Royal Mail: Collective Plan – Closure of the RMPP and the Associated Cessation of Sick Pay at Pension Rate

An integral part of the Four Pillars Agreement (Section 11) arising from the introduction of the new Collective Plan on 7^th October 2024is the closure of the RMPP.

As a consequence, Royal Mail notified the union back in 2018 of the future requirement (on the introduction of the Collective Plan) to remove Sick Pay at Pension Rate (SPPR) for those individuals who have exhausted both full and half sick pay.

From 7^th October, for any RMPP member exhausting half pay whilst on sick, there will be no facility to receive SPPR.  It should be noted that this benefit wasn’t available for our members in the Defined Contribution pension scheme and was paid by Royal Mail and not from the RMPP.  Therefore, the cessation of SPPR impacts solely on members of the RMPP.

We have though been able to agree transitional arrangements with Royal Mail that will enable those members in the RMPP who are currently on long term sick absence and already in receipt of SPPR to continue receiving this money until 30^th March 2025.  In essence, this means an extension of up to six months for those members currently off sick who have exhausted full and half pay.  These transitional arrangements were endorsed by the Postal Executive at its meeting on Tuesday 1^st October.

Royal Mail will shortly be writing directly to those individuals currently off sick and in receipt of SPPR at their home addresses to advise them that the SPPR arrangements (should they remain on sick leave) will continue until 30^th March 2025 but will cease thereafter.  Clearly, this timeframe provides significant support (nearly six months) for members who are currently in receipt of SPPR.

For the avoidance of doubt, any member (currently in the RMPP) that exhausts the six months at half pay after 7^th October will not have an entitlement to SPPR.  In these circumstances they will of course be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay from the state.

With the closure of the RMPP and the introduction of the new Collective Plan, these changes were unfortunately inevitable.  We have though sought to mitigate this situation for those members already on long term sick leave with the transitional arrangements up to 30^th March 2025.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

LTB 323.24 Royal Mail Collective Plan Closure of the RMPP and the Associated Cessation of Sick Pay at Pension Rate

View Online

VPLS Scheme in Business Field

I am writing to advise you that a VPLS scheme in Business Field was opened on 1st October and
will close on 14th October.

Successful applicants will be advised by 28th October and will have a last day of service of the
31st December 2024.

The details, which are the standard VPLS terms are attached.

Yours sincerely

Allan Eldred
National Officer

LTB 322/24

Attachment – UK Voluntary Paid Leaver scheme to open on 1 October 2024

View Online

Raising Concerns Agreement

Branches will recall LTB 278/24 dated 19^th August 2024, where we highlighted the main points of the agreement. This was followed by the agreement being sent to Branches on 20^th August 2024, and in turn a National online Briefing was called on the matter on 22^ndAugust 2024. (21^st August 2024 for the SW/SW Branches).

On 10^th September 2024, the Branches that returned their ballots voted in favour of the agreement;

59,683 FOR 

12,213 AGAINST

Please find attached a copy of the signed agreement along with PDF Procedure/managers guide.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind Branches, the agreement was due to go live today, the 30^th of September 2024. Unfortunately, due to work flow testing on the People Case Management System (PCM), the go live date will now be 8^th October 2024. Any cases which have commenced before the 8^th October 2024 will continue to be dealt with in line with the two former procedures. Any new cases logged on or after the 8^th October 2024 will proceed in line with the new agreement. Furthermore, there will be a WTLL week commencing 7^th October 2024 outlining the new agreement.

We firmly believe this new agreement on Raising Concerns to be of a superior nature from that which we currently have; it is an agreement that’s transparent, and where timescales are a lot tighter for cases to be concluded. Our members will see the positive benefits from this agreement; an agreement that protects employees from recrimination for raising a concern.

Please bring this LTB to the attention of our representatives and members, and any queries relating to this agreement should be forwarded to the PTCS Department, email address khay@cwu.org or hmaughan@cwu.org

Bobby Weatherall

Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 319/24

Attachment: Raising Concerns Agreement – vFinal_30092024

Attachment: Raising Concerns Procedure_11092024

View Online

CWU REPS POLO SHIRTS – ORDERS REOPENED

We are once again opening the orders for the CWU representatives polo shirts due to high demand.

Each top has an embroidered CWU Reps logo and a QR code which directs people straight to the Join CWU web page. Multiple branches have reported this being both an eye catching and practical way to raise the profile of the union.

Polos are available in both navy and CWU pink. They are also available in both men’s and women’s fits.

The cost is set at £12.50 for each polo with a small additional fee for bulk posting them to Branches.

We would actively encourage you to purchase these tops for representatives across your branch areas.

Branches wishing to order the polo shirts should email Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org – setting out the size of your orders, size and fit requirements and colour preferences.

We ask that branches do this before the close of play on Wednesday 16^th October.

Images of the tops can be found via this link https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rep-T.png

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

24LTB321 CWU REPS POLO SHIRTS – ORDERS REOPENED

View Online

CWU DEATH BENEFIT 

In accordance with the terms expressed in CWU Rule 4.1.11 Branches are advised that from the 1st October 2024 the CWU Death Benefit payment will be increased to £1,084.

This information will also be published in a copy of the Your Voice in the Workplace and Veteran magazines.

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

24LTB320 – CWU Death Benefit

View Online

Labour MP Darren Jones was right behind our Royal Mail members in the dispute.

Here he tells us why voting YES in the political fund ballot is so important.

Please share.

X https://x.com/cwunews/status/1839590815896932826?s=46

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/tL41U2qEhBgoAyGx/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAai-XGvUAE/?igsh=MWZnYzZydHFoZGN1Nw==

TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGd11hkcA/

Tonight at 7PM: Inside Look at Labour Conference – CWU’s Fight for Members’ Rights

All of this week the CWU have been raising the profile of our members issues directly to the government at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. 

We led from the front on winning a major vote calling for the reverse of the winter fuel allowance cut, debated the future of Royal Mail and engaged on a wider range of issues impacting our members. We also asked delegates why it was so vital CWU members vote YES in the ongoing political fund ballot. 

Tonight at 7pm CWU Live will bring you a behind the scenes look at all the action from in and outside of the hall. 

You can watch it live or on catch up via our YouTube channel of this direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn4CWWD8PGI

We dedicate this episode to the memory of our former Deputy General Secretary Andy Kerr. We hope we made him proud this week. 

See you all at 7pm tonight. 

Dave Ward
General Secretary 

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

ROYAL MAIL PENSION PLAN
MEMBER NOMINATED TRUSTEE DIRECTOR ELECTION 2024

Further to LTB 172/24 dated 22^nd May 2024 please find attached a copy of the Independent Scrutineer’s report in relation to the ballot for the above position.

Please can you ensure that the above information is brought to the attention of the relevant members of your Branch.

Any queries regarding this event should be addressed to the Dave Wilshire, Senior Deputy General Secretary Department, email dwilshire@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 318/24 – Royal Mail Pension Plan Member Nominated Trustee Director Election 2024

Attachment – H3122_RoyalMail_2309 (003)

View Online