For instant updates: http//:www.cwu.org     email: info@cwu.org 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX Tel: 020 8971 7200 Fax: 020 8971 7300 General Secretary: Billy Hayes (www.billyhayes.co.uk)

Letter to Branches

 

 

 

 

No: 598/14

Ref: 21003

26th September 2014

 

 

To: All Branches with Postal Members

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

UPDATE ON NATIONAL TALKS – GROWTH, EFFICIENCY AND NEW INCENTIVE ARRANGEMENTS

 

Following the letter sent to the company on the 21^st July, the Union has continued talks with Royal Mail on a Joint National Statement that would bring together in a balanced way the issues of growth, efficiency and incentive arrangements.

 

The current position is that whilst progress has been made on a structured growth plan, it is still proving difficult to finalise an agreed approach to efficiency and incentive arrangements, given the continuing impact of direct delivery competition in both letters and parcels.

 

As stated in LTB 594/14, next week we will be announcing a date for a National Briefing in October and we will be impressing upon the company the urgent need to conclude the aforementioned Joint Statement prior to the National Briefing. In the event that the issue of incentive arrangements remains unresolved by the time the Postal Executive meet on the 7^th October, then we will be considering other ways to achieve our objectives and fulfil the commitments made in the Agenda for Growth, Stability and Long Term Success Agreement.

 

We are meeting Royal Mails senior management team next week and further information will follow in due course. Any enquiries on the above LTB should be directed to the DGS (P) Department.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Ward                                                             

Deputy General Secretary (P)

For instant updates: http//:www.cwu.org     email: info@cwu.org 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX Tel: 020 8971 7200 Fax: 020 8971 7300 General Secretary: Billy Hayes (www.billyhayes.co.uk)

Letter to Branches

 

 

 

 

 

No: 587/14

Ref: 60000

23rd September 2014

 

 

To: All Branches with Postal Members

 

 

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE – HOLIDAY PAY

 

In recent months the Union has been monitoring the developing legal situation on how holiday pay should be calculated in line with the Working Time Directive.

 

This involves three very significant Employment Tribunal cases in non CWU companies which have cast doubt over how an employer is required to calculate holiday pay under the European Working Time Directive. A previous decision that has stood since 2004, held that adhoc overtime did not need to be included in the calculation. However, this has now been contradicted both directly and indirectly in recent cases and the ET decisions in the three aforementioned cases have ruled that ad hoc overtime should now be included.

 

Although these ET decisions are not yet binding, the legal advice received from our lawyers suggests that ultimately, this is likely, though not certain, to be confirmed as the correct interpretation of this particular Working Time Directive.

 

These decisions could have very significant implications and may mean that for any holiday taken since 1998, current Royal Mail employees may have a legitimate legal claim against the company to up to four weeks worth of overtime payments (the directive only covers a four week holiday period) each year. A further issue that needs to be resolved legally is what reference period should be used for how any entitlement should be calculated.

 

As you can imagine employers across the UK have been strongly lobbying against this interpretation of the directive and the CBI are claiming that this would have a major detrimental effect on the ability of British companies to remain competitive.

 

 

 

 

The current position is that two of these recent ET decisions are being appealed against by employers and these appeals are pending. Additionally, a third case brought by a transport employee has been settled outside of the tribunal and we are trying to establish the basis of this settlement.

 

The whole subject matter is a very live issue and we can confirm that CWU has now lodged a formal claim for both future entitlements and back pay with the Royal Mail Group on behalf of all CWU members working for the company.

 

Following initial discussions with Royal Mail under the auspices of Bobby Weatherall PEC Member, who has been diligently following developments for the Union, we have now arranged a meeting with the company’s senior management team to discuss the basis of our claim and try to reach a settlement. Additionally, we are continuing to discuss with our lawyers the best way to protect the legal position of CWU Members, if necessary through the Employment Tribunal.

 

Further information will be sent out in the near future following our next meeting with the company. In the meantime, it is important that all CWU branches and representatives circulate the content of this LTB and convey the Union’s position to our members in all work places.

 

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department, quoting reference 60000.

