ROYAL MAIL: PATHWAY TO CHANGE AGREEMENT- CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE -DELIVERING THE SHORTER WORKING WEEK

I am pleased to advise Branches that following detailed negotiations with Customer Experience we have reached an agreement for the introduction of the Shorter Working Week which will take effect from Monday 28^th June.  Our part-time CE members will also benefit with a commensurate increase in their hourly pay rate from the same date.

The following Joint Statement has been agreed:

Dear Colleague,

Pathway to Change Agreement – Delivering the Shorter Working Week and Enhancing the Customer Offer

Customer Experience and CWU are working together in developing key business policies, mutual interest solutions and a new culture, which is at the core of the commitments contained in our National agreements, including the Key Principles Framework Agreement (Pathway to Change).

We will be reducing the working week from 34hrs down to 33hrs and we expect this to be achieved through 15-30mins alterations to duty start / finish times and work is already underway to implement this.  We would also like to confirm that c.260 part time employees will benefit from a commensurate increase in their hourly pay rate.  It is expected that this change will take effect from Monday 28 June.

To enable the Shorter Working Week and acknowledging changing customer demand and behaviours, we have agreed a roadmap of changes which follow joint consideration of our resourcing challenges and the need to enhance our customer offering, with flexibility being key.  These activities are important in delivering a broader plan to meet the objective of delivering a better and enhanced service to customers.

Change of any kind takes time to fully discuss and agree, and we are both committed to driving transformation that benefits both the customer and you.  We must continue to change and adapt, and we believe our plans will strike a good balance between improving your Terms and Conditions and focussing on our customers’ changing needs.

As our discussions move forward, we will communicate more key updates. Once again, thank you for your continued efforts and dedication in helping to deliver for our customers every day.

With best wishes

Susan Howlett                                                      Andy Furey  

CE Director                                                           CWU Assistant Secretary

High level negotiations linked to the Pathway to Change agreement are ongoing with regards to a better customer offer which includes extended opening hours across our Customer Experience sites.  Regular engagement with our CE Reps is taking place regarding these talks, with our Reps fully involved via the creation of six Joint Working Groups and they will therefore have the opportunity to influence the outcome.  Further details will be provided once we have an agreed way forward; however the principle of extended opening hours is established.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 217/21 – Royal Mail – Pathway to Change Agreement – Customer Experience

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• Postal Standing Orders Committee
• Telecoms & Financial Services Standing Orders Committee

Election of National Representative Positions – 2021

• Postal Standing Orders Committee
• Telecoms & Financial Services Standing Orders Committee

The NEC has agreed the election arrangements for the National positions listed above.  Accordingly please find attached the relevant election regulations, appendices and nomination forms.

In accordance with the CWU policy of improving proportionality at all levels of the union branches will wish to note that Women and BAME quotas have now been included in the composition of the Standing Orders Committee positions.

Additionally branches are advised that the elections for the SOC in 2021 will be conducted using revised arrangements, a summary of which is set out below:

Election Timetable 

It is necessary for the election timetable to be significantly longer than normal to allow branches sufficient time to seek nominations from their members and to then subsequently agree on which candidates(s) they intend to nominate for election and, once the list of candidates is known to then decide which candidate(s) will receive the branch vote.

Nomination Process

In respect of seeking nominations branches will need to put in place a robust system and use all reasonable methods at their disposal to publish suitable notification throughout the branch area giving members the opportunity to submit their name for nomination to the position should they choose to do so.  Following this the branch would need to put in place arrangements to hold a membership meeting to decide which candidate(s) will receive the branch nomination.

On the basis that no face to face member meetings are currently allowed then this would need to be conducted via a suitable video conference platform such as Zoom or Skype, etc. that provides the opportunity for large numbers of members to take part if required.

Additionally branches will need to allow for members who do not have video conference capability to join the meeting by phone again if they choose to do so.

The timeline for the meeting would need to be agreed in advance and notification provided to members at least 7 days prior to the meeting taking place.

 Dispatch and Return of Nomination Forms to CWU HQ

Nomination forms will be sent to branches electronically (attached to this LTB) and it will be our intention to set up a specific dedicated election email address where branches should return completed nomination forms to.  The details of this will be included on the nomination form.

Nomination Forms will need to be returned by the advertised closing date to be included in the list of candidates. 

The revised system will avoid the necessity to return forms in the post system which of course may be subject to delay during the current Covid-19 crisis.

Dispatch and Return of Voting Papers

The respective constituency based voting papers will be sent by email direct to branches at the email address which we hold on file.  Branches should return the completed voting papers by email to the advertised CWU election email address.  Notification will be sent to branches confirming receipt of the voting paper, however it will the responsibility of the branch to ensure that voting papers are returned to the correct email address.

To be included in the ballot voting papers will need to have been returned by the advertised closing date and time.  

Branch Voting Recommendations

Clearly we are in unique and challenging times and whilst branches would normally arrange mandating meetings to decide which candidates to vote for in the respective elections we do not believe that this is either practical or necessary during the current crisis.  Therefore, on this occasion this decision can be made by the Branch Committee and the decision subsequently notified to members of their branch accordingly.

Election Timetable and Term of Office 

The election timetable for the above will be as follows:

Nominations Open:               26 May 2021

Nominations Close:               23 June 2021

Ballot opens:                           30 June 2021

Ballot closes:                           28 July 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

LTB 214/21

SOC Regulations 2021

Nomination Forms SOC 2021

Candidates Biograhical & Consent Form

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Additional Deployment of Parcel Sorting Machines (PSM’s) in Mail Centres

Branches and representatives will be aware of previous activity relating to the deployment of Parcel Sorting Machines (LTB’s 355/18 and 267/19 refer).

For your information the department has now been made aware of a managerial brief that has been issued by the business relating to authorisation for the further deployment of PSM’s across the Mail Centre Network, in addition to the 4 currently in advanced planning or under construction as part of Phase 2a.

The brief outlines that the Royal Mail Group Board has approved the investment for a further deployment Phase (2b) including nine PSMs in eight Mail Centres, with the contract now signed with Solystic (the manufacturer).

The provisional Mail Centres included in the plan (in alphabetical order) are:

·       Cardiff	·       Northern Ireland*
·       Croydon	·       North West Midlands**
·       Edinburgh	·       Romford
·       London Central	·       Southampton

A copy of the full managerial brief is attached for your information.

As with the previous phases of the PSM deployment program the final decision on where to deploy the PSMs has sat solely with the business.  On the basis of that decision at the end of this phase of the project, c32 PSM’s will have be deployed.

The Parcel Automation Joint Working Group will continue to monitor the activity to ensure that it is fully in line with the agreed framework (attached LTB 355/18). Any issues that cannot be resolved at the Joint Working Group level will be escalated to the National Processing Group (NPG).

The department is aware that the latest deployment plan will be disappointing to those Mail Centres who have not been included in this phase of activity and do not yet have a PSM.   Royal Mail continue to provide commitments that further phases will look to introduce Parcel Automation to all Mail Centres

The policy of the department on all future Parcel Automation is to secure solutions that enhance the ability to grow parcel volumes while protecting all of our current processing sites. The department continues to pursue this agenda with the business via discussions in relation to the Pathway to Change agreement section Enhancing the Parcels Network, Opportunities for Growth and Developing a 24/7 Operation.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Processing: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 732.01.

Or

Engineering: Carl Maden, Acting Assistant Secretary, email: khay@cwu.org quoting reference number: 420.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson                                                   

Assistant Secretary                      

Carl Maden                               

Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 218/21 – Additional Deployment of Parcel Sorting Machines (PSM’s) in Mail Centres

Attachment 1 – LTB 355/2018

Attachment 2 – Phase 2b WTLL initial briefing final

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Royal Mail Group – Safe & Slow Reversing Communications Initiative (Title “Reversing – The Power of 1 MPH”)

The Royal Mail Group Safety Health and Environment Team’s National Road Safety Manager has launched a Safe and Slow Reversing Communication Initiative which the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department is supporting.

Last year 2,397 road traffic collisions (RTCs) occurred involving RMG (RM, PFWW, RMSS, RMP&FS etc.,) when fleet vehicles were reversing which is over 30% of all RTCs.  Road Safety organisations note that reversing a vehicle is sometimes difficult, particularly in a commercial

vehicle where the driver’s visibility is limited. THEREFORE EXTRA CARE AND MOVING THE VEHICLE SLOWLY IS IMPORTANT!

Key Facts:

One way to make reversing easier is to keep the vehicle speed DEAD SLOW, by ‘inching’ it backwards at 1 MPH or as slow as possible.  The difference it makes is:

• More time – drivers can carefully check mirrors as they reverse and can react to reversing sensors.  If a vehicle is reversed at over 4mph, the vehicle will hit an obstruction before the driver even hears the sensors.
• Better control – drivers can make adjustments as they go, increasing the manoeuvrability of the vehicle and making it less likely that they’ll misjudge the space.
• Limited damage – if a driver does make a mistake, the level of damage will be massively reduced.  There’s even a chance that there will be no damage at all.

NOTE: It takes just 11 seconds to reverse 5 metres at 1mph.

Key Messages to Drivers:

1. Limit your speed when reversing, ‘inching’ it backwards and keeping below 1 MPH.
2. Use the clutch to control your speed and cover the brake with your right foot. You shouldn’t need the accelerator to reverse.
3. Be cautious – if ever in doubt, just stop. No driver will hit anything when stationary!

See attached:

• “This Week In Opps” Briefing/Huddle message.
• “RMTV Screen Message. Reversing at 1mph gives you:

*TIME – more time to check your mirrors and react to your sensors

*CONTROL – you can easily make adjustments as you reverse

*OUTCOME – if you do make a mistake, the damage is reduced

In addition to the attached, the RMG National Road Safety Manager will be launching a brief video tutorial on RM Workplace.

Management only enquiries to Mark Bromhall Royal Mail Group Road Safety Manager Mobile: 07872 815241 Email: mark.r.bromhall@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 216/21 – RMG – Safe & Slow Reversing Communications Initiative (Title “Reversing – The Power of 1 MPH”)

Att: This Week in Ops – Reversing – Power of 1MPH v2

Att: TV screen template Wk9 Reversing 1MPH_V4

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Election of National Representative Positions – 2021

• CWU Retired Members Committee

The NEC has agreed the 2021 election arrangements for the National positions listed above.

Accordingly please find attached the regulations and nomination forms.

Branches are advised that the elections for the Retired Members Committee in 2021 will be conducted using revised arrangements, a summary of which is set out below:

Election Timetable 

It is necessary for the election timetable to be significantly longer than normal to allow branches sufficient time to seek nominations from their members and to then subsequently agree on which candidates(s) they intend to nominate for election and, once the list of candidates is known to then decide which candidate(s) will receive the branch vote.

Nomination Process

In respect of seeking nominations branches will need to put in place a robust system and use all reasonable methods at their disposal to publish suitable notification throughout the branch area giving members the opportunity to submit their name for nomination to the position should they choose to do so.  Following this the branch would need to put in place arrangements to hold a membership meeting to decide which candidate(s) will receive the branch nomination.

On the basis that no face to face member meetings are currently allowed then this would need to be conducted via a suitable video conference platform such as Zoom or Skype, etc. that provides the opportunity for large numbers of members to take part if required.

Additionally branches will need to allow for members who do not have video conference capability to join the meeting by phone again if they choose to do so.

The timeline for the meeting would need to be agreed in advance and notification provided to members at least 7 days prior to the meeting taking place.

Dispatch and Return of Nomination Forms to CWU HQ

Nomination forms will be sent to branches electronically (attached to this LTB) and it will be our intention to set up a specific dedicated election email address where branches should return completed nomination forms to.  The details of this will be included on the nomination form.

Nomination Forms will need to be returned by the advertised closing date to be included in the list of candidates. 

The revised system will avoid the necessity to return forms in the post system which of course may be subject to delay during the current Covid-19 crisis.

Dispatch and Return of Voting Papers

The respective constituency based voting papers will be sent by email direct to branches at the email address which we hold on file.  Branches should return the completed voting papers by email to the advertised CWU election email address.  Notification will be sent to branches confirming receipt of the voting paper, however it will the responsibility of the branch to ensure that voting papers are returned to the correct email address.

To be included in the ballot voting papers will need to have been returned by the advertised closing date and time.  

Branch Voting Recommendations

Clearly we are in unique and challenging times and whilst branches would normally arrange mandating meetings to decide which candidates to vote for in the respective elections we do not believe that this is either practical or necessary during the current crisis.  Therefore, on this occasion this decision can be made by the Branch Committee and the decision subsequently notified to members of their branch accordingly.

Election Timetable and Term of Office 

The election timetable for the above will be as follows:

Nominations Open:                           25 May 2021

Nominations Close:                           14 June 2021

Despatch Ballot Papers:                   17 June 2021

Ballot Closes:                                        8 July 2021

Branches will wish to note that the term of office for the 2021 Retired Members Committee will run from July 2021 for two years.

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 215/21

Att: RMC Election Regulations 2021

Att: RMC Nomination Form 2021

Att: Candidate Consent Form 2021

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CWU ANTI RACISM STATEMENT  

The TUC and Stand up to racism have called for unions to engage in a week of action to strengthen workplace anti-racist campaigning and to mark the one year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.

In response to this request, the CWU NEC discussed and unanimously agreed a document that set out our own plan to launch a CWU public statement calling out racism and setting out our values as an organisation.

A copy of the statement is attached and this will be made available online and will be produced as a public statement for our own members and those from the wider movement to sign.  Importantly, this approach offers us a foundation to build upon as a commitment to a broader anti-racism strategy, rather than simply a one-off action.

The statement also commits the union to developing new approaches that will focus on bringing our members together and uniting working people.

The CWU statement will be released tomorrow online and a link to this will be sent out soon.  This will serve as a starting point for our ongoing work and we ask that Branches engage with this process and urge as many members to sign the statement as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward

General Secretary             

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 213/21 – CWU ANTI-RACISM STATEMENT

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CWU ANTI-RACIST STATEMENT

The values of a trade union bridge every divide and the CWU is a strong anti-racist organisation. 

We deliver change together, we win ballots together, we take on employers together, and we will confront racism together.  

Our priority is to unite working people by recognising that we share far more in common with one another than we do with those who seek to exploit and divide us.

The signatories of this statement commit to:

• Calling out and challenging racism wherever we see it, in wider society or the workplace
• Uniting working people, by being open to new effective approaches, including practical steps that tackle racism and all forms of injustice through the power of our collective strength
• Promoting this statement to colleagues, friends and family – urging them to show their support.

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Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions (RMPFSL)
Engineering and Admin & Generic Grades Pay 2021

Further to LTB 193/21 dated 12th May 2021 we can now confirm the ballot timetable for our Engineering and Admin & Generic grades has been arranged and the ballot timetable is as follows:

Ballot opens:    Tuesday 2nd June 2021
Ballot closes:    Wednesday 23rd June 2021

The Postal Executive recommend our members vote YES to accept the pay offer.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 320. Email address: khay@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Carl Maden
Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 212/21

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POST OFFICE: POST OFFICE PENSION PLAN (POPP) – SCOTTISH WIDOWS DEFINED CONTRIBUTION SCHEME – ANNUAL STATEMENT

Branches and our Post Office members are advised of the following forthcoming activity in relation to their DC pension scheme administered by Scottish Widows:

• The annual statement showing the value of the funds in members’ Defined Contribution POPP with Scottish Widows will arrive on doormats from around the end of May. There is good news in the annual statements as the investments have performed well over the course of the last year and no doubt this will be welcomed by our members.

A Tri-partite statement has been agreed between Post Office, Unite & CWU and is attached to this LTB for your information.

I would like to remind members that as an integral part of the last pay agreement we secured an improvement to the Defined Contribution pension scheme with a new maximum tier of 8% employee and 12% employer. Members can email POL.Pensions@postoffice.co.uk using their Post Office email account to increase their employee contribution to secure a better employer contribution.

Members can also find out more information via the Scottish Widows dedicated Post Office website:

www.scottishwidows.co.uk/save/postoffice/

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 211/21 – Post Office – Post Office Pension Plan (POPP) – Scottish Widows Defined Contribution Scheme

Joint Statement May 2021

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ROYAL MAIL: POST OFFICE PAY INCREASE OF 1.5% & CONSOLIDATION OF BONUS FOR EX-POST OFFICE “SAFENET” MEMBERS WORKING IN ROYAL MAIL

Branches will recall (refer to LTB 211/19, attached for information) that we have a number of members (c.130) who were redeployed from Post Office “Safenet” duties back into the Royal Mail operation under MTSF in 2009.

Following positive discussions with Graham Long, Head of IR Delivery, Corporate Functions, we can now confirm that these ex Post Office members will receive the Post Office pay increase of 1.5% plus the consolidation of bonus scheme monies of £900 (pro-rata for part-timers) as per the pay agreement reached with Post Office and endorsed by PO members in March 2021.

The following Joint Statement has been agreed with Royal Mail:

 Joint statement between Royal Mail and the CWU regarding ex-Post Office ‘SafeNet’ employees working in Royal Mail.

 Following joint discussions Royal Mail and CWU confirm that all ex Post Office ‘SafeNet’ employees working within Royal Mail will receive the Post Office pay increase of 1.5% for the 20/21 financial year.

 Key Features of the Pay Agreement are:

•  5% pay increase – the headline pay increase of 1.5% applies from 1st April 2020
•  £900 Bonus Scheme Consolidation – Supply Chain (Pro-Rata for Part-Timers)

Royal Mail HR Services are currently processing the pay uplift and this will be implemented in May salaries for monthly paid and Friday 28th May for weekly paid employees, including all back pay. 

 We wish to thank people for their patience whilst we have been clarifying these matters. 

 Graham Long                                                  Andy Furey

Head of IR – Delivery,                                      CWU National Officer

Corporate Functions

I would like to thank the members for their patience in regard to receiving their 2020 pay rise. The delay was in the main due to the agreement with Post Office for the pay increase applicable from 1^stApril 2020 not being reached until late February 2021, followed by our consultative arrangements with the members.

Finally, I would be grateful if Branches could bring this successful outcome to the attention of our ex-Post Office members working in Royal Mail.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 21LTB209 – Royal Mail – Post Office Pay Increase of 1.5% & Consolidation of Bonus

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