Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solution Limited (RMPFSL) – Pay Claim 2024 (Update)

Further to LTB 128/24 (Letter To Branches) issued on 17^th April, we are writing to share an update regarding the Pay Claim for 2024 for all our members in RMPFSL and the Company’s response.

By way of recap, the CWU first submitted the formal Pay Claim on behalf of our members for 2024 back in December of last year in a serious attempt to secure a speedy resolution, in order for any reached agreement to be in place by the pay date of April 2024. Disappointingly, RMPFSL management failed to respond to our claim for approximately five months, however we can now confirm that in the past month we have received a pay offer and have also met with them twice.

The management has now tabled a formal, but ‘closed offer’ on pay, however it is littered with upfront proposals and demands to change several associated terms and conditions of employment aspects, alongside other programmes and activities, all outlined by RMPFSL, based on the need to cut staff and operational costs.

While we are willing to address some needed and difficult changes, there is still little in the way of common ground between us in terms of the conditions and demands placed by RMPFSL, which they require us to meet before they are willing to move forward with the pay claim talks. We also believe that this is unacceptable on RMPFSL’s part, since initially, as mentioned above, we were kept waiting for a response to the Union’s original claim for many months.

Indeed, as if this matter was not difficult enough, at the same time that RMPFSL set out its ‘closed offer’ and linked conditions, they further wrote to the CWU to advise that the Cleaning Incentive Scheme, agreed and outlined in the 2022 / 24 Pay and Associated Agreement, had not achieved its second half financial or recycling targets. This announcement was even more bitter, given the fact that we concluded the terms of this Bonus Arrangement with the assistance of ACAS, based on the strong upfront assurances made by the company that, whilst achieving the recycling target was going to be challenging, the financial target was very much on course and was achievable.

As outlined above, we now find ourselves in another difficult position with RMPFSL concerning pay and conditions, noting our long-standing policy and claim for full harmonisation on terms and conditions with the rest of the Royal Mail Group.

We have advised RMPFSL that we will now need to reflect on their outlined position and formally respond before we are able to resume further negotiations. We have also asked them to reflect on their position and have requested that further meetings are arranged, as both parties have been clear that they remain committed to continuing discussions. Equally, however, there is a marked and considerable gap between each party’s position, which we remain determined to seek to narrow down.

We will continue to update Branches and members accordingly and in due course. Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference number 320, email: hmaughan@cwu.org or the Outdoor Department, quoting reference number 120.12, email: Pharacz@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch      

Assistant Secretary            

Bobby Weatherall

Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 178/24 – RMPFSL Pay Claim 2024 Update

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CWU 2025 Diary 

We have extended the deadline for personalised diaries.

Branches can personalise an area on the front cover of the CWU pocket diary and also have the option to have a personalised page (printed on one side only) which will be inserted near the front of the pocket diary.

The CWU pocket diary is priced at £2.00 and the A5 desk diary is priced at £4.00.

Personalised branch diary orders  

Branch personalised diary orders must be returned by no later than Friday 7^th June. On receipt of your order form, you will be emailed the appropriate template/s with further information.

Complete your template/s as soon as possible and note the return deadline is Friday 14th June.

If you would like to use the content from your 2024 diary template/s and there are no changes, please let me know.

Orders will be based on the following: 

Minimum order to personalise front cover: 250 units
Minimum order to insert page: 500 units
Minimum order to personalise front cover and insert page: 500 units

Branches ordering unaltered diaries should return their completed order form by no later than Friday 20^th September.

We continue to offer bulk discount on non personalised pocket diaries on orders of 1,000 or more for £1.50 per diary.

The diaries will be dispatched from w/c Monday 23^rd September 2024.

All completed order forms and enquiries on this LTB should be sent to Marcia Murray by email mmurray@cwu.org

Kind regards,

Marcia Murray
Communications Department 

24LTB177 CWU 2025 DIARY

DIARY ORDER FORM

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2024

• CWU Young Workers Committee

The NEC has now agreed the 2024 election arrangements for the National positions listed above.  Accordingly please find attached the regulations, nomination forms and candidate consent and biographical details form.

Branches are asked to print the attached forms, complete and sign them and send the forms back electronically to elections@cwu.org by the advertised deadline.

Nominations are on the basis of one member coming from the TFS Constituency and one member coming from the Postal Constituency for each of the 10 CWU regions and two lay members elected by and from the UTAW Branch.   Additionally all candidates must be aged 29 or under at the time of the election.

Branches can only nominate candidates where the Branch has members in the relevant Region.

The term of office for the CWU Young Workers Committee will be from 24^th July 2024 for a two-year period.

Branches will also wish to note that:

• Each candidate needs the nomination of their own branch.
• The election is by means of a branch ballot within each respective constituency i.e. branches with members in the Postal Constituency will vote for the Postal member of the committee within their Region and branches with members in the TFS Constituency will vote for the one TFS member.

The Timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open:              3 June 2024

Nominations Close:              24 June 2024 (14:00)

Ballot opens:                           2 July 2024

Ballot closes:                           23 July 2024 (14:00)

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB176 – Election of National Representative Positions 2024 – CWU Young Workers Committee

YW Regulations 2024

YW – Postal Nomination Form

YW – TFS Nomination Form

YW – Candidate Biographical and Consent Form

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Election of National Representative Positions – 2024

• 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.

Nominations

Although Branches can nominate as many candidates as they wish, candidates must have the nomination of their own Brsnch.

Nominations must have been approved by a properly constituted Branch meeting.

Dispatch and Return of Nomination Forms to CWU HQ

Nomination forms will be sent to branches electronically (attached to this LTB) and the details of the specific dedicated election email address where branches should return completed nomination forms is  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. 

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.  

Election Timetable and Term of Office 

The election timetable for the above will be as follows:

Nominations Open:                 3 June 2024

Nominations Close:                 24 June 2024 (14:00)

Ballot opens:                              2 July 2024

Ballot closes:                              23 July 2024 (14:00)

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,
Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB175 – Election of National Representatives Positions 2024 – Standing Orders Committees

SOC – ELECTION REGULATIONS

SOC – Nomination Forms

SOC – Biographical and Consent Form

Election of National Representative Positions – 2024

• CWU Retired Members Committee

The NEC has agreed the 2024 election arrangements for the National positions listed above.

Accordingly please find attached the regulations and nomination forms.

Nomination 

Although Branches can nominate as many candidates as they wish, candidates must have the nomination of their own Branch.

Nominations must have been approved by a properly constituted Branch Meeting.

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. 

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.  

Election Timetable and Term of Office 

The election timetable for the above will be as follows:

Nominations Open:                             3 June 2024

Nominations Close:                             24 June 2024 (14:00)

Despatch Ballot Papers:                     2 July 2024

Ballot Closes:                                          23 July 2024 (14:00) 

Branches will wish to note that the term of office for the 2024 Retired Members Committee will run from 24 July 2024 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 174/24 – Election of National Representative Positions 2024 – CWU Retired Members Committee

Attachment: RMC – Regulations

Attachment: RMC – Nomination Form

Attachment: RMC – Biographical and Consent Form

CWU RULE BOOK 2024

Please find attached a copy of the revised CWU Rule Book 2024 which incorporates the necessary changes required as a result of the rule amendments at the Rules Revision Conference.

The new Rule Book is on the website and you can find by using the following link:

Click to access Rule-Book-2024-April-2024.pdf

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

24LTB173 – CWU Rule Book 2024

Rule-Book-2024 – April-2024

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Member-Nominated Trustee Director – Royal Mail Pension Plan 

The Trustee of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) is a company called ‘Royal Mail Pensions Trustees Limited’. This company is legally responsible for ensuring that the RMPP is run properly. The board of directors of this company comprises nine trustee directors, of whom

• one is an independent Chair appointed by Royal Mail Group and Post Office Limited with the agreement of the unions,
• four are nominated by or on behalf of the membership (three through the CWU process and one through the Unite/CMA process), and
• four are nominated by Royal Mail Group and Post Office Limited.

One of the member-nominated positions through the CWU process is due for selection and so nominations are now being sought. The position is currently held by Phil Browne who will not be seeking reselection for a new term of office. Nominations can be from any individual who is a current, retired or deferred member of the RMPP, irrespective of Union membership.

A self-nomination form is attached to this LTB. The completed form should be returned by email to pmetcalfe@cwu.org and must be received by Wednesday 19^th June 2024.

All Candidates will also be required to submit a 200-word (maximum) statement supporting their candidature for election to the position when returning their nomination form.

Individuals wishing to understand the role of a trustee can visit the Pensions Regulator’s website and read the section: ‘Becoming a new pension trustee’ which is in the ‘Trustees’ tab and then click: ‘Understanding your role’. Or alternatively, scan the QR code at the end of this letter with your smartphone or tablet’s camera.

Upon receipt of a nomination, an information pack will be dispatched by email to the individual who has submitted the nomination.  The pack will contain information on the role and responsibilities of a Trustee, a detailed job description and a personal specification for a potential Trustee.

Prior to a ballot taking place all candidates who have submitted a fully completed nomination form will be required to attend a half-day pre-election familiarisation seminar in London at 13:00 on Wednesday 26th June 2024, which will be organised by the RMPP Trustee. At this stage candidates will be asked to re-confirm that their names should be added to the ballot paper and will also be given the opportunity to make any textual changes to their supporting statement.

If there is more than one valid nomination, a ballot will be held of all individuals who are employee members of RMPP and who are employed in CWU represented grades, irrespective of Union Membership.  The ballot will be conducted by the distribution of ballot papers direct to individual home addresses.

Completed Postal ballot papers must then be returned in the envelope that will accompany the ballot paper to Popularis, who have been appointed as Independent Scrutineer for the purposes of this election.

There will also be an option included in the ballot pack for eligible members of the RMPP to cast their vote electronically via an online secure portal. The details for this will be included with the ballot paper. Eligible RMPP members will only be entitled to cast one vote in the ballot.

The candidate who receives the most votes in the ballot will be selected as the CWU MND. In the event that there is only one nomination forthcoming then that nominee will be deemed to be selected without the need for a ballot and should there be no nominations at all, the nomination and selection process will be re-run no more than three years later.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department for the attention of Peter Metcalfe or you can email to pmetcalfe@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB172 – Member-Nominated Trustee Director – Royal Mail Pension Plan

2024 CWU Self Nomination Form

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Re: CWU BAME Networking Event, 19^thJune – Registration Update

Further to LTB156/24 issued last week we are pleased to confirm that the technical issues that Branches have been experiencing trying to register attendees for the event has now been resolved. Please can branches ensure that BAME Officers and any other representatives that wish to attend register using equality&education@cwu.org

The day promises to be very engaging and will be a great opportunity for representatives to network and to meet their Regional BAME Leads.

One of our confirmed guests is Yvette Williams MBE from Justice4Grenfell who will speaking at the event.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Any enquiries should be sent to the Equality, Education & Development department.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 171/24 – CWU BAME Networking Event 19 June – Registration Update

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Royal Mail and CWU Joint Communication Covering CSP, Delivery Support & Indoor Tasks (People Support Process)

Branches, Representatives and members will recall LTB 116/24 (Letter To Branches) issued on 5^th April regarding the Royal Mail and CWU Joint Communication Covering CSP, Delivery Support and Indoor Tasks.

In line with that previous Joint Communication, we have continued to engage with Royal Mail on the need to have in place a clear and supportive process for those Delivery units that will have a resultant surplus staffing situation linked to this review and realignment of Delivery Support and Indoor tasks. Accordingly, we have now agreed a further Joint Communication regarding the necessary People Support Process, which is attached.

The Joint Communication confirms:

• There will be no compulsory redundancies in line with the job security aspect of the BRT&G Agreement. 
• The direct application of the MTSF Agreed principles, assessing employee aspiration on the full range of redeployment, buy-down and VR options. Also including options for ‘bumping’ in nearby units where appropriate and feasible.
• That a surplus staffing situation will only be defined in a Delivery unit with more than 15 hours per week of surplus hours linked to indoor roles. 
• The necessary provisions and safeguards for members with health-related circumstances that may be within the Equality Act 2010 or DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) in the case of Northern Ireland. Confirming that no changes should be applied locally until all required actions are undertaken, including person-specific Risk Assessments for vulnerable and disabled employees. 

• The agreed approach also facilitates the retrospective application of compensation/buy-downs, where such changes took place following the CSP (Customer Service Point) opening time changes back in June 2023.
• Impacted employees will have the opportunity to have CWU representation throughout the process, including 121s.

The Joint Communication also details that the overall process will be subject to national, fortnightly meetings to review the key principles and confirm its application is in line with that agreed.

Equally, the Joint Communication confirms that any further Redeployment Programme, where required and needed to support unresolved surplus staffing situation, will be communicated by both parties going forward.

Alongside this Joint Communication, additional documentation will be issued to Branches and Representatives shortly to directly assist those units that face a surplus staffing situation.

In setting out the above, it is necessary to be clear that these have proven to be extremely difficult talks, even by current standards, and have been run up to the wire, reflected in the timelines now set out. This, in fairness, has been reflected in the overall nature of our talks and engagement with Royal Mail surrounding CSP arrangements and the methodology recently used to drive and establish these reviews of indoor hours covering Delivery Support tasks.

There is no attempt to soften what is, and is going to be, a difficult undertaking at those Delivery units where there is a surplus staffing situation, in particular given the nature of indoor roles. However, our members are always best served by our agreements and the process outlined ensures that the resultant surplus staffing from this business-driven change will be managed and dealt with fully in line with our collective job security agreements.

It is also appropriate to again draw Branches’ and Reps’ attention to the further and particular advice that can be given by the CWU Equality, Education, Training & Development Department in terms of members with caring, family, medical or other personal considerations, including those covered under the Equality Act (or DDA in Northern Ireland). They can be contacted by email: equality&education@cwu.org.

Any enquiries to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department reference 532, email address: Pharacz@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch

Assistant Secretary

LTB 170/24 – JC Covering CSP Delivery Support and Indoor Tasks – People Support Process

Attachment: RM CWU JC Covering Indoor 21.05.24 Final

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NETWORK WINDOW – EXCEPTIONS PROCESS – PROCESS FOR COLLEAGUES RAISING CONCERNS IN MAIL CENTRES IMPACTED BY NETWORK WINDOW 

 Dear Colleagues,

Please find attached the agreement for raising an exception within Mail Centres to changes to attendance times linked to the Network Window changes. The process attached is only available for the current Network Window activity and is not considered to be an ongoing policy.  It is only valid for the deployment of Network Window, including any further attendance time changes that may impact on people following the Air Hub closures, e.g., in Exeter and Inverness 2025.

As part of this process, we have been able to ensure our members have a fair and reasonable opportunity to request support through this period of unprecedented change where an employee’s personal circumstances change and the impacts their ability to work their attendance pattern. Members can make a request for Flexible Working through the normal BAU (Business as Usual) process this remains unchanged.

The Process

In recognition of the degree of change and by exception the following measures will enhance the normal BAU process.

• All Employees will be made aware of their ability to request a 121 meeting where they wish to raise an exception request. (regardless of Re-sign activity)
• 121 meetings will automatically be arranged with colleagues who are covered by the Equality Act (EA) or by an existing flexible working arrangement and duties are ringfenced for anybody covered by EA or an existing flexible working where there is workload.
• A 121 is offered to all Mail Centre colleagues impacted by the realignment and they can choose whether or not to take it up. A 121 can be requested for any reason, including to raise concerns about the availability of public transport or personal commitments.
• This gives individuals the opportunity to raise any concerns they may have in relation to a proposed change of start and finish time / change of duty content.

It is recognised the changes in some Mail Centres may move start/ finish times out with the times where public transport is readily available.  Any exceptions raised in this regard will be considered particularly where employees do not drive or have access to personal transport and cannot source a reasonable means of reliably attending work at the revised times.

We have also been able to agree an appeal process which is detailed below:

Appeals 

Anyone whose request for an exception has not been resolved via their 121 with their line manager, can appeal in writing within 3 working days of the outcome of their request being communicated. The appeal will be heard by an independent manager within 7 days.

This element applies where individuals have:

1) raised a query with their Line Manager during the realignment process and;

2) have not already reached a resolution.

These have been difficult discussions to secure an opportunity for our members to be treated fairly through the impact of change linked to the Network Window, we however feel the attached will support our members through the ongoing change.

For the avoidance of doubt this process is open to all Processing members and any member wishing to raise an exception must request a 1-2-1 meeting to raise their concerns and trigger the process.

Discussions continue today on a process for Distribution members affected by the change.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: sbanbury@cwu.org quoting reference: 733.02

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 169.24 – Processing Exceptions Process

Process for raising concerns in MCs