CBRE PAY ISSUES 

The CWU is aware of a number of pay issues with this month’s salaries which has affected our members that work for CBRE.

Following representation we have received the following report from CBRE.

• Emergency Tax – It appears that colleagues have been put onto an emergency tax code by HMRC.  CBRE have stated the following

. …both BTFS and CBRE submitted the correct documentation, at the correct time, to the HMRC. But, in some cases, the way that this information has been processed by the HMRC has caused a misalignment of dates on the records that has resulted in colleagues appearing as a starter at CBRE prior to them being a leaver from BTFS, which would make CBRE looking like a second employer; hence the basic rate / emergency tax codes. Tax code changes from the HRMC are compulsory and automatically imported in to the payroll as per HMRC regulations.

I can also confirm that CBRE have not changed their name to Norland Managed Services as some of you may have been informed by HMRC, this actually a previous name for CBRE and in light of this feedback payroll are working with HMRC to make sure that HMRC advisor information is correctly updated to reflect this.

What you need to do

…it’s really important that you check your payslip (see the A-Z guide for information on how to do this) and if you believe that you have had an incorrect change of your tax code this month you will need to contact the HMRC Employees helpline on 0300 200 3300. Opening times are Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm; Saturday: 8am to 4pm; Sunday: 9am to 5pm and closed bank holidays.

 Only you can do this as your tax code is personal to you and the HMRC will only discuss this with you. Have your National Insurance number with you when you phone and quote CBRE PAYE Reference – 846/R108. They will have notes on file regarding this situation and will be able to deal with your query very quickly and efficiently to make the necessary changes to rectify this for next month.

• Overtime Payments – It has been reported that a number of members have not been paid overtime that is owed.  CBRE are advising to email BTPayrollQueries@cbre.com or call 020 7871 9100 and ask for Payroll to discuss these on an individual basis.

If unable to resolve then this will need to be escalated via the Branch to my office.

• Broadband Compensation  – A number of reports have indicated that compensation has not been processed in the May salaries. CBRE have stated that  everyone has received 2 months payments (April and May).  This is shown on the payslip split over the Gross pay and Adjustments.  It has been confirmed that all those eligible have received the £80 or £60 accordingly.

The CWU fully appreciates that this has caused a great deal of concern and that there may be individuals that are seriously financially impacted as a result of these pay anomalies.  CBRE have stated that they are currently reviewing options on how they can support colleagues in this situation.  The CWU will continue to press CBRE as a matter of urgency to do everything they can to assist people that require financial support.

We will update branches again as soon as further information becomes available.

Any queries should be addressed to Sally Bridge sabridge@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Sally Bridge

National Officer

LTB 313.2019

Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay

Further to LTB 288/19 regarding the above.

We have been made aware that managers in certain locations are refusing to log grievances for members over the issue of holiday pay and are claiming that they do not need to follow this process as discussions are now taking place nationally.

If members in your locality are being told this, we advise them to email their manager asking for a grievance to be recorded so that a paper trail exists. We will then notify ACAS that this is the case.

We have also expressed concerns to ACAS about the final wording of the COT3 Settlement Agreement and in particular in relation to Paragraph 2. We are apprehensive that the current wording may result in members not receiving back pay in the event that this is secured through a national collective agreement.

The Union is currently in discussions with RMG through ACAS to agree suitable alternative wording that would prevent this from being the case. We have also informed ACAS that whilst members can agree the monetary offer, all of the associated COT3 forms that contain the legal terms and conditions, should be put on hold until this wording has been finalised.

Many members who are now taking annual leave are effectively losing out on money that is legally theirs. We would therefore encourage all Branches to continue to maximise the number of claims submitted to ACAS.

A meeting has been held with Royal Mail Group at national level in order to commence negotiations about this issue and secure a national agreement. Your ongoing efforts will help to bring this to fruition.

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)

POST OFFICE: BEIS SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY – POST OFFICE NETWORK

Further to LTB 215/19 dated 8th April 2019. An evidence hearing was held yesterday in relation to the BEIS Select Committee inquiry into the Post Office network: 

BEIS Select Committee Inquiry – “the franchising of Post Offices, the reduction of Government subsidies, and the long-term resilience of the service”.

The Union gave oral evidence along with the NFSP, Citizens Advice, WH Smith, the Association of Convenience Stores and the Post Office. The minister, Kelly Tolhurst was due to respond to the inquiry yesterday afternoon; however, we understand this was delayed at her request until June (date to be confirmed).

Members of the Select Committee directed some challenging questions to Post Office the NFSP and WH Smith which can be viewed along with the responses by using the following link:

https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/61a37aa0-cb1e-4140-a57e-aa90e9f9907b

Press Coverage – Save our Post Offices Campaign

There was good media coverage regarding the future of the Post Office including a major piece in the Daily Mail which has just launched a Save our Post Offices campaign. The full article, which features some of our members including Mark Baker our Postmasters Branch Secretary, is available online:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7051033/Save-post-offices-Mail-launches-campaign-preserve-vital-branches-closing-thousands.html

The Daily Mail followed up the launch of the campaign with a further piece in today’s edition:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7056133/MPs-line-demand-Government-steps-safeguards-future-local-Post-Offices.html

The inquiry and associated press and media coverage has come about as a result of our activities including our campaign against Crown Office privatisation. We will continue to put pressure on the government and the Post Office with the aim of securing a long-term future for the Post Office network.

A web article on the inquiry is attached to this LTB for your information along with our full submission to BEIS which was written by our Head of Research, Bill Taylor in conjunction with Andy Furey and Andrew Towers, Head of Political Strategy. We would like to thank Bill Taylor for his efforts in this regard. In our written submission we elaborate upon our vision for a prosperous Post Office for the future and this is contained within the 12 key recommendations.

Finally, also attached to this LTB is a communication from Callum Greenhow, the CEO of the National Federation of SubPostmasters who gave oral evidence at yesterday’s inquiry. Naturally we view the current state of the network and suggestions for the future very differently to the NFSP. In particular, as Branches are aware, and as Andy Furey raised during yesterday’s evidence session, we believe a Post Bank owned and run by the Post Office would help to provide a long term future for this Great British institution.

Further developments will be reported.

If you have any questions in relation to this LTB, please contact Lea Sheridan – lsheridan@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey – Assistant Secretary                 

Terry Pullinger – Deputy General Secretary (P)                             

Dave Ward – General Secretary

19LTB305 – Post Office – BEIS Select Committee Inquiry – Post Office Network

Attachment 1 – Web Article

Attachment 2 – CWU Submission to BEIS SC on Post Office 7 May 2019 FINAL VERSION

Attachment 3 – BSC 12 – BEIS Select Committee hearing

Royal Mail Group June 2019, Road Safety Campaign, Launch W/C 3 June 2019 – “Seat Belts”

It’s compulsory to wear a seat belt at all times when driving a Royal Mail vehicle. The law and Royal Mail Policy applies to drivers and passengers who must wear their seat belts.

Seatbelts can help to save lives. They are important safety features that, like air bags, help to protect a driver or passenger in a collision and minimise injuries. Those who do not wear their seatbelts while in a vehicle put themselves at greater risk of severe injury or even death. It is also a legal requirement and has been since 1983. Royal Mail Vehicle Drivers are NOT exempt!

Seat belts are designed to retain people in their seats, and so prevent or reduce injuries suffered in a crash. They ensure that as little contact is made between the occupant and vehicle interior as possible and significantly reduce the risk of being thrown from a vehicle.

Seat belts are designed to work as the key part of wider injury prevention measures and safety systems, such as airbags and head restraints, which will not be as effective in reducing the risk of injury if an occupant is not wearing a seat belt.

Seatbelts are reported to save over 2,000 lives per year. In the event of a serious collision, you are twice as likely to die if you are not wearing a seatbelt.

Worryingly, Royal Mail drivers and passengers are increasingly being found to not be wearing a seatbelt and are in breach of the law.  During observations of drivers last year, 669 drivers or passengers were observed not wearing a seatbelt; an increase of 54% on the previous year.

Facts:

• Drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seat belt – it only takes 5 seconds to belt up.
• All drivers must wear their seat belts all the time to comply with Royal Mail’s standard so if you are moving belt up.
• The fixed penalty for failing to wear a seat belt as a driver or passenger is a £100 fine.
• If the case is taken to court, you could face a fine of up to £500.
• A number of Royal Mail drivers have been fined for not wearing their seat belt.

Wearing a seat belt correctly:

• In order to wear a seat belt safely, the following points should be adhered to:
• The belt should be worn as tight as possible, with no slack.
• The lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach.
• The diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck.
• Nothing should obstruct the smooth movement of the belt by trapping it.

Damaged seat belts:

• Seat belts should be regularly checked for damage, this forms part of the driver’s vehicle checks. Common forms of damage to the seat belt that will reduce its effectiveness in an accident:
• Fraying or fluffing around the edges of the seat belt.
• A cut which causes the fabric to split.
• A hole in the seat belt.
• Damage to the buckle.
• Report any faults found during vehicle checks before using the vehicle.

Managers’ responsibilities:

Managers must carry out driving and yard checks to reinforce positive safe behaviours through coaching. During this campaign they should concentrate vehicle checks on drivers and check they are wearing their seat belts.

If the vehicle is moving, belt up!

All drivers must wear their seatbelt at all times whenever driving or travelling for Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide, RMSS, RMP&FS, RMG Fleet etc.).  There are no exceptions regardless of whether they are in the yard, reversing, on private and public roads/property, or travelling only short distances. If the vehicle is moving, belt up!

Film, Poster & WTLL:

There is a film to be shown to drivers to reinforce the consequences of failing to wear a seat belt. A poster (see attached) will be displayed (sent out to all offices on 16 May 2018) and a WTLL will be delivered (copy attached). An RMTV session will also run during the campaign.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Campaign is not tied to just one week and we want the focus on the campaign to be sustainable so ASRs, SHE Team and Operational Managers can focus on the issue and programme, the WTLL and Poster distribution with best effect to most suitable local timetables and arrangements – followed up and kept in focus regularly.

Royal Mail and the CWU agree that the safety of the workforce is paramount. Vehicle and driver safety, road risk, avoiding accidents and injuries are top priorities for us all.

Please support this Road Safety Campaign – Would ASRs and WSRs pro-actively engage the SHE Team and Operational Managers to get involved and lift the profile of the Campaign in line with the RMG/CWU Joint Agreements and Joint Statements on Health and Safety. Thanks for your support.

Any Management enquiries should be directed to Olesha Rhoden RMG SHE Road Safety Programme Manager: Mobile: 07436 039 785Email: olesha.rhoden@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB304 Royal Mail Group June 2018, Road Safety Campaign, Launch WC 3rd June 2019 – Seat Belts

CWU Seat Belt Poster

SAFE BELT UP POSTER – FINAL

Seat Belts – one-pager for logistics drivers – June 2019 – FINAL

Seatbelt June 2019 ASR – FINAL

WTLL Road Safety Campaign – Seat Belts – May 2019 – Draft 2 MB amends – .._