TM1 vs Actuals and ATT

The Outdoor department continues to receive an increasing number of reports that proposals are being tabled by Royal Mail using a management process called ATT (Achieving the Task). In addition, Managers are unilaterally changing the TM1 for the office, including for example changing existing full time duties to part time for template purposes, whilst a full time OPG continues to perform the unchanged duty.

This is to once again remind all representatives that the ATT approach has not been agreed with the CWU and that in our view, any revision activity would be subject to the outcomes of the current National Talks which is in line with the Rebuilding Trust Joint Statement.

Equally, Representatives are also advised that we have written formally to the company, requesting that they withdraw the initiative and to cease any activity relating to it immediately. It has now also come to light that a banding system is being deployed in regions whereby offices are classified in four separate categories, reproduced below.

Category A – Tidy up only. Removing vacant duties or S/A which are not covered on overtime etc. No physical changes to duty structures or any impact on people’s duties or S/A

Category B – Tidy up. Removal of lapsed duties and formalizing the lapsing into other roles. Basically what they do now but just making it structurally set. Still no impact on people other than what they currently do.

Category C – Minor changes to structure but without needing to change people’s contracts or hours.

Category D – Structural change involving significant impact on people.

Representatives are advised to immediately enter the IR Framework in the case of any proposals or actions on the part of local managers to change the Office current TM1 establishment under ATT. We believe that this activity is without doubt more far reaching than the ‘ tidying up exercise’ being quoted by the company and that it has a direct bearing on both productivity measure discussions and any future savings opportunities currently the subject of major activity in the talks regarding the future of the company and our current dispute with the employer.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 230.03, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 508/20 – TM1 vs Actuals and ATT

Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 63)

I attach for your information Version 63 of the Royal Mail Group, Managers’ Coronavirus/Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance document, issued by the business on 16 October 2020.

At the commencement of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, Royal Mail Group established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all national heads of department and this team meets regularly to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and to issue update Questions and Answers information communications to all managers, which is cascaded throughout the business.

The Coronavirus Guidance, version 63 Q&A document has been shared with the Union’s Health, Safety & Environment Department and is hereby circulated for information and reference purposes for CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps.

The Q&A documents are circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link on the Royal Mail Group ‘Intranet’, in the ‘Managers Update Messages’ section.

Please note that changes and additions from the previous version are highlighted in ‘Yellow’.

Please also note that these Q & A documents are ‘Royal Mail Group’ documents and the contents are not agreed with the CWU. On page 4 reference is made to Royal Mail’s decision to re-introduce ‘shared vans’ on a voluntary basis, subject to identified exclusions. This has not been agreed with the CWU and the Union remains opposed to such a policy change at this present time. Please refer to LTB 489/20.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues in dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team to raise questions, additions and amendments to the Q&A document.

Any enquiries to this LTB or feedback on the RMG Q&A document should be directed to Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

Attachment:

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v63

Contents List:

1. HEALTH

1. Prevention
2. Self-isolation, testing and reporting
3. Cleaning and consumables
4. Travel
5. Support and advice
6. POLICY 

1. General guidance
2. Travel/and annual holiday
3. Caring for dependants
4. Sick pay
5. Attendance process
6. Vulnerable employees
7. Fleet and vehicles
8. POST & PARCELS 

1. General Ops advice
2. NHS testing kits
3. Operational processes and reporting changes
4. Delivering and collecting from customers
5. Fleet and vehicles

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 507/20 – Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 63)

Coronavirus__Guidance Questions and Answers v63

POST OFFICE: COVID 19 – TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEWORKING

Branches are advised that as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and in line with Government guidance, many of our Admin and Field Support members have been temporarily working from home due to their usual workplace(s) being closed. As homeworkers they are eligible to claim from HMRC for increased costs e.g. heating and electricity. To assist members with this claim is the following Joint Statement:

JOINT STATEMENT –
TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEWORKERS UP TO £6 PER WEEK

In March at the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK and the consequential lockdown, the Government issued guidelines specifying that “everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from home”. As a result the Post Office quickly responded by making the decision to close or partially close Post Office Headquarters in Finsbury Dials and other administrative buildings including Chesterfield, Farnworth, and Springburn. Consequently many colleagues, including field support workers, have been homeworking since the lockdown.

Tax Relief
If you are one of the colleagues working from home you may be able to claim tax relief via HMRC for some of the bills you have to pay because you have to work at home on a regular basis.