 

Yours sincerely                                                 

 

 

Dave Ward                                                

Deputy General Secretary (P)                  

UNIONLINE POSTER – JUNE 2014

Letter to Branches

No. 561/2014 Ref: 216.01 Date: 4th September 2014

For The Immediate Attention Of All:

Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Regional Organisers
Area Distribution Representatives

Dear Colleague
Royal Mail Logistics –Professional Driver Opportunities (Class C+E Licence)

Please find attached a self-explanatory Joint Statement that has been agreed with Royal Mail Logistics in relation to recruitment opportunities for Class C+E licence holders.

Branches are requested to ensure that this LTB is given immediate circulation to representatives and that our members are made aware of this opportunity by way of the attached Joint Statement being given the widest publicity.

As always the department thanks you for your assistance in this matter.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number.

Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary

Joint Statement Between Royal Mail Logistics And The CWU Regarding The Resourcing Approach For The Immediate Professional Drivers Recruitment And The Next Steps Regarding Driver Career Path and Diversity

INTRODUCTION

Royal Mail Logistics and the Communications Workers Union are working together to create a more sustainable workforce in the National Logistics Professional Driving Function. Both parties recognise that there is an immediate need to fill circa 200 Professional Driver jobs across the UK. The purpose of this joint statement is to set out the high level resourcing principles and timescales for this campaign, and to begin to lay the foundations for future aspirations for a driver career path and diversity process.

Against this backdrop our Joint Working Group has researched the issue of manpower in this area and have identified that there is an immediate business need to increase our Professional Driver resource. In addition to the immediate business need there is also a joint aspiration to create a sustainable driver career path balanced against business resourcing needs.

SCOPE

In order to achieve the immediate business need of circa 200 Professional Drivers a recruitment campaign commenced on 2nd September 2014. Access to this campaign is via the Royal Mail Internal recruitment website http://www.royalmailgroup.com/myjob quoting Role reference number RML058438. The closing date for applications is 23rd September 2014 and all applications must be made via the Internal recruitment website.

Initially we will be resourcing from suitably qualified Royal Mail Group applicants and criteria are in line with the Professional Drivers Agreement (PDA).

Internal Criteria

 Initially the selection will be from a list of suitable Royal Mail Employees who have applied via the Royal Mail Recruitment Website (IRIS) and who hold the relevant C+E licence.
 No current record on an individual’s licence of dangerous driving or drink driving (includes accident/speeding/tacho offence history).
 Less than 6 points on driving licence.
 Good conduct and attendance record, in accordance with Royal Mail Group policy. (Conduct at Category 2 level or 2nd Stage Attendance Warning.) Where the exclusion of an internal candidate on the grounds of Conduct or attendance would otherwise trigger external recruitment, the case will be referred to the National parties for review.
 Tie Break. Where two or more individuals are considered suitable for a lesser number of vacancies we will revert to Local Resourcing Area (see below) and Length of Service in line with the Way forward Agreement.
 Where there is no suitable internal candidate we will move to external resourcing criteria in line with the PDA.

Local Resourcing Area:

1. Applicants from the local resourcing unit.
2. A reasonable travel distance; reasonable is normally considered to be within one hour.
3. Outside the resourcing area other national people from anywhere in RMG.
4. Requests for Transfer by individuals with Special Circumstances will be considered jointly and prioritised on a case by case basis.

Monthly Pay

Professional Drivers are monthly paid. Therefore, in accordance with the Professional Drivers Agreement all successful applicants will be moved to monthly pay. There is a process in place to help people with the transition from Weekly to Monthly pay and further information about this is available through your HR team.

NEXT STEPS

Both parties recognise the need for on-going discussions to scope and create a sustainable driver career path to support the businesses resourcing needs. In addition we recognise there is a need to consider the diversity of our Professional Driving workforce and opportunities to add balance to the Professional Driver demographic profile. Therefore, we are jointly seeking to research and design a process that will enable us to sustain a Professional Driver workforce that is ready to meet our future resourcing needs.

 To support this initiative the Terms of Reference for this Joint Working Group are being drawn up.

 Royal Mail Logistics wishes to create a sustainable Professional Driving workforce and we will therefore run a separate campaign to identify individuals who are eligible and who wish to be trained to the required C+E Licence standard. This Campaign will be implemented once the direct recruitment campaign is underway and will be offered initially to those interested individuals who require the minimum amount of training to meet the full C+E standard. Further details of this approach will be shared when they become available.

Euan McMurdo Terry Pullinger
Director Assistant Secretary
Royal Mail Logistics CWU

Date: 4th September 2014

Letter to Branches

No. 572/2014 Ref: 600 Date:12th September 2014

To: Branches with POSTAL Members

Dear Colleague

Water Bottles for Liquid Refreshment and Hydration on Delivery

Branches will be aware of the work being undertaken by the various Strands within the Integrated Delivery Programme (IDP). As such the Safety, Customer Service and Quality Strand have had discussions regarding liquid refreshment for OPG’s whilst out on Delivery, particularly during spells of hot weather, this has also been subject to discussions by the Health and Safety department on the severe weather standards and sun safety review.

Those discussions have identified that there is a process in place for Water Bottles to be supplied by Royal Mail which was disclosed as part of a recent Q&A session around procedures for Hot Weather:

Q – Can I order a Water Bottle to take out with me on Delivery?

A – Water Bottles are not a uniform order item; however they are available to order as a cycle spare so can still be ordered. They are available direct from Pashley cycles via their SAP catalogue. Your requisitioner should be able to go in to the SRM system and put in Water Bottles and they will come up.

As a consequence of identifying this process we would encourage all CWU Representatives to raise and discuss with their DOM’s the ordering and issuing of water bottles to make sure that this item is offered to all frontline delivery OPG’s and the appropriate orders are put in place.

Any problems with the ordering of these items should be raised with the Outdoor department so that the matter can be raised with Royal Mail in future IDP Strand discussions.

Furthermore detailed advice for Outdoor Workers on Sun Safety and precautions to adopt when working in hot weather to avoid sun burn, sun stroke, dehydration and heat stroke has been issued by the Health and Safety department in LTB 281/14.
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 600 Email address: hnutley@cwu.org or mstewart@cwu.org
Yours sincerely

Bob Gibson Dave Joyce
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor National health,safety and environment Officer

Letter to Branches

No. 578/2014 Ref: 300 Date:16th September 2014

To: Branches with POSTAL Members

Dear Colleague,

Motor Vehicle Taxation – Royal Mail Group Vehicles

Following a number of enquiries from Branches regarding the cessation of the requirement to display Motor Taxation Discs in vehicles, we have made representation to Royal Mail on the subject and received the following response, which is reproduced below for your information.

On 1st October 2014, there will no longer be the requirement to display a tax disc in any vehicle registered in the UK. This is the same for both businesses and private users and Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) will be used to detect non-compliance. Checking of tax disc expiry will no longer be needed as part of the routine vehicle checks carried out by our drivers. As is the case now, any late licensing penalties received will be paid centrally by Royal Mail and there is no liability for our employees.

In order to manage the new requirement, we have developed a robust system that will ensure our vehicles are taxed. The process will continue to be refined over the coming weeks as automation will be enabled by the introduction of the M5 reporting system. For peace of mind, a useful link for individuals to check the status of their vehicle is: http://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300, email address: hnutley@cwu.org or mstewart@cwu.org
Yours sincerely

Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor

The Effect of End – To – End Competition on Royal Mail

Tuesday 15th July 2014 Committee Room 11 House of Commons

Dear Colleague,

I attended this briefing on behalf of the branch, along with every postal branch in the country and some 27 MP’s from all Parties, with the exception of the Business Secretary Vince Cable who refused the invitation to attend.

We heard from a number of speakers including Billy Hayes CWU General Secretary, Dave Ward (DGSP), Chuka Umunna Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Ian Murray Shadow Minister for Business, Brian Scott National Officer Unite the Union and Mike Weir Scottish Nationalist Party. All of whom stated that this was the re launch of the CWU campaign for a level playing field when it can to competition.

Following the briefing we were tasked with meeting our MP’s, unfortunately despite my request to meet the nine MP’s that we have in the branch only one, John Hayes replied to my request. He could not meet me as he could not reschedule his diary but said that if I or any member of his constituency wrote to him raising the issue he would take it up with the minister concerned.

In the coming weeks all branch secretaries will receive a campaign pack which im lead to believe will contain a letter for members to send to their MP, please ask for one of these letter or use the information below to write to your MP and ask him to put pressure on Ofcom for a new review of postal services.

Below is a summary of the briefing

THE UK UNIVERSAL POSTAL SERVICE

Royal Mail is the UK’s Universal Service Provider; we are required under the Postal Services Act 2011 to deliver to all 29 million addresses in the UK. Six days a week at an affordable, geographical uniform price.

This is regulated by Ofcom who took over as regulator on 1st October 2011 from Postcom when the Postal Services Act came into being, Ofcom’s primary role is to secure the provision of a universal postal service.

POSTAL COMPETITION IN THE LETTERS MARKET

There are two main types of competition in the letters market these being acess competition and direct delivery competition.

Downstream access competition as we know allows other providers such as TNT to to collect and sort mail from businesses and then pass it onto Royal Mail for the final mile. (Delivery) More than 47% of total mail volumes are now handled by other postal operators.

Direct Delivery Competition (End to End) this is where other postal operators TNT, collect, process and deliver directly to the recipient without the ned to use the Royal Mail network.

THE RAPID RISE OF UNFAIR DIRECT DELIVERY COMPETITION IN THE UK

TNT Post UK is Royal Mails main competitor in the direct delivery market.

Direct delivery competition in its current form is unfair because TNT is allowed to cherry pick the low cost areas for delivery with no universal service requirements or performance targets. TNT only delivers easier to handle business post and only delivers three days a week.

TNT launched a direct delivery trail in West London in 2012 and has expanded rapidly into Central and South West London, Manchester and Liverpool they are also looking to move into Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It plans to cover 42% of addresses in only 8.5% of the UK by 2017, TNT’s mail volumes have increased from 345,000 a week in December 2012 to 1.2million a week in December 2013.

TNT employs staff on zero hour contracts and pays below the living wage, it aims to grow staff from the 1,000 currently to 20,000 by 2018

THE THREAT OF DIRECT DELIVERY COMPETITION TO THE ECONOMICS OF THE USO

The universal postal service depends on Royal Mail being able to use revenues from easier to serve area’s (City Centre’s) to cover the cost of a nationwide network (Rural areas)

Direct delivery competition is undermining the economics of the universal service because TNT cherry picks the low cost areas for delivery, thereby reducing the revenues required to make the universal service financially sustainable.

TNT’s cherry picking of the profitable city locations has seen a 15% reduction in Royal Mail volumes in areas where TNT operate, Royal Mail has recently estimated that TNT’s growth strategy could result in over a £200 million reduction in Royal Mail revenue in 2017/18

THE THREAT OF DIRECT DELIVERY COMPETITION TO POSTAL JOBS & EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

The CWU is very concerned about the risk of TNT’s low pay, low security of employment model leading to a race to the bottom on pay and conditions in the postal sector.

TNT’s expansion has been welcomed by some politicians for creating jobs, but this model of employment damages society by replacing decent jobs with insecure employment on inadequate pay. It also places a burden on the public purse by reducing income tax revenue and increasing the cost of income support and other benefit payments.

Furthermore, any reduction in pay and conditions would damage the quality of postal services and make it very difficult for Royal Mail to meet its stringent performance targets.

The CWU is therefore keen to ensure that Ofcom does not benchmark Royal Mail against low cost competitors when setting efficiency expectations. This would not be realistic when competitors can cherry pick areas for delivery and when Royal mail holds the universal service obligation and is required to meet strict quality of service standards.

THE THREAT OF DIRECT DELIVERY COMPETITION TO THE QUALITY OF POSTAL SERVICES

Royal Mail is subject to rigorous performance standards for the provision of the universal postal service, including the delivery of 93% of first class mail by the next day, but competitors are not subject to any quality targets.

There is no requirement for direct delivery competitors to report on quality standars, because Ofcom says service levels are driven by market forces.

But the reality is that we have seen a growing number of cases of poor quality of service from TNT, including

* Reports of large amounts of TNT mail dumped in both London and Manchester

* Important time sensitive mail including council tax bills and NHS appointment letters delivered late.

* Neighbours having to regularly pass on incorrectly delivered post to each other.

This puts pressure on Royal Mail with much of the dumped mail placed in Royal mail post boxes for correct delivery. TNT’s low cost business model could also put pressure on other operators to cut costs and threaten the overall quality of postal services.

OFCOM’s RESPONSE TO DIRECT DELIVERY COMPETITION

Ofcom has stated that although TNT’s volumes have grown 248% between 2012 and 2013, the 1.2 million items they deliver per week still only represents 0.4% of the total market volumes.

It has therefore concluded that there is no threat from direct delivery competition at this time and so it will not be imposing any further conditions on direct delivery competitors

ROYAL MAILS POSITION

Royal Mail has stated it believes that direct delivery competition poses a serious threat to the economics of the universal service. Royal Mail has made a detailed submission to Ofcom calling for the regulator to bring forward a full review of direct delivery as a matter of urgency, and to determine quickly any regulatory changes needed to protect the universal service.

