CWU/Royal Mail Mediators

Communication Workers Union

22 April 2014
LTB 260/14 Implementation of Mediation Arrangements
 To:  All Branches with Postal Members

  Dear Colleague

  Implementation of Mediation Arrangements

                 The purpose of this LTB is to explain the detailed approach to implementing the mediation arrangements agreed in the Agenda for Growth, Stability and Long Term Success Agreement.

                 The LTB focuses on the agreed role, terms and conditions of internal mediators, whilst also confirming the position on external mediators, special mediation and the initial arrangements that will operate when the new IR Procedures are launched at the beginning of May 2014.

                 The Role of Internal Mediators

                 The following are the key points relating to the introduction and operation of the internal mediator role.

                *The national parties have agreed that the internal mediator post will initially be a fulltime two year secondment.  As such, the post will be internally advertised and only available to existing Royal Mail employees.

                *The national parties have agreed there will initially be ten internal mediators on secondment from their existing roles.  Five will come from management and five from CWU grades.

                *The post will attract a minimum salary of £30k and this salary will be treated as fully pensionable.  If in the previous twelve months successful candidates take home pay is greater than £30k, then these individuals will be entitled to a salary equivalent to their previous twelve month average pay.  For the period of secondment this pay rate will also be fully pensionable.  The £30k or previous twelve months average earning salary, will be increased in April 2015 by the same pay rise as CWU grades.

                *As this is initially a two year secondment, there is no guarantee that the individual will continue in the role beyond the initial two year period.  Successful applicants will have their existing role and contract of employment fully protected and will be able to return to their previous role and work location at the end of the two year secondment with their seniority maintained.

                *Successful applicants will be given immediate training and will continue to receive on the job training and support throughout the period of the secondment.

                *The role of an internal mediator will be line managed by a separate senior mediator who will be jointly appointed for this purpose by Royal Mail and CWU.  Successful applicants will be expected to work as part of the national mediation team and although based in or around their current location, will be expected to travel extensively and be prepared to be away from home over night on a regular basis.

                *The post of the internal mediator will be jointly advertised from the 28th April 2014 through a variety of Royal Mail and CWU communication tools.  The intention is to ensure that these adverts are available in all workplaces.  Applicants for the role will be shortlisted and interviews will be carried out by a panel consisting of Royal Mail and CWU personnel.

                *The national parties will review the role of internal mediators as part of the ongoing reviews of the National Agreement.  It is the outcome of these reviews that will determine the continuation of the role beyond the two year secondment.

                 The Role of External Mediators

                 The national parties have appointed six external mediators from an ACAS shortlist.  All the appointed external mediators have considerable experience in industrial relations and mediation.

                 The Role of Special Mediators

                 Separately and over and above the required number of internal mediators, the national parties will consider applicants for the role of special mediators.  These individuals would continue in their current role and would be considered for special mediation situations in the circumstances set out in the National Agreement.  This role would be given appropriate training but would only be utilised on an as required basis.

                 The Launch of Mediation within the New IR Procedures

                 Given that we intend to launch the new IR Procedures at the beginning of May and that the successful applicants for internal mediators will not be available at that stage, the national parties will put in place temporary arrangements.  This will involve, for a few weeks, the internal mediator role being temporarily fulfilled by an external company who specialise in mediation.  As previously reported the final date for the official launch of the new IR procedures will be confirmed soon in a National Joint Statement.

                 Summary

                 We would ask that all CWU Branches ensure that the content of this LTB is circulated to all CWU Representatives.

                 Advertising will commence for the role of an internal mediator from the 28th April and this advert will explain how to apply and contain a full job description, including the skills required for the role and the pay, terms and conditions.

                 Any enquiries on the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

                 Yours sincerely

 

Dave Ward

Deputy General Secretary (P)

Nominations for STUC Equality Conferences

LTB137/14 - Election of STUC Equality Conference (s) Delegations - 2014

To view this download, please click here

No. LTB137/14

Ref: TK/sn/PM

Date: 3rd March 2014

To: The Branch Secretary
Dear Colleague
Election of STUC Equality Conference (s) Delegations - 2014
STUC Women's Conference
STUC Black Workers Conference
STUC Disabled Workers Conference
STUC Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Workers Conference
 The NEC has agreed the 2014 election arrangements for the National delegations listed above. Accordingly please find enclosed the regulations and nomination forms for these elections.
The details of the STUC Equality conferences are as follows:

STUC Women's	3/4 November, Perth
STUC Black Worker's	11/12 October, Glasgow
STUC Disabled Workers	15/16 November, Dundee
STUC LGBT	17/18 May, Stirling

The Timetable for the elections is as follows:-
Nominations open: 4 March 2014
Nominations close: 18 March 2014 (14:00)
Despatch ballot papers: 21 March 2014
Ballot closes: 04 April 2014 (14.00)
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely


Tony Kearns Senior Deputy General Secretary

Agenda for Growth. Interim Arrangements

Letter to Branches

 

No:  089/14

10th February 2014

To:  All Branches with Postal Members

 Dear Colleague

 NATIONAL  JOINT STATEMENT – INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS

In recognition of the need for transitional arrangements before we can deploy the Agenda for Growth Agreement, in particular the new IR Procedures, the attached Joint Statement has been agreed between the National Parties.

The purpose of the Joint Statement is to set out the interim arrangements that will apply as the first step towards deployment.  This is designed to resolve, as far as possible, all existing disagreements and disputes, thus creating the right environment to launch the new deal.  These interim arrangements focus on a one off dispute resolution process to an agreed five week timescale which will commence on Monday 17^th February.

Please ensure that all CWU Representatives are aware of this Joint Statement and the interim arrangements and that where appropriate they fully participate in the process.  The Joint Statement does not alter CWU policy on World Class Mail and the Union will deal with this issue through the Joint Review of Employee Engagement Initiatives.

Now the interim arrangements are in place the National Parties are developing initial awareness training on the new IR Procedures and this will be cascaded to all managers and CWU Representatives as the next priority.

Further communications will follow on the awareness training, the approach to future efficiency, mediation and how the National Parties will take forward the overall ongoing programme of work.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely

                               

Dave Ward                                                             

Deputy General Secretary (P)   

Royal Mail/CWU National Joint Statement
Agenda for Growth, Stability & Long Term Success
Agreement

Interim Arrangements

Royal Mail Group and CWU recognise the need to put in place transitional arrangements ahead of the launch and ongoing deployment of the Agenda for Growth Agreement.  The purpose of these interim arrangements is to create the right environment for the new agreement to be launched in an effective manner. 

To facilitate this both parties will focus on resolving all current Industrial Relations Framework disagreements, outstanding Business Transformation Revision issues and any other disputes, by immediately utilising the following process over the next few weeks.

·         Week commencing Monday 17^th February to Monday 3rd March – In this time period functional Directors (Delivery and Processing) and CWU Divisional Representatives will meet and seek to resolve all disagreements that are at or have exhausted Stage 3 of the IR Framework.  According to current information there are 62 disputes in this category.  At the same time the functional Directors and CWU Divisional Reps will review where we have got to with other disagreements still in the IR Framework either at Stage 2 or Stage 1, with a view to re-energising the talks and encouraging the relevant parties to reach quick agreement.

Any issues that remain unresolved by Monday 3^rd March will be jointly referred to the Royal Mail National Directors/Geography Operations Directors and the relevant CWU National Assistant Secretary for immediate resolution.

·         Week commencing Monday 3^rd March to Monday 17^th March -  Any unresolved issues from the first stage of this process will be dealt with by the relevant Royal Mail National Directors/Geography Operations Directors and the relevant CWU National Assistant Secretary for resolution.

If any of the issues still remain unresolved at this level by Monday 17^th March, they should be referred to the Chief Operating Officer and the Deputy General Secretary (Postal) for immediate resolution.

·         Monday 17^th March to Monday 24^th March – The Royal Mail Chief Operating Officer and the Deputy General Secretary (Postal) will meet to resolve any outstanding issues and conclude the process.

·         In order for this process to be successful the national parties and all participants are committed to a pragmatic and mutual interest approach to resolving all existing issues in line with the spirit and intent of the new agreement.  During this period neither party will take unilateral action and the CWU confirms that it has lifted its policy of non cooperation.
·         All Royal Mail managers and CWU representatives responsible for carrying out this process will immediately prioritise meetings to undertake their role and fully participate and cooperate with the terms of this National Joint Statement.   

Mike Newby                                                   Dave Ward

Director ER/IR                                               Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Royal Mail Group                                          CWU

Increased BT profits

31^st January 2014

 For immediate release

CWU welcomes “strong” results from BT Group Plc

The Communication Workers Union today (Friday 31 January) welcomed results from BT Group Plc which shows an increase in revenue and pre-tax profit. 

  CWU will be entering negotiations with BT management in the next month about a pay claim for CWU represented grades.

 The results, released today, show a growth in revenue, a profit increase of eight per cent before tax and earnings per share up 12 per cent. 

 Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary said: “It’s great to see BT performing well and this is good news for all BT employees who have worked hard to deliver the new services that BT offers.  This strong set of results, showing an increase in both revenue and pre-tax profit, and is testament to the talent and commitment of BT’s workforce.   

 “We will be negotiating with BT management in the near future about pay for CWU represented grades, and we’ll be looking to secure a fair deal that properly reflects the contribution BT’s workforce makes to the company’s ongoing success.”

-ends-

Notes to editors:

·         Detailed information on BT Group Plc’s results can be found here: http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/ShowArticle.cfm?ArticleID=42B944BD-9880-4DBF-8F0A-7F39DAF9F1D1

For more information please contact:

Sophie Kimber, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail:skimber@cwu.org

Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail:kslocombe@cwu.org

www.cwu.org www.cwutv.org Twitter: @CWUnews

Romec Strike Vote

27^th January 2014
For immediate release

 Romec engineers vote yes to defend job security

The Communication Workers Union has today (Monday 27 January) welcomed the decision by engineers, employed by the maintenance and facilities contractor Romec, to take strike action over attacks on their job security.
 Over 94 per cent of the engineers voting said yes to taking strike action.
Romec provides services for Royal Mail and several commercial customers, but, at the end of last year some of these contracts were abruptly terminated, potentially placing engineers’ jobs in jeopardy.
Romec is seeking to abuse TUPE legislation in order to avoid redeployment costs when moving employees out of the company. CWU has previously agreed a Managing Surplus Agreement (MSA) procedure with Romec. However, the company is now refusing to honour this long-standing agreement.  
The ballot closed today. The earliest that strike action could take place would be 3^rd February.
Ray Ellis, CWU national officer said: “Romec is seeking to abuse TUPE legislation to force long-serving, loyal employees out of the company in order to avoid redeployment costs. Romec has refused to honour its obligation to its employees and is now riding roughshod over employees’ job security. I fully support the engineers who want to take a stand over these attacks and hold Romec to the agreements they have made with the union. The company’s behaviour defies belief.
“Rather than discuss the potential staff surplus with the union, as it is obliged to do under the MSA, Romec unilaterally decided to allocate employees to artificially constructed duties to enable them to be transferred out against their will or face being treated as having voluntarily resigned without compensation.
“The MSA is the key agreement protecting our Romec members’ job security and Romec’s cynical attempts to bypass it show callous disregard to those employees directly affected and represent a threat to every Romec member.”
-ends-

For more information please contact:

Sophie Kimber, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail:skimber@cwu.org
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail:kslocombe@cwu.org
www.cwu.org www.cwutv.org Twitter: @CWUnews

 

End Violemce Against Women!

Eliminating violence against women

26th November 2013
This week the CWU joined organisations all over the world in supporting International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

CWU leaders, Billy Hayes and John Baldwin answer UNI’s call to “Be man enough. Be a leader against gender violence”.

On a global scale the Equal Opportunities arm of UNI global union launched a video, entitled "Break the circle of violence", which focuses on the role of men in the fight against gender violence and aims to raise awareness about the campaign to address gender violence throughout the world. The campaign, called "Be man enough. Be a leader against gender violence" calls on the true protagonists of the campaign - men and women who, day in day out, struggle for a fairer and more equitable world for all - to be an agent of change and offers a host of resources and tools to enable action.
For more information visit Breaking the Circle.

Closer to home, the TUC marked the day by launching an anonymous survey to find out more about how domestic violence affects working life and the role that employers, colleagues and union reps can play in supporting those experiencing domestic abuse. The results from the survey will help trade unions develop policy and actions to support those experiencing domestic violence.
Take part in the survey >here<.

"We need to be proactive about curbing violence against women and exposing the atrocities women all over the world endure," said Linda Roy, CWU head of equalities.
Recently, the CWU welcomed new domestic abuse guidance launched by Santander UK as statistics revealed that over 7% of women and 5% of men report domestic abuse each year. An article in the latest issue of CWU's Women's Talk magazine reports that this statistic could be higher in reality as many cases in the UK go unreported.
Also reported in the latest issue of Women's Talk is a hard-hitting feature exposing the proliferation of physical and sexual violence against women in today's society. "This is a very real issue for some of our members," said Linda. "We endeavour to do what we can to make sure there are protections in place in the workplace so that victims of violence and abuse do not feel trapped by their circumstance and know they have somewhere to turn for help and support.

"I would encourage all CWU members, men and women, to support the global movement to curb violence against women - watch UNI's video and make use of their tools and resources and take the TUC survey.
"Every little bit goes a long way to raising the profile and importance of this campaign," she stressed.
Read Women's Talk Autumn/Winter 2013 for more information and visit the Equal Opportunities section of the website for helpline numbers, fact sheets and more.

Royal Mail update

Letter to Branches

No: 780/13 Ref: 21003 Date: 26th November 2013

To: ALL POSTAL BRANCHES

Dear Colleague

National Dispute

As explained in LTB 771/13, the Postal Executive met yesterday to receive a further report on progress in national negotiations.

As a result it was agreed that we should provide Branches, Representatives and Members with a brief summary of the current state of play in national talks, as well as explaining our next steps.

To do this we are using the headings contained in the agreed CWU/Royal Mail Joint Statement of the 30th October 2013.

The current position is as follows:

1. Legal Protections

We have now secured extensive legally binding undertakings from the employer on all the issues put forward by the Union. These protections will extend beyond 3 years. There are a couple of final points to resolve and we do not anticipate these preventing an agreement being reached.

2. Pay

We are currently considering an improved closed offer from the company.

3. Pensions

Negotiations have been concluded on pensions and we have secured legally binding commitments on the future of the RMPP alongside additional improvement to the Defined Contribution Scheme. The company has accepted that a pension’s agreement will be balloted on separately.

4. Industrial Stability, New Culture and Agenda for Growth

We are in the process of finalising a section on Industrial Stability which strengthens the existing IR Framework with new mediation procedures. The agreement will not include any commitment to binding arbitration or a no strike deal. The new approach will also offer CWU unprecedented access to business structures and provide the opportunity for real influence on the future direction of the company.

5. Delivery Workload Issues

Whilst some progress has been made there are still difficult areas to resolve and a fresh approach is being considered.

6. Future Parcels and Letter strategy

Drafts have been exchanged and we are confident that there are no issues that will prevent us reaching an agreement on future strategy.

7. Company Charter

The company has accepted the principle of a charter setting out the values on how Royal Mail Group will operate in the future. Drafts have been exchanged and we do not anticipate this being an issue that will prevent us reaching a final agreement.

8. Ongoing Programme of Work

We do not anticipate any issues preventing us from reaching an agreement in this section.

Next Steps

In providing branches with this summary it can be seen that real progress has been made and that the differences between us and the company have significantly narrowed from the outset of this dispute.

We understand that CWU members will be concerned about the length of time that it is taking to finalise an agreement. However, turning elements of a collective agreement into what will become a legally enforceable contract is a complicated process. It also has to be recognised that the issues involved in this dispute are in themselves wide ranging and in some cases were always going to be difficult to resolve.

The current ballot extension period continues until 23.59 on Wednesday the 27th November 2013. In our last LTB we explained that this was the last extension permissible in law. However, upon further clarification between the lawyers of both parties, it has now been confirmed that the ballot can be extended in law and remain legally valid until the 3rd December 2013, which is the last date that 7 day notice of Industrial Action can be served.

Having carefully considered the situation and the fact that in the overall negotiations good progress has been made, the Postal Executive has agreed to the company’s offer to extend the ballot until the final permissible date.

We are confident that negotiations will conclude during this period and that a final agreement will soon be placed before the Executive Council for endorsement in the very near future. The Postal Executive will meet again on Monday 2nd December 2013.

Please ensure the content of this LTB is circulated to CWU members in all workplaces.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB should be directed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)


Ray Ellis Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

Bob Gibson Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

TUC Domestic Violence Survey

Domestic violence may happen behind closed doors but it has far reaching consequences and is known to have an impact on the working lives of those living with an abusive partner. The TUC is conducting a survey to find out more about how domestic violence affects working life and the role that employers, colleagues, and union reps can play in supporting those experiencing domestic abuse. 
We would like to hear from anyone who has either experienced domestic violence themselves or has a friend or colleague who has experienced domestic violence.
The survey is entirely anonymous.
You will not be asked for your name, contact details or any information which could be used to identify you or your employer.
Please take a few minutes to share your experience with us and please do pass the link on to any friends or colleagues who might want to participate.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/domesticviolenceTUC
The survey will close on 1^st February 2014. 

Other update

Issued: 24 November, 2013

 

Renationalise. Do it please Mr Ed.

Please read this and sharehttp://labourlist.org/2013/10/labour-should-stick-to-the-centre-ground-and-advocate-renationalisation/.

CWU Disability Conference report

Capability tests and benefits cuts become a matter of life and death

29th October 2013
Life for disabled people in the workplace and in general society has got worse under the ConDem government to such an extent that lives are at risk. That was the resounding message from this year's CWU Disability Conference.

Delegates from across the UK met in Chester on 26th October and shared their experiences of the daily tragic impact of benefit cuts on disabled members. People are attempting suicide under the stress while others are dying in poverty while awaiting the results of appeals against essential income being taken away, conference heard.

Calls for action included active support for groups campaigning for the repeal of the bedroom tax, and the replacement of Atos - the occupational health adviser employed by Royal Mail and also the work test assessor and subsequent disability benefit adviser employed by the Government.

Marion Brain (Birmingham, Black Country and Worcester branch) said that Atos had left one of her branch members without a penny for six weeks: "Instead of removing the barriers to disabled people they are making the barriers higher. We have to oppose this company. They are only concerned about making money."

Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) member Brian Booth listed some of the fundamental problems: "People can't have face to face meetings when they need them, the person is distraught, reports are rubbish and they quite happily ill health retire our members then have to wait, subject to appeal, for very lengthy periods of time. What that does to an individual's health is atrocious. "

Brian reminded delegates that Atos are also used by the government and that, out of the 1.8 million cases that the company judged as fit for work, 600,00 went to appeal and a third of these won. "Some people who have been judged fit to work went on to die before their appeal was heard, which is disgusting. We don't think Atos is fit for purpose," he said.
Tony Pedel from York and District Amal branch described Atos as Royal Mail's vehicle for threats, intimidation and removing people from the company.

Conference also urged the union to get BT to end the company's increasing emphasis on managing people with a medical condition out of their role where they are still capable of undertaking it. They said BT is driving through unfair performance targets but not making reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities.

There was a string of examples from speakers who knew of disabled members who have been undertaking the same role for years, but are now being pushed out of their jobs by BT because the company is increasingly using and abusing MCC process (managing changing capabilities).

Jason Reynolds (Capital branch) explained: "These members are having their jobs taken away where all that has changed is the targets. They are being made unemployable without reasonable adjustment. This questions where it leaves BT with the Disability Discrimination Act."

Gail Wright, (Birmingham, Black Country and Worcester) told conference: "We've had three people attempt suicide this year by people told they could be out of a job". Afterwards Gail added: "Their situations were made worse by the issues brought up by discrimination at work due to their disability. And its not just happening at our branch."

Joyce Stevenson from Scotland No. 1 branch was among the who attacked BT's target culture. "BT just seems to be about unfair performance targets. When people ask for an explanation as to how they have set a target it seems to be a target plucked out of the air."

Describing his own experience, one speaker recalled: "The problem is that the managers don't have a clue. I was put on the MCC process but they concentrated on what I couldn't do, not what I could do."

DAC member Jeffrey Till said too many managers ignore the fact that "the process is supposed to be about them doing everything they can to keep you in the job you are doing."

Anne Nickolson was among those who pointed to BT's contradiction in public appearance and actual approach: "They employ disabled people but don't do a lot about keeping them."

Meanwhile, the Conference supported the DAC motion for the union to negotiate with Royal Mail on the introduction of a reasonable adjustments card system with all businesses in the Royal Mail Group.

Looking beyond the workplace, delegates agreed that the union should back the abolition of the bedroom tax encouraging support of groups such as Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) and the Anti Bedroom Tax Federation.

West London branch's Linda Kietz said: "Many disabled people need an extra bedroom. The bedroom tax needs to be repealed now and we must support the groups fighting for this. If it's not bad enough being disabled, you've got Atos on your back and now the bedroom tax."

The law only affects people in council or housing association homes who are deemed to have a spare room, forcing people to pay extra rent, or move. DAC member Annmarie McCall pointed out that the bedroom tax only hits vulnerable people in our society.

Guest speaker Adam Lotun from DPAC, addressing delegates from his wheelchair: "The bedroom tax is an abhorrent piece of legislation. There are so many things wrong with it. It is unfair, undemocratic and downright immoral".

He is among the thousands of disabled people fighting to reclaim justified and essential benefits that have been taken from them after years.
"We estimate that about 1,700 people have died or committed suicide when they've been told they have lost their benefits or their job; some have died while waiting on appeal," Adam concluded.

General secretary Billy Hayes told Conference: "When you hear the distressing stories about the bedroom tax you know what a scandal it is. Eighty per cent of people with severe disabilities across the EU do not have a job. It's quite clear that we are not all in this together." He said that an increase in hate crime against disabled people was "exacerbated by the dehumanising narrative of the media."

He congratulated the tireless work carried out by the DAC, supported its continued success in campaigning on behalf of the most vulnerable in society, and said that lobbying remains important because "this government is no friend of disabled people". Further success by the union means "We've got to move from being the patient to being the doctor. That means we have to solve things," said Billy.

The proportionality and representation review is a major focus of the union, he said, to ensure that that the union's structures are representative of its members.

"Hidden" disabilities came under the spotlight when Conference delegates agreed that the union should hold an awareness week to make union activists, workers and managers aware of the needs of people with disabilities such as chronic fatigue syndrome, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety. Another discussion supported the need to increase awareness of of neurodiversity and the impact that conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder have on people in the workplace.

Read Billy's speech in full on Billy's blog.

National equality officer, Linda Roy and DAC chair Tony Sneddon set the tone for some of the key themes of the conference when they opened the event.

"Support for disabled people is being eroded by this Government," stressed Linda. "We will do everything we can to give disabled people a voice through campaigning, talking to employers, taking employers to task and lobbying Parliament."

Tony added: "Austerity measures are putting disabled people at severe disadvantages compared to our able bodied colleagues. Disabled people are poor and fifty per cent live in poverty. We will continue the fight against discrimination and unfair and unjust treatment."

Also guest speaking was Ruth Stafferton who was invited to explain the work of Cancer Research UK, which depends entirely on donations. The biggest proportion of its expenditure is on laboratory research on cells. Thanks to the charity's groundbreaking work on early diagnosis, prevention and drug trials, survival rates have dramatically improved since the 1970s. However, explained Ruth, the charity's forthcoming challenge will be dealing with rarer cancers which people will develop having survived initial cancers.

Post Office staff to strike wit Royal Mail on Monday

From: Sian Jones
Sent: 29 October 2013 13:58
Subject: Press release: Post Office staff to strike with Royal Mail on Monday

29^th October 2013

For immediate release
Post Office staff to strike with Royal Mail on Monday

Staff in the country’s network of 372 Crown post offices will take a thirteenth round of strike action on Monday 4 November. Staff working in admin and supply chain functions (such as Post Office cash vans) will also take a first day of strike action in a dispute over pay. The action is being coordinated with strike action by Royal Mail and Parcelforce staff.

The long-running Crown office dispute affects up to 4,000 staff and is over a pay freeze, plans to close and/or franchise 75 offices and cut up to 1,500 jobs. The admin and supply chain dispute involves up to 1,500 people and is in reaction to a pay freeze.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “We are coordinating strike action across postal companies for Monday 4 November to increase the impact of the action and try and focus the minds of company negotiators.

“Post Office management is out of touch with its staff and customers over plans to close Crown offices and cut staff. The company is unfairly imposing pay freezes on both Crown staff and now admin and supply chain workers while senior managers have enjoyed significant bonus payments. These double-standards cannot continue and we hope to make progress in talks this week.”

Talks are scheduled for Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 October to discuss the future of the Crown office network.

The Post Office wants to close and/or franchise 75 Crown offices, 20% of the network, and cut up to 1,500 jobs. These main offices make up 3% of total post office network but handle 20% of all customers and 40% of all financial services sales making them the powerhouse of the network. Staff at Crown Post Offices have not had a pay rise since April 2011 while all other staff represented by CWU in the Post Office have had two pay rises totalling 6.75% in this period. Last year head office managers shared a bonus pot of £15.4 million and Chief Executive Paul Vennells received £697,000 – an increase of 37% on the previous year.

Strike action will affect up to 4,000 staff working in 372 Crown (main) post offices. Post Office staff voted by nine to one (88%) in favour of strike action and have already taken strike action on twelve previous occasions: Easter Saturday, 19 and 29 April, 7 and 28 May, 20 June and 29 June, 17 and 29 July, 24 and 26/7 August and 30 September or 1 October.

The closure and franchising plans are meeting stiff opposition across the country with tens of thousands signing petitions, and public meetings unanimously rejecting the plans.

A full list of post offices involved in the dispute and those under threat of closure is available at: http://www.cwu.org/pay-and-the-future-of-the-crown-office.html

-ends-
For more information please contact:
Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail:sbjones@cwu.org
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail:kslocombe@cwu.org
www.cwu.org www.cwutv.org Twitter: @CWUnews

 Notes to editors
CWU represents non-managerial staff working throughout the Post Office. CWU is the largest trade union in the communications sector with more than 200,000 members working in post, telecoms, mobile and financial services, working as delivery people, drivers, engineers, call centre staff, support services and other roles.

What is a Crown Post Office?
A Crown Post Office is one directly-owned and managed by Post Office Ltd. They are the larger branches, normally in town and city centres, with organised queuing systems and a full range of Post Office products and services.
·         There are 372 of these large offices
·         This is 3% of the post office network, but...
·         Crowns handle 20% of all Post Office customers (up to 4 million a week)
·         Crowns do 40% of all Post Office financial services sales
The original figures of 373 crown offices and 76 under threat has reduced to 372 and 75 because Broadgate, central London, has been closed.
Bonuses
·         Chief Executive Paul Vennells received a 37% increase in her reward package, taking home £697,000 in 2012/13 in comparison to £510,000 for 2011/12.
·         A Freedom of Information Request by the National Federation of Subpostmasters revealed post office managers shared a bonus pot of £15.4 million for 2012/13.
Ballot result
CWU members in Crown offices voted 88% in favour of strike action on a 75% turnout on 8^th March 2013.
CWU members in Crown offices voted 90% in favour of industrial action short of strike on a 58% turnout on 15^th August 2013.
CWU members in admin and supply chain voted 76% in favour of strike action on 24^th October 2013.
The pay dispute
CWU submitted a pay claim of 3.5% for 2012/13 and 3.25% for 2013/14. This is exactly the same increase that staff in other parts of the Post Office received.
From Sian Jones | Press Officer
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Election of delegates to TUC equality conferences

LTB722/13 - CWU Delegates to the TUC Equality Conference?s - 2014 No. LTB722/13           Ref:TK/PM/SN Date: 28th October 2013   To: All Branch Secretaries   Dear Colleague   Elections of:   CWU Delegates to the TUC Equality Conference’s - 2014   Please find attached the regulations, nomination forms and Candidate consent and biographical details forms for the above Conferences. The details of which are  as follows:-   TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE   Date:          12 – 14 March 2014 Venue:       Congress House, London   TUC BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE   Date:          11 – 13 April 2014 Venue:       Congress House, London   TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE   Date:          TBC - 2014 Venue:       Congress House, London   TUC LGBT WORKERS CONFERENCE   Date:          TBC - 2014 Venue:       Congress House, London   The Timetable for the elections is as follow:   Nominations open:                             29 October 2013          Nominations close:                             12 November 2013 (14.00) Despatch ballot papers:            19 November 2013 Ballot closes:                              3 December 2013 (14.00) Reminders:- All candidates for election to the TUC Women’s Conference must be women. All nominees require the nomination of their own Branch. Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 0208 971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.   Yours sincerely,     Tony Kearns                                     Senior Deputy General Secretary

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Elections to equality advisory committees

Get your nominations in!

13LTB721 - Election of National Representative Positions ? 2014 No. LTB721/13 Ref: TK/PM/sn Date: 28th October 2013   To: All Branches   Dear Colleague   Election of National Representative Positions – 2014   ·         Women’s Advisory Committee ·         Race Advisory Committee ·         Lesbian and Gay Bisexual and Transgender Advisory Committee ·         Disability Advisory Committee ·         Members Auditors ·         Independent Review Body           The NEC has agreed the election arrangements for the above National Representative positions listed above. Accordingly please find enclosed the regulations and nomination forms for these elections.   Branches will wish to note that the term of office for these positions is for a 2 year period commencing from 1st January 2014.   Also attached are the dates for the meetings of the CWU Equality Advisory Committees scheduled to be held in 2014   The Timetable for the elections is as follows:-   Nominations open               29 October 2013 Nominations close               12 November 2013 (14:00) Despatch ballot papers        19 November 2013 Ballot closes                        3 December 2013 (14.00)   Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.   Yours sincerely   Tony Kearns                                     Senior Deputy General Secretary

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