Average Pay on Annual Leave (Holiday Pay) in Royal Mail Group

Further to LTB 243/21 circulated on 16^th June 2021, I am pleased to report that the attached Agreement was endorsed by the Postal Executive at a meeting in Birmingham on 9^th June 2021.  This is a National Agreement for Royal Mail Group (excluding PFSL) for average holiday pay for non-contractual overtime.

When considering this Agreement, it is extremely important that Branches do this in the context of our journey to reach this point as opposed to trying to benchmark against cases in other businesses.  Each court case has been settled on its own merit and the definitive issue at the crux of the matter is always what does regular look like in that specific circumstance.  For total clarity, there is no specific definition of what constitutes regular overtime.

Against that backdrop, this historical passage has been ongoing since 2014 when it was reported in LTB 587/14 that a meeting with the company’s senior management team had been arranged to discuss the basis of our claim and to try to reach a settlement.

There was very little case study to consider at this time and the position of the CWU and RMG was widely reported in LTB 064/15 circulated on 2^nd February 2015 along with a draft copy of a letter that was to be sent to members’ home addresses as an insert in the Voice.

The letter provided a comprehensive overview of the situation and also advised members that although the Union was pursuing this matter with the employer on their behalf, it did not prejudice their individual right to take their own course of action.  The Union however would not be able to provide legal advice to individuals who wished to pursue this matter themselves.  It was made clear that meetings with Royal Mail Group were being held and the respective lawyers were in discussions on finalising Employment Tribunal test cases to protect the legal position of CWU members.  Basically we were waiting for legal case study to inform an agreement with RMG.

Whilst the test cases were initially slow to emerge and have built up latterly, they were still based on individual businesses and their particular circumstances, allowing RMG to argue that the issue of regular and reference periods were still indecisive.

Following the carriage of Motion 60 at Postal Conference in 2018, reinvigorating progress in order to force RMG’s hand became our priority.  It was agreed to consult with Branches to find suitable test cases and once identified we would legally support members making an Employment Tribunal claim.

Our ongoing strategy was devised to increase the pressure on the company to reach a collective national agreement.  We therefore embarked on a complex campaign to maximise the number of claimants nationwide.  This moved us to another level by encouraging as many cases to be started as possible in order to form a group claim against the business.  Branches were informed of this strategy in LTB 123/19 that also contained a ten step process and supporting flowchart to assist in processing these claims.

As claims began to be submitted in ever increasing volumes, Royal Mail Group started to make financial offers at the ACAS stage and significant numbers of members benefited from settlements.  The vast majority were part-time delivery members although the process was enacted by members across all functions and most Royal Mail business units.  As their costs began to increase, Royal Mail Group made a decision around October 2019 to stop making offers at ACAS for any claims that were registered after this time.

The focus then became maximising the number of claimants through Branch involvement that would progress to the Employment Tribunal stage.  To supplement this the DGS(P) Department also met with the Legal Services Department and Unionline to make preparations to commence a group claim and identify a number of Lead Claimants.

The situation was complicated as cases in both Scotland and Northern Ireland are subject to a separate legal process from those in England and Wales with the latter cases initially scheduled to be heard at the Bristol Employment Tribunal in April 2020.

Royal Mail Group came back to the negotiating table and a few meetings were held prior to the outbreak of Covid 19. The pandemic however meant that the Tribunal in Bristol was postponed until 21^stJune 2021 although the pre-hearing was held on 2^nd June 2021.  At this time there were 5953 cases in England and Wales that were included in the group action and obviously many more have been registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland.  It is estimated that over 7,000 Employment Tribunal cases have been registered nationwide and this is a testimony to the hard work that our Postal Executive members, Field Officials, Branches and Representatives have put into promoting the issue of average pay on annual leave.

Following the endorsement of the Pathway to Change Agreement on 3^rd February 2021, an approach was made by Matt Newman, the Chief HR Officer RMG to commence dialogue again with the aim of reaching a national agreement prior to the Employment Tribunal in Bristol.  This was an opportunity that had to be taken and negotiations then commenced in earnest and it soon became clear that there was a refreshing approach to the talks that had not previously been evident.

Branches will understand that the key factor in these talks continued to relate to what defined regularity.  Additionally, whilst the European Directive element of holiday pay applies only to the first twenty days of annual leave, it was important to test this point particularly in terms of our part-time members who, in the main, are the group performing the most overtime.  Part-time members in particular have been used as a flexible resource by the business for far too long and this was highlighted during negotiations.  Back pay was also a major issue and in particular the length of the period and the calculation involved.