CWU POSITION

The CWU is also calling for Ofcom to carry out a review now to determine the level of threat and any regulatory changes needed to ensure the universal postal service is financially sustainable. We believe that Ofcom should define the point at which direct delivery competition will make the universal service unsustainable and set a maximum limit of competition on this basis.

In securing the universal postal service, it is important for citizens and custumers that the minimum service requirements are maintained, including geographically uniform prices and a six day a week delivery service.

We also want to see employment standards raised across the postal sector, in order to improve levels of pay, job security and training at companies like TNT. This will help to avoid the replacement of decent postal jobs with insecure, low paid jobs and it will help to maintain a high quality, reliable postal service right across the country.

Andy Beeby

Branch Political Officer
Communication Workers Union
Eastern Number Five Branch
Room G85
Peterborough Delivery Unit
Papyrus Road Werrington
Peterborough
PE4 5PE

Branch Income:

Branch Rebate £5,492.18
Other Income £79.44
June Income £5,571.62
+ Opening Balance £20,457.01

Total £26,028.63

Branch Expenditure:

Phone/Internet/Ink £462.63
Postage £53.00
Stationary £100.36
Photocopier Lease £216.22
Death Grant x 2 £1,940.00
Reps Costs £1,218.08
Central Billing £837.15
Education/Training £97.76
Conference 2015 £250.00
Donations £500.00
Affiliations £60.00
Other Expenditure £268.48

Total £6,003.68

BALANCE £20,024.95

Any queiries to Austin Goldsmith, Eastern 5 Branch Treasurer

June 2014 Rebate Breakdown

Reference Details Credit Debit

Rebate – New 34 New Members £240.72

Rebate – Current 1,784 Members £6,604.25

Rebate – Retired 282 Members £362.95

Death Grant Returns 1 Member £732.00

Tutor Cost Return * Att. Proc. Training £200.60

CWU HQ Deduction Honoraria £1,444.68

CWU HQ Deduction Election Costs £1,023.46

CWU HQ Deduction Defence Fund £72.08

CWU HQ Deduction Regional Committee £72.08

CWU HQ Deduction Women’s Comm. £18.02

CWU HQ Deduction Learning Committee £18.02

Totals £8,140.52 £2,648.34

Net Rebate £5,492.18

* Tutor Cost Return – This is the sum paid back from CWU HQ to cover the cost to the Branch of travel and accommodation for a CWU Tutor to attend Peterborough Mail Centre to deliver a training course for Reps on the new Attendance Procedure.

June saw a number of differing expenses than usual which accounts for our expenditure this month seeing a slight overspend of £432.06.

On top of our usual monthly expenses of Reps costs (inc. travel and release (Central Billing), stationary, phones, internet costs and postage, June saw additional costs of 2 Death Grant payments, affiliations to Trades Councils and our quarterly lease payment for the Branch photocopier.

Further down the list of expenses you will see that we have paid £250.00 for Conference 2015. This is a deposit to secure the accommodation for next years Annual Conference. The Branch donations of £500 are as follows; the Branch agreed to sponsor CWU Area Processing Rep Ernie Orviss and Distribution MGV Driver Billy Scales £150.00 each for their forthcoming Lands End-John O’Groats cycle event in aid of the Marie Curie charity. The remaining £200.00 is donations from other Branches to Ernie and Billy’s challenge. However, those cheques were made out to the Branch, we have then had to write cheques to Marie Curie from the Branch and then bank the cheques from the donating Branches into our account. Therefore, next months expenditure sheet will show an additional income of £200.00. If you wish to make a donation to Ernie and Billy’s challenge, please email area.processing@cwue5.org and I’m sure Ernie will give you details of how you can donate.

The payments under Other Expenditure cover off our payments to the Branch Benevolent Fund and also the purchase of items including sympathy cards/get well soon cards which are used at the appropriate times.

As well as providing a report of where our money comes from and the areas in which it is spent, I will also be producing a report of the first half of this years finances which will be included in the next edition of the Branch magazine.

If you have any questions about Branch finances, please email me at cwue5treasurer@gmail.com.

Austin Goldsmith

CWU Eastern No 5

Branch Treasurer

July 2014