STATEMENT TO ROYAL MAIL GROUP MEMBERS

We have met the CEO and Royal Mail Group this morning via ACAS and they have presented us with documents which we simply cannot agree to.

The CWU is willing to continue talking and we have agreed to present alternative proposals on Monday at ACAS.

The CEO has told us he has a Board meeting at 5pm on Monday and that this is effectively his deadline for negotiations to conclude. We have made it clear we are available for negotiations right up until the strike action on Thursday.

We will hold a meeting of every CWU representative in the UK at 5:30pm on Monday.

National Gate Meeting Day will take place on Tuesday.

We will hold a CWU Live event on Wednesday.

You will all recognise this is a pivotal moment. Whilst we are doing everything possible to reach an agreement, the absolute focus of every member and representative must be on delivering next week’s strike action.

Dave Ward General Secretary

Andy Furey Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Membership Subscription – Retired & Retired Associate Members – from 1^st January 2023

 CWU Rule 11.5.2 contains the following instruction:

The rate for retired and retired associate members shall increase on 1 January each 

year by the same percentage increase as the known CPI at the time.

The known rate for CPI is currently 11.1% therefore in accordance with the rules of the union from 1^st January 2023 the membership subscription rates for Retired and Retired Associate Members will be as follows:CWU Contribution RatesWeekly ContributionsMonthly Contributions– from 1 January 2023“I” Rate £“O” Rate £“I” Rate £“O” Rate £Retired Members1.611.416.966.09Retired Associate Membersn/an/a5.394.52

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

LTB 457/22

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POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE 2021/22 & 2022/23 – BALLOT RESULT

The industrial action ballot of Post Office members in relation to pay 2021/22 & 2022/23 closed today and the result is as follows:

Are you prepared to take part in Strike Action?Yes Votes80291.24%No Votes778.76%Turnout65.21%

Spoilt ballot papers – 4

Are you prepared to take part in Action Short of a Strike?Yes Votes81092.36%No Votes677.64%Turnout65.21%

Spoilt ballot papers – 6

Attached is a copy of the ballot result from the Independent Scrutineer – Civica Election Services

Our Post Office members have returned an excellent “YES” vote and we have also once again comfortably surpassed the legal threshold for turnout.  As a consequence, I will be writing to Nick Read, CEO seeking an urgent meeting with the aim of putting in place talks to reach an agreement.  We also plan to convene a Special Postal Executive meeting next week in order to consider next steps in respect of future action.  In the meantime, Branches are urged to bring this LTB to the attention of our Post Office members.  We would like to thank our members for their support in achieving this strong Yes vote.  Now it’s time for Nick Read and the Board to listen and act accordingly by returning to negotiations aimed at reaching a decent settlement to the pay dispute. 

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey                                                         

Acting Deputy General Secretary (P)      

22LTB455 Post Office – Pay Dispute 2021-22 & 2022-23 – Ballot Result

Attachment 1 to 22LTB455                

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CWU Accounts 2021

Please find attached the Financial Statement required by Section 32A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended, for the period 1^st January to 31^st December 2021.

Please can you ensure that this information is brought to the attention of the members of your Branch.

Also attached are the details of the monies that make up Branch Funds and including Regions.  The attached document lists each Branch with the brought forward balance from 2020 and the closing balance for 2021.  This demonstrates the movement in each account for the financial year 2021.

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

22LTB456

Statement 32A 2021

Statement 32A 2021 Independant Auditors Report

2021 Branch Funds Year End Figures

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP: UNAGREED PREFERENCE EXERCISE

Further to LTBs 452/22 and 450/22 dated 16^th November, Royal Mail Group has today unilaterally commenced a preference exercise amongst our operational members, primarily in delivery and processing units via their People App.  This activity contravenes the MTSF and Pathway to Change National Agreements and in particular the agreed Voluntary Redundancy terms.

Royal Mail are claiming our agreed terms are no longer affordable because of the financial position within the company, which they have created.

As explained in yesterday’s communication, RMG’s decision to go ahead with a unilateral preference exercise was deliberately timed to coincide with the presentation of their half yearly results announced to the markets today.  This was because the CEO had told us that unless the company demonstrated that they were taking action to turn the financial position of the company around, they would not “remain a going concern”.

The issue of both Compulsory and Voluntary Redundancies has featured throughout our recent negotiations and the union had put forward the following requirements as being crucial to reaching an agreement.

• There will be no compulsory redundancies, this guarantee will be subject to review at agreed milestones.
• The full terms of the MTSF agreement will apply.
• The overall reduction in headcount will be determined by agreed methodology, workload and revision activity.The implementation of the headcount reduction programme will be achieved through a prioritisation of removal of agency/casuals, natural attrition and voluntary redundancy.

The CEO’s response to our position was that he was fine with this, apart from the fact that the company would only be able to afford a 9 months maximum and 8 weeks minimum compensation.  The union rejected this offer and have been pushing the company to increase this amount.  Late last night the company confirmed that they would increase the amount with a £6,000 enhancement.

