LTB 200/16 - Post Office: Pensions - Consultative Ballot Result

[TrueBlueTerrier]

CWU.org
01 April 2016
LTB 200/16 - Post Office: Pensions - Consultative Ballot Result

No. 200/2016

1st April 2016

POST OFFICE: PENSIONS – CONSULTATIVE BALLOT RESULT



Dear Colleagues

Further to LTB 158 dated 14th March, I would like to advise Branches that our Post Office members have voted overwhelmingly to support the Postal Executive’s policy in regards to pensions. As a reminder, the question on the ballot paper was:

Do you support the key union policy to keep open the Defined Benefit Scheme to existing members whilst also securing an improved Defined Contribution scheme for current DC scheme members?

The result of the ballot is as follows:

BALLOT RESULT



YES VOTES

1,575

99.6%

NO VOTES

6

0.4%

TURNOUT



44%

spoilt ballot papers (no votes cast): 3

It is clear from this emphatic result that our members strongly believe the Post Office should not close the Defined Benefit (DB) scheme. Furthermore our members have also supported the policy of improving the Defined Contribution (DC) scheme for current members.

In view of this ballot result I have today written to Paula Vennells, Chief Executive, urging her to:

immediately abandon the plan to close the DB scheme
enter into meaningful negotiations with the aim of improving the DC scheme for existing members.
We have also written to members to inform them of the ballot result and a copy of this communication is attached for your information.

Extension of Post Office Consultation with Members on Pensions (to 31st May)

Yesterday the Post Office announced it is extending its consultation with members with regards to the plans to close the DB pension scheme (Post Office communication attached). This is the second extension to the consultation within two weeks. Of serious concern was the reason for extending the closing date to 31st May which was given as current “changes to our business” which “may include proposals for collective redundancies”. The Post Office also stated “Employees and their representatives should be able to take the potential for redundancies into account when responding to the proposed changes to pensions, and an extension to the consultation period will enable this.”

We are due to meet with the Post Office again next week to discuss the job losses above and further developments in this regard will be reported.

Engaging With and Educating Members

Branches and members can view our latest video featuring our pensions expert Hilary Salt from First Actuarial who explains in simple terms what the Post Office’s proposals mean for our members. This can be accessed by using the following link:

http://www.cwu.org/media/campaigns/prot ... -pensions/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Meeting with Baroness Neville-Rolfe – Minister for Postal Affairs

Dave Ward our General Secretary and I met with the Minister for Postal Affairs on Tuesday 22nd March. We discussed our strong objections to the Post Office’s plans for closing the DB scheme. We made it clear to the Minister the Union will not tolerate the unacceptable closure of our DB pension scheme which is healthy now and is projected to be healthy for many years to come.

Dave also indicated how outrageous it was that the Post Office was seeking to penalise its hard-working, loyal employees with a blatant attempt to save costs as a consequence of its failed business plan and policies. Consequently, we left the Minister with the strong impression that the Post Office’s actions are unnecessary and premature and this Union will do everything possible to protect the well-being of our members and their pensions.

The Postal Executive will be giving full consideration to the matter of Post Office pensions at its statutory meeting on Tuesday 5th April.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary