances, unilateral changes to your duty start and end times, removal of your opportunities to earn a little extra money by rest day working or performing a scheduled attendance. At a time when you have never worked so hard, they plan to put even more work on you.
Today, is National Postal Workers Day and across the UK postal workers are being saluted by politician’s, the press and the public for the service we provide and for delivering for the country in this time of national crisis. But your own employer does not see you in these terms, your employerresents you and sees you as an obstacle to their damaging plans and they see your union as the enemy.
We cannot sit back and allow Royal Mail to destroy the company and the public service we provide.
We need to make this announcement Royal Mail’s very own A Bridge Too Far.
EVERY SINGLE POSTAL WORKER IN THE UK NEEDS TO SEE THIS
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail USO/Executive Action
This LTB is to update Branches, Representatives and members on the union’s response to the announcement made yesterday by Royal Mail Group regarding the company’s executive decision to suspend Saturday letter deliveries and to impose un-agreed changes to the current operational network and agreed duty structures.
By their actions Royal Mail has derecognised the union and disrespected our members and the customers we serve. They are refusing to adhere to any of our agreements, be they at local or national level.
It is quite clear that this current managerial leadership has no moral compass and has dragged standards of behaviour and industrial relations to an all-time low. Our members have lost full confidence and trust in these people and this planned national executive action is a despicable attempt to use a public health crisis to drive through long-term and highly damaging change.
The changes they advocate go to the very heart of our dispute and our ability to protect the 6 day USO, our members’ jobs and this great public service. We stepped back from our dispute to do the right thing for our nation during this pandemic and Royal Mail Group agreed to do the same but they are now breaking that agreement.
The timing of their action was also in our opinion deliberately planned to coincide with the CWU National Postal Workers day, so when the rest of the nation, including politicians from all parties, were showing their gratitude for our members and this excellent public service, RMG were rewarding them for their efforts with this highly damaging imposition and the very real potential of 20,000 job losses.
Against this backdrop the Postal Executive, following consultation with our Senior Field Officials earlier today, has agreed the following political and industrial response:
🛑 The union will explore with immediate effect and where possible utilise all legal options available to mount a legal challenge against the actions of the company, including if possible a challenge on the reduction of the USO being an unlawful act.
🛑 In line with the relevant legislation it is the union’s intention to draw up the appropriate notices to send to Royal Mail within the legal timeframe that will result in us calling upon our members in Royal Mail to take industrial action in line with the ballot result we announced on 17th March 2020.
🛑 With immediate effect Representatives and members should not cooperate or give any local agreement to any deployment of management’s plan.
🛑 In defiance of the company’s unilateral action, all members should continue to adhere to their currently agreed duty/attendance arrangements.
🛑 The union will issue further guidance on all aspects of H&S standards and compliance with HMG guidance relating to social distancing/PPE within the workplace, the legal obligations of the employer to comply with them as well as the legal requirement for the employer to consult the recognised Trade Union on changes in the workplace which have health and safety implications.
🛑 The DGS(P) Department in conjunction with the General Secretary, Postal National Officers and the Head of Communications will develop a high profile communications strategy, including as a priority an individual letter to all postal members that sets out and exposes in detail the actions of the company and reaffirms the CWU commitment to defend its members, their terms and conditions and the public postal service. The union via the office of the General Secretary will continue to explore all political avenues in challenging Ofcom and the Government.
Terry Pullinger Dave Ward Andy Furey Mark Baulch Davie Robertson Carl Maden
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 