The Communication Workers Union has today (Thursday) agreed to hold a national strike ballot of Royal Mail workers unless protections for jobs and services can be secured.

Around 500 CWU reps met at the union’s policy forum in London today and voted unanimously in favour of holding a national strike ballot in Royal Mail no later than September 2013. If the ballot goes ahead it will include 115,000 postal workers in Royal Mail (excluding Parcelforce and the Post Office) and would be the first ballot for national strike action in Royal Mail since September 2009.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “The current situation cannot go on. Postal workers are being squeezed in their workplaces, facing an uncertain future and changes to their pensions. There hasn’t yet been a pay rise for staff this year despite healthy company profits of £403 million. But most importantly, we want protections for job security and terms and conditions and these are sadly lacking.

“CWU is committed to holding serious negotiations with Royal Mail to achieve settlement on these issues, but efforts to date do not bode well.

“The company only began to seriously negotiate with us following our consultative ballot in June, which showed 99% of postal workers back the union’s position on pay, 96% are opposed to privatisation and 92% are willing to take part in a boycott of competitors’ mail and to withdraw cooperation on workplace changes.

“We do not take the decision to hold a strike ballot lightly. However, we will stop at nothing to ensure the future of our members’ jobs – and of the services they deliver – are protected.”

Wording of the policy:

“That the CWU will prioritise national negotiations along the policy lines stated. If satisfactory agreements cannot be secured, the union will hold a National Industrial Action Ballot no later than September 2013. The Postal Executive will have discretion to enact the ballot earlier in light of events, the actions of management and progress made.”

CWU reps are debated a range of issues at the two-day policy forum, including securing job protections in Royal Mail, alternative business models to privatisation, changes to pensions, and workplace pressure.

http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/33895/Unofficial+postal+strike+victory+in+Peterborough+shows+the+way+to+fight

Reps from Wessex South Central Branch headed to Southampton Mail Centre last month for a CWU recruitment and organising event aimed at increasing member participation and bringing new people into the union.

Branch secretary Martin Sheppard, women’s officer Shirley Edwards and equality officer Andy Rathbone worked with field organiser Michelle Daykin to host the day-long workshop.

All too often – in Royal Mail delivery offices particularly – the unit rep’s job can become extremely demanding, with workloads sometimes becoming unmanageable, and workplace committees can be enormously helpful in supporting the office rep, and strengthening the union’s frontline presence to the benefit of all members.

This was a key session of the day, which also focussed on recruitment drives, and membership records.

“Working together, we tailored the workshop on mapping, recruitment, communications and workplace committees,” explained Michelle, adding: “This meant that the reps could share ideas, experiences, best practice and have an opportunity outside of their workplace to think strategically about how to approach members and non-members.”

Andy said that the intention had been to provide practical ideas for “improving not just the level of membership, but also the level of activism of existing members wanting to become more involved.”

With the threat of privatisation looming over Royal Mail staff, on top of all the other major issues that postal workers are currently facing, he pointed out that “there has never been a more important time to get organised and events like this are a vital part of ensuring this.”

The prospect of private ownership of the business was also a key mobilising issue for Shirley, who said: “Recruitment is hugely important, especially in this current climate with the threat of privatisation hanging over our heads.

“This was my first attempt at part facilitating a workshop but I found it very enjoyable and informative,” she continued.

“As the old saying goes – ‘There is strength in numbers’ – and we need the numbers and the organisation to keep strong.”

Local reps John McCarthy (Totton DO) and Rob Hayhurst (Shirley DO) gave the initiative the thumbs-up. John described the workshop as “a necessity,” adding that “even seasoned reps need a refresher every now and then,” and Rob said that he found the members’ mapping exercises particularly useful.

As well as his local unit duties, Rob also serves as an area delivery rep, and he commented that other office reps had “really got into” the event and that all appreciated the potential support that the creation of effective workplace committees could provide, particularly in terms of delegating workload.

Other feedback has been similarly positive, according to branch secretary Martin, who also pointed to plans to launch regular unit-based newsletters to ensure all members are kept in touch with developments.

“Our verdict is that it was a great success,” he concluded.

“Now we all need to keep up the momentum.”

If you’re interested in becoming a unit rep, or volunteering for a workplace committee, get in touch by contacting their local branch or the field organiser assigned to their branch. Alternatively you can contact Lynn Browne, Senior Organiser Postal Department on lbrowne@cwu.org 07735776364. For more information visit Postal Workplace Organisers.

Union reps from Royal Mail workplaces across the UK will meet next week to decide on actions to protect postal jobs and services, including whether to hold a national strike ballot of all Royal Mail workers.

The two-day policy forum takes place at Logan Hall, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AL on Wednesday 31 July and Thursday 1 August. The strike ballot debate will be heard from 9:30 on Thursday morning. If passed, the CWU will then set out a timetable to hold a ballot of 115,000 members across Royal Mail Group (excludes Parcelforce and the Post Office). Around 500 reps will debate a range of issues, including securing job protections in Royal Mail, alternative business models to privatisation, changes to pensions, and workplace pressure.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “UK postal services are facing unprecedented change and threats. We will always embrace innovation and changes in the industry, but only on terms which maintain decent jobs and protect quality services. This policy forum is all about anticipating what may lie around the corner and how CWU can react to protect the interests of our members and customers they serve in the increasingly changing world of postal services.”

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “We want to secure the best possible protections for our members’ jobs and we will stop at nothing to ensure that their future, and that of the UK’s postal services, are protected.

“The offer on job protection made by Royal Mail earlier this month wasn’t worth the paper it was written on. Patience is wearing thin and unless we can secure robust protections for jobs, pay and terms and conditions soon we are asking our reps to endorse a policy of holding a national industrial action ballot no later than September.”

Agenda for the policy forum:
Logan Hall, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AL

Policy Forum Day 1: Wednesday 31st July 2013
1200 – 1300 Registration
1300 – 1600 Pensions
1600 – 1800 Taking the Consultative Ballot Forward

Policy Forum Day 2: Thursday 1st August 2013

0930 – 1200 Taking National Talks Forward – decision on whether to hold a strike ballot
1200 – 1300 Lunch
1300 – 1430 CWU Alternative Business Model
1430 – 1600 Save our Royal Mail Campaign

Some sessions will be closed but media is welcome to attend the Forum. The Thursday morning session and vote on whether to hold a national strike ballot will be open to journalists.

Employment tribunal fees – one of the key changes to UK employment law being introduced by this government – come into force on Monday 29 July. You still have time to get your claims in, but you must be quick!

If you have a current submission you can still make it without incurring the fees by applying via the online system by 4pm Friday 26 July, or by first class post on or by the same day. You can also email or fax your forms over the weekend before 23:59 on Sunday 28 July.

A new online submission service, with the new ET1 form, will be available from Monday 29 July 2013 and the new form must be used from this date. Fees ranging from £160 to £1,200 will apply for all employment tribunals from this date. CWU will fund these fees for members whose cases the union takes on.

Tony Rupa, Head of CWU Legal Services, said: “The introduction of the fee structure will seriously restrict our members’ ability to access the tribunal system, especially those on low incomes. It’s an elitist barrier to accessing the justice system which I fear will lead to a rise in bad behaviour by unscrupulous employers in relation to unfair dismissals, discrimination and other unfair treatment at work.

“The government has simultaneously introduced fees for claimants and reduced the level of compensation awards which they could be eligible for. It’s a clear attack on employment rights in this country, which are already the weakest in Europe. As an organisation which operates to protect people at work, we will be funding these fees for our members.”

CWU funding

CWU will fund payment of the issue fee on behalf of our members who submit an ET1 application. Additionally, if the case is assessed as having the required prospects of success and subsequently authorisation is given by the Legal Department to run the case on behalf of the member, if this case progresses to a full tribunal hearing, the union will pay the hearing fee, as appropriate. This arrangement will be monitored over the coming months.

Members should be made aware that the union is not obliged to support any case unless we consider that it has reasonable prospects of success, i.e. 50% or more. Employees have the right to take a complaint of unfair dismissal or unlawful discrimination and other disputes to a tribunal provided they meet the qualifying legal conditions.

Full information regarding the changes, and advice on how to apply for a tribunal hearing, are available in LTB 498 in the members’ area of the website.

For further information on this issue, please contact Tony Rupa in the CWU Legal Services department on 0208 971 7444 or via email trupa@cwu.org.

Dear Colleague

 ROYAL MAIL PAY AND CONDITIONS OFFER – REJECTED

 It was reported previously that as the Consultative Ballot concluded, the Union received a three year closed pay and conditions offer from the company.  The purpose of this LTB is to confirm the detail of the offer and explain why it has been rejected. 

 THE ROYAL MAIL PAY AND CONDITIONS OFFER

 1.           Pay

 Year One (April 1st 2013 to March 31st 2014) – 2.6% basic pay increase + £300 lump sum payable December 2013 (subject to Industrial Action clause) *

 Year Two (April 1st 2014 to March 31st 2015) – 3% basic pay increase (subject to review if inflation is below 2.3% or above 3.3%) *

 Year Three (April 1st 2015 to March 31st 2016) – 2.8% basic pay increase (subject to the same review of inflation) *

 * All basic pay increases to flow through to Overtime/Scheduled Attendance rates, all allowances including Shift, London Weighting and Scottish Distant Island Allowance.

 2.           The pay offer is conditional on acceptance of the following:

 
* Acceptance of the previously rejected pension proposals currently out to consultation.

* Three year protection of existing contracts of employment and some other terms and conditions, alongside a commitment to no outsourcing for the three year duration of the deal.

* The development of an agenda for growth and stability with a commitment to a workplan to take this forward.

 
 
CWU Reasons for Rejection

 In considering the offer the Executive recognise that in today’s climate the pay element will be seen as significant, but the offer must also be viewed as an overall package and in the context of our major concerns over the company’s future strategy, pensions, privatisation and end to end competition.  Further reasons for rejecting the offer are as follows:

 
* The pay element in isolation does not meet with the terms of CWU policy and we will be seeking a higher, more straightforward settlement. 

 Neither does the pay element address our claim for significantly improved overtime rates and new bonus arrangements. 

 As well as a higher basic pay award, the Union will be seeking more certainty in any long-term deal, rather than inflation reopener clauses.

 
* The linkage to the previously rejected pension proposals is unacceptable. 

 
* The protection of some terms and conditions included in the offer is a key Union agenda item.  However, the protections attached to this offer are neither extensive enough, explicit enough nor adequate in their longevity.  Neither are they legally enforceable and would not offer CWU members any protection in the event of a change in ownership.

 
* An agenda for growth and stability is something the Union has wanted and will support if the conditions are right.  However, this offer lacks clarity over the future and is not a substitute for a proper agreement over the company’s future parcels strategy.

 Next Steps

 All in all, although this offer has been rejected, it does demonstrate that the company now appear to be serious about resolving issues that have been on the Union’s agenda for some time. 

 The Union is committed to further negotiations and a meeting has been arranged with the company later this week.  Please ensure the content of this LTB is distributed to all local workplaces.

 A further LTB will be issued this week confirming arrangements for a Conference/Policy Forum, alongside a Special Report setting out our next steps.  Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

 Yours sincerely

 Dave Ward 

Dear Colleague
BOYCOTT OF COMPETITORS’ MAIL – LEGAL POSITION
Having considered all the issues surrounding a potential injunction, which could have prevented the Union from taking legal industrial action on a range of issues, the CWU has given Royal Mail an undertaking that we will not call for a boycott of competitors’ mail on reliance of the consultative ballot result. 
However, the Union will continue to build pressure over the issue of unfair competition.  Firstly, we will explore if there is any legal way of carrying out a future boycott as part of a properly constituted industrial action ballot.  Secondly, we will expose Royal Mail’s abject failure to tackle End to End competition.  In recent months the company has moved from being a vocal critic, to publicly supporting Ofcom’s ‘wait and see’ approach.  We want Royal Mail to explain to the workforce how they intend to protect revenue, jobs, and the pay and conditions of our members.  Thirdly, we will plan a specific event to focus on the actions of the Regulator in the near future.
The boycott policy has already been effective in creating a lot of publicity.  As a direct result of the Union’s actions we have seen Ofcom backtracking on the damaging proposals they were contemplating from their user needs consultation.  We have seen Ofcom, for the first time, layout a detailed process on what needs to happen for them to directly intervene on end to end competition.  Furthermore, we have seen Ofcom publicly commit to a firmer monitoring of the ongoing situation with a major review in 2015.  Now the CWU will focus on fresh strategies to tackle unfair competition.
Please ensure the terms of this LTB are communicated to our members.  The Union will be sending out further information next week on all the major issues we are currently dealing with.  We have attached a copy of our press release issued today.
Yours sincerely
                                
Dave Ward                                                    Billy Hayes
Deputy General Secretary (P)                             General Secretary

 
 
 
 28th June 2013
For immediate release
Fight goes on over unfair competition
The Communication Workers Union is today (Friday) pleased that the profile of the issue of unfair competition and opposition to privatisation has been raised by the union’s consultative ballot result. The union has accepted legal advice which says it would not be legal to undertake boycott action on the back of the consultative ballot alone, but says the fight goes on.
Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Postal workers have clearly spoken. When asked directly, 92% said they were prepared to take part in a boycott of competitors’ mail and 96% said they opposed privatisation of Royal Mail. This has significantly raised the profile of these issues.
“We have accepted the advice of lawyers that it would not be legal to take action on boycotting competitors’ mail on the basis of the consultative ballot result alone.
“We are now considering how this action could be taken. There are a number of outstanding issues for our members in Royal Mail and we are exploring the possibility of holding a national industrial action ballot which could also deal with the boycott.
“In the meantime, Royal Mail must explain to its workforce how they are going to protect revenue, jobs and terms and conditions when they have abjectly failed to tackle this issue. They should be taking TNT to court, not us.
“TNT is allowed to set up delivery networks on an unlevel playing field – delivering what they want, when they want, where they want on poverty pay and with no quality of service standards. The government and regulator are sleepwalking into a disaster waiting to happen. The fight goes on to protect the future of UK postal services.”
CWU published the results of its consultative ballot on 19 June. Ballot papers were distributed to 112,000 postal workers in Royal Mail (not the Post Office or Parcelforce) asking four questions.
The results, on a 74% turnout, were:
Q1: Do you oppose the privatisation of Royal Mail? YES 96%
Q2: Do you support the boycott of competitors’ mail? YES 92%
Q3: Do you support the CWU Pay claim? YES 99%
Q4: Do you support the policy of non-cooperation? YES 92%

Dear Colleagues
 
SAVE OUR ROYAL MAIL CAMPAIGN
 
As branches will be aware, the union’s campaign to save Royal Mail is in full flight.  Over the next few weeks, we are stepping up the physical element of the campaign with the aim of increasing the visual impact to MPs and the public.  This element will centre around a postcard campaign.  The postcards are designed for individuals to sign and send to their MP.  All MPs are to be targeted.   
 
Postcards are being posted out to branches and regions.   Each branch will receive 10,000 postcards and each region will receive a further 10,000. 
 
Branches are being asked to use these postcards to take the SORM campaign to the public, via street stalls, stations, shopping centres etc. 
 
Specifically, we have announced a one week of public activity from the 6th to the 14th July 2013.  This activity week includes two weekends to maximise activity in towns and cities around the UK.   Regional Secretaries are co-ordinating these activities with all branches expected to arrange events in their area.
 
From Monday 8th July to Friday 12th July, this activity week will be supported by direct action in London, focussed on highlighting the campaign in the heart of the city.   A CWU liveried bus will tour the city, stopping at sites directly relevant to the campaign. 
 
Obviously, campaign activity is not restricted to these dates and many branches are already holding events.  This activity should continue, including having a campaign presence at major events across the UK.
 
In addition to the above, individual members will receive 6 postcards each to their home address requesting them to post to their MP and ask friends and family to do the same.   
In addition the postcards contain details of the SORM campaign website.  This is aimed at driving increasing amounts of traffic to the site to take online action.  For the same reason an email is being sent today to each member for whom we hold email addresses, including links to the online actions. 
 
