PROPOSED CHANGES – JOB LOSSES IN SUPPLY CHAIN

[POSTMAN]

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS
Dear Colleague
POST OFFICE: PROPOSED CHANGES – JOB LOSSES IN SUPPLY CHAIN
Branches are advised that the Post Office has announced further proposals for major change within Supply Chain which includes potentially a large number of job losses (up to a maximum of 108 – 9% of the workforce).

The Post Office’s new proposals are extremely disappointing, especially as our members have already experienced significant upheaval through the introduction of new revisions earlier this year which also resulted in the loss of over 100 crew member jobs.

We have now received the legal documentation for the proposed changes which states that day one of the 90 day consultation process began on 29th September.

In keeping with the agreement we reached with the Post Office late last year, there is an extension of a further 28 days to this 90 day consultation period providing for a total of 118 days.

A summary of the main proposals for change is as follows:

Closure of the Leeds CViT depot and associated coin centre with work moving to Sheffield and Birmingham respectively

Reduction of 32 jobs with a potential impact on Scheduled Attendance earnings due to the loss of the Primark contract (last day of service for Primark is 15th November)

Further reduction in jobs following review of Single Pass Processing, Support Roles, Indoor Operations, Trunking, Route Efficiencies

A review of the Belfast depot to consider new ways of working with the establishment of a Joint Working Group (with a Terms of Reference regarding the remit and scope of the review yet to be agreed).

Our negotiating team met with the Post Office on 29th September at the commencement of the consultation process.

At this meeting, we made it clear we will be challenging the business rationale for the proposed changes and where appropriate, will be submitting counter proposals.

A Joint Statement published on 5th October is attached to this LTB for your information. Our aim is to continue to meet with the Post Office to negotiate a National Agreement, which both parties have given a commitment to and is contained in the Joint Statement as follows:

“We will continue to meet over the next few weeks with the joint aim of concluding a National Agreement for a way forward that enables the business and the union to work together to support all those impacted through this challenging time”

We have offered Post Office management negotiating dates of 21st and 23rd October to continue our discussions with the specific aim of reaching an overarching Agreement.

As part of a National Agreement, we would be seeking to include a number of “enhanced enablers” to the current MTSF terms, the principle of which was established as part of the previous revisions programme linked to last year’s pay settlement.

Our members will naturally be expecting the Post Office to engage constructively with the Union to ensure that full protection of employment is available for all those who wish to remain working with the Post Office.

To this end I believe it is necessary that the provisions of MTSF need to be extended beyond the "enablers" previously agreed as part of the Admin & Supply Chain pay agreement.

Workplace Representatives’ Briefing

We met with the three new Supply Chain Area Representatives and the four Territorial Representatives yesterday to discuss the Post Office’s proposals and our response and agenda at arriving at a National Agreement.

To discuss these matters further and to receive feedback from the members impacted by these changes, I am calling a briefing for all Unit (Local) Representatives for CViT Depots and Cash Centres. Additionally, Branch Secretaries are also most welcome to attend:

Monday 19th October
12 – 3pm
CWU Headquarters

We are seeking to get the Post Office to agree paid release for Unit Representatives to attend the above briefing.

As it stands, this has currently been declined; however, we will be challenging this unreasonable position.

Therefore, in the absence of the Post Office agreeing paid release, Unit Representatives are instructed to immediately submit special leave requests for unpaid Union leave.

Due to the scale of the job losses, this is an extremely important briefing and therefore Branches are required to fund the attendance of Workplace Representatives including travel expenses.


Further developments will be reported.

If you have any questions in relation to this LTB, please contact Lea Sheridan - lsheridan@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary