Category: Uncategorized

CLARIFICATION OF STRIKE ACTION

CLARIFICATION OF STRIKE ACTION
We have set out below some guidance on some of the points that have been raised about the implications of CWU members taking strike action.
Picketing
The Code of Practice on Picketing contains some useful points on the right to picket and the limitation.
(Paragraph 10) – Picketing commonly involves persuading workers to break, or interfere with the performance of their contracts of employment by not going into work. Picketing can also disrupt the business of the employer who is being picketed by interfering with the performance of a commercial contract which the employer has with a customer or supplier.
(Paragraph 31) – The law allows pickets to seek to explain their case to those entering or leaving the picketed premises, and/or to ask them not to enter or leave the premises where the dispute is taking place. This may be done by speaking to people, or it may involve the distribution of leaflets or the carrying of banners or placards putting the picket’s case. In all cases, however, any such activity must be carried out peacefully.
Agency workers including Angard cannot be forced or compelled to cross a picket line. If they take an individual conscious decision not to cross a picket line they will lose pay and there is a risk that the company may not call upon them again.
On a day of strike action agency workers cannot be asked to replace the role of a striking worker.
Non-CWU members who are of an RMG grade covered by the legal ballot, have every right to partake in the legal strike action, if they wish to do so.
The law is neutral for those on fixed term contracts and doesn’t increase or decrease their protections in comparison to other workers. A person on a fixed term contract may have a claim if the company stopped their contract due to strike action.
An Acting Manager whose substantive grade is OPG and is a member of the CWU and has therefore been legally balloted, is able through their individual choice to take strike action on the day(s) this is called, whether this is working in their substantive grade or any acting role. Where CWU members who are Acting Managers feel they are being intimidated/harassed into not supporting the strike action this should immediately be brought to the attention of the local CWU Branch.

Picket Supervisor Guidelines.pdfDownload
Clarification of Strike Action. doc.pdfDownload
0

Royal Mail’s Notification To Progress with the Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in Deliveries

Royal Mail’s Notification To Progress with the Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in Deliveries

Branches and Representatives will recall Letter To Branches 110/22, dated the 9th of March regarding the Royal Mail & CWU National Joint Statement – Scan In/Scan Out (SISO) in the Delivery Function – Evaluation of PDA Solutions.

The LTB set out an agreed and limited activity which was designed to gather feedback on whether the PDA solution was fit for purpose and was believed to be a user-friendly application in relation to the deployment of SISO within the Delivery Function.  Mail Centres and Regional Distribution Centres have already deployed Consoles as the equipment which are the preferred option, however the Consoles are viewed upon as unsuitable in Delivery Units due to a number of factors not least of which is space constraints.

The limited evaluation process to explore a possible mainly static PDA based solution within the Delivery operation did not highlight any direct issues within the six listed trial sites. The Specific Joint Statement covering the activity set out the following direct commitment: ‘Royal Mail and the CWU will review the feedback nationally from this evaluation exercise, which will determine any future equipment and deployment programme. Additionally, the evaluation will also determine the next steps and jointly agreed activities necessary, which may include future trials or pilots before consideration of any further or wider National roll out of SI/SO within delivery units.’

Against that agreed background as outlined within the Joint Statement, talks have remained ongoing with Royal Mail in relation to SISO in delivery with the recent tenor of our discussion focused on seeking to reach a joint agreed set of words around the undertaking of joint local level site surveys in each delivery unit, for the siting of the equipment only with the actual deployment and rollout of the concept being proper to further National Agreement.

However, alongside these recent talks and the wider commitments contained within the ‘Key Principles Framework (Pathway to Change) Agreement’ paragraph 2.5 Technology, which deals with the introduction of Scan In/Scan Out, this is to replace the manual signing in and out process, along with the commitment that SISO data will not be used for the automatic reduction of contractual pay or reduce overtime pay where a (verbal) contract has been agreed with the manager, prior to commencement. We have become increasingly aware and concerned that Royal Mail is now seeking to move beyond what is jointly set out in the National Agreement and use SISO technology as part of Royal Mail’s wider change demands around ‘yearly flexi hours/flexi time’ hours banking system arrangements.

On 12th of August, the Outdoor Department then received correspondence from Royal Mail which formally confirmed that the Company intend to progress with the deployment of SISO in the delivery Function. In summary, the notice of intention from Royal Mail confirms that SISO will be first deployed in a number of Sheffield Delivery units on 2nd of October, moving to a national rollout on 30th of October. Attached, as Appendix 1, is a Royal Mail document entitled the ‘Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in the Delivery’. A response from the CWU Outdoor department was sent to Royal Mail on 22nd August which is also attached as Appendix 2.

The details of the attached response from the department are clear and we have requested that Royal Mail does not move ahead with the deployment of SISO within the delivery function at this time for the reasons stated. This move by Royal Mail should be seen as a further aggressive act in clear breach of our agreements. Moreover, it would further suggest that Royal Mail is seeking to adapt SISO to be a key component and facilitator of their ‘yearly flexi hours/flexi time’ change demands, despite claims to the contrary.

We have been very clear that from a CWU position we remain committed to the Pathway to Change and it is Royal Mail’s current unacceptable approach and change demands which are directly outside of the National Agreement, which is the issue and not the concept of a move to a technology based signing in/out system.

Whilst we will keep Branches and Representatives advised of developments, 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 346/22 – Royal Mails Notification To Progress with the Deployment of Scan In Scan Out in Deliveries

Appendix 1

Appendix 2 

View Online

0

POST OFFICE: PAY 2022/23 – ACAS TALKS

POST OFFICE: PAY 2022/23 – ACAS TALKS

Further to LTB 341/22 dated 18thAugust.

Branches are advised that a further meeting took place at Acas with Post Office yesterday afternoon.  No improved offer was made, although a constructive discussion took place.  We have agreed that dialogue should continue and we plan to meet again at Acas on Tuesday 30th August.

On a without prejudice basis, we jointly explored various options.  Consequently, both parties agreed to reflect upon this matter further prior to meeting next Tuesday.  The commitment to continuing talks indicates Post Office would ideally like to find a way forward if possible.  We therefore remain hopeful that further engagement between the parties will allow for more progress; however, there is no guarantee of this as there remains some distance between us on what would constitute a reasonable outcome.

In view of the above, the various strikes planned around the bank holiday weekend will go ahead as follows:

  • Friday 26th – Crowns, Admin, Supply Chain
  • Saturday 27th – Crowns only
  • Tuesday 30th – Admin & Supply Chain

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 345/22 – Post Office – Pay 2022-23 – Acas Talks

View Online

0

Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions – Pay and Associated Matters Dispute 2022

LTB 344/22 – Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions – Pay and Associated Matters Dispute 2022 

No: 344/22

Date: 23rd August 2022

TO: All Postal and Telecom & Financial Services Branches with Members in RMPFS

Dear Colleagues

Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions Limited (RMPFSL) – Pay and Associated Matters Dispute 2022

Branches should be aware we have served notice today to RMPFS in pursuit of our claims for a cost of living increase and associated matters including parity of benefits with the rest of the Royal Mail Group.

The following timetable has been endorsed by the Postal Executive:

Serve notice: 23rd August 2022
Ballot opens: 30th August 2022
Ballot closes: 27th September 2022

We have also planned a Facebook live session for our members next Tuesday at 7.30 pm, which will provide RMPFS Members and Branches with the opportunity to hear from the National Officers on the eve of receiving their ballot papers and to ask questions.

It is imperative all Branches engage with their RMPFS Members in exactly the same way we have with other members who are in dispute. Our Cleaners, Engineers and Generic Admin Members deserve a pay rise, they too were on the frontline during the pandemic as well as suffering during this cost of living crisis and we must do everything we can to maximise a huge YES vote.

Please ensure this communication is brought to the attention of our Cleaning, Engineering and Generic Admin members as a matter of urgency.

Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS
Department, quoting reference number 320 email: khay@cwu.org or to the Outdoor
Department quoting reference 120.12: email address: njones@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely         

Carl Maden                                                          
Assistant Secretary                                                   

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary                                         

LTB 344/22

View Online

0

CWU Retired Members Conference – Tuesday 15th November 2022

CWU Retired Members Conference – Tuesday 15th November 2022

The CWU Retired Members Conference will be held on Tuesday 15th November 2022 at CWU Head Office, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1RX.

a) Delegates

Only Branches with Retired members Sections are entitled to send Delegates.

Branch delegate entitlement to this Conference as agreed by the NEC is as follows:

Number of Retired Members Delegate
entitlement

1-249 1
250-499 2
500 and above 3

Retired Members Regional Committee Secretaries shall attend the Retired Members conference with the right to speak and move motions on behalf of their Retired Members Regional Committee but not to vote. Funding for Retired Members Regional Committee Secretaries to attend Retired Members Conference shall be from the General Fund.

In order that we can cater for any delegate with special needs such as seating, dietary requirements etc., it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Friday 21st October 2022.

b) Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the attached template. Confirmation of receipt of motion will be sent to branches within 72 hours. Should confirmation not be received within this time branches are asked to contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting the Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

Branches, Regions and the Committee are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Each Retired Members Regional Committee is entitled to submit one Motion to the Retired Members Conference.

The Retired Members Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the Conference, standing in their name.

Motion forms must be returned by NOON on Thursday 29th September 2022. Anything received after this date will not be accepted. All sections of the form must be completed.

If Motions are being sent electronically they will only be accepted to the above email address.

As with previous Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be 2 sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that the Retired Members’ Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit 2 motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be in this category, they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

The 2 motions for submission to the General Conference agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the 2 motions will be held at the Conference.

c) Election of Delegates to General Conference

As you will know, the Retired Members’ Conference will select two delegates to represent the Retired Members to attend General Conference 2020.

The Standing Orders for the Retired Members’ Conference will advise a ballot to select these two delegates will be conducted during Conference itself.

Additionally, individuals must be willing to accept nomination, and must have the nomination of their own branch and/or the Retired Members’ Committee, to be eligible.

The exception to this are members of the Retired Members’ Committee themselves who may be proposed for these positions but need to have the nomination of the Retired Members’ Committee and/or any Regional Committee.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 343/22 – CWU Retired Members Conference – Tuesday 15th November 2022

RM Guidance 22 nov

RM Motion 22

RM Nomination Form 22

View Online

0

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS – CHIC MCGLYNN – FORMER NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL & T&FSE MEMBER

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS – CHIC MCGLYNN – FORMER NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL & T&FSE MEMBER

Further to LTB 331/22, please find details for Chic McGlynn’s funeral on the link below:

https://charlesmcglynn.muchloved.com/

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary at jdunn@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary 

22LTB342 FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS – CHIC MCGLYNN FORMER NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TFSE MEMBER

View Online

0

POST OFFICE: PAY 2022/23 – ACAS TALKS

POST OFFICE: PAY 2022/23 – ACAS TALKS

Further to LTB 334/22 dated 12thAugust.

Branches are advised Post Office has today improved the pay offer for 2022/23 during the course of our discussions at Acas.  The revised offer, which has been rejected as being inadequate due to the cost of living emergency is:

  • 5% pay increase (up from the previous offer of 3%) for all grades from 1st April 2022 flowing through to all allowances and overtime rates
  • £500 one-off lump sum (unconsolidated) for all grades (including part-timers) presented by Post Office as being in recognition of the escalating cost of living.

The above development is evidently progress, nevertheless we remain in dispute over the pay freeze position for 2021/22.  In overall terms, the offer is insufficient for what amounts to a two year period.  In simple terms, the offer is not even half the current rate of inflation (RPI for July was 12.3%), which is forecast to continue rising in the coming months; hence the reason for rejecting the improved offer.

Post Office has also agreed to meet again at Acas next week at a date and time to be confirmed.  Hopefully further progress can be made.

I would encourage Reps and Branches to bring this latest position to the attention of our Post Office members.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 341/22 – Post Office – Pay 2022 – 23 – Acas Talks

View Online

0

WEA courses are fully funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and are free to anyone 19+ on benefits and/or on a low income.

Please find below information about our Autumn courses offer, I am also attaching a few pathways posters and our brochure. At the WEA, we specialise in providing supportive, inspiring learning opportunities, delivered by professional tutors who are experts in their field. We do this both in person at venues and online, so there’s a learning solution for everyone. We would like to reach those who are harder to reach, for example in deprived communities or from different backgrounds and anyone who needs our support. Our courses are fully funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and are free to anyone 19+ on benefits and/or on a low income. I would much appreciate it if you could share this information about our courses and programmes with anyone who might benefit from them.

Thank you in advance for your commitment to helping us reach those who would like to learn more, upskill and gain new qualifications. If you have any questions or would like more information please email us at cambs@wea.org.uk

Students can enrol on our courses either online (links below) or over the phone on 0300 303 34 64. They will need a course reference (see below). 

