POST OFFICE: “THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY & PENSIONS” – BALLOT FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION
Dear Colleagues
Ballot for Industrial Action – Notice Served Today
Branches and members will be aware of the Executive action taken by the Post Office recently with regards to the serious issues over which we are in dispute, including the attack on pensions, the Future of Supply Chain and Franchising (privatisation of Crown Offices). Since the carriage of Emergency Motion E3 at annual conference, we have made every conceivable effort to persuade the Post Office to engage with us in a meaningful way with the aim of reaching an overarching agreement. Regrettably however, the Post Office has not taken these matters seriously and continues moving forward with its various plans that, in the absence of an overarching agreement which includes job security, will undoubtedly include Compulsory Redundancies, something which has never happened in the Post Office before.
As a consequence of the above, the Postal Executive has made a unanimous decision to serve the formal seven days notice for an Industrial Action ballot across the whole of the Post Office membership. The Post Office has been notified today.
Ballot Timetable
 
Monday 1st August – Ballot papers issued

Friday 19th August – Ballot closes and declared

 
Next Steps
It is imperative all Branches call membership meetings at the earliest opportunity to engage with our members in order to ensure the best possible ballot result for strike action. Delivering an excellent YES vote is fundamentally important to ensure our members have a decent and secure future in the Post Office. If Branches need the support of the Postal Executive at membership meetings, please contact lsheridan@cwu.org to make arrangements. A further LTB will follow tomorrow.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey Ray Ellis Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Acting Deputy General Secretary (P) General Secretary

Email Attachments – Click to download

Ballot for Industrial Action

Terms of Reference – Trial of Mandatory Paperwork (2) for acceptance of PPI mail via Royal Mail Receptions
Dear Colleagues,
Branches will be aware of previous activity regarding Mandatory Paperwork for Collections (MPC) which was introduced to close the revenue gap between posted volumes and the billing paperwork received for PPI mail. Essentially MPC was designed to ensure that Royal Mail gets paid for the PPI mail posted.
Recent detailed analysis has revealed a further gap in posted traffic versus billed services. Over 40% of Royal Mail’s acceptance points for PPI Mail have no or minimal controls in place, meaning PPI Mail posted with no paperwork will be processed for free unless manually captured through Revenue Protection checks.
As a result we have jointly agreed to review the Mandatory Paperwork for Royal Mail Receptions to find ways to close the revenue losses. Two Offices will form part of the trial and the locations below will be supported by strong Revenue Protection teams:
Manchester Mail Centre

Greenford Mail Centre

The trial activity will commence through Reception training, before the formal commencement of trial activity takes place w/c 25th July. The trial activity will look to capture information of the benefits of scanning paperwork in Mail Centre Receptions relating to:
Assurance that all PPI mail received has been paid for and has acceptable paperwork

Identify suspect mail which Revenue Protection can investigate & RED X in the future

Better understand customer posting behaviour and potential knowledge gaps

Collection and analysis of PDA scan data

Identify knowledge gaps which will inform future coaching/training

Upon conclusion of the trial (4 weeks) all the relevant information and data collated will be shared with the CWU, which will be reviewed nationally and will form part of the discussions to agree the next steps.
Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 532. 
Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
or
Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, quoting reference 231.06. 
Email Address: shayman@cwu.org
Yours sincerely                                                            
                                                   
Bob Gibson Davie Robertson
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor CWU Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1: LTB 445/16 – Terms of Reference – Trial of Mandatory Paperwork (2) for acceptance of PPI mail via Royal Mail Receptions

MPC2 CWU_RM TOR – 20th July 2016 Final 

CWU POLITICAL BRIEFING – MONDAY 1ST AUGUST 2016  
I write further to LTB 425/16 in which I updated Branches on recent political developments within the Labour Party. 
In this letter I also advised branches of our intention to hold a National Political briefing. I can now confirm that arrangements have been made to hold this event on Monday 1st August 2016. The full details are as follows:- 
DATE: Monday 1st August 2016

TIME: 11.00am (prompt)

PLACE: National Union of Teachers (NUT) Headquarters

ADDRESS: Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9BD

 (Just off Euston Road – between Euston and Kings Cross Train stations) 
All Branch Secretaries and Branch Political Officers are invited to this briefing. It is really important that you prioritise this event and make every effort to attend. 
Branches should email gsoffice@cwu.org by noon on Friday 29th July 2016 to confirm who will be attending the event on behalf of the branch. 
An agenda is attached for your information. We aim to conclude the meeting by 2.00pm. 
If you have any enquiries on this LTB, these should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 2: CWU Political Briefing Agenda

CWU DELIVERY BLUEPRINT FOR A NEW DELIVERY MODEL 2016
 
Dear Colleague
A CWU Delivery Blueprint – Foundations for a New Delivery Model was originally formulated in 2009. This document was ratified by the Postal Executive on the 4th March 2009 and became CWU policy which was taken into the subsequent negotiations and now forms the basis of the delivery section of the BT 2010 agreement. This document was subsequently updated and the revised and updated version of the 2009 document that took account of the changes that had taken place within the Postal Industry, both internally and externally was also placed before the Postal Executive in August 2013. That document took into account many of the issues our Delivery Representatives and members had encountered in the intervening period as delivery revisions were rolled out across the UK and competition became more prevalent. Much of the policy was included in the delivery section of the Agenda for Growth Agreement and carried into the Integrated Delivery Programme.
A similar approach has also been taken in the production of the CWU Delivery Blueprint for a New Delivery Model 2016 which was agreed by the Postal Executive at its statutory meeting on the 5th July 2016. The revised document is not intended to provide all the answers or go into the fine detail of what an agreement will ultimately look like; as we are all aware situations will develop through any set of negotiations. It is what it says a ‘Blueprint’, a policy document that provides direction for negotiation, outlines the CWU position and a CWU policy/framework for the establishment of a new delivery model going forward.
The document has been developed through the full involvement of the CWU Delivery Reference Group and subsequently with input from ADR briefings to bring us to the position we have reached today. The intention yet again is one of uniting CWU activists and members behind a common agenda and purpose. This document provides that platform going forward in a clear and concise manner that is easily understood. There was no outright opposition to the document at any of the ADR briefings but a number of alterations were made to accommodate many of the points raised and discussed. There are elements of the document that are clearly generic and they should be read within the spirit and context that they are meant, as indicators and reminders of some of the key objectives of the CWU and necessary requirements of an overall agreement covering all functions.
The document is now agreed Postal Executive policy and it will be taken into the national discussions that will be scheduled with Royal Mail regarding the future of the industry. The ‘Blueprint’ will be the delivery policy in negotiations going forward. However to be absolutely clear this will not detract from our overall CWU commitment to achieve a joined up agreement for the benefit of all of our members, nor will it override our existing national policies. It is designed to add weight and focus to the overall campaign and negotiations so that we are able to move forward in unison on all fronts.
The document in its current form will at some appropriate point be shared with Royal Mail as they are aware we have been developing it and it is a matter of fact that whatever documents we put into the field inevitably end up in their possession any way. The document will be a CWU document/ negotiators brief for the subsequent negotiations.
Also circulated as supporting documentation to the Delivery Blueprint 2016 is the WIK Report commissioned by OFCOM and the CWU European Postal Comparators Report commissioned by the Outdoor Department and produced by the CWU Research Department. Both documents provide a fuller picture of the Postal Industry at home and abroad and an indication of some of the issues that will form part of the national negotiations regarding the future of Royal Mail.
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 230.03
Email address:outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
 
Yours sincerely                                                            
Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor                             
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1: LTB 440/16 – CWU DELIVERY BLUEPRINT FOR A NEW DELIVERY MODEL 2016

Attachment 2: WIK Final Report

Attachment 3: CWU Delivery Blueprint 2016

Attachment 4: European Postal Comparators

PAYROLL ISSUE – PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE
 
Dear Colleague, 
The department has been made aware of a payroll issue which affects approximately 400 monthly paid employees in Parcelforce Worldwide. Below is a copy of the communication from Glyn Rees, HR Services Reward RMG, which has been shared with managers that provides an explanation of the problem that has been encountered and the actions being taken to address the issue: 
“During the course of implementing the 2016 pay award in July salaries, an error has been discovered which has affected the pay of some colleagues in CWU-represented grades in Parcelforce. Whilst the pay increase has been implemented, the arrears payments back to April 2016 and overtime performed in June have not been paid to some Parcelforce employees. HR Services apologises for any inconvenience this may cause. 
In order to ensure employees are not unduly inconvenienced, Payroll will make an additional net of tax payment into employees’ bank accounts on pay day (29th July), providing an approximate additional amount of net pay (after deductions) that would have been generated if the arrears and overtime been paid through payroll as normal. This net payment will then be recovered in August salaries when the overtime and arrears will be paid through payroll subject to the usual tax and NI deductions.  
There is no need for employees to request the payment as it will be managed automatically by payroll. Similarly, unpaid overtime should not be re-keyed into PSP.” 
We would request that Branches and representatives make every effort to ensure that our members are made aware of this LTB and that it is given immediate publicity. 
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 101.08 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 441/16 – PAYROLL ISSUE – PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE

Please see July edition of Safe and Well newsletter with contributions from our USRs and field teams including information on Fire Safety, Electrical Safety around lighting, Safety hints for Maxi Cobra Rod transportation and storage, pre-climb pole checks and dogs.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
 
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 442/16 Safe & Well – July 2016

Attachment

Please find below the criteria for voting in the forthcoming leadership election.
Labour Party Leadership Election – Affiliated Supporter Sign-up

Please find below clarification on who will be able to vote in the forthcoming Labour leadership election with regards to trade union members.
CWU members who pay the political levy and have already registered as affiliated supporters are eligible to vote in the election and do not need to sign up again this time round.  

All other CWU members who pay the political levy and joined the union before 12th January 2016 can sign up as an affiliated supporter of the Labour Party in order to vote. The deadline for this is 12 noon on the 8th August. They can do so at http://support.labour.org.uk – there will also be a page on the CWU website which will link to this shortly. 

Any CWU members who joined after 12th January will not be eligible to vote as affiliated supporters. They will, however, be able to sign up to vote as a ‘registered supporter’ as an individual by paying a one-off fee of £25 to the Labour Party. The registration process for this will run from Monday 18th July to 5pm on Wednesday 20th July only.

Finally, it should be noted that in order to register as an affiliated supporter, individuals will need to sign up to the following statement (there is an equivalent statement for registered supporters):
I support the aims and values of the Labour Party, am not a supporter of any organisation opposed to it and pay a political subscription to my trade union from which affiliation fees are paid on my behalf.
In the leadership election last year the Party did exclude some individuals who, for instance, were members of other political parties. Applications for a vote will therefore be subject to a vetting process by the Party.
It is important that you bring this information to the attention of all your Political Fund levy paying members including your Retired Members. We will give greater publicity to this issue next week on the CWU website (including the new Retired Members and Youth websites) and all CWU social media.
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary

DRIVING LICENCE CHECKS (EXCLUDING NORTHERN IRELAND)
Dear Colleague,
Branches and representatives will be aware that LTB 413/15 provided information in respect of interim arrangements across the UK (excluding NI) in regard to the introduction of an electronic process to undertake six monthly licence checks for all staff required to drive as part of their duties, which came about due to the cessation of the driving licence paper counterpart 
The business has now confirmed that following examination of alternative options, it has decided to formalise the interim arrangements (excluding NI) and that this has now become the adopted process for RMG’s licence checks.
For the information of Branches the following attachments to this document are copies of the processes that should be used to:
Attachment 1: How to obtain a code by the licence holder
Attachment 2: How to use the code to perform a licence check (note that the code does not now expire after 72 hours but lasts for 21 days)  
Attachment 3: Instruction on how to record licence details.
On the introduction of the interim arrangements in 2015, concern had been raised with Headquarters that as managers had access to the required information, that they may be able to obtain a code and undertake a licence check without the drivers consent or knowledge. Representation was made to the business on this basis and we have been informed that guidance on performing the licence check with the driver’s permission will be reissued when each of the six monthly checks is instigated.      
If any instances of deviation from the process are experienced in relation to licence checks it should be brought to the attention of the relevant department immediately.
The revised licence check arrangements will also apply to driving licence checks for Parcelforce Worldwide drivers.
Branches should note however that these arrangements do not apply to Northern Ireland, where the process is that the counterpart and card continue to be checked, as these are still used for driver licencing.
Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that our members are made aware of this LTB and its annexes.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:
For Deliveries:
Bob Gibson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference: 300.02
or
For Network, Area Distribution, RMSS & Parcelforce:
Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 202.09
Yours sincerely
 
Davie Robertson Bob Gibson
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 438/16: DRIVING LICENCE CHECKS (EXCLUDING NORTHERN IRELAND)

Attachment 1 Drivers- How to Share Your Driving Licence Details (2)

Attachment 2 FCA 4 2 1 Driving Licence Inspection Record 2016

Attachment 3 FCA 4 2 1a Driver licence check process 2016

RE: PAUL O’DONNELL – FORMER BRANCH SECRETARY LONDON PARCELS AND STATIONS AMAL AND LONDON DIVISIONAL CHAIR – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
I write further to LTB 421/16 in which I advised branches of the very sad passing of Paul O’Donnell, former Branch Secretary of the London Parcels and Stations Amal Branch.
I can now advise branches that the funeral arrangements will take place as follows:-
The cortège will leave the family home at 1.30 p.m.; 16 Rydston Close, Blundell Street, London N7 9DL. The family has requested that floral tributes be sent to this address.
DATE: Friday 22nd July 2016

TIME: 2 p.m.

PLACE: St Andrews Church

ADDRESS: Thornhill Square London N1 1BQ

The location is just off the Caledonian Road, about a 10/15 minute walk from Caledonian Road tube station.
The funeral will be followed by a short service at Finchley Crematorium, 278 High Road N2 9AG. 
If you have any enquiries on this LTB, these should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS1.1/LTB 439/16.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 439/16: PAUL O’DONNELL – FORMER BRANCH SECRETARY LONDON PARCELS AND STATIONS AMAL AND LONDON DIVISIONAL CHAIR – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS