CWU and EP LTB 393/24 – ROYAL MAIL GROUP TAKEOVER BID

[geordieboy123]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-393-24-roya ... eover-bid/

ROYAL MAIL GROUP TAKEOVER BID - NEGOTIATORS AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN CWU AND EP GROUP

Dear Colleagues 

Further to last week's national briefing, CWU branches, reps and members would have seen this morning's announcements setting out that EP Group and the government have reached agreement on a deed of undertaking, which contains legally binding guarantees from EP Group over the future of Royal Mail. 

In light of this development, CWU is pleased to announce that we have reached a groundbreaking negotiators agreement with EP Group, subject to ratification by our Postal Executive. 

The key parts of the agreement covers:

* Job security commitments and new legally binding commitments to employees 
* Agreed principles on resolving a range of outstanding issues 
* The introduction of a radical new governance and business model
* A meaningful stake in the business for employees
* Restoring quality of service
* improving the terms and conditions of our members.
* A commitment to a new plan to grow the business
* A complete re-set in employee and industrial relations. 

Ultimately the CWU will always campaign for Royal Mail to be returned to public ownership - but the reality is once it became clear the government would support this takeover - our role as a trade union was to do everything possible to protect our members.

Whilst many will fear Royal Mail falling into the hands of a foreign equity investor, the truth is every postal worker knows the status quo is what will kill off postal services in the UK. 

The Royal Mail Group Board have been running the company into the ground over a sustained period and in the process have completely alienated their own workforce. It is time for a fresh start and a complete re-set of employee and industrial relations.

At this stage, the transaction is not completed and still has some formal stages to go through which include:

* Clearance under the national security act
* Clearance under European regulations
* Shareholders vote

It is likely that all of these processes will be cleared in the first quarter of 2025. 

NEXT STEPS FOR CWU

Subject to the document being cleared by our Postal Executive, we will be putting together a comprehensive engagement package this week including briefings for our branches, reps and members. 

We will issue further updates in due course. 

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward 
General Secretary 

Martin Walsh 
Deputy General Secretary

Well done the two unions, that’s why I support and belong

[menditsa]

RM owns a lot of prime real estate.

I bet non is sold off

[borders]

Face it , as usual it is clear as Mud ,,, and that includes both sides

[pmn123]

Let's be honest re compulsory redundancies....the que is already there, enhanced terms possibility to 12 months as a good will gesture will provide even more..
But many offices won't need it as turnover churn is so high now and T&Cs for new entrants is crappie at best...summer 2025 will see 12k+ jobs go but 4k VR...
The impact on a poverty stricken CWU won't be provided with a 10% dividend though...and the loss of millions in subs....still got the check off...so less might even stopping paying...

[sindba]

RM owns a lot of prime real estate.

I bet non is sold off

The property ( which was paid for by the taxpaying British public) is being used as collateral for the loans that Kretinsky has taken out to buy the company.

So, if things go wrong, he just flogs some property. If things go well, he doesn't need to.

As ever for asset-stripping Billionare parasites of former public infrastructre, it's win-win for him, and everyone else loses. See also - water companies, railways, energy companies etc etc etc.

[eggraidonmojo]

You are forgetting the hourly rate. Post Oct 22 contracts are paid £12.24 an hour

That, to me, is the difference that really matters.

Also no paid breaks, super flexibility in working hours (can be asked to work any time between 08:00 and 20:00), and no delivery supplement.

I think it's a big win for the union to get these contracts levelled up.

They did say though that there's a "pathway", and how long that'll take, we don't know yet. I am guessing about three years.

[Acca Dacca]

You are forgetting the hourly rate. Post Oct 22 contracts are paid £12.24 an hour

That, to me, is the difference that really matters.

Also no paid breaks, super flexibility in working hours (can be asked to work any time between 08:00 and 20:00), and no delivery supplement.

I think it's a big win for the union to get these contracts levelled up.

They did say though that there's a "pathway", and how long that'll take, we don't know yet. I am guessing about three years.

Possibly new entrants will get the same contract as they get offered currently but if they stay 2-3 years they will get put on a better contract more closely alligned to the legacy contract

[Basildon Bond]

Also no paid breaks, super flexibility in working hours (can be asked to work any time between 08:00 and 20:00), and no delivery supplement.

I think it's a big win for the union to get these contracts levelled up.

They did say though that there's a "pathway", and how long that'll take, we don't know yet. I am guessing about three years.

I believe it's 06:00 - 22:00 (6am to 10pm) that you could potentially be asked to work. So if around Christmas they ask new starts to come in at 5am you can say no - the manager shouldn't really ask either.

[richietns]

RM owns a lot of prime real estate.

I bet non is sold off

The property ( which was paid for by the taxpaying British public) is being used as collateral for the loans that Kretinsky has taken out to buy the company.

So, if things go wrong, he just flogs some property. If things go well, he doesn't need to.

As ever for asset-stripping Billionare parasites of former public infrastructre, it's win-win for him, and everyone else loses. See also - water companies, railways, energy companies etc etc etc.

Apparently the government has told him in the agreement he will not be aloud to asset strip with this deal.

[Woody84]

So a bit of positives for new contracts?

Sounds good if it comes true.

Chance to earn more and more guaranteed hours would be good. I think 3 years is a bit long, and more 18-24 months will hopefully be more like it?…

[Jaggs]

The CWU have to remove the toxic culture from Royal Mail and I mean throughout Royal Mail. I don't care about much of a pay rise. The toxic culture HAS TO GO!

For me, the way you resolve that is by having JOB & FINISH in place.

For example:

Make rounds fairly sized and completable by 2.40pm no matter what time of year it is. If you finish your round earlier you can simply go home. A posties average finish time across the year will be around 2.10pm. Posties get paid the same wage each week or month throughout the year. Posties get a £500 bonus at some point in winter as long as they have worked X amount of the busier months, this is to 'even up' pay for the busier months. If you are left with 2 days mail you are given an extra £20 pay for that day. I could add more detail to this, but as this is just a general example I won't.

Why this works:

-Workload is achievable by 2.40pm no matter the time of year.
-Jobs are completed.
-USO & Quality of Service met.
-Toxic culture gone as nobody will be bringing back anything except on rare occasions.
-Less managers needed to manage the workload = saves money.

Bringing back job and finish won't get rid of a toxic culture.

[Dorset Plodder]

Let's be honest re compulsory redundancies....the que is already there, enhanced terms possibility to 12 months as a good will gesture will provide even more..

What you smoking mate? A GOOD WILL gesture from Royal Mail.

Why would they even make such a gesture if you wanted to leave the business? I don't think they'll have to offer too many VRs, standard business practice is to just mess you about until you've had enough and Jack ..... No need for costly redundancy payments then. Good Luck though if you're looking for it.

[Rommagic]

Cwu update us today?.

[kazardaimenu]

Sounds like the new owners could be better than the current ones. Why all the hand wringing?

[A2B]

Sounds like the new owners could be better than the current ones. Why all the hand wringing?

Perfectly entitled to your opinion but how have you reached that conclusion?

The information we have of the takeover is very basic at the moment and only protects the workforce for a very limited time, the CWU have to try and sell it to us as that's the only option.

I hope for the best but fear the worst once the new regime takes over