Romec Productivity and Bonus Arrangements

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 101/14
Ref: 120.12
Date: 13th February 2014


TO ALL BRANCHES WITH ROMEC MEMBERS

Dear Colleague,

RE: Romec Productivity and Bonus Arrangements

Branches will be aware from LTB 821/13 regarding the recent Romec Pay Agreement that this included a provision for changes to the current productivity levels and a review of the Cleaners’ Bonus Scheme as detailed below;

The productivity payment of the cleaners’ bonus will be protected until the end of June 2014 to allow talks to take place to revise the existing bonus, including revised productivity targets.

The discussions dealing with the above have already commenced. However for the sake of clarity the change in productivity levels involves moving from lower quartile performance as measured by the British Institute of Cleaning Standards (BICS) to median performance. At this point in time the discussions are continuing with 2 more days scheduled in the next 2 weeks and as things stand we have not finalised any target hourage for any units where our members work. It is true to say we have agreed in principle to the change in performance but how this falls to ground remains subject to further detailed negotiation. With this in mind we agreed as part of the pay deal to protect current levels of Cleaners’ Bonus for six months until June this year to allow for those detailed negotiations to take place.

In addition we acknowledge that some units where there are vacancies will not recruit at existing productivity levels whilst these talks are taking place as it is anticipated that the outcome will see a reduction in the hours required to clean the buildings.

We also recognise that the additional 0.5% increase payable as a lump sum is funded by the increase in productivity and any ensuing savings.

However despite the fact that we are currently in national talks and the detail has not been agreed/finalised we have become aware of a number of approaches from Romec managers directly to our members actively attempting to implement revised productivity levels in advance of any finalised/agreed revision process, with offers to Buy Down hours or to accept EVR payments. It is also of major concern that the information we have received to date is that these offers are not based on current MSA/MTSF terms and are in fact vastly inferior in value. Furthermore in a number of instances it has been alleged that cleaners have been told they have no option, which is of course entirely untrue. In fact it is a blatant lie.

Whilst this unacceptable approach from managers is being taken up with Romec at national level it would be greatly appreciated if CWU Representatives everywhere in every building speak directly with their cleaners to inform them of the situation and provide them with the correct information as detailed below.

Any Buy Down of Hours or offer of EVR is entirely voluntary and no cleaner can be forced to accept. Any cleaner wishing to retain their current contractual hours is entitled to do so.

Any financial offer made should be verified before acceptance to ensure that the correct enhanced payment in line with MSA/MTSF which our members are entitled to is being offered.

No document or “Compromise Agreement" should be signed until the figures/terms have been confirmed as being correct and in line with their entitlements as stated above. Members should be advised that signing any such agreement is legally binding and cannot be challenged or changed once signed.

Branches should note that we are not asking our CWU Representatives to enter into negotiation on this matter. However where necessary they should challenge Romec managers on this issue and provide local support to our cleaning members whilst at the same time informing and liaising closely with the appropriate CWU Romec Regional Representative whose contact details are provided below.

Branches will no doubt appreciate that our cleaning colleagues particularly in smaller units often feel isolated and uninformed, the support and active participation of our CWU Representatives is of paramount importance. The CWU Regional Romec Representatives cover large areas and could not physically attend every single unit; the role of our local Branch Representatives will be invaluable in ensuring our members receive full representation and have access to accurate and reliable advice/information.

Branches may also wish to utilise this as an opportunity to ensure that all cleaners are members and to recruit them where they are not. For ease of reference we have attached the current membership subscription rates.

Please circulate this LTB as widely as possible within Branches. The cooperation of Branches and all CWU Representatives will be greatly appreciated.

Any enquiries relating to this LTB should be addressed to Bob Gibson’s department, quoting reference 120.12. Email address: hnutley@cwu.org

Yours Sincerely


Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor

[TrueBlueTerrier]

CWU REGIONAL ROMEC REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT DETAILS

George Ryan - London & South East
Mobile 07738 645 905
Email: George.Ryan@romec.co.uk
Postcode Areas Covered
AL,BN,BR,CR,CT,DA,E,EC,EN,GU,HA,IG,KT,ME,N,,NW,PO,RG,RH,RM,SE,SL,SM,SP,SW,TN,TW,UB,W,WC,WD.

Chris Imms - Eastern & Midlands
Mobile 07966 092 079
Email: chris.ims@hotmail.co.uk
Postcode Areas Covered
B,CB,CM,CO,CV,DE,DY,HP,IP,LE,LN,LU,MK,NG,NN,NR,OX,PE,SG,SS,ST,WS,WV

Mike Rideout - South West & Wales
Mobile 07850 427 203
Email: ridout_7@Hotmail.com
Postcode Areas Covered
BA,BH,BS,CF,DT,EX,GL,HR,LD,LL,NP,PL,SA,SN,SO,SY,TA,TF,TQ

Nikki Booth - North West & North East
Mobile 07824 992 522
Email: nikki.booth@sky.com
Postcode Areas Covered
BB,BD,BL,CA,CH,CW,DH,DL,DN,FY,HD,HG,HU,HX,IG,L,LA,LS,M,NE,OL,PR,S,SK,SR

Eleanor Hipson - Scotland & N Ireland
Mobile: 07545 433 292
Email: Eleanor.Hipson@romec.co.uk
Postcode Areas Covered
AB,BT,DD,DG,EH,FK,G,HS,IV,KA,KW,KY,ML,PA,PH,TD,ZE

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Employer
HOURS WORKED

Over 30
Over 25 up to 30
Over 20 up to 25
Over 15 up to 20
Over 10 up to 15
Up to 10

ROMEC LTD



Plan 1
Plan 3
Plan 4
Plan 5
Plan 6
Plan 7



CWU Contribution rates from 1 January 2013
New Weekly Contributions
New Monthly Contributions

"I" Rate £
"O" Rate £
"I" Rate £
"O" Rate £
Plan 1
3.43
3.23
14.83
13.96
Plan 2
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Plan 3
2.45
2.25
10.64
9.77
Plan 4
2.13
1.93
9.25
8.38
Plan 5
1.81
1.61
7.85
6.98
Plan 6
1.49
1.29
6.45
5.58
Plan 7
1.17
0.97
5.06
4.19
Retired Members
1.27
1.07
5.53
4.66
Retired Associate Members
n/a
n/a
4.32
3.45


Plan 7