CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS 2015/16 

Please find attached for the information of Branches the agreement in respect of Christmas and New Year arrangements for 2015/16 which was endorsed by the Postal Executive at its meeting on the 1st December.

 

Branches will be aware that discussions this year have been extremely difficult and have led to significant delay in reaching an agreed position. Given the unusual nature of this year’s arrangements a number of issues have had to be addressed.

 

In relation to Enquiry Offices it has been agreed that on Christmas Eve closing times will be no later than 17:00 and on New Year’s Eve offices will close at normal times except those who are normally open later than 18:30 who will close no later than 18:30, unless locally both parties agree to remain open until normal closing times.

 

Branches will also wish to note that Saturday 26th December has been sanctioned as a Non USO/Non Service day for Royal Mail by Ofcom. This means that there will be no deliveries or collections on that day.

 

However, it is not deemed to be a Bank or Public Holiday. The Bank Holidays fall on Friday, 25th and Monday, 28th December. There will be no days in lieu granted for staff not due to attend on the 26th.

 

The decisions to move Bank Holidays are made by the Government not Royal Mail or the CWU hence the 26th is not a Bank Holiday the Government have moved it to the Monday. This can be seen on the following link http://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays.

 

Under the terms of the Postal Services Act and Royal Mails license obligation (USO) they are due to deliver and collect 6 days a week excluding Sundays and Bank or Public Holidays, which would have meant that as the 26th is not the Bank Holiday Royal Mail would normally be obliged to deliver and collect on the 26th. This is the reason why Royal Mail supported by the CWU made an application to Ofcom for a Non USO/Non Service day. The application was then put out to public consultation and at the end of the consultation Ofcom made a decision to grant the non USO/non service day. They also agreed that this would continue in future when the 26th falls on a Saturday.

 

 

With regard to the 26th December, non Service/USO day Para 3.2 confirms the joint commitment that for Inland operations where staff are required to attend it is on a voluntary basis with any shortfall made up by use of other resourcing options. It should be noted however that the expectation is that the requirement to attend will be very low and staff who do attend will be paid at SA rate for all hours worked on the 26th December.  

 

The exception to this is HWDC where the nightshift is required to attend in order to meet service requirements and Bank Holiday Premium will be paid for the hours worked up till Midnight.  

 

By far the most difficult aspect to resolve has been the arrangements for night workers for week commencing 28th December, due to the unusual circumstances where there are non consecutive bank holidays as the second Christmas Bank Holiday and the New Years Day Bank Holiday fall within the same working week.  

 

This led to an impasse on the requirement for conditioned hours in that week, with the business asserting that as the Sunday night was a rest day staff would be awarded a Bank Holiday Credit for the rest day and would therefore have to attend on both the evenings of the 28th December and the 1st January (excluding Scotland) on conditioned hours. We were unwilling to accept this and argued that the business was attempting to balance conditioned hours over more than one working week.  

 

The final agreed position on this matter is contained in revised paragraphs 3.7, 3.8 and 3.10. Within these we have now achieved:

 

➢ Improved wording on maximising employee aspirations for time off by utilising the full range of resourcing options (Para 3.7)

➢ Acceptance that where agreed resourcing arrangements result in attendance beyond conditioned hours, staff may either elect to receive a lieu day or the appropriate overtime rate for the additional hours (Para 3.8)

➢ That any resultant overtime on either Bank Holiday will attract normal Bank Holiday rates (option A or B) (Para 3.10)

 

Branches should note that the pay rates quoted in the agreement, i.e. SA rates, are for OPG grades and that for other grades the reciprocal amount will be paid.

 

Additionally we have amended the previous wording that night operations will commence at the normal time which has been included in past years, which should allow discussions on a later start time where that is locally desirable.

 

Finally the wording in relation to Scotland recognises that similar arrangements to in effect move the Bank Holiday entitlements from Monday, 4th January to Saturday, 2nd were agreed in Scotland 2009/10. The new wording outlines that attendance and remuneration arrangements should mirror those agreed in 2009.