All enquiries on this LTB should be addressed to saveourroyalmail@cwu.org

Dear Colleague
 
Privatisation of Royal Mail Debate & Lobby of Parliament
Further to LTB 401/13 & 421/13, Branches may wish to know that there is to be a debate on Privatisation of Royal Mail between 2.30pm and 4.00pm in Westminster Hall, on Tuesday 25 June 2013. The debate was initiated by Katy Clarke, Chair of CWU Supported MPs. The Labour shadow team will be represented at the debate.
Members of the CWU HQ will also be present. The debate is being streamed live and can be accessed via the following link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/house_of_commons/
When you have clicked on the link please scroll down the page to “Westminster Hall”
CWU will also be meeting Michael Fallon at BIS on Wednesday 26 June and in preparation for the lobby of Parliament on 2 July 2013, material is currently being prepared for CWU Branches. This will highlight recent developments together with our vision document. 

The Communication Workers Union can today (Wednesday) announce the result of its consultative ballot which closed yesterday. Ballot papers were distributed to 112,000 postal workers in Royal Mail (not the Post Office or Parcelforce) asking four questions.

The results, on a 74% turnout, are:

Q1: Do you oppose the privatisation of Royal Mail? YES 96%
Q2: Do you support the boycott of competitors’ mail? YES 92%

Q3: Do you support the CWU Pay claim? YES 99%
Q4: Do you support the policy of non-cooperation? YES 92%

Ballot papers were collected, counted and verified by independent scrutineer Popularis.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “No-one has yet asked postal workers what they think about privatisation. Today postal workers have spoken loud and clear with a massive 96% roundly rejecting the government’s plans to privatise Royal Mail. The workforce does not support the government or Royal Mail on selling the company. This company is flourishing in public ownership as the recent doubling of profits proves. It’s becoming less clear what this policy is about. Why privatise this profitable company?

“Today’s ballot result shows we have resounding support for all the union’s policies. This is a strong message to take forward action in each area to improve the working lives of postal workers and protect the services and jobs which customers and communities value.”

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “This ballot result is a damning rejection of the tired old government privatisation policy and the actions of the Royal Mail board in support of this. Postal workers have worked incredibly hard to turn the fortunes of the company around. Royal Mail is not a financial basket case and they know privatisation is only benefitting vested interests.

“Postal workers are not going to sacrifice their souls for a so-called 10% stake when they know their jobs, pensions and conditions are once again under threat.

“The government and Royal Mail have completely alienated the workforce and it’s time for serious negotiations to find a solution that really can align the interests of workers, customers and the company. If not, then prolonged industrial conflict is inevitable.

“On a mail boycott, Royal Mail workers have shown they understand the threat to the universal service from unfair competition and the race to the bottom on their own terms and conditions. The way competition is being introduced does not benefit customers, small businesses or postal workers in whatever company they work for.”

CWU response to the ballot result in more detail:

Q1: Privatisation

Royal Mail isn’t a financial basket case; it’s not a burden on the state and doesn’t take any grants. Selling the company only benefits those with vested interests. Privatisation is about taking profits out and not reinvesting in the service. Royal Mail is successful in public ownership and is modernising. There is no need for privatisation to secure access to capital. Network Rail – also a public body – has borrowed billions on private capital markets without it adding to the public debt or causing the government to “choose between funding hospital and schools” or the business, as it has claimed in respect to Royal Mail.

Q2: Mail boycott

Ofcom and Royal Mail have no strategy for dealing with the threat that end to end competition poses to the universal service.

The government and Ofcom need to act to address the rigged competition system which threatens to destabilise the universal service. This is made more urgent given TNT’s announcement yesterday that they are expanding their street deliveries in SW London and intend to create 20,000 jobs. They will only do this by paying low wages and by pulling work from Royal Mail which will destabilise the company’s ability to deliver post to all addresses – rural and urban. TNT is being allowed to deliver what they want, where they want and when they want with no quality of service standards. They are being allowed to get away with this by a government and regulator which either don’t understand or don’t care about the postal service.

Q3: Pay

A pay rise for Royal Mail workers was due on the 1st April 2013. The CWU has set out clearly what we want – an above-inflation two-year pay deal to ensure the workforce is fairly rewarded for their hard work in contributing to the success of the business, which includes recent profits in excess of £400 million.

Q4: Workplace issues and non-cooperation

The workforce has supported difficult change and over the last three years has successfully turned the fortunes of the company around. This has been with, not despite of, the workforce. Now, because of privatisation, we’re seeing unrealistic budget cuts which are putting too much pressure on postal workers in many workplaces.

Next steps

The union’s postal executive will meet in the near future to decide how we will take all these issues forwards.