RMPFS Pay Review April 2019

Dear Colleagues,

As was previously advised to Branches in LTB 332/19, negotiations regarding the 2019 Pay Claim in RMPFS have been ongoing since the beginning of the year. The negotiating team has continued to press the pay related policies carried at last year’s RMPFS Policy Forum in Birmingham along with Annual Conference policy.

Whilst previously acknowledging that discussions are being conducted against the background of the tight financial targets placed on RMPFS by Royal Mail Group, these discussions have nevertheless, and up to this point been constructive. However the Union’s negotiating team has now received a closed offer from the company which falls short of the Union’s claim and is unacceptable. This pay offer has therefore been rejected by the Postal Executive.

Whilst the pay offer is a closed one and therefore does not represent RMPFS final pay offer or final position, it is extremely disappointing that although some small progress has been made on pay, there remains a fundamental difference between the respective negotiating teams on the issue of pensions.

Joint discussions are continuing and further meetings are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Branches will be updated on progress accordingly.

Any enquires regarding this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department, reference 120.12, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Or to Ray Ellis, reference 301, email address: khawkins@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch  – CWU Assistant Secretary

Carl Maden – CWU A/Assistant Secretary

LTB 383.19 – RMPFS Pay Review April 2019

NEC, Industrial Executive and Regional Secretary Elections – 2019   

The purpose of this LTB is to provide Branches with further information regarding the forthcoming NEC, Industrial Executive and Regional Secretary ballots which are scheduled to take place from 2^nd July 2019 to 24^th July 2019.

In line with our previous policy we are taking this opportunity to provide some additional guidance on the number of candidates that members will be entitled to vote for in each of the respective ballots.

We hope this will assist those Branches who wish to advise their members of any recommendations that the branch may wish to make.

Branches will find the full list of nominations for the above elections in the following LTBs: 353/19, 356/19, 366/19,369/19 and 374/19.

Listed below are the ballots scheduled to take place in the 2019 series of elections.  Also listed is the relevant member voting entitlement for each ballot.

 

POSTAL CONSTITUENCY

 

National Executive Council Representatives

 

Postal Constituency Chair – No ballot required.

Postal Constituency Vice Chair – No ballot required.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 1

• All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 17 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than nine. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to nine candidates to their members.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 2 – No ballot required.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 3 (Young Worker) 

• All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidate to their members.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Disability) 

• All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidate to their members.

 

Postal Constituency – Section 4 (NEC LGBT) – No ballot required.

 

Postal Executive Representatives – Postal Grades

• All Postal Grade members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.

Please note that members of the Postal Constituency who are Postal & Technical Services grades will not be eligible to vote in this ballot. 

• There are 17 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than thirteen.  
• Accordingly Branches with Postal Grade members will be entitled to recommend up to thirteen candidates to their members.

 

Postal Executive Representatives – Postal & Technical Services Grades

• All Postal & Technical Services Grade members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.

Please note that members of the Postal Constituency who are Postal grades will not be eligible to vote in this ballot. 

• There are 3 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than two.  
• Accordingly Branches with Postal & Technical Services members will be entitled to recommend up to two candidates to their members.

 

TELECOMS & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY

 

National Executive Council Representatives

 

T&FS Constituency Chair – No ballot required.

T&FS Constituency Vice Chair – No ballot required.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 1

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 11 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than six. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to six candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 2

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 4 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than two. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to two candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 3 (Young Worker)

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Women)

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (BAME)

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members

 

T&FS Executive Representatives

 

TFSE – TFSE Young Worker 

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members

 

TFSE – Santander Group and related companies (Santander UK, Santander UK Operations Ltd, Santander UK Technology Ltd, Santander Global and RR Donnelley)

No Ballot Required.

 

TFSE – Telefonica O2 UK, Connect 44 and ISS Eaton

No Ballot Required.

 

TFSE – Capita in the T&FS Sector and 14Forty (Capita contract)

• All members of the T&FS Constituency working in Capita in the TFS Sector and 14Forty are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members.

 

TFSE – All Other Members in the T&FS Constituency 

• All members of the T&FS Constituency (Excluding members working in Santander Group and related companies, Santander UK, Santander UK Operations Ltd, Santander UK Technology Ltd, Santander Global and RR Donnelley. Telefonica O2 UK, Connect 44 and ISS Eaton. Capita in the T&FS Sector and 14Forty (Capita contract)) are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 7 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than four. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend four candidates to their members

 

Regional Secretary Elections 

Ballots are required in the following CWU Regions:

Northern Ireland – 3 candidates
Scotland – 2 candidates
South East Region – 2 candidates
London – 2 candidates

All members in each of the respective regions are entitled to vote in the above elections including retired members.

Branches can recommend one candidate in these elections.

 

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

19LTB382

Royal Mail Group Environment Awareness Week 24 – 29 June 2019

Following on from National Clean Air Day on Thursday 20 June reported in LTB 351/19, Royal Mail has announced that they will run an Environment Awareness Week 24 – 29 June to promote what we can all do to help reduce air pollution. CWU is happy to support the initiative. The following outlines the messages which will be promoted during the coming campaign week.

This month (June) sees the United Nations’ World Environment Day, with a theme of Air Pollution. Royal Mail Group is carrying that theme through into their own environment awareness week.

9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air across the world, with multiple sources of air pollution ranging from; agriculture, domestic households, industry, transport and waste.

Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), bronchitis and emphysema, asthma and in some cases dementia and premature death.

By changing behaviours, we can look to limit both Royal Mail Group’s and our own impact, helping to improve air quality in our local communities and the wider world; enhancing the quality of life for all of us.

We may not be able to solve the problem alone, but a lot of sources of air pollution are in our control. Here are some examples of what can be done to help, at home or at work:

• Use public transport, car share, cycle or walk
• Turn off your vehicle engine when stationary
• Reuse/repair items where possible
• Recycle clean recyclable waste, this may differ between home and work
• Switch to high-efficiency home heating systems and equipment/ensure boilers are regularly serviced
• Save energy: turn off lights and electronics when not in use
• Don’t open windows in air-conditioned offices, unless the air conditioning is switched off.
• Report lights or heating left on at work, when they are not needed, e.g., yard lighting which is on during daylight hours.

By making a few small changes during the week and realising the differences they can make, could lead to longer term adoption and others following that lead. The campaign is calling on everyone to lead by example and improve our air quality.

See attached set of 8 Slides or Screen Shots which will appear on RMTV Screens in all Royal Mail Group Workplaces during Environmental Awareness Week.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB381 Royal Mail Group Environment Awareness Week 24 – 29 June 2019

556228_RM_34_Screens_AirQuality_1360x768_V5

BT Pension Scheme: Updated Contact Details

The BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) has advised that it will be centralising the member support team in one location which will be Chesterfield. This is in order to improve service and reflects feedback from Scheme members.

As a result, the BTPS contact centre will be moving from India to Chesterfield. Calls will be answered in both India and Chesterfield over the next few months, while the transition takes place.

This welcome development follows on from the BTPS decision last year to take the pension administration in-house.

As a result the contact email address for the BTPS is changing, though the phone numbers have remained unchanged.

The full contact details for the BTPS are now as follows.

Email: member@btps.co.uk

Phone:
Calling from within the UK: 0800 731 1919
Calling from outside the UK: +44 (0)203 0233420
Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

Portal: www.btpensionsportal.com

Web: www.btpensions.net

Post:
BT Pension Scheme
Sunderland
SR43 4AD

If there are any issues arising from the content of this LTB please contact HQ.

Yours sincerely

 

Nigel Cotgrove

Assistant Secretary 

LTB 378.2019

Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay 

Further to LTB 344/19 Branches will be aware that we have been in dialogue with ACAS concerning the Early Conciliation process and how this can be streamlined. Given that the number of claims is now increasing on a daily basis, any amendments that result in less time being needed for conversations between Branches and ACAS will no doubt be welcomed by both parties.

I am therefore pleased to inform Branches that we have now agreed the attached process with ACAS which will commence from Monday 24^th June 2019.

Branches should also note that ACAS believe a collective resolution to the current impasse provides the best way forward and in light of this a meeting was held with Royal Mail Group on Tuesday 11^thJune 2019 with a further meeting date set for Friday 21^st June 2019.  We have made it clear to the Business that this matter cannot remain unresolved for much longer and that when we next meet they must submit a proposal for a National Collective Agreement.

At a national presentation on Wednesday 12^th June 2019 regarding the future strategy of Royal Mail Group, Senior Managers stated their intention to reach a swift Agreement on the issue of average pay on leave. They must now put their words into action.   In the absence of such an Agreement it is abundantly clear that this issue is gathering increased momentum among our members and that the number of Early Conciliation claims continue to multiply.

In closing I would like to reiterate that we continue to encourage every member to make a claim if they are not in receipt of their average pay whilst on annual leave and reconfirm that the Union is committed to achieving a National Collective Agreement that will meet our members’ aspirations.

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)    

19LTB372 Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay

LTB 372.19 Attachment 1 Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay