SUPPORT THE CWU STRIKES🪧
1⃣ Sign up to visit a picket here: bit.ly/visitapicket
2⃣ Say you will join your local picket: fb.me/e/23rpnpCvg
3⃣ Download our support CWU strikes poster: bit.ly/supportCWU
strikemapuk #visitapicket
SUPPORT THE CWU STRIKES
Latest from the Branch
Dave Ward interview on CWU picket line
Politics Joe interview on strike that’s worth sharing https://youtu.be/-rb_K9wzZmQ
Media coverage of Royal Mail Strike.
A fraction of the media coverage we have received today. Some great stuff to share here.
BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62672783.amp
Jacobin https://jacobin.com/2022/08/british-postal-workers-cwu-strike-royal-mail
Novara https://novaramedia.com/2022/08/26/postal-workers-have-no-choice-but-to-strike/
Novara video https://youtu.be/YWyCsImj0Cc
Tribune https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/08/royal-mail-strike-cwu-dave-ward-enough-is-enough?mc_cid=5e2499b1fe
Dave Ward C5 https://fb.watch/f8NwyJbgBW/
Dave Ward C5 (different) https://fb.watch/f8Ny2Y2PqF/
Dave Ward Sky https://fb.watch/f8NAOAepiY/
Dave Ward Sky (different) https://fb.watch/f8NCIZ4uLc/
Thompson exposed on takeover https://fb.watch/f8NFGIbtzr/
Dave Ward LBC https://fb.watch/f8NGUH6X-y/
Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/royal-mail-strike-115000-postal-27837519.amp
Independent (different) https://www.indy100.com/amp/royal-mail-strike-postman-pat-2657947798
Sky News https://www.indy100.com/amp/royal-mail-strike-postman-pat-2657947798
RMG DISPUTE – CWU OFFERS FOR FRESH TALKS
RMG DISPUTE – CWU OFFERS FOR FRESH TALKS
The purpose of this LTB is to explain the offers the union has made to the company for talks at the highest level.
We initially wrote to the Chair and CEO of the company on the 18thAugust, saying it was time to escalate talks and that CWU were willing to explore all possibilities to find solutions to our pay and change disputes, in the interests of our members, the customers and the company. This offer was made a full week before the strike action that will take place tomorrow, Friday 26thAugust.
The CEO wrote to the union on the 19th August and rejected our offer. He made it clear that the only basis for a meeting would be for him to tell us what the financial situation was within the company.
The CEO subsequently posted on RM Workplace that the union had refused to meet for talks. This was never the case and is just another example of the lack of honesty, transparency and integrity in the way that Royal Mail have conducted themselves over the last six months.
The union has now reiterated our offer for fresh talks in a further letter to the Chair and CEO, a copy of which is attached. The union’s position is set out clearly in the letter and should be conveyed to all our members in all workplaces.
You will see from the letter that the union is also now seeking assurances from the Board on their position over the future of the USO, whether or not they are involved in discussions on a takeover bid and/or plan to sell off GLS, which in our view makes no commercial sense.
These are important points to raise with the Board because as Royal Mail’s position becomes increasingly hostile – it appears to us that their real motives may well be about to be exposed.
We will keep you informed of developments and in the meantime it is crucial we now prepare for tomorrow’s strike action, which we know will be solidly supported across the UK.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
SUPPORT THE POSTIES! Find a picket line near you
Every single person relied on a postal worker during the pandemic—they kept us connected to our loved ones and provided a lifeline to the most vulnerable in our society.
Now, those same key workers need your support.
Like all workers, posties are suffering from sky-rocketing inflation and soaring energy bills. But when the CWU asked for the real pay rise they deserve, the bosses said no.
Let’s be clear. Royal Mail Group can afford to give our posties a pay rise – but they won’t.
That’s why this Friday, 115,000 postal workers will walk-out across the country, in the largest strike of the summer.
Here’s how you can support them.
- Visit a picket line. Click the button below to find a picket line near you.
- Print out this poster and place it in your window and or on your door to show your support for a proper pay rise for posties (make sure you take a picture and tag us!)
- Share support on social media using the hashtags #EnoughisEnough and #StandByYourPost
If you are visiting a picket line on Friday morning, make sure you bring a sign, banner or poster to show your support for striking posties and for Enough is Enough! Share the solidarity by uploading pictures to social media using the hashtag #EnoughisEnough and tagging @eiecampaign and @cwunews.
Picket lines are usually most active between 6:30-10:00am, so make sure you get there early.
Join us and turn anger into action
Project Worker – Learning for Wales
Project Worker – Learning for Wales
With the support of the Wales Union Learning Fund we are seeking to appoint a new member to our team, whose role will be to support CWU Branches in Wales with the development of workplace based essential skills learning opportunities for members.
Project Worker – Learning for Wales Fixed – term contract to end no later than 31 March 2023 Salary: £40,483 pa (£39,683 pensionable)
Closing date – 12 noon, Monday 12th September 2022: Interviews to be held over Zoom on Tuesday 27thSeptember
The successful candidate will have:
- Well developed communication skills, both written and presentational
- A demonstrable commitment to the principles and aims of the trade union movement
- An understanding of the main issues and needs for workers with essential skills needs
- An NVQ 3 standard level of education or equivalent work experience of at least 2 years
- Knowledge of Welsh Government and TUC policy on lifelong learning
- Knowledge of lifelong learning funding sources
- Proven project management skills
- Excellent IT Skills
Applications for a secondment to this position will also be considered.
The CWU is committed to inclusivity and equal opportunities in employment.
Additional information on the CWU can be obtained from our public website http://www.cwu.org.
If you require the application pack in another format or have any specific requirements that would support you in completing an application for the position, you are asked to highlight this when requesting an application pack.
For further information and to receive an application pack, please email hr@cwu.org ‘quoting – Project Worker – Learning for Wales and / or call 020 8971 7482 .
Yours sincerely,
Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development
CLARIFICATION OF STRIKE ACTION
CLARIFICATION OF STRIKE ACTION
We have set out below some guidance on some of the points that have been raised about the implications of CWU members taking strike action.
Picketing
The Code of Practice on Picketing contains some useful points on the right to picket and the limitation.
(Paragraph 10) – Picketing commonly involves persuading workers to break, or interfere with the performance of their contracts of employment by not going into work. Picketing can also disrupt the business of the employer who is being picketed by interfering with the performance of a commercial contract which the employer has with a customer or supplier.
(Paragraph 31) – The law allows pickets to seek to explain their case to those entering or leaving the picketed premises, and/or to ask them not to enter or leave the premises where the dispute is taking place. This may be done by speaking to people, or it may involve the distribution of leaflets or the carrying of banners or placards putting the picket’s case. In all cases, however, any such activity must be carried out peacefully.
Agency workers including Angard cannot be forced or compelled to cross a picket line. If they take an individual conscious decision not to cross a picket line they will lose pay and there is a risk that the company may not call upon them again.
On a day of strike action agency workers cannot be asked to replace the role of a striking worker.
Non-CWU members who are of an RMG grade covered by the legal ballot, have every right to partake in the legal strike action, if they wish to do so.
The law is neutral for those on fixed term contracts and doesn’t increase or decrease their protections in comparison to other workers. A person on a fixed term contract may have a claim if the company stopped their contract due to strike action.
An Acting Manager whose substantive grade is OPG and is a member of the CWU and has therefore been legally balloted, is able through their individual choice to take strike action on the day(s) this is called, whether this is working in their substantive grade or any acting role. Where CWU members who are Acting Managers feel they are being intimidated/harassed into not supporting the strike action this should immediately be brought to the attention of the local CWU Branch.
Royal Mail’s Notification To Progress with the Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in Deliveries
Royal Mail’s Notification To Progress with the Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in Deliveries
Branches and Representatives will recall Letter To Branches 110/22, dated the 9th of March regarding the Royal Mail & CWU National Joint Statement – Scan In/Scan Out (SISO) in the Delivery Function – Evaluation of PDA Solutions.
The LTB set out an agreed and limited activity which was designed to gather feedback on whether the PDA solution was fit for purpose and was believed to be a user-friendly application in relation to the deployment of SISO within the Delivery Function. Mail Centres and Regional Distribution Centres have already deployed Consoles as the equipment which are the preferred option, however the Consoles are viewed upon as unsuitable in Delivery Units due to a number of factors not least of which is space constraints.
The limited evaluation process to explore a possible mainly static PDA based solution within the Delivery operation did not highlight any direct issues within the six listed trial sites. The Specific Joint Statement covering the activity set out the following direct commitment: ‘Royal Mail and the CWU will review the feedback nationally from this evaluation exercise, which will determine any future equipment and deployment programme. Additionally, the evaluation will also determine the next steps and jointly agreed activities necessary, which may include future trials or pilots before consideration of any further or wider National roll out of SI/SO within delivery units.’
Against that agreed background as outlined within the Joint Statement, talks have remained ongoing with Royal Mail in relation to SISO in delivery with the recent tenor of our discussion focused on seeking to reach a joint agreed set of words around the undertaking of joint local level site surveys in each delivery unit, for the siting of the equipment only with the actual deployment and rollout of the concept being proper to further National Agreement.
However, alongside these recent talks and the wider commitments contained within the ‘Key Principles Framework (Pathway to Change) Agreement’ paragraph 2.5 Technology, which deals with the introduction of Scan In/Scan Out, this is to replace the manual signing in and out process, along with the commitment that SISO data will not be used for the automatic reduction of contractual pay or reduce overtime pay where a (verbal) contract has been agreed with the manager, prior to commencement. We have become increasingly aware and concerned that Royal Mail is now seeking to move beyond what is jointly set out in the National Agreement and use SISO technology as part of Royal Mail’s wider change demands around ‘yearly flexi hours/flexi time’ hours banking system arrangements.
On 12th of August, the Outdoor Department then received correspondence from Royal Mail which formally confirmed that the Company intend to progress with the deployment of SISO in the delivery Function. In summary, the notice of intention from Royal Mail confirms that SISO will be first deployed in a number of Sheffield Delivery units on 2nd of October, moving to a national rollout on 30th of October. Attached, as Appendix 1, is a Royal Mail document entitled the ‘Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in the Delivery’. A response from the CWU Outdoor department was sent to Royal Mail on 22nd August which is also attached as Appendix 2.
The details of the attached response from the department are clear and we have requested that Royal Mail does not move ahead with the deployment of SISO within the delivery function at this time for the reasons stated. This move by Royal Mail should be seen as a further aggressive act in clear breach of our agreements. Moreover, it would further suggest that Royal Mail is seeking to adapt SISO to be a key component and facilitator of their ‘yearly flexi hours/flexi time’ change demands, despite claims to the contrary.
We have been very clear that from a CWU position we remain committed to the Pathway to Change and it is Royal Mail’s current unacceptable approach and change demands which are directly outside of the National Agreement, which is the issue and not the concept of a move to a technology based signing in/out system.
Whilst we will keep Branches and Representatives advised of developments, any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 540, email address: njones@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary
POST OFFICE: PAY 2022/23 – ACAS TALKS
POST OFFICE: PAY 2022/23 – ACAS TALKS
Further to LTB 341/22 dated 18thAugust.
Branches are advised that a further meeting took place at Acas with Post Office yesterday afternoon. No improved offer was made, although a constructive discussion took place. We have agreed that dialogue should continue and we plan to meet again at Acas on Tuesday 30th August.
On a without prejudice basis, we jointly explored various options. Consequently, both parties agreed to reflect upon this matter further prior to meeting next Tuesday. The commitment to continuing talks indicates Post Office would ideally like to find a way forward if possible. We therefore remain hopeful that further engagement between the parties will allow for more progress; however, there is no guarantee of this as there remains some distance between us on what would constitute a reasonable outcome.
In view of the above, the various strikes planned around the bank holiday weekend will go ahead as follows:
- Friday 26th – Crowns, Admin, Supply Chain
- Saturday 27th – Crowns only
- Tuesday 30th – Admin & Supply Chain
Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary
Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions – Pay and Associated Matters Dispute 2022
LTB 344/22 – Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions – Pay and Associated Matters Dispute 2022
No: 344/22
Date: 23rd August 2022
TO: All Postal and Telecom & Financial Services Branches with Members in RMPFS
Dear Colleagues
Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions Limited (RMPFSL) – Pay and Associated Matters Dispute 2022
Branches should be aware we have served notice today to RMPFS in pursuit of our claims for a cost of living increase and associated matters including parity of benefits with the rest of the Royal Mail Group.
The following timetable has been endorsed by the Postal Executive:
Serve notice: 23rd August 2022
Ballot opens: 30th August 2022
Ballot closes: 27th September 2022
We have also planned a Facebook live session for our members next Tuesday at 7.30 pm, which will provide RMPFS Members and Branches with the opportunity to hear from the National Officers on the eve of receiving their ballot papers and to ask questions.
It is imperative all Branches engage with their RMPFS Members in exactly the same way we have with other members who are in dispute. Our Cleaners, Engineers and Generic Admin Members deserve a pay rise, they too were on the frontline during the pandemic as well as suffering during this cost of living crisis and we must do everything we can to maximise a huge YES vote.
Please ensure this communication is brought to the attention of our Cleaning, Engineering and Generic Admin members as a matter of urgency.
Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS
Department, quoting reference number 320 email: khay@cwu.org or to the Outdoor
Department quoting reference 120.12: email address: njones@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Carl Maden
Assistant Secretary
Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 