The Negotiators Agreement represents a major step forward for the Union.  I believe it also reflects the level of commitment from all of our representatives to reach this point.  Branches will see that the following have been achieved:

• An agreed understanding of what constitutes regular overtime.
• An agreed calculation for the payment of holiday pay.
• Defined reference periods for the calculation of regularity.
• All overtime to feature in the calculation once the agreed regularity threshold has been met.
• A process to allow interim and longer term payments to be made.
• Full-time to be paid for the first four weeks of holiday each year.
• Part-time to be paid for all contractual annual leave up to full-time hours with hours above full-time being paid for four weeks.
• Maternity, paternity, SPL or adoption leave for the purposes of the regularity threshold, it is agreed to pro-rate the qualifying period.
• A maximum of two years back pay subject to meeting the regularity threshold.

Our legal advisers believe that achieving recognition for part-timers up to full-time hours to receive average pay for all their contractual hours and the section on maternity, paternity, SPL or adoption leave are major achievements that would not be reached in a courtroom.  Equally despite RMG having given great publicity to the deal they reached with Unite we have achieved a far improved agreement.

In essence for average holiday pay to make a real difference one has to be performing fairly high levels of overtime, which in our industry has always been available.  This Agreement means that anyone performing 8 hrs per month or more throughout the year will receive an average of all overtime worked in their annual leave ‘top up’ payment.

Ideally the DGS(P) Department would have liked to have circulated the proposed agreement before today but had to conclude further discussions concerning obtaining an agreed process for addressing the high volume of individual cases that are actually at the Employment Tribunal stage.  Since the proposed agreement was endorsed by the Postal Executive there have been intense discussions involving the DGS(P) Department, Legal Services, Unionline and our Solicitors with Royal Mail Group and their Legal counterparts.  These talks have resulted in the terms of a draft order being agreed as well as a full supporting legal document for the agreement on holiday pay.  To be clear the draft order allows for:

1. The claims of the lead claimants to be stayed with the final hearing listed on 21^st\ June to be vacated (The lead claimants have all agreed to this).

2. If the proposed agreement is ratified, the Union will then send a letter to all claimants asking how they would like to proceed and whether they now wish to withdraw their claim for holiday pay. Back payments to an individual for arrears of holiday pay will be conditional on withdrawing the Employment Tribunal claim.  There will be a reasonable time-frame for members to return the forms.

3. The Union will then communicate all of the responses received to the Employment Tribunal and not provide legal support and assistance to the remainder.

In order to allow time for communications and a Branch ballot to be enacted, this is a process that had to be agreed and finalised but this does not mean that the Union has given up the cases in the event that the proposed agreement is not ratified.

I am however confident that as over 70,000 of our members perform regular non-contractual overtime this Agreement will be especially welcome and benefit members going forward.  It will also undoubtedly drive the right behaviours in terms of increasing the contractual hours of part-time members.  I have no hesitation in recommending this comprehensive Agreement to Branches and members for acceptance.

A further communication regarding the details and timescales for the Branch ballot will be circulated in due course.

In conclusion, I would like to place on record my thanks and appreciation to all of the Representatives and members who have promoted Union policy in this regard as well as Tony Rupa and the team in the CWU Legal Department, who along with their colleagues from Unionline, have supported the DGS(P) Department throughout the Employment Tribunal application/hearing process and to Ivan Walker, QC for his support and early advice which laid an invaluable foundation on the Union’s approach.

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)

21LTB245 Average Pay on Annual Leave (Holiday Pay) in Royal Mail Group

Attachment to LTB 245-21 Final VERSION AMENDED 160621 Negotiator’s Agreement – public summary of holiday pay deal

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NEC and Industrial Executive Elections 2021 – Voting Entitlement

The purpose of this LTB is to provide Branches with further information regarding the forthcoming NEC, and Industrial Executive ballots which are scheduled to take place from 6 July 2021 to 3 August 2021.

In line with our previous policy we are taking this opportunity to provide some additional guidance on the number of candidates that members will be entitled to vote for in each of the respective ballots.

We hope this will assist Branches in providing advice to their members regarding any recommendations that the branch may wish to make.

Branches will find the full list of nominations for the above elections in the following LTB 234/21 dated 10^th June and LTB 240/21 dated 14^th June 2021.

Listed below are the ballots scheduled to take place in the 2021 series of NEC and IE elections.  Also listed is the relevant member voting entitlement for each particular ballot.

POSTAL CONSTITUENCY

National Executive Council Representatives

Postal Constituency Chair – No ballot required.

Postal Constituency Vice Chair – No ballot required.

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 1

• All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 17 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than nine. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to nine candidates to their members.

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 2               

• All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend onecandidate to their members.

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 3 (Young Worker) – No ballot Required.

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Women) – No ballot required.

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 4 (LGBT+) 

• All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidate to their members.

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Disability) – No ballot required.

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 4 (BAME) 

• All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend onecandidate to their members.

Postal Executive Representatives – Postal Grades

• All Postal Grade members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.

Please note that members of the Postal Constituency who are Postal & Technical Services grades will not be eligible to vote in this ballot. 

• There are 17 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than thirteen.  
• Accordingly Branches with Postal Grade members will be entitled to recommend up to thirteen candidates to their members.

Postal Executive Representatives – Postal & Technical Services Grades – No ballot required.

TELECOMS & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY

National Executive Council Representatives

T&FS Constituency Chair – No ballot required.

T&FS Constituency Vice Chair  

• All members of the TFS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend onecandidate to their members.

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 1

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 5 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than four. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to four candidates to their members.

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 2 – No ballot Required.

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 3 (Young Worker) – No ballot Required.

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Women)

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one  
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidate to their members.

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (BAME) – No ballot required.

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Disability) 

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one  
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidate to their members.

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (LGBT+) – No ballot required.

T&FS Executive Representatives

TFSE – TFSE Young Worker 

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
• There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one.  
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members.

TFSE – Santander Group and related companies (Santander UK, Santander UK Operations Ltd, Santander UK Technology Ltd, Santander Global and Paragon Customer Communications) – No Ballot Required.

TFSE – Telefonica O2 UK and Connect 44 – No ballot Required.

TFSE – Capita in the T&FS Sector and 14Forty (Capita contract) – No ballot required.

TFSE – All Other Members in the T&FS Constituency 

• All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot (Excluding members working in Santander Group and related companies, Santander UK, Santander UK Operations Ltd, Santander UK Technology Ltd, Santander Global and Paragon Customer Communications. Telefonica O2 UK, Connect 44. Capita in the T&FS Sector and 14Forty (Capita contract).
• There are 5 candidates listed on the voting paper.
• The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than four. 
• Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend four candidates to their members

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 pmetcalfe@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 244/21

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Average Pay on Annual Leave (Holiday Pay) in Royal Mail Group

Further to the announcement relayed to Branches and members by the DGS(P) via a live video stream/podcast on the afternoon of Wednesday 9^th June 2021 informing colleagues that the Postal Executive had endorsed an agreement on the above, we have produced this LTB as a further update.

The aim of this LTB is to provide some clarity around what the Union has achieved and to some extent close the knowledge gap on what has been accomplished by negotiation and what represents in our opinion the best possible collective outcome.  There can be no doubt that the business has been avoiding doing the right thing in this regard for many years hiding behind the issue of insufficient legal case study.  It should also be recognised that the Union supporting individuals making claims against the company has created the urgency required to resolve this issue.  This Agreement will be one of the biggest in the country in respect of a single employer and we hope other workers trying to resolve the same issue with their employer will be encouraged by it.

By way of background, it is important for colleagues to understand that the issue of average holiday pay for ah-hoc /non-contractual overtime has been ongoing since 2014.  The Union’s position at that time was to engage with the employer to find a settlement and because of this the Union would not be in a position to provide legal advice to members however those who wished to pursue their own claims were at liberty to do so.  In effect the joint strategy at that point was to wait for legal cases to be brought and for the outcomes to inform the structure of a future agreement with Royal Mail Group.

It is also important that all colleagues understand that the legal requirement was and remains that any successful case reached at an ET would only be able to be applied to the first 4 weeks of any individual’s annual leave.  This fact should be recognised when considering what has been achieved for part-timers in this agreement.  The vast majority of cases was from part-time members being used constantly by the business as flexible resource working above their conditioned hours on a regular basis but not having those earnings recognised when going on leave.

Despite the Union’s best efforts and having made significant headway on contractual overtime/Scheduled Attendance being paid on all contractual leave since 2014, an agreement of ad-hoc/non-contractual overtime which particularly disadvantaged part-time members, remained unresolved.

Against this backdrop, for the past three years the DGS(P) Department in conjunction with the CWU Legal Services Department and Postal Branches ran a high profile communications campaign aimed at maximising the publicity surrounding the number of individual holiday pay cases pursued by members with Employment Tribunals.

This figure eventually peaked at approximately 7,000 individual cases being lodged with ET’s or their equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland covering the whole of the UK.  While this figure only represented around 6% of the CWU membership, the numbers involved were a major factor in bringing the employer to the table and this time with a genuine commitment to reach a settlement which has now been achieved.

Notwithstanding the complications of the legalities of what an individual’s leave entitlement are, specifically for part-time members and having to overcome the other major legal hurdle of what constitutes regular ad-hoc/non-contractual overtime, which has never been determined or qualified in any Employment Tribunal ruling/judgment to date.  The Union has achieved what the Postal Executive believe is a significant breakthrough in addressing the long-standing grievances our part-time members have relating to the resourcing models being used in effect as a flexible resource within units by performing up to full-time hours but only receiving their contractual conditioned hours when they take annual leave.

To help close both the knowledge gap and to provide colleagues with a better understanding of what has been secured in advance of the wider communications exercise being developed to support the deployment on the Average Holiday Pay on Annual Leave Agreement, the salient points/achievements are summarised below:

Part-time Members

• Average Holiday Pay for ad-hoc/non-contractual overtime will be paid for all of an individual’s contractual holiday entitlement up to the maximum accrual of 6 weeks.
• Where part-time members work in excess of full-time hours, an additional average holiday payment of ad-hoc/non-contractual overtime will also be calculated and paid for the first 4 weeks of annual leave.

Full-time Members

• Average Holiday Pay for ad-hoc/non-contractual overtime will be paid for the first 4 weeks of annual leave.

All of the above will be based on meeting the agreed regulatory criteria of performing a minimum of 8 hours’ overtime within each month of the agreed reference periods of 6 months’ duration.  Further details of the periods and the mechanics of the agreement will be circulated in the further communications currently being drawn up.

In addition, the Union has secured within the agreement those periods of Maternity, Paternity, SPL and Adoption Leave for the purposes of the regulatory threshold which will be treated as pro-rata for the qualifying period.

Coupled with the above, it is agreed that all RMG Employees/CWU Members will receive up to 2 years back pay, subject to meeting the above qualifying criteria.

To conclude, the agreement will be put to a vote via a branch ballot and the timetable is currently being worked up and will be advised to Branches in due course.  The above is just a snapshot of what has been secured for CWU members in particular our part-time colleagues’ benefits which go way beyond what the current employment legislation provides.

Some legal issues are in the process of being finalised and subject to the outcome the ballot, I believe the Union has secured what I hope will become a benchmark for other Unions and employers to follow.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 243/21 – Average Pay on Annual Leave (Holiday Pay) in Royal Mail Group

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Alliance For Cancer Prevention’ – Campaign on 12 Key Priority Asks for the UK Government’s New Chemicals Strategy:

The Alliance for Cancer Prevention has joined with 26 other UK public health and environmental NGOs (charities) in a letter to the UK Government outlining “12 Key Asks” which are fundamental to the UK’s new Chemicals Strategy. The letter is signed by the Trade Union ‘Hazards Campaign’ and supported by Trade Unions and TUC.

The “12 Key Asks” prioritise protecting human health and wildlife from hazardous chemicals which are ubiquitous in our environment. Many of these chemicals have been linked with serious health outcomes including cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, infertility and obesity. They are found in personal care or cleaning products we use or are exposed to on a daily basis in the home or workplace, and pollute our environment from production through to disposal.

The “12 Key Asks” cover a range of issues that need addressing in the new strategy:

1. Apply the precautionary principle;
2. Phase out the most hazardous chemicals from consumer products, for all non-essential uses;
3. A plan to address endocrine disrupting chemicals including timelines to phase them out;
4. Phase out the use of PFAS and other very persistent chemicals;
5. Speed up regulation of harmful chemicals and avoid regrettable substitution by adopting a grouping approach;
6. Address the combined exposure to chemicals – the ‘cocktail effect’;
7. Maintain and expand on workers’ health and safety;
8. Ensure a clean circular economy with products that are safe by design;
9. Develop an effective monitoring and alert system;
10. Stop the continued accumulation of legacy chemicals in the environment;
11. Remain aligned with the world-leading chemical regulation EU REACH;
12. Ensure more transparency and use of all relevant science for assessing health risks.

• The Joint 27 NGOs Letter To Ministers is Attached.
• The 12 Key Asks For the UK Chemical Strategy is Attached.

The UK Government promised a “Green New Future” after the UK’s departure from the EU gold standard European chemicals regulation, ‘REACH’. But this is looking increasingly unlikely. The consultation on the UK’s Chemical’s Strategy is expected later this year. Information and a copy of the ‘New Green Future – 25-Year Environmental Plan’ can be accessed on the Gov.UK Website at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan

The Alliance is particularly concerned about exposure to hazardous chemicals linked to cancer given the rise in cancer rates from 1 in 3 to 1 in 2 adults and by 15% in children. And existing regulations on workplace exposure have done little to stem the rise of occupational cancer and disease.

Leading scientists working on chemical risk assessment and environmental health, also wrote to the Government to express serious concerns at the lack of access to the EU’s chemicals database. The letter called on the Government to restore access as a keystone in developing UK chemicals policy. All current and up to date information is required to make a judgement on the safety of a chemical so it can be used in a product and in the workplace.

The Alliance campaign is calling on the UK Government to support the initiative making health and safety a fundamental human right. While also extending workplace legislation on carcinogens and mutagens to include reprotoxic substances protecting the most vulnerable, the embryo and the foetus, and so protecting all. The Government is now in a position to lead the way in controlling hazardous chemicals and show they really do care about the health of the UK’s citizens, workers, wildlife and the environment.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 242/21 – Alliance For Cancer Prevention – Campaign on 12 Key Priority Asks for the UK Government’s New 

Chemicals StrategyJoint-27 NGOs-letter to Ministers-12-key-asks-on UK Chemical Strategy

12-key-asks-for-the-uk-chemical-strategy

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Election of National Representative Positions – 2021

• CWU Retired Members Committee

Further to LTB 215/21 dated 25^th May 2021 at the close of nominations the following were received:

2 Retired members living in WalesJeffrey RichardsSouth Wales*Elected

2 Retired members living in Northern IrelandLawrence HustonNorthern Ireland Telecom*ElectedJohn MartinNorthern Ireland West*Elected

2 Retired members living in ScotlandHugh BellGlasgow & District Amal Willie MarshallScotland No 2 James StewartGlasgow & District AmalBallot Required

6 Retired members living in EnglandDesmond CarneyNorth West No 1*ElectedKeith Ernest CogginsMidland No 1,*ElectedPhil DuffyGreater Mersey & South West Lancs*ElectedKen WardPlymouth & East Cornwall, Great Western, Midland No 1 , Somerset, Devon & Cornwall*Elected

The timetable for these ballots is as follows:

Despatch ballot papers  17^th June 2021

Ballot closes  8^th July 2021 (14:00)

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 241/21 – Election of National Representative Positions – 2021 – Retired Members Committee

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Election of Telecoms & Financial Services Constituency Positions 2021

• National Executive Council Nominations
• Telecoms & Financial Services Executive Nominations

 Further to LTBs 195/21 and 204/21, please find below the list of accepted nominations for the above Telecoms & Financial Services Constituency positions.

 TELECOMS & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY – CHAIR

Karen Rose, South Wales  *ELECTED

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWGreater Mersey & South West LancsPreston Brook & BuryLancs & CumbriaScotland No. 1Lincolnshire & South YorksSomerset, Devon & CornwallLondon & WestSouth East AngliaManchester CombinedSouth East CentralMeridianSouth WalesMerseySouth YorkshireMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest YorkshireMidland No. 1

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY – VICE CHAIR

James Samuels, Mersey  (*Ballot Required)

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth EastCapitalNorth Wales & ChesterCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorthern Ireland TelecomEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWGlasgow & MotherwellPreston Brook & BuryLincolnshire & South YorksScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East AngliaMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesSouth YorkshireMidland No. 1Tyne & Wear ClericalNorth AngliaWest Yorkshire

Jeffrey Till, Greater London Combined                                                            

Nominating Branches: Greater London CombinedLondon & WestGreater Mersey & South West Lancs

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC REPRESENTATIVE (SECTION 1)

Michelle Bailey, Midland No. 1                                             *ELECTED (BAME QUOTA)                

Nominating Branches: Bootle Financial ServicesNorth EastCapitalNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1MeridianSomerset, Devon & CornwallMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West YorkshireNorth Anglia

Kate Walsh, Capital                                                                 *ELECTED (WOMEN QUOTA)

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East AngliaMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West Yorkshire

Tom Cooper, Midland Counties                              (*Ballot Required)          

Nominating Branches:Great WesternNorthern Ireland TelecomManchester CombinedSouth YorkshireMidland No. 1

Nick Darbyshire, Capital                                                                       

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWGlasgow & MotherwellPreston Brook & BuryLincolnshire & South YorksScotland No. 1London & WestSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest Yorkshire

Andrew Mercer, Greater Mersey & South West Lancs    

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesMidland No. 1CapitalNorth AngliaCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth EastEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorth Wales & ChesterGlasgow & MotherwellNorthern Ireland TelecomGreater Mersey & South West LancsPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest Yorkshire

Dave Tee, Mid Wales, The Marches & North Staffs                        

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East AngliaMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West Yorkshire

Ken Woolley, Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest YorkshireMidland No. 1

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC REPRESENTATIVE (SECTION 2)

Simon Edwards, Mid Wales, The Marches & North Staffs                           *ELECTED

Nominating Branches: Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorth Wales & ChesterGlasgow & MotherwellNorthern Ireland TelecomLincolnshire & South YorksPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLondon & WestPreston Brook & BuryManchester CombinedScotland No. 1MeridianSomerset, Devon & CornwallMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West Yorkshire

Sara Miah, North Anglia                                                 *ELECTED

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East AngliaMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West Yorkshire

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC YOUNG WORKER (SECTION 3)

Erin Brett, Mersey                                                                     *ELECTED 

Nominating Branches: Bootle Financial ServicesMidland No. 1CapitalNorth AngliaCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth EastEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorth Wales & ChesterGlasgow & MotherwellNorthern Ireland TelecomGreater Mersey & South West LancsPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest Yorkshire

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC WOMEN (SECTION 4)

Jean Sharrocks, North East                                  (*Ballot Required)

Nominating Branches: Bootle Financial ServicesNorth EastCapitalNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East AngliaMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesSouth YorkshireMidland No. 1Tyne & Wear ClericalNorth AngliaWest Yorkshire

Angela Teeling, Greater Mersey & South West Lancs

Nominating Branches: Greater London CombinedGreater Mersey & South West Lancs

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC BAME  (SECTION 4)

Ali Moosa, Midland No. 1                                                    *ELECTED

Nominating Branches: Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorth Wales & ChesterGlasgow & MotherwellNorthern Ireland TelecomGreater Mersey & South West LancsPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth YorkshireMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West Yorkshire

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC DISABILITY  (SECTION 4)

Jonathan Bellshaw, Lincolnshire & South Yorkshire                             (*Ballot Required)

 Nominating Branches: Bootle Financial ServicesNorth EastCapitalNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth YorkshireMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West YorkshireNorth Anglia

Jeffrey Till, Greater London Combined                            

Nominating Branches:Greater London CombinedSouth East AngliaGreater Mersey & South West Lancs

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC LGBT+  (SECTION 4)

Jason Reynolds, Capital                                                      *ELECTED 

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksPreston Brook & BuryLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East AngliaMerseySouth East CentralMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsSouth WalesMidland CountiesTyne & Wear ClericalMidland No. 1West Yorkshire

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY – YOUNG WORKER – TFSE

Carolyn Lindsay, Scotland No. 1                                   (*Ballot Required)                         

Nominating Branches: Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorth Wales & ChesterGlasgow & MotherwellNorthern Ireland TelecomLincolnshire & South YorksPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLondon & WestScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest YorkshireMidland No. 1

Thomas Kirkwood-Sweet, Greater Mersey & South West Lancs

Nominating Branches:Greater London CombinedGreater Mersey & South West Lancs

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE – SANTANDER GROUP AND RELATED COMPANIES (SANTANDER UK, SANTANDER UK OPERATIONS LTD, SANTANDER UK TECHNOLOGY LTD, SANTANDER GLOBAL AND PARAGON CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS) – TFSE

Gordon Johnston, Algus National                                         *ELECTED 

Nominating Branches: Algus NationalNorthern & National Financial ServicesBootle Financial Services

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE – TELEFONICA O2 UK & CONNECT44 – TFSE

Zoe Walmsley, West Yorkshire                                             *ELECTED 

Nominating Branches: CapitalPreston Brook & BuryMeridianScotland No. 1Midland CountiesSomerset, Devon & CornwallMidland No. 1South WalesNorthern Ireland TelecomWest Yorkshire

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE – CAPITA IN THE T&FS SECTOR AND 14FORTY (CAPITA CONTRACT) – TFSE

Cathy Rhodes, West Yorkshire                                              *ELECTED 

Nominating Branches: MerseyScotland No.1Northern Ireland TelecomTyne & Wear ClericalPreston Brook & BuryWest Yorkshire

NOMINATIONS FOR TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE – ALL OTHER MEMBERS IN THE TFS CONSTITUENCY REPRESENTATIVE – TFSE

John Ballard, Greater London Combined                                          (*Ballot Required)

Nominating Branches:                                Greater London CombinedGreater Mersey & South West LancsSouth London, Surrey and North Hampshire

Tracy Buckley, Mersey                                                                     

Nominating Branches:                                Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksScotland No. 1London & WestSomerset, Devon & CornwallManchester CombinedSouth East AngliaMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest YorkshireMidland No. 1

Fiona Curtis, Northern Ireland Telecom                                                                        

Nominating Branches:Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksScotland No. 1London & WestSomerset, Devon & CornwallManchester CombinedSouth East AngliaMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest YorkshireMidland No. 1

Peter Francis, South East Central                                                        

Nominating Branches:          Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorksScotland No. 1London & WestSomerset, Devon & CornwallManchester CombinedSouth East CentralMeridianSouth London, Surrey and North HampshireMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest YorkshireMidland No. 1

Dave Stuart, Midland Counties                                             

Nominating Branches:    Bootle Financial ServicesNorth AngliaCapitalNorth EastCentral Counties & Thames ValleyNorth Wales & ChesterEdinburgh, Dundee & BordersNorthern Ireland TelecomGlasgow & MotherwellPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOWLincolnshire & South YorkshireScotland No. 1Manchester CombinedSomerset, Devon & CornwallMeridianSouth East CentralMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, The Marches & North StaffsTyne & Wear ClericalMidland CountiesWest YorkshireMidland No. 1

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be directed to Senior Deputy General Secretary for the attention of Peter Metcalfe on 0208 971 7368, or pmetcalfe@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 240/21

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POST OFFICE: POSTMASTERS: STATUTORY INQUIRY, HORIZON – FOURTH STATEMENT OF APPROACH

Further to LTB 208/21 dated 19^th May.  Today the Inquiry published its fourth Statement of Approach which provides details of how Sir Wyn Williams intends to proceed with the work of the Inquiry over the next few months.  Essentially the Terms of Reference has been further updated, Sir Wyn has expanded his team to include a solicitor, QC and Counsel as well as other additional staff.  There will also be an application process to achieve “Core Participant” status and the team is looking to a venue in which to hold public hearings which will take place in early 2022.  A link to the full statement is as follows:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-office-horizon-it-inquiry-2020/post-office-horizon-it-inquiry-statement-of-approach-004-conversion-into-a-statutory-inquiry-terms-of-reference-core-participants-and-timetable#criteria-for-core-participation-status

We will continue to comprehensively engage with the Inquiry in line with our policies, especially now it has real teeth – i.e. the legal power to subpoena witnesses and to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath.

A web article has been published today and can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.cwu.org/news/horizon-judicial-inquiry-hearings-to-commence-early-2022/

In conclusion, a meeting is planned with the GS Department, Research Department and Mark Baker our Postmasters Branch Secretary to fully determine our next course of action which will include applying for “Core Participant” status and also working on a further written submission to take account of the Inquiry’s wider remit and we will continue to call for meaningful compensation for the many hundreds of Postmaster victims including those covered by the Group Litigation Order.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 239/21 – Post Office – Postmasters – Statutory Inquiry, Horizon – Fourth Statement of Approach

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Joint Statement – Royal Mail and CWU, Return to Shared Van Working

We have reached an agreement with Royal Mail on the potential return of shared vans – subject to the government announcement on June 14th and a number of safety considerations.

The joint statement and communications are attached, along with the appropriate Safety documents. We ask that you share these with our members.

We will also be holding a live Q&A on this issue on Monday 14th June at 4pm. This will be available via the CWU Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media

LTB 237/21 – Return to van sharing
Copy of TBRA-Coronavirus Temporary Shared Vans XL
Joint Statement – Van Sharing 10.06.21 
SWI-Coronavirus Temporary-Shared Vans v1.3 final
Van Sharing Joint Communication

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LTB 236/21 – JS PFW Customer Experience SWW Deployment

No: 236/21

11^th June 2021

For the Immediate Attention of All:

Postal Branches

PFW Regional Organisers

PFW Representatives

Dear Colleagues

Branches and representatives will be aware that LTB 109/21 communicated the Joint Statement – Parcelforce Worldwide and the Communication Workers Union: Pathway to Change Agreement – Agreed National Change Agenda for the Technology Roadmap and Indoor and Admin Revision Activity in Depots and the Deployment of the SWW, and that further activity was to take place in relation to the PFW Customer Experience function.

In line with the aforementioned, the department has been in discussions with the business which has resulted in a Joint Statement being concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive.  A copy of the Joint Statement is attached for information.

The Joint Statement outlines a two-phased approach to activity in the Customer Experience (CE) function, the aim of which is to rebalance the workload.  Phase 1 will enable a new Central Team of CE Advisors to be created in the RM Dearne House Customer Experience site by releasing existing Depot CE agency resource on a phased basis.  This realignment of workload currently performed by agency resource will achieve an efficiency saving equivalent to 6 FTE’s, which will fund the one-hour reduction in the working week for the remaining CE advisors in PFW Depot sites. 

CE Advisors at the new central team will be employed on a substantive basis. A full PFW familiarisation and induction training program will be delivered to all new employees and individuals will be offered a permanent contract after 12 weeks provided that have achieved the required standard for the role. Phase 1 therefore transfers workload covered by agency workers to internal resource with no impact on employed Depot based  CE Advisors.

Activity will commence immediately on Phase 1, which will release the SWW one-hour reduction for Depot based CE employees on the same date (but not before) as the rest of the Depot CSPs.  A commitment has also been given in relation to ongoing activity for Phase 2.

The creation of the new central workforce will provide future opportunity to realise further efficiency savings when vacancies occur through natural attrition in Depot CE & Admin teams via Phase 2.  As an agreed principle of Phase 2 a proportion of these vacancies will be converted into permanent resource in the Central Team in line with ongoing call volume demand requirements on the following basis:

• CE Vacancies – where vacancies arise the workload will be re-aligned to the Central CE Team in the majority of cases.

The exception to this would be where any of the small number of remaining hybrid CE/Admin duties become vacant.  In these cases a local review will take place to assess the split of workload across the Depot Admin and CE functions to ensure that the movement of workload provides the optimum mutual interest outcome for the Depot and the Central CE Unit.

• Admin Vacancies – CE advisors will be offered the first opportunity to transfer into any general Admin vacancies that occur on a voluntary basis, as they will possess the appropriate transferable skills to perform an Admin role.
• Driver and Warehouse Vacancies – CE advisors will be able to transfer into any other vacant CSP role on a voluntary basis.

It has been jointly recognised there is no fixed timescale to achieve the efficiency savings offered by Phase 2 activity, as the plan relies on natural attrition to create vacancies and the Central Team resource will increase over a longer period.  For clarity, no depot based CE Advisor will be required to change role and any transfer to another role will be entirely voluntary.

The Customer Service Joint Working Group will continue to monitor PFW call volume/workload data and will review progress of the efficiencies achieved by both phases of the deployment plan and the impact on the overall PFW CE resourcing model.  This will include a monthly review of Depot CE/Admin vacancies and CE resource levels in the Depots and the new Central Team.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.orgquoting reference 054.06.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

LTB 236/21 – JS PFW Customer Experience SWW – 11.06.21

Attachment 1 – PFW CE SWW Deployment 10.06.21

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CWU NEC & NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS – 2021

• Retired Members Sector Representative

Further to LTBs 195/21 and 204/21, please find below the list of accepted nominations for the above position. 

                Norman Candy, London Phoenix  *ELECTED

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be directed to Senior Deputy General Secretary for the attention of Peter Metcalfe on 0208 971 7368, or pmetcalfe@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 235/21

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