WEA Course Offer Autumn 2022

·        ESOL courses online, all levels (both accredited and non-accredited)

Initial assessment required before joining these courses, please see below the dates:

Friday09/09/2022, 9:30am, Ref: C2229005

Monday12/09/2022, 2:00pm, Ref: C2229006

·        Community Interpreting pathway

Level 1 Introductory course and Level 2 accredited qualification course

Initial assessment required before joining these courses, please see below the dates:

Wednesday07/09/2021, 9:30am, Ref: C2228989

Wednesday 07/09/2021, 6:30pm, Ref: C2228990

Thursday 07/09/2021, 2:00pm, Ref: C2228991

·        Teaching assistant pathway 

Level 1 Introduction to Support and Teaching in Schools course, start date: 02/11/2022 Ref: C2229128

Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges – initial assessment required before joining, please register on C2228887 and complete the initial assessment tasks before the end of August 

·        Parenting and SEND courses 

Helping with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) start date: 11/10/2022 Ref: C2229124

Child Psychology, start date: 10/09/2022 Ref: C2228998

Introduction to Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs) start date: 12/09/2022 Ref: C2228997

Introduction to Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) start date: 14/09/2022Ref: C2229000

Introduction to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) start date: 26/09/2022 Ref: C2228999

·        Tenancy course for Care Leavers

Tenancy Rights and Responsibilities start date: 22/09/2022 Ref: C2229067

·        Boosting your English and Maths and budgeting courses

Boosting My Maths (fractions/multiply/divide/space) start date: 07/102/2022 Ref: C2229065

Financial literacy: Basic Budgeting start date: 03/10/2022 Ref: C2229066

Boosting My English start date: 03/102/2022 Ref: C2229134

·        Marketing and web design courses 

Taster: Marketing for Starting Your Own Business start date: 21/09/2022 Ref: C2229040

Marketing for Starting Your Own Business start date: 28/09/2022 Ref: C2229041

Taster: Web Design for Starting Your Own Business: Beginners start date: 09/11/2022 Ref: C2229042

Web Design for Starting Your Own Business: Beginners start date: 16/11/2022 Ref: C2229043

·        Health and wellbeing courses

Combating loneliness start date: 04/10/2022 Ref: C2229125

Creativity for Wellbeing start date: 08/11/2022 Ref: C2229126

·        Welcome to the UK and Supporting Employment courses for refugees

Welcome to the UK start date: 14/10/2022 Ref: C2229132

Supporting Employment Opportunities for ESOL Learners start date: 14/102/2022 Ref: C2229133

Employability Skills (CV writing, interview skills) start date: 20/09/2022 Ref: C2229068

·        Functional Skills English and Maths

Skills check required before joining these courses, enrol before the end of August

National Functional Skills English – Skills Check Ref: C2424068

National Functional Skills Maths – Skills Check Ref: C2423892

NCFE Functional English Level 2 Online start date: 12/09/2022 Ref: C2423993

NCFE Functional English Level 1 Online start date: 12/09/2022 Ref: C2424010

Get Ready for Level 2 Functional Skills English start date: 14/09/2022 Ref: C2424009

Get Ready for Level 1 Functional Skills English start date: 12/09/2022 Ref: C2423992

· Level 2 Award in Effective Team Member Skills start date: 26/09/2022 Ref: C3534092

0

Some press coverage on the CWU second ballot result to share.

Some press coverage on the second ballot result to share.

ITV https://www.itv.com/news/2022-08-17/royal-mail-workers-back-more-strikes-amid-row-over-pay-and-working-conditions

Channel 4 https://www.channel4.com/news/royal-mail-workers-to-strike-against-leveling-down-agenda-says-union-boss

Morning Star https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/royal-mail-workers-vote-for-fresh-strike-action

Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/royal-mail-staff-vote-strike-row-union-b1019236.html

City AM https://www.cityam.com/breaking-royal-mail-posties-back-strike-action-in-ballot/

Guardian https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/17/royal-mail-workers-vote-further-action-ahead-of-four-days-of-strikes-cwu

Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-115000-royal-mail-workers-27766492.amp

Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/amp/royal-mail-workers-vote-to-strike-for-a-second-time-this-summer-12675335

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62582240

0

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