 

Branches should note that as in 2014 arrangements for Network Drivers have been concluded in a separate agreement and are contained in LTB 766/15.

 

BRANCHES ARE REQUESTED TO ENSURE THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND MEMBERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THIS LTB AND THE ATTACHED ARRANGEMENTS.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 706A.06.

 

Bob Gibson, Assistant Secretary, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference number: 170.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Davie Robertson​Bob Gibson

CWU Assistant Secretary​CWU Assistant Secretary

 CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS 2015

 

 

1 ​Introduction

 

This document summarises arrangements for Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016 based on the principles agreed for recent years. Robust staffing arrangements will be required during the Christmas period to ensure operational needs and USO obligations are covered in line with workload forecasts taking into account the aspirations of employees. It covers OPGs, OSGs, MGV drivers, Mail Screeners, MDECs, processing engineers scheduled to shift working, LAs whose conditioned hours attract assigned allowances and Network professional drivers as detailed below.

 

The 2004 Christmas agreement abolished claw back of hours arising from public, bank holidays and non USO days and these arrangements remain in place for Christmas 2015/16.

 

For Network professional drivers, Bank Holiday attendance arrangements will be made in line with the terms in the National Agreement on the Introduction of the Professional Driver. Details for arrangements this year are covered in the Joint Statement between Royal Mail Logistics and the CWU on Festive Bank Holiday Resourcing for Network Professional Drivers, Christmas 2015/16.

 

 

2 ​Enhanced Operational Arrangements Christmas 2015

 

The following enhancements will operate in 2015/16. These are intended to address customer concerns and provide an improved service.

 

Extended Enquiry Offices Opening Times

 

There will be extended opening times from Monday, 30 November to Thursday, 24 December. Closing times on Christmas Eve will be no later than 17:00. On New Year’s Eve offices will close at normal times except those who are normally open later than 18:30 who will close no later than 18:30 unless locally both parties agree to remain open until normal closing times.

 

A national specification has been issued categorising each Delivery Office and the required opening times. Some units’ times will vary depending on experience of previous Christmases and taking fully into account local needs and knowledge.

 

Sunday Opening

 

All 97 offices currently open on Sunday’s will continue to open on Sunday’s during December with the exception of Sunday, 27 when they will be closed. The majority of these will open between 12:00 and 16:00 (some will open between 10:00 and 14:00).

 

In addition to the offices above a further circa 125 Enquiry Offices will also open. These offices will operate for a minimum of four hours between 10:00 and 16:00, subject to local discussions and operate staffing arrangements in line with normal arrangements paid at Scheduled Attendance rate.

 

Supplementary Parcel Delivery Service

 

Delivery Offices will introduce supplementary parcel deliveries, where locally assessed and deemed necessary. The operational dates will vary by unit dependent upon the local traffic forecast.

 

These supplementary parcel delivery duties will form part of the normal local discussions covering Christmas arrangements and will take full account of local circumstances in ensuring sufficient resource to cover the workload.

 

They will usually take place between 07:00 and 10:00; additional deliveries may take place between 15:00 – 20:00 (and no later than 21:00) subject to the local discussions.

 

In all circumstances employee safety and the security of mail must be assured. Areas/Addresses identified as high risk e.g. deliveries suspended due to attacks, robberies or problem dogs etc. will be excluded from receiving this additional service.

 

Sunday Delivery and Re-delivery

 

Sunday deliveries within the M25 area will continue during December in line with the agreed Joint Statement/TOR for Sunday Services. There will be no Sunday deliveries on 27 December.

 

The increase in first time delivery and the additional number of enquiry offices open combined with more rigorous planning mean it is anticipated that there should be no need for Sunday deliveries or re-deliveries. However if any office finds it necessary due to a high number of undelivered items, arrangements will be made via local discussions; where discussions locally fail to resolve the matter it will be referred to the appropriate Delivery Director & Divisional Representative for speedy resolution.

 

Sunday Collections

 

Can be made on 22 November and will be made on 29 November, 6, 13 and 20 December 2015, although not an advertised service. Staffing will be on a voluntary basis and the operational arrangements agreed locally.

 

 

3 ​Attendance and Resourcing Arrangements

 

3.1 ​Friday, 25 December and Monday, 28 December are the Christmas Day and Boxing Day Bank Holidays. There will be no USO collections or deliveries on these days.

 

2.2 Saturday, 26 December is not a Bank Holiday. We have agreed with Ofcom it is a non USO day so there will be no USO collections or deliveries. Monday, 28 December will be the bank holiday. Where service requires attendance on early or late shifts on Saturday, 26 December people attending will be paid at Scheduled Attendance Monday-Saturday rate (currently £11.06 per hour). Our aspiration is that all attendances commencing on the 26th December will be on a voluntary basis with work covered utilising the full range of resourcing options.

Note: Saturday, 26 December will remain a non USO day in future years.

 

3.3 ​Friday, 1 January 2016 is the designated New Year Bank Holiday. There will be no USO collections or deliveries on 1 January.

 

3.4 ​Saturday, 2 January is not a Bank Holiday in Scotland in 2016. It is a designated non-USO day in Scotland (as agreed in perpetuity by Postcomm in 2009 instead of Monday, 4 January when the date falls on a Saturday). Operations will resume with night shift on Sunday, 3 January 2016 as we are required to perform USO deliveries and collections in Scotland on Monday, 4 January. Arrangements for attendance and remuneration will mirror those agreed in 2009/10.

 

3.5 ​As agreed in 2004, people will not be required to make up hours they would have worked arising from the bank holidays or non USO days. In line with normal bank holiday arrangements people who would normally be scheduled to work on the day of the Bank Holidays in the provision of USO collection and delivery services will not be required to attend and not be required to make up the hours.

 

3.6 ​Rest days will apply in line with normal year round arrangements. Attendances may be varied by local agreement to take account of workload forecasts and service requirements. Where workload requires people can volunteer to work their normal rest day in return for a day in lieu or scheduled attendance where a rest day falls on a Bank Holiday (i.e. 25, 28 December or 1 January and 2 January in Scotland) and it is not operationally sensible to transfer the rest day to another day in the same week people will receive an additional day holiday (including those working ‘a week off in six’ or other variations on this theme) in the form of a day in lieu or alternatively the excess hours can be taken as normal overtime.

 

3.7 ​Local Christmas discussions/arrangements should ensure agreed staffing arrangements are in place to meet service obligations in full on Bank Holidays while maximising opportunities to meet employee aspirations for time off. To avail this, discussions will utilise the full range of resourcing options, including the realignment of conditioned hours across these weeks for night shift workers. Staff required to attend within conditioned hours on 28 December or 1 January will receive the Bank Holiday premium (currently £9.49) for each hour worked on the Bank Holidays.

 

3.8 ​In order to comply with the USO, inland night shift operations should resume as required on 28 December and 1 January (excluding Scotland) to meet service obligations. In week commencing 28 December, where agreed resourcing arrangements result in attendance beyond conditioned hours, staff may either elect to receive a lieu day or the appropriate overtime rate for the additional hours.

 

3.9​The night shift at HWDC will resume at normal times on Saturday, 26 December. Exceptionally conditioned hours worked on the night shift at HWDC before midnight on 26 December will attract the Bank Holiday premium (currently £9.49 per hour).

 

3.10 ​Staff at both inland and international operations volunteering to attend for overtime on 28 December or 1 January (and 2 January in Scotland) will receive normal bank holiday rates (option A or B as appropriate) for the hours worked on the bank holiday.

 

3.11 ​Weekend duty holders (notional full timers and people who make three or less attendances each week) will have separate scheduling arrangements based on the same principles as in previous years.

 

3.12 ​Providing resourcing is secure at their parent offices people can volunteer for duty or additional earnings opportunities at neighbouring Parcel Sort Centres.

 

3.13 ​Local flexibility agreements and the National Pay and Modernisation agreement phase 3 annexes A and B will apply and be utilised during the Christmas period. Both parties will explore opportunities to give people time off where possible consistent with customer and operational requirements.