Here is the link to HMRC guidance. https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

How to claim the Tax Relief
For most people, the process simply requires completing a P87 form which can either be done via your Government Gateway account or by filling in a postal P87 form.

You’ll be asked for your employer’s name and PAYE reference (which you can find on your payslip or P60), and your job title. For postal P87s, you will also need your National Insurance number. The key section for completing the form is ‘Using your home as an office’.

In the online form, there are two boxes:

• Amount paid by you. HMRC has stated that provided you’ve had increased costs all you need do is to put a total amount that’s equivalent to £6 per week for the period you’ve been working from home. You won’t need to show receipts.

• Amount paid to you by your employer. Post Office will not be reimbursing expenses, therefore, in this section you need to put £0.

If you’re claiming through the postal form, you’ll need to add a ‘Using your home as an office’ expense manually in the ‘Other expenses’ section.

As you claim retrospectively on expenses and, if you’re only at home due to coronavirus, it might be worth waiting until you’re back at work (or a few months anyway) then make the whole claim at once. Your tax code will likely be adjusted so you pay less tax over the year, as opposed to you getting a direct refund.

Once you’ve submitted the claim, if you do it online you may hear back within a couple of weeks unless, of course, HMRC is under pressure which would then take longer.

Finally, we hope the above information will assist in making the process of claiming tax relief easier. Your ability to adapt to the challenges we all face in the current time has ensured the Post Office has been able to operate effectively.

Thank you for your continued commitment and hard work.

Lee Kelly                                          Andy Furey
Employee Relations and                     Assistant Secretary
Policy Director                                   CWU

I believe the details in the Joint Statement demonstrate the simplicity of the process and the fact that members can complete the forms online without the production of receipts, which will encourage them to apply for tax relief for homeworking.

Therefore, I would urge our Reps to bring this LTB and Joint Statement to the attention of Post Office members working from home, especially as we can see the homeworking arrangements continuing into next year.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

LTB 506/20 – Post Office – Covid 19 – Tax Relief for Homeworking

Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 62)

I attach for your information Version 62 of the Royal Mail Group, Managers’ Coronavirus/Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance document, issued by the business on 14 October 2020.

At the commencement of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, Royal Mail Group established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all national heads of department and this team meets regularly to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and to issue update Questions and Answers information communications to all managers, which is cascaded throughout the business.

The Coronavirus Guidance, Version 62 Q&A document has been shared with the Union’s Health, Safety & Environment Department and is hereby circulated for information and reference purposes for CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps.

The Q&A documents are circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link on the Royal Mail Group ‘Intranet’, in the ‘Managers Update Messages’ section.

Please note that changes and additions from the previous version are highlighted in ‘Yellow’.

Please also note that these Q & A documents are ‘Royal Mail Group’ documents and the contents are not agreed with the CWU. On page 4 reference is made to Royal Mail’s decision to re-introduce ‘shared vans’ on a voluntary basis, subject to identified exclusions. This has not been agreed with the CWU and the Union remains opposed to such a policy change at this present time. Please refer to LTB 489/20.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues in dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team to raise questions, additions and amendments to the Q&A document.

Any enquiries to this LTB or feedback on the RMG Q&A document should be directed to Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

Attachment:

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v62

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 504/20 – Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 62)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v_62

Campaign to save the Union Learning Fund (ULF)

Further to LTB 492/20, we would like to thank Branches who have raised their concerns about the announcement of the Government’s planned cessation of the ULF across all trade unions including the CWU.

We are working closely with our Communications, Media & Campaigns Dept., TUC and sister trade unions to kick-start a campaign highlighting the recklessness of such a measure with a view to reversing the decision. 

The following steps are planned in the short term to argue against the cuts which will have a very real and negative impact on the world of work and the wider economy:

• The TUC has issued an initial two documents which outline the benefits of union learning which is backed up with facts and figures (attached)
• Employers who benefit from an upskilled and confident workforce are being approached to sign supporting joint letters to Gavin Williamson (Secretary of State for Education). We are in the process of seeking support from our employers
• A petition has been launched seeking to reverse the government’s plans to cut the ULF which will mean hundreds of thousands of workers missing out on skills development and training

We ask, that as a first step, Branches bring this LTB and the associated TUC Briefing documents to the attention of our members and also push out the petition through all of your networks.  The petition can be found here:

https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/uk-gov-don-t-cut-union-learning 

A Facebook live session will be held on Tuesday 20^th October at 6pm to update branches on the campaign and the impact of the announcement.

The CWU has a proud record of delivering incredible learning outcomes through the ULF to many thousands of our members. We are confident that our members and representatives understand this and will join the campaign to stop these cuts at a time when workers are facing extreme uncertainty.

Any queries to this LTB can be forwarded to equality&education@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 505/20
Save Union Learning – TUC briefing
Union learning in facts and figures

View Online

RE: ROYAL MAIL RE INTRODUCTION OF VAN SHARE POLICY – SICK PAY WHILST VOLUNTARY VAN SHARING

Further to LTB 489/20 dated 6th October 2020 in relation to the above and due to a

number of enquiries into both departments, the purpose of this Letter to Branches is to

inform members of the current situation with regard to sick pay whilst carrying out van

sharing.

As Branches and members will know, Royal Mail has taken the decision to arbitrarily

reintroduce van sharing on a voluntary basis for individuals from Monday of this week.

Whilst fully recognising the operational difficulties the single person only vehicle policy

has led to since its introduction during the National Lockdown period, it has without

doubt played a significant part in ensuring our member’s safety. Therefore, as the

number of confirmed Covid-19 cases along with the numbers of local & regional

lockdowns currently increases right throughout the UK, the CWU were not and are not

in a position to agree to or support the change to the previous single vehicle policy, as

it is simply the wrong time. In our view this could potentially increase the risk to

members of exposure to the virus.

Information issued by Government today included the following advice “It is difficult to

socially distance during car journeys. You should avoid sharing a car with someone from

outside your household or your support bubble unless you can practice social

distancing.”

Having heard directly from the company that they were reintroducing van sharing, albeit

on a voluntary basis, at a meeting on Friday 9th October 2020, we requested from senior

Royal Mail management that they commit to paying full sick pay to any member who

volunteers to van share, in the event they have to self-isolate. Despite the meeting

being attended by 5 directors / senior managers, they would not give the commitment

and guarantee we sought. We have asked Royal Mail to publish a communication stating

full sick pay will be paid in the circumstances where a member who volunteers to van

share has to self-isolate and also clearly stipulate any circumstances where sick pay will

not be paid.

This is important as a few weeks ago, Royal Mail sent a communication to their

managers which included the following “… We know most of our people continue to

follow the guidelines and behave in a responsible way. This is why Royal Mail

has adopted a supportive approach for employees who are required to selfisolate

due to Covid-19 by applying our normal sick pay policy. In most cases

this provides support above the statutory sick pay recommended by

government.

However, providing enhanced sick pay is dependent on the absence not being

caused by or aggravated by the employee. Where, in the reasonable view of

the company, there is evidence of an employee’s disregard for public health

guidance which then leads to them needing to self-isolate, Royal Mail Sick Pay

will not be paid….”

Clearly we want to ensure, despite our advice to the contrary, any individual who does

volunteer to van share will not fall into the category of “being caused or aggravated

by”, which is why we have requested Royal Mail make it clear full sick pay will be paid

and to be also clear, just as importantly, when sick pay will not be paid. This will allow

individuals to make an informed decision as to whether they want to van share or not.

At the meeting last Friday, we were informed we will have confirmation and the

communication will be published by Monday 12th October 2020. Neither has happened,

therefore we wanted to let you know the latest position and we will be writing to Royal

Mail calling on them to issue a communication stating full sick pay will be paid to anyone

who volunteers to van share, plus any absence of self isolation will not count towards

the attendance agreement.

We will also be requesting extra measures are put in place to ensure Fleet members

are also protected and ensure measures are put in place for you to enforce your legal

right to see and read the safe systems of work and risk assessment to ensure you fully

understand what you need to do, and what PPE you should be wearing should you agree

to van share.

Although feedback from branches is showing that volunteer numbers overall are low,

for absolute clarity our advice remains that members should not volunteer to van share,

as we believe given the current situation with the crisis that this is the wrong time to

go back to sharing vehicles. This advice does not change, even if we were to receive

the assurances as above in relation to sick pay at this current moment in time.

We will be writing to Royal Mail and will keep you updated on any progress.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS

Department, quoting reference 401. Email address: khay@cwu.org and Outdoor

Department quoting reference 600. Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Carl Maden – Acting Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch – Assistant Secretary

20LTB501