Default Retirement Age (DRA)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 368/2011
Ref: PTC/MA/dj/035
Date: 12 April 2011


TO ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS


Dear Colleague

RE: Default Retirement Age (DRA)

Further to LTBs 140/11 dated 11th February 2011 and 297/11 dated 25th March 2011 we have now received correspondence from Royal Mail informing us of it’s intent to issue a communication this week regarding the change to the default retirement age. The communication will reflect the discussions that we have held within the Working Group and covers the following key points:

The Duty to Consider process has been suspended from the end of March for individuals turning 65 from 1st October 2011. 
The existing age cap of 64 ½ for recruitment has been removed from 6th April 2011.
The contract wording will be reviewed to reflect the removal of the DRA.

The business has once again emphasised that it will continue to monitor the impact of the removal of the default retirement age and may in future wish to introduce an employee justified retirement age. The business is currently reviewing the VR terms for those approaching and those that are over 65.

The removal of the default retirement age does not affect pensions. Individuals will still be able to contribute to and take their pensions as set out in the relevant plan rules.

We will also monitor and review the impact of the DRA and ensure that any changes the business are considering will be discussed with the CWU and communicated to all branches at the earliest opportunity.

Any enquiries should be addressed to Ray Ellis’s department, quoting reference PTC/MA/dj/035.

Email address: rellis@cwu.org

Yours sincerely



Ray Ellis,
Assistant Secretary

[happy]

who the f#### could work past 65 now on delivery it to hard now with 4 hour rounds

[wrtjl01]

I have read Ltb 297/11 and find it very confusing Royal Mail is removing its age cap of 64 and half on recruitment from 6th April 2011 but continuing to sack EXISTING POSTIES who reach 65 between 6th April 2011 and 30th September 2011, HOW CAN THIS BE AGREED BY THE CWU? Whilst the chairman Donald Brydon CBE 66 next month sits residing over the ensuing mayhem.

[StuddStreet]

I agree with wrtjl. This situation is disgraceful, and Royal Mail obviously are fully aware of it but choose to do nothing.

How can the Chairman - who should have been sacked under his existing process because of his age - continue to draw his salery AND ALSO A SECOND FAT SALARY FROM THE SMITHS GROUP - whilst sitting back on his arse watching loyal postmen and postwomen ALMOST ALL OF WHOM WILL HAVE MORE SERVICE THAN HIM - get sacked becuase of their age?

And at the same time, he accepts that - because of anti-discrimination legislation - he must consider persons over the age of 65 for any vacancy within his once-proud organisation!

Well, i guess it's just par for the course. Until an employment judge steps in and asks a few awkward questions, that is.

For example: is this poolicy to sack people because their age for as long as Royal Mail can get away with it, merely a type of redundancy programme, but not named as such? The Chairman wants to cut staff numbers, but seeks to avoid compulsory redundancies. So sacking the over-65s because he wants to get the numbers down is not really about age at all.

And let us think back to the days when Royal Mail was carrying 10% vacancies, and was reliant upon overtime to keep the service going. If that were the situation today, would the Chairman be sacking able, fit and highly-experienced posties because of their age?

I suggest not. This is all about sacrificing people, on age grounds, to get numbers down. It needs exposing in the courts.