The maximum compensation being offered by the company for those seeking VR who qualify, based on age and length of service, is 9 month’s pay coupled with an enhanced one-off payment of £6k (pro-rata for part-timers).  These terms are on offer for anyone who indicates they want VR by 27^th November.  The threat-based approach by Royal Mail states that after this date, the £6k won’t be available.

Following a Postal Executive meeting this morning the position adopted by the union is as follows:-

• The union cannot support an unagreed VR process on compensation terms that are significantly inferior to our agreements.
• It will always be the case that individual members are entitled to make their choice based on their own personal circumstances as to whether or not they are prepared to accept RMG’s redundancy terms.
• As a consequence of this managerial action Branches and Representatives are instructed not to engage with management concerning any associated revision activity.

The union’s priority must be no compulsory redundancies and to ensure that such a commitment is included in any final agreement.

As we said yesterday, we would give our field officials, branches, reps and members a fuller update on negotiations later this week.  We can now confirm that this will take place in a live Facebook session at 7 p.m. this evening.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                    Andy Furey
General Secretary                                     Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)     

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP: UNAGREED PREFERENCE EXERCISE

Further to LTBs 452/22 and 450/22 dated 16^th November, Royal Mail Group has today unilaterally commenced a preference exercise amongst our operational members, primarily in delivery and processing units via their People App.  This activity contravenes the MTSF and Pathway to Change National Agreements and in particular the agreed Voluntary Redundancy terms.

Royal Mail are claiming our agreed terms are no longer affordable because of the financial position within the company, which they have created.

As explained in yesterday’s communication, RMG’s decision to go ahead with a unilateral preference exercise was deliberately timed to coincide with the presentation of their half yearly results announced to the markets today.  This was because the CEO had told us that unless the company demonstrated that they were taking action to turn the financial position of the company around, they would not “remain a going concern”.

The issue of both Compulsory and Voluntary Redundancies has featured throughout our recent negotiations and the union had put forward the following requirements as being crucial to reaching an agreement.

• There will be no compulsory redundancies, this guarantee will be subject to review at agreed milestones.
• The full terms of the MTSF agreement will apply.
• The overall reduction in headcount will be determined by agreed methodology, workload and revision activity
• The implementation of the headcount reduction programme will be achieved through a prioritisation of removal of agency/casuals, natural attrition and voluntary redundancy.

The CEO’s response to our position was that he was fine with this, apart from the fact that the company would only be able to afford a 9 months maximum and 8 weeks minimum compensation.  The union rejected this offer and have been pushing the company to increase this amount.  Late last night the company confirmed that they would increase the amount with a £6,000 enhancement.

The maximum compensation being offered by the company for those seeking VR who qualify, based on age and length of service, is 9 month’s pay coupled with an enhanced one-off payment of £6k (pro-rata for part-timers).  These terms are on offer for anyone who indicates they want VR by 27^th November.  The threat-based approach by Royal Mail states that after this date, the £6k won’t be available.

Following a Postal Executive meeting this morning the position adopted by the union is as follows:-

• The union cannot support an unagreed VR process on compensation terms that are significantly inferior to our agreements.
• It will always be the case that individual members are entitled to make their choice based on their own personal circumstances as to whether or not they are prepared to accept RMG’s redundancy terms.
• As a consequence of this managerial action Branches and Representatives are instructed not to engage with management concerning any associated revision activity.

The union’s priority must be to avoid no compulsory redundancies and to ensure that such a commitment is included in any final agreement.

As we said yesterday, we would give our field officials, branches, reps and members a fuller update on negotiations later this week.  We can now confirm that this will take place in a live Facebook session at 7 p.m. this evening.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                    Andy Furey
General Secretary                                     Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)     

22LTB454 ROYAL MAIL GROUP UNAGREED PREFERENCE EXERCISE         

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PROPOSED HEADCOUNT REDUCTION OF OPGs IN DELIVERY AND PROCESSING

Branches and Representatives are aware that Royal Mail (IDS) announced to the Markets on 14^th October their intention to ‘right size’ the company by reducing frontline jobs across Delivery and Processing by up to 10,000 full-time equivalents.  This serious issue, along with the unagreed reduction to the MTSF VR terms, have featured highly during recent negotiations.

Despite the union continuing to engage in good faith in these negotiations with the employer, we have now received formal notification from Royal Mail confirming their intention to proceed with headcount reduction under section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act of 1992 in respect of redundancies amounting to at least 20 people in a number of workplaces.

The Royal Mail letter is completely outwith the MTSF agreement, as it contains a method of dealing with redundancies which may include compulsion, together with significantly reduced redundancy terms.  Both of these positions are unacceptable and conflict with the Pathway to Change agreement, Section 2.4 “Job Security – Commitments and Assurances to Employees” which crucially states:

• “In line with our existing agreements and by utilising the flexible process within these, as change is deployed, RMG will avoid compulsory redundancies. This commitment will be joint reviewed in May 2023”

• “In line with our existing agreements, as change is deployed, the MTSF voluntary redundancy terms will continue to apply. This commitment will be jointly reviewed in May 2023.”

In essence Royal Mail has advised the union the 30-day legal consultation period on redundancies has now formally commenced.  As a consequence, Branches and Representatives are instructed not to engage with management concerning job losses, redundancies and associated revision activity, or one to one meetings with members regarding these matters.  In the event local managers attempt to proceed along these lines, this should immediately be progressed via the Dispute Resolution Procedure.

We know our Representatives and members will be concerned by this development; however, we must ensure the MTSF and Pathway to Change agreements are defended by this union and its members.  We remain fully committed to bringing these disputes to a successful conclusion and in doing so, protect our members’ jobs and terms & conditions.

In the event that Royal Mail Group proceed unilaterally with an unagreed preference exercise further advice and guidance will be issued to Branches and Representatives.

Further developments will be reported.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward                                             Andy Furey
General Secretary                               Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)  

Davie Robertson                                      Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary                              Assistant Secretary

Carl Maden                                             Andy Hopping
Assistant Secretary                             A/Assistant Secretary   

LTB 450.22 PROPOSED HEADCOUNT REDUCTION OF OPGs IN DELIVERY AND PROCESSING

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Solystic PSM Accident – Operator’s Loose Clothing Trapped in Conveyor – ‘Precautionary Safety Measure (Removal of Induct Workstation Chairs) – PSM Safety Modification Update:

This is an update to Branches further to LTB 364/22 issued on 12 September 2022.

As you’ll be aware, the PSM manufacturer ‘Solystic’ of France and Royal Mail have been investigating an incident in which a PSM Induct Station operator’s clothing (sleeve) became trapped and his arm drawn into the moving conveyor at Romford MC on 17 August 2022, leading to the emergency stop being activated by a nearby manager and thus avoiding serious injury.

A Briefing Instruction was cascaded to all plant managers in light of the incident and a review of the incident was initiated with PSM manufacturer Solystic to jointly examine options for mitigating the ‘nip’ risk which occurs if staff reach across the conveyor or lean into the conveyor belt area.

Royal Mail removed all chairs at the Induct Work Stations as a precautionary measure, to reduce the risk of further safety incidents involving the gap between the end of the dispatch belt and the Induct Station and thus ensure operator safety. This was because the initial investigation found that the seating was a contributory factor when operators inadvertently rested their arm against the gap at the end of the dispatch conveyor as they leaned across. The removal of chairs was a temporary measure whilst a permanent solution was investigated and established with the machine manufacturer Solystic.

Managers were instructed to brief all PSM operators, reminding operators that they should not lean on, or touch the induct belt whilst it is stationary or moving, as this may result in a nip incident. They were also reminded of the safety standards which need to be followed when working on the Induct Station and the Safe Working Instruction was updated to conform to the new Standard Operating Practice.

Royal Mail have reported to the RM/CWU National Joint PSM Safety Forum that the machine manufacturer ‘Solystic’ have now produced, tested and finalised a roller bed design change modification in their factory which they report removes the ‘nip’ risk. A modification kit will arrive from ‘Solystic’ this week and will be fitted to the NWMMC (Wolverhampton Mail Centre) PSM for final live testing and monitoring over a number of shifts. If successful ‘Solystic’ will produce enough modification kits for all Royal Mail ‘Solystics’ PSMs and they will be installed on all PSMs across Royal Mail nationally.

Once the modifications are installed, the operators’ chairs will be re-introduced to the Induct Workstations.

A further update will follow in due course.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB453 Solystic PSM Accident – Operator’s Loose Clothing Trapped in Conveyor – (Removal of Induct Workstation Chairs) PSM Safety Modification Update

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE – AN UPDATE TO CWU MEMBERS

Please find attached a document that gives members and branches an update on Royal Mail Group’s financial position, the negotiations that have taken place and the future of the company.

We felt it was crucial for the union to set out our positions ahead of Royal Mail Group updating the markets tomorrow.

We ask all branches to ensure this document is given the widest possible circulation.

Also attached is a letter we have today sent to all MPs. We will be building on this by calling an urgent meeting of all major shareholders in the Royal Mail Group.

We will also be holding national gate meeting day on Tuesday 22^nd Novemberand a reps brief will be shared ahead of this.

Branches will be aware that the recent Joint Statement stated that negotiations would continue until the 15^th November.  We have made clear to the company that we are willing to continue talks through to the 22^nd November and they have told us that they also want to continue negotiating, after their update to the markets tomorrow.

In addition to the communications contained in this LTB we will be giving a further and fuller update to field officials, branches, reps and members on the status of negotiations later this week.  It is important you convey to our members that the update on negotiations will be separate to this communication.

The CWU remains committed to reaching an agreement and we will do everything possible to deliver this ahead of next week’s strike action.

We must be crystal clear though – unless the company move significantly towards the union on a range of issues, the prospect of achieving an agreement quickly is unlikely.

The job of every single branch, representative and member of the union now is to build for the strike action planned for 24^th,25^th and 30^th November and the 1^st December.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                    Andy Furey
General Secretary                                      Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)      

Mark Baulch                                        Carl Maden                                         Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary                          Assistant Secretary                         Assistant Secretary

22LTB452 ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE AN UPDATE TO CWU MEMBERS

6879 message to members in rmg 16.11.22

16.11.22 LETTER TO MPs

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