UPDATE ON NATIONAL TALKS

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No:035/12
Ref: 24209
20th January 2012


TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS


Dear Colleague

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION – UPDATE ON NATIONAL TALKS

The purpose of this LTB is to update Branches on developments since the publication of LTB 1080/11.

BACKGROUND

In December the Postal Executive took a decision, which was communicated to all Branches, to give Royal Mail a deadline of week commencing 16th January to address the Union’s growing concerns, predominantly in delivery, that were seen to be undermining the successful deployment of the Business Transformation Agreement.

The Deputy General Secretary was asked to write to the Chief Executive of the company explaining what the problems were and stating that if we could not make sufficient progress by week commencing the 16th January, then we would be advising our members to suspend all involvement in revision activity.

This decision followed an earlier report to the Postal Executive and subsequent LTB from the Outdoor Secretary Bob Gibson, which responded to Royal Mail’s unilateral actions in the field and placed an embargo on the Royal Mail indoor workflow process.

In line with the overall policy, the Deputy General Secretary wrote to the Chief Executive and the relevant national officers also held meetings with Royal Mail. The Postal Executive agreed to meet on the 18th January to review progress and take appropriate decisions.

ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE POSTAL EXECUTIVE AT ITS MEETING ON THE 18TH JANUARY

Accordingly, our meeting took place on the 18th January 2012 and to ensure the Postal Executive had an informed debate full consideration was given to the following:-






A report from the Outdoor Secretary on progress in Delivery – The Outdoor Secretary provided a full report on recent meetings that have taken place with Royal Mail and ACAS. The report confirmed that progress had been made on BSI (RM work targets) and model week calculations, all of which could eventually have a positive impact on workload issues. However, the report also highlighted continuing issues over Royal Mail’s workflow process. The report also confirmed that a programme of ongoing meetings had been agreed with Royal Mail to bring current issues to a resolution.

A Letter from the Chief Executive received on the 17th January - The Postal Executive was provided with a letter from the Chief Executive in response to the letter sent from the Union outlining our concerns.

In the letter the company recognised, for the first time, the delivery problems that are being caused by the frequency with which employees are asked to cover the routes of colleagues and that this is causing a great deal of strain in day to day workload issues. The company has now agreed that it is timely and appropriate to revisit the business guidelines on these issues.

On wider issues, the Chief Executive’s letter also confirmed the company’s view that a fundamental change to governance models across the company, alongside industrial peace is now essential. In particular, the letter highlighted an acceptance from the company that unless we can jointly change overall relationships at local level, the company will never succeed. To some extent these commitments reflect the Union’s policy to secure a new governance model and we welcome the opportunity to engage in more meaningful discussions that will transform local relationships and finally end managerial command and control that continues to be a barrier to progress.

The letter went onto commit to more urgency in concluding wider national talks. In these talks the Union has been pursuing key issues on extended job security, reviewing MTSF, World Class Mail, 2013 pay and general reward, including Colleagueshare. Separate from this and in line with earlier commitments from the business, the company again confirmed their willingness to very quickly finalise 2012 pay.

On the basis of the aforementioned the letter was seen as helpful, although some issues require further clarification.

Processing Issues- Although not specifically part of the original decision, the Executive also considered a report from Terry Pullinger on the discussions taking place over strengthening the Mail Centre review process in line with Union policy.

Reports from CWU Divisional Representatives - Prior to the Postal Executive meeting a Joint meeting had been held with Divisional Representatives where the Executive had the opportunity to listen firsthand to the views of our Divisional Representatives on what the current state of play was in their respective areas. This was also supplemented by written reports.




OUTCOME OF THE POSTAL EXECUTIVE MEETING ON THE 18TH JANUARY

Having taken full account of all the above mentioned the Postal Executive agreed the following policy:-

The Executive was unanimous in the view that whilst problems remain, sufficient progress had been made and that at this stage it would be both unproductive and premature for the Union to impose a full embargo on all revision activity.

It was agreed that separate from our talks with Royal Mail, there is now a need for the Union to be crystal clear to our Representatives and members on the key principles and benefits that we expect to be part of every local revision going forward. This is in response to concerns that in some locations the agreement is either being misrepresented or watered down. The Executive will meet on the 24th January to confirm these key principles and they will then be communicated throughout the Union and into every workplace.

In light of the response from the company, the Union is immediately seeking to prioritise negotiations with an agreed timetable for conclusion of current talks in delivery and the wider issues contained in this LTB. The Executive want to be in a position where these timetables are confirmed at our next meeting on the 24th January.

Given that the issue of indoor workflow has not been resolved and that further talks are planned to address this issue, the Executive agreed to maintain the current embargo on the workflow process. Further information on this will be sent out by the Outdoor Secretary in due course.

SUMMARY

The Union continues to recognise the need to deploy the Business Transformation Agreement in all locations and we remain fully committed to the terms of the National Agreement. However, it is crucial that what actually takes place in local revision activity reflects the agreement and in particular that our members receive the full benefits that are due. A further letter has been sent to the Chief Executive explaining the outcome of the meeting. A further report will be issued in due course.

In the meantime, any enquiries on the general issues contained in this LTB should be directed to the DGS (P), specific enquiries on functional issues should be directed to the relevant officers.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward Bob Gibson
Deputy General Secretary (P) Assistant Secretary


Terry Pullinger Ray Ellis Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

[Lounge Lizard]

"The Executive was unanimous in the view that whilst problems remain .... it would be both unproductive and premature for the Union to impose a full embargo on all revision activity"

[fishtank]

In the letter the company recognised, for the first time, the delivery problems that are being caused by the frequency with which employees are asked to cover the routes of colleagues and that this is causing a great deal of strain in day to day workload issues.

Is this lapsing/absorption we are talking about?

The report confirmed that progress had been made on BSI (RM work targets) and model week calculations, all of which could eventually have a positive impact on workload issues.

A bit more meat on the bones please...what progress 99%,98%,97% stop me if i'm getting warm.

Reports from CWU Divisional Representatives - Prior to the Postal Executive meeting a Joint meeting had been held with Divisional Representatives where the Executive had the opportunity to listen firsthand to the views of our Divisional Representatives on what the current state of play was in their respective areas. This was also supplemented by written reports.

Wouldn't it be nice to see those written reports?...or a Divisional Rep?

Overall it's an embarrassing climb down...Industrial Peace.
Nothing has changed on the front line and that's where it matters.
Nothing will change on the front line and that's all that matters.

[madmartin]

are royal mail going to keep having talks until ALL the delivery offices have had the revisions? it'll be too late by then. Surly things like BSI and work flow want to be sorted out before you can have revisions so you know what agreed figures you're working with. This would make the life of the union rep in the office so much easier, at the moment royal mail are saying we want this and that because the bsi is 100% and the work flow is such and such. They're using figures that they agree aren't accurate, so while I'm glad to see the union are making progress, all be it very slow. How can offices go through revisions while the figures haven't been agreed?
I would have liked to have seen the executive say that revisions be put on hold until an agreement on work flow and bsi have been agreed because these are things you need to know before you can plan duties etc. You can't solve a maths problem unless you have figures so how can the local reps assist a revision when they don't know what figures to use.
The other issues I believe can be sorted out while moving the company forward but anythng to do with revisions need to be sorted out before changes can be brought in.
One question I have is some office already have van share duties so if these are based on 100% bsi and the union negotiate a bsi of say 95% what will happen to these offices who've already gone through changes? will royal mail allow these office to change duties accordingly?

[hans solo]

methinks our wonderful ex committee have s**t themselves again
hiding smething and not reporting the WHOLE truth
smell a wee rat in there

[gb93]

'Very quickly finalise 2012 pay' ?
Is it not 3.5%, maybe it's not.
Looks like HQ have pushed for more & RM are working out how much more

[fishtank]

I find it hard to believe the Scottish Divisional Reps reported anything other than a complete and utter f**k up.
In fact that would have been the title of my written report.

[hans solo]

absolutely
we aren,t even in revision yet and we struggle
the bullies still pull up men with 20-30 yrs service for daring to go over time and test you it you cant complete.
if you say cut off they threaten to conduct you
all their pals start early use own cars fcukin joke
this is ayrshire calling and they can sing for their proposed changes
were holding out till all our members satisfied with terms of agreement to suit every one not just the favourites you know the ones " i,ll do what i want not in the union"brigade

[Glenno]

Interisting timing.... still mulling

[taxi4leighton]

the crucial point for the last agreement was the end of private cars on delivery.
this is still happening in my office
also bullying has got worse not better
im fed up of talks about talks about talks
they dont even pretend to abide to written agreements!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so what good are further talks?

[POSTMAN]

It was agreed that separate from our talks with Royal Mail, there is now a need for the Union to be crystal clear to our Representatives and members on the key principles and benefits that we expect to be part of every local revision going forward. This is in response to concerns that in some locations the agreement is either being misrepresented or watered down. The Executive will meet on the 24th January to confirm these key principles and they will then be communicated throughout the Union and into every workplace.

Copy/Paste Copy/Paste Copy/Paste...

[dvbuk55]

An agreed joint action plan to get all Business Transformation revisions back on track. Central to this and in line with the agreement is the need to finally ensure a fair and manageable workload for all employees. This means an end to the unacceptable managerial pressures being placed on our members on a daily basis. Instead offices must be run on the basis of agreed local and nationally co-ordinated resourcing and manpower planning.
• Confirmation that our shared vision of modernisation is still at the core of all company and Government plans.


Well that is certainly something to write home about - except this is an extract from LTB 465/11 Ref: 24209 Date: 13 May 2011 but doesn't the wording look familiar? And still it goes on - who says chattering doesn't pay dividends?



Well who expected anything else? It's almost a year since the above and what's changed? Does anyone seriously think that the CWU Executive are going to rock the boat on behalf of its members. The chatterers can talk all they want but Royal Mail will do exactly as they please as they have done for the last 5 years and mugs like us keep paying to be misrepresented.

[Cut Off King]

The reason for further talks -

RM - They want more talks because while the heads of RM are talking, their underlings are carrying out their orders " carry on as before " then eventualy a majority of work places have had a crap revision and that becomes the norm, RM then say " well most offices are working under the new T&C's" and the CWU say's " OK, lets have a new relationship of trust and understanding "

CWU - They know that until things get real bad, most members won't strike, so they do what they can to ignore strike calls, they know a lot of members only look at what pay they'll lose that week, NOT what they'll gain LONG TERM by fighting for their rights

A solution perhapse ? - Well better coms about how RM's plans will hit you in the pocket ! How wages , T&C's will be reduced and how you'll be treated if RM get their way for a part time minimum wage workforce.

We need the CWU

BUT we also need the CWU and the MEMBERS to MAN-UP !

Sticking together will get us somewhere, devision will get us nowhere.

If a revision isn't right, DON't accept it just to get £200 or even £600 - You'll have to live with the concequences for a long time afterward.

BUT members also need clear direction from the TOP of the CWU, Area reps need to support each other. Then RM might think twice about agreeing one thing, and doing another.

[ronpetetrevchris]

if we are running a revision now at the inflated bsi etc does that mean we can re-visit the revision when we get an agreement (if). I dont see why our guys n gals should be working harder n shagging themselves up because we happened to be first on the revision timetable.

OK union take your time but please put ina re-visit clause in!!!

[teesdale]

Progress by January 16th seems to have only amounted to receiving a letter from the Chief Executive. That one piece of paper did the trick?