 

 

4 ​Christmas Pay Supplement

 

The Christmas pay supplement of £100 for full time OPG and OSGs (pro-rated for part timers) will be paid on Friday, 18 December. The eligibility criteria for the Christmas bonus payment will be the same as last year, based on the four December weeks (commencing 23 November). In the unlikely event of any industrial action the abatement criteria will be drawn from the PBS agreement.

 

The separate payment of £100 (pro rata for PT employees) agreed in the National Joint Statement – New Incentive Arrangements June 2012 will also be paid on Friday, 18 December.
5 ​Scheduled Attendances

 

Scheduled attendance rates can be paid for pre-scheduled overtime worked during the Christmas period. These do not attract paid meal breaks.

 

 

6 ​Scheduled Attendance Holiday Pay

 

Christmas Pressure SA increases the number of SA hours worked above normal weekly averages. To ensure this additional contribution is not lost SA holiday pay for the Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day (plus 2 January in Scotland) bank holidays will be calculated by taking the average daily amount of SA worked by each individual in the 4 weeks prior to the bank holiday.

 

 

7 ​Local discussions

 

Discussions with local CWU representatives should ensure Christmas arrangements are concluded in line with national agreements. Details will be negotiated locally to secure reliable staffing, ensuring everyone has a fair and manageable workload, and will consider the following options:

 

– People to work their normal rest day in return for a day in lieu or scheduled attendance/overtime

– Pre-scheduling hours against forecast workload

– Scheduled attendance or pressure overtime

– Use of temporary / agency staff as supplementary resource

– Attendance arrangements on Thursday, 24 and 31 December which are not bank holidays or non USO days.

 

Local discussions/arrangements should also ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to deal with collections on delivery where there may be larger than normal postings to ensure that all mails (collection and delivery) meet their due service standards.

 

 

8 ​Pay Arrangements

 

The Christmas Pay Timetable is attached at Annex A

 

 

Royal Mail CWU

 

December 2015

 

 

 

 

Annex A 

 

Pay dates and payroll processes remain the same for weekly paid employees, with current week basic pay, assigned allowances and previous week’s additional hours and ad hoc adjustments paid each Friday. Due to the impact of bank / public holidays on payroll operations, the following arrangements apply:

 

Weekly-Paid Contracted Employees

 

w/c 30th November (pay date Friday 4th December)

o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)

o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 23rd November

 

w/c 7th December (pay date Friday 11th December)

o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)

o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 30th November

 

w/c 14th December (pay date Friday 18th December)

o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)

o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 7th December

o Christmas Supplement

 

w/c 21st December (pay date Thursday 24th December)

o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)

o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 14th December

 

Note: PSP will be closed for all changes from 2.00a.m. Tuesday 22nd December until the payroll has been completed. This is anticipated to be approximately 6.00p.m.

 

Note: PSP will be closed for all changes from 2.00am Thursday 24th December and will re-open at 7.30a.m.

 

w/c 28th December (pay date Thursday 31st December 2015)

o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)

o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 21st December

 

Note: PSP will be closed for all changes from 2.00a.m. Tuesday 29th December until the payroll has been completed. This is anticipated to be approximately 6.00p.m.

 

w/c 4th January 2016 (pay date Friday 8th January 2016)

o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)

o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 28th December

 

 

Monthly-Paid Contracted Employees

 

Cut-off will be Sunday 13th December

Pay date will be Thursday 24th December

Joint Statement between Royal Mail Logistics and the CWU on Festive Bank Holiday Resourcing for Network Professional Drivers, Christmas 2015/16 

Branches and representatives will recall that in 2014 the department were successful in securing an agreement with Royal Mail Logistics on specific revised guidelines covering the resourcing of Network LGV duties across the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.

 

As with the generic Christmas Arrangements agreement, the peculiar non standard arrangements this year added some additional aspects to discussions on a new agreement for 2015 which have led to lengthy discussions with the business. The department however is now pleased to report that the attached Joint Statement has been agreed for 2015 and was endorsed by the Postal Executive at its meeting on the 1st December.  

 

You will note that in the Joint Statement for the purposes of resourcing the 26th December will be regarded as a Bank Holiday for Network Drivers. As such the aspiration will be to resource using volunteers supplemented by the normal resourcing mix with compulsion kept to an absolute minimum. In addition all staff attending on that day can either elect to receive a lieu day or receive overtime payment for all hours worked on the day.

 

In addition the link between Boxing Day, 26th December and New Years Day has been retained, ensuring as we did last year that no individual should be compelled to work both these days.  

 

Branches and representatives are requested to bring the Joint Statement to the attention of our Network Professional Driver members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 206A.09

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

Joint Statement between Royal Mail Logistics and the CWU on Festive Bank Holiday Resourcing for Network Professional Drivers, Christmas 2015/16

 

 

Background

 

The National Agreement for the Implementation of the Road Transport Directive and the Introduction of the Professional Driver Agreement (PDA), created the Professional Driver as a new and distinct grade. For Network Professional Drivers, in return for industry leading terms and conditions, this progressive agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU predicted the growth of customer activity during the weekends and on bank holidays and provided the commitment and the remuneration for drivers to attend on these days as part of normal working.

 

Since 2007, attendance during the weekends and on bank holidays has progressively increased due to retail activity and increased customer demand as internet fulfilment has grown considerably. The deployment of the Professional Drivers Agreement in this regard and the utilisation of its full range of resourcing options has ensured that the business has been able to meet its commercial commitments, however both parties recognise that the significant increase in bank holiday attendance has created some challenges in regard to a fair approach to allocation and attendance.

 

In particular it is recognised that the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays are in general viewed as distinct and special by both our drivers and their families. Given the increase in demand for services on these days in recent years both Royal Mail Logistics and the CWU believe that it is appropriate to agree supporting guidelines to the PDA, to ensure fairness in resourcing, maximise opportunities for time off and limit individual mandatory commitment whilst maintaining efficient customer service.

 

 

Approach to Christmas and New Year Resourcing  

 

The business has a clear commitment to provide efficient customer service during the bank holiday period over the Christmas and New Year, while balancing the aspirations of the workforce to spend time with their families over the festive period.

 

Against that backdrop, a consensus has been reached between the business and CWU to maximise the availability of leave on these critical bank holidays to professional drivers over Christmas and New Year. The following principles have been developed between the business and CWU in order to ensure fairness in resourcing at all of the Vehicle Operating Centres. These should be utilised to shape local resourcing arrangements for the Christmas and New Year holiday period, the aim being to work collaboratively in order to achieve the optimum agreed outcome in line with these principles.

 

➢ Both parties reaffirm that there are no current plans to operate a nationwide service on Christmas Day; as such no Professional Drivers will be compelled to attend on this day. Exceptionally where any customer driven services are required on Christmas day, it is agreed that our aspiration for attendance will be on a wholly voluntary basis with work covered utilising the full range of resourcing options detailed below.

 

➢ Forward planning is becoming increasingly difficult and customer volumes and product volatility is a particular challenge over the critical Christmas and New Year period. As far as possible, Royal Mail will commit to planning attendances well in advance providing certainty to the Professional Drivers and enabling them to arrange their personal work life balance in as much time as is practically possible.

 

➢ Resourcing plans will be reviewed at unit level as soon as possible.

 

➢ Royal Mail has the aspiration to ensure that the resourcing requirement for our directly employed professional drivers is as low as possible and commits to using the full range of existing agreed mixed resourcing options available. Equally workload will be scheduled on the basis of commercial or operational necessity; as such non priority work will not be scheduled during these Bank Holidays or the non USO day on the 26th December.

 

➢ Royal Mail will seek to resource the Christmas and New Year bank holidays and non USO day (26th December) through volunteers as far as possible. Where there are insufficient volunteers an open “fair share” approach will be developed across the Professional Drivers. [Driver hours limitations may restrict the pool of available drivers].

 

➢ With regard to Boxing Day (26 December) and the New Year Day Bank Holiday it is agreed that wherever possible, any last resort mandatory attendance requirement, in line with the PDA Agreement, for any individual will be limited to only one of these days.

 

➢ The business will look to complete operations as early as possible on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and it is expected that drivers will support modified attendances to support this objective. Drivers will take a maximum of two bank holidays for Christmas and one for New Year [two in Scotland].

 

➢ Both parties recognise the context for bank holiday attendance over Christmas and New Year is covered within the Professional Drivers Agreement and the remuneration has already been addressed. Where a driver is required to attend during a bank holiday a day will be added to that employees annual leave entitlement to be taken under current arrangements where authorised in line with operational requirements. However in line with local arrangements in recent years, for the festive bank holidays only, where it enhances the availability of volunteers, drivers may elect to receive remuneration at Overtime rate for the hours worked on the Bank Holiday as an alternative to the days leave.

 

 

Saturday, 26 December 2015
To support contract customer requirements the national Logistics Network will run a significant operation on the non USO day (Saturday 26th December). This will require more drivers than normally scheduled to attend on a Saturday. Exceptionally therefore resourcing arrangements for attendance and remuneration for the 26th December will mirror those defined above for Bank Holidays in recognition of the importance that our drivers and their families place on this day.

 

Resourcing arrangements will prioritise volunteers in the first instance supported by the full range of mixed resourcing options available. Where this still results in a shortfall resourcing arrangements will be made in line with the terms of the Professional Drivers Agreement.

 

Therefore although not a bank holiday drivers who work on 26 December will have a day added to their annual holiday or alternatively can claim pay for the hours worked on the day as overtime.

 

Local discussions on resourcing should be completed at the earliest possible juncture to give the maximum levels of certainty to all our drivers. Discussions should be progressed in line with the IR Framework and the Network Working Group will be available to assist should it become necessary.

 

This Joint statement covers the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays (plus 26 December 2015) only. Resourcing for all other bank holidays will continue to be progressed in line with the terms of the Professional Drivers Agreement.

 

Any issues of interpretation should be referred to the signatories of this agreement.

 

General Conference 2016 – Obituary List

It is the practice to include in the General Conference Agenda a reference to those members who have served the Union in many different capacities and who have sadly died since the previous Conference. Please let us know the names of those members of your Branch whom you wish to have included in the Obituary List.

Following the decision of the National Executive Council, the Obituary list to be published in the General Conference Agenda shall include the names of all members who have died in the previous twelve months, as notified by branches.

To enable the list to be prepared for inclusion in the Agenda all names must be received no later than Tuesday 9th February 2016. Unfortunately, any names received after this date will not be able to be included. Notification should be either by letter addressed to Angela Niven at Headquarters or by email to conferences@cwu.org Information supplied should include initials, surname and branch.  

Any queries on this paragraph should be addressed to Angela Niven, CWU Headquarters.

 

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

 

 

Postal Conference 2016 – Submission Of Motions 

Please find attached motion forms for Postal Conference 2016. The purpose of this Letter to Branches is to remind those Branches/Co-ordinating Committees who do not have access to an email facility that they must contact head office direct to request hard copies of the forms to be despatched to them. They should contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

 

We also take this opportunity to attach to this Letter to Branches the Motion Guide for submitting Motions to Postal Conference 2016.

 

Branches/Co-ordinating Committees are also reminded that the closing date for the submission of motions to Postal Conference is by midnight on Tuesday 23rd February, either by post to Angela Niven, CWU 150 the Broadway, Wimbledon London SW19 1RX or by email to conferences@cwu.org No motions will be accepted that go to any other e-mail address as the conference guide to motions refers.

 

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven at Head Office or on 020 8971 7256.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

 

 

Sunday Services – Enquiry Offices (Customer Service Points) 

Further to LTB 593/15 issued to Branches on 14th September 2015 it has come to our attention that very little activity has been taking place regarding the opening times of Enquiry Offices and in particular Sunday opening for the additional 266 Units which had been identified as fitting the criteria for Sunday opening.

 

Branches will recall that deployment of the Sunday Opening is scheduled to take place from January to March 2016 and Units were asked to engage early to enable discussions to be completed in time to meet this schedule.

 

Within the National Agreement, Annex A clearly stated:

 

It is accepted that all revised arrangements will be determined by fact and demonstrable evidence, including the agreed criteria as stated in the “Enquiry Office Opening Times” paragraph of the main agreement. Where locally units are unable to agree revised arrangements such cases should be escalated to the relevant ADR and DSM by 30th October 2015 to review the situation and see if agreement can found. Where no agreement can be found it should be escalated to the Delivery Director and CWU Divisional Representative by 20th November 2015 for further review. Failure to reach agreement at this stage will result in the disagreement being referred to National level by the 4th December 2015.

 

In order to establish exactly what the position is around the country we are requesting Branches and/or CWU Representatives to provide the department with a short report on the current state of play regarding the 266 Offices which are due to deploy Sunday opening in 2016. The full list is attached for ease of reference.

 

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 530

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely

                                         

Bob Gibson

CWU Assistant Secretary   

Future of Delivery – Update 

Further to LTB 627/15 regarding the Future of Delivery and the debate which began with the ADR Briefings regarding a Future Delivery Model. We are continuing discussions with Royal Mail and correspondence has been exchanged covering our respective positions and outlining our current thoughts at this early stage. To be clear, at this stage nothing has been agreed other than to continue dialogue and explore options on this very important subject.

 

To supplement this we have called a briefing on Wednesday 16th December 2015 for all CWU Divisional Representatives where they will be taken through the current position and initial outputs emanating from the Optimised Mail Preparation trial so that they are fully informed on the implications for all functions and can be in a position to impart this knowledge into the field and into the ensuing debate.

 

Further discussions/meetings have been scheduled with Royal Mail on a more frequent basis and with longer sessions. Information resulting from these meetings will be shared on an ongoing basis with Branches, CWU Representatives and our members via our existing communication channels such as briefings, LTBs and the Voice.

 

In addition further discussions will take place with Royal Mail regarding how we engage all affected parties in the New Year so that we can have a fully inclusive debate on the Future of Delivery, with due regard for the other functions.

 

We are aware that there is some concern in certain areas regarding some of the ideas and views that are being put forward and considered to feed into this debate. Everyone can be assured that that is all they are at this stage and there is no commitment from the CWU to introduce anything until we fully understand the implications and impact on our members in terms of jobs, terms and conditions and their ongoing well being.

 

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 230.03

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

 

 

Yours sincerely
Bob Gibson

CWU Assistant Secretary

Delivery Indoor & Outdoor Planning Values 

Royal Mail has undertaken indoor and outdoor Industrial Engineering study work this year to update the current data bank values and parameters. This is primarily because of having to provide the Regulator with the most up-to-date costing on every element of operational tasks.
These new values will at some stage be included into the current Revision / Resourcing Tools, and from an indoor point of view the aim is to have a new Auto-IWT version ready in March 2016. The new values and how they are applied has been finalised with the exception of the values for units sorting packets / parcels to mini-Yorks. This will be a new value and is nearing completion, but has been problematic because of the numerous different set ups within delivery offices and trying to determine which is the most efficient.
The current position on how the new values will be applied to the outdoor work is still under discussion with the business. There is currently a difference of opinion with Royal Mail on how the observed time in the outdoor studies is reflected in workload.
The element of the study dealing with walking speeds when using delivery equipment is still ongoing and has to be completed to give as a complete view of the changes to the outdoor workload.
Within the outdoor study work the Industrial Engineers have established a value for Deliver to Neighbour (D2N) of 1 minute 53 seconds a call. This figure is subject to the ongoing discussions outlined above and may not be the final time for this task. We are bringing this to the attention of our representatives so that you are aware of this issue as we recognise that units are currently engaged in revision activity and are seeking guidance on how much time should be allocated for D2N. In the absence of a National Agreement on this our advice at this stage is that CWU representatives should not agree a time that is less than the time stated above. This issue in question is whether the time allocated is the basic minute value or the standard minute value.
Our discussions with the business are continuing and we hope to come up with an acceptable range of values that reflect the time the outdoor tasks actually take and that they are then applied to the outdoor operation in a way that is fair and manageable for our members.
It is imperative that we resolve this issue satisfactorily due to the impending “Final Mile Optimisation” (FMO) programme where the businesses aim is to introduce an outdoor forecasting process. Further update will be issued in due course.
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 230.03

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

 

 

Yours sincerely
Bob Gibson

 Attendance Procedure – GP v OHA Advice 
My department has received many complaints about managers not following the correct procedure when there is a conflict of advice between member’s GP and Occupational Health Advice (OHA).

 
Complaints are around managers acting on the advice of the OHA and ignoring any advice from the member’s GP. We have met with Royal Mail and re-emphasised the wording and spirit of the agreement. In doing so, we have ‘tweaked’ the agreement to enable the proper conversations to take place. Instead of the Occupational Health Practitioner having the conversation with the GP, the OHA Regional Health Lead will have the discussion with the member’s GP.

 
Consent still has to be given by the member prior to any discussion taking place.

 
We have agreed the following wording which will replace Question 19 at the back of the attendance procedure booklet:-

 
If the advice provided by the Occupational Health significantly differs to that of a GP and cannot be resolved by a discussion between the manager and employee, the Regional Health Lead (RHL) will contact the employees GP to discuss any issues and come to a mutual consensus. The manager will then confirm this in writing and discuss the outcome with the employee.

 
In addition to this, the following wording has been sent to managers and been updated on PSP.

 
If there is a substantial difference in opinion between the GP and the Occupational Health practitioner then the manager should contact their Regional Health Lead (RHL) and inform the employee. The RHL will review the case, and speak to the OHS practitioner concerned for clarification if required. If the RHL is unable to bring the issue to resolution, then on receipt of written consent from the employee, the RHL will make contact with the GP to discuss and reach agreement. If after engaging with the GP, resolution is still not reached, then a face to face appointment with an Occupational Health physician will be arranged in order to determine the final outcome. The RHL will confirm the final outcome to the DSM, DOM or the appropriate manager, who will then inform the employee verbally and in writing. If the employee still does not return to work following the final advice, the manager should contact HR Advice and Support.

 

This re-emphasis should ensure managers use the correct process within the procedure and eliminate managers just using the OHA advice.

 
Any enquiries should be addressed to PTCS department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/415. Email address: djeffery@cwu.org  

 

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis                                               

Assistant Secretary

          

 

ERRATA – Rules Revision Conference 2016 – Submission of Rule Amendments 

It has been noted that the attachment to LTB 745/15 has the wrong closing date on the Amendment Form. The amended form is attached below along with the motion guide.

 

For clarity, Branches and Regional Committees are reminded that the closing date for submissions of Rules Amendments to the Rules Revision Conference 2016 is Tuesday 2nd February 2016. Submission of Rules Amendments can be posted or emailed but must arrive by midnight.

 

Please note that all correspondence must be sent by e-mail to conferences@cwu.org and no other personal e-mail address.

 

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 or by e-mail to conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

 

Rules Revision Conference 2016 – Submission of Rule Amendments 

Attached with this Letter to Branches are Rule Amendment forms for the Rules Revision Conference 2016.  

 

Branches should note that the Motion Guide for submitting rule amendments to the Rules Revision Conference 2016 has been attached.

 

Entitlements

 

In relation to the Rules Revision Conference 2016 all Branches and Regional Committees are entitled to submit up to three proposals to the Rules Revision Conference 2016.

 

Branches and Regional Committees are reminded that the closing date for submissions of Rules Amendments to the Rules Revision Conference 2016 is Tuesday 2nd February 2016. Submission of Rules Amendments can be posted or emailed but must arrive by midnight.

 

Branches, Regions, and the NEC are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the Rule Amendments submitted therefore it is important that Rule Amendments are checked before they are submitted.

 

Please note that all correspondence must be sent by e-mail to conferences@cwu.org and no other personal e-mail address.

 

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 or by e-mail to conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary