Postal Policy Forum 31st July and 1st August

[Midge]

No. 459/13 Ref: 24210 Date: 4th July 2013

To: All Branches with Postal Members

Dear Colleague

SPECIAL REPORT TO THE CWU POSTAL POLICY FORUM ON THE 31st JULY AND 1st AUGUST 2013

The Postal Executive previously advised that we would be holding a Special Conference covering a range of important issues affecting the future of the company and our members’ terms and conditions. Having considered the matter further and in particular the logistics involved, we are now confirming that this will be held as a CWU Postal Policy Forum on the 31st July and 1st August 2013.

We have attached to this LTB a copy of a Special Report entitled THE FUTURE OF UK POSTAL SERVICES AND THE PROTECTION OF CWU MEMBERS’ TERMS AND CONDITIONS which will be debated at the Forum and covers the following:

Section 1 – Pensions
Section 2 – Taking the Consultative Ballot Forward
Section 3 – Taking National Talks Forward
Section 4 – CWU Alternative Business Model
Section 5 – Save our Royal Mail Campaign

The overall policy contained in the Special Report makes it clear that the Union will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the interests of CWU members and the future of UK Postal Services. Please ensure a copy of the Report is distributed immediately to all CWU Representatives. In the near future the Union will be communicating directly to the membership to explain our next steps.

A further LTB will be issued later today confirming the venue and the detailed arrangements for the Forum.

Any enquiries on the content of the Special Report should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department. Any enquiries on the arrangements for the Policy Forum should be addressed to Jane Loftus, Postal Executive Chair.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)



COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

SPECIAL REPORT TO THE CWU POSTAL POLICY FORUM
ON THE 31st JULY AND 1st AUGUST 2013

THE FUTURE OF UK POSTAL SERVICES AND THE PROTECTION OF CWU MEMBERS’ TERMS AND CONDITIONS


Introduction

The CWU Consultative Ballot was a ringing endorsement of CWU policy over privatisation, unfair competition, pay and workplace issues. Both during and since the Ballot result there has been some very significant developments.

Shortly after the Ballot commenced the RMG announced a legal consultation over further pension changes. Then in direct response to the result and the pressure the Union has built, the company resorted to legal proceedings over the boycott and offered a three year pay deal linked to a range of issues, including pensions.

In rejecting the company’s offer the Postal Executive were mindful of the following:

- CWU members want a straightforward above inflation pay settlement – not one laden with strings.

- The protections on offer from the company in the event of privatisation are completely inadequate. They are not legally enforceable and if there were a change in ownership they would not be worth the paper they are written on.

- The linkage to previously rejected pension proposals is completely unacceptable. Moreover, for the company to now present failed pension promises as some kind of benefit linked to pay is nothing short of scandalous.

- The CWU want an agenda for growth and stability and this needs to build on the shared vision of modernisation included in the Business Transformation Agreement. However, a set of words lacking clarity attached to a pay offer, is no substitute for a proper agreement on the company’s future strategy.

Following the rejection of the company’s offer we are now at a crucial point in National talks and the Save our Royal Mail Campaign.
Given the complexity and wide ranging nature of the challenges facing the postal industry, we remain firmly of the view that the best way to protect the interests of CWU members and the future of UK postal services is to continue to connect the industrial and political issues that will determine our future. Whilst the Union will continue to negotiate we will also take whatever steps are necessary to resolve these issues in the interests of our members.

The purpose of this Special Report is to recognise we are now entering a new phase where we must again highlight the key issues, co-ordinate our approach, develop policy and build on the result of the Consultative Ballot.

This Special Report covers the following sections all of which contain appropriate recommendations reflecting the policy of the Postal Executive:

Section 1 – Pensions

Section 2 – Taking the Consultative Ballot Forward

Section 3 – Taking National Talks Forward

Section 4 – CWU Alternative Business Model

Section 5 – Save our Royal Mail Campaign


SECTION 1 PENSIONS


It was reported to the Liverpool Policy Forum and Annual Conference that both Royal Mail Group and Post Office Limited had advised the Union that a serious problem had emerged regarding the cost of funding future accrual of pension benefits for members of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP). On 28 May the Union received formal proposals from both companies for changes to pension benefits designed to maintain the employer contribution at its current level (17.1% of pensionable pay).

CWU Members are entitled to feel surprised and angry that – only a few months after a pension’s settlement presented as safeguarding pension benefits – the employers are proposing further changes to benefits. There remains huge question marks over the legitimacy of these proposals and the actions of the company, Government and Trustee Board. It is impossible not to draw the conclusion that the timing of this latest pension development is directly linked to privatisation and the need to subsidise future costs for potential investors. On this aspect the Union is determined to hold the company and Government to account.

These proposals were rejected by the Postal Executive and both companies were informed that any attempt to take Executive Action on pensions would result in a National Industrial Action Ballot. Both companies have now commenced the 60 day legal consultation process on the proposed changes and this is due to conclude on the 25th August 2013. Both companies have also stressed their desire to make change by agreement with CWU and Unite and have confirmed that they will engage in negotiations both during and after the consultation has concluded. More recently Royal Mail has linked agreement to the company’s pension proposal to its offer on pay and other issues sent to the Union on 17th June 2013.

Although the Union has rejected these proposals, we also have a responsibility to ensure we have an informed debate about what the company are proposing and its potential impact on CWU members and the longevity of the overall scheme. As such the following will provide a comprehensive overview of the company’s proposal as well as setting out CWU policy.

What is the Problem?

The scheme is not in deficit. The cost of pension benefits relating to service up to April 2012 was assumed by the Government as part of the pension settlement. This removed the deficit and with it the requirement for the business to make an annual contribution to deficit reduction of £300 million per year.

The problem relates to funding future benefit accrual. The Union has been told that the assumptions the trustees are using to finalise the current scheme valuation will mean that Royal Mail’s contribution is likely to rise from 17.1% (approximately £385 million per year) to 30%, which would cost an additional approximately £300 million a year. Post Office Limited has set out the same position, albeit their numbers are proportionate to the smaller size of the company.

The companies say that the problem is due to the returns on gilts having fallen significantly since the last actuarial review to a historic low. This is important because gilt yields form the basis on which pension liabilities are calculated. The companies say that as gilt yields have fallen the trustee has reduced the discount rate used to calculate the present value of future pension payments, increasing the value of the plan’s liabilities. The companies say that this situation could not have been foreseen at the time the Government state aid submission was drawn up but even if it had been, the Government would only have been allowed to deal with the historic deficit.

What is the Proposal?

The companies considered, but discarded, options to close the plan to future accrual, increase member contributions, further increase the retirement age, or change accrual rates. Instead, they propose to link future increases in pensionable basic pay to the retail price index (RPI) capped at 5%. This does not mean that actual pay will be linked to RPI – but up-rating for pension purposes would be. In detail:

• The basic pay element (after deduction of the LED for Section C members) would be fixed at 31 March 2014. The first RPI uplift would be applied on 21 April 2014 and annually thereafter.

• Increments or broadband progression (where these are greater than RPI capped at 5%) would be applied for promotions which took place before 31 March 2014.

• Increases arising from promotions after that date would be reflected in CSDD (usually referred to as CARE) pensionable pay, but not final salary pensionable pay.

• Pensionable allowances and pensionable bonuses will continue to be included in pensionable pay at their actual values, as at present.

This would immediately put the plan in surplus – the approximately £2 billion of assets retained in the plan following the transfer of historical liabilities to the Government was based on the assumption that pensionable pay would rise by RPI plus 1%. The release of some of the £2 billion as surplus would allow the trustee to agree to the company maintaining its current contribution rate. As part of the proposal the company would:

• Seek an agreement with the Union, the conditions of which would be legally binding on the company, which would keep the plan open, subject to agreed conditions and periodic review, the first in 2018.

• Increase its contribution to the Royal Mail Defined Contribution Plan (RMDCP) by 1% at each tier. In addition, it would consult with members of that plan on removal of the lowest tier of contribution.

• Seek the agreement of the RMDCP trustees to a revised member nominated trustee process, giving CWU responsibility for running the nomination and selection process for one of the current member nominated trustee positions.

• Establish a joint governance group with the Unions as a forum to discuss pension issues.

Post Office Limited plans to make the same changes to its section of RMPP but would enter into formal discussions with the Union separately.

Who would be affected?

Members of the RMDCP. Active members of the RMPP in Royal Mail Group, Post Office Limited, Romec and Quadrant. There will be no effect on pensions in payment or on deferred pensions.

What would be the effect?

Members of RMPP

As part of the 2008 pension changes, the final salary link was ended for accrual after 1 April 2008. Pension benefits after that date are calculated on annual pensionable pay, up-rated by RPI. However, the link to final salary was retained for calculation of pension benefits for service before that date.

Service prior to 2008

The proposal would end the link to final salary for pensionable service prior to 2008. The individual effects of ending this link would vary according to circumstances and the differential over a period of time between actual basic pay and RPI.

• Someone achieving a promotion after March 2014 would be likely to lose – they would retain the benefit in pension terms in the career average calculation of post March 2008 service, but would not benefit in the calculation of pre April 2008 service.

• For someone remaining in the same grade the outcome would depend on the relationship between RPI and basic pensionable pay. If basic pensionable pay increases tend to move ahead of RPI over the period they will be worse off than under current arrangements. If RPI outstrips basic pensionable pay however, they will be better off.
• The effect of variations in pensionable allowances (e.g. shift allowance, TPM allowance etc) would be as at present. So, an individual moving onto a higher level of shift payment in the last 3 years of pensionable service would continue to receive a higher level of pension in the calculation of pre 2008 service as now.

Service after March 2008

• A member achieving a promotion after March 2014 would benefit in respect of the pension calculation for post March 2008 accrual as at present.


• For someone remaining in the same grade, the outcome would depend on the relationship between RPI and basic pensionable pay as above – if RPI increases faster than pay they will be better off in pension terms, if pay outstrips RPI they will be worse off.

• Changes in pensionable allowances will be calculated as now.

Members of RMDCP

• Members of RMDCP would be consulted on ceasing the lowest tier of contribution (member 3%, RM 5%). On the remaining two tiers Royal Mail’s contribution would increase by 1% (member 4%, RM 7%; member 5%, RM 8%).

CWU Response and Next Steps

The Postal Executive has committed to a series of steps to test the extent of the problem in funding future accrual and the legality and legitimacy of the solution proposed by the companies. The pension issue is clearly linked to the other issues addressed within this report – indeed, Royal Mail Group has sought to link agreement on pensions to a settlement on pay. The Union has adopted a robust policy covering the following:

• The Postal Executive has rejected the proposals and any link to a future pay settlement.

• Royal Mail and Post Office Limited have been advised that any attempt to introduce pension changes by Executive Action will result in an Industrial Action Ballot.

• The Union is calling for the trustees to hold an extraordinary meeting for scheme members.

• We are exploring the legality of the companies’ proposals with our lawyers.

• We intend to approach the European Commission as to its view on the legality of the issue given the linkage to approval of the state aid application.

• We are seeking support from the Labour Party and other political parties to raise the issue in parliament and ensure an enquiry into this development, its linkage to the government pension settlement and European state aid application.

• The Union is writing to all CWU members to encourage them to respond to the consultation process and reject the companies’ proposals.

• We are continuing to engage the company and government on these issues, alongside the issues covered in the “Save Our Royal Mail Campaign” and the national talks.

• We are committed to ensuring that any action to defend our members’ pensions will be co-ordinated across Royal Mail, Post Office Limited and any affected members in ROMEC and Quadrant.

Our priorities must remain:

• To fully protect all aspects of the Defined Benefit Royal Mail Pension Plan and seek the strongest legally binding agreement to ensure this.

• To significantly improve the terms of the Royal Mail Defined Contribution Plan and secure relevant protections in a legally binding agreement.

• To pursue existing CWU pension policy.

RECOMMENDATION 1: That the policy outlined under CWU Response and Next Steps be endorsed.



SECTION 2 TAKING THE CONSULTATIVE BALLOT FORWARD


The result of the Consultative Ballot is a significant boost in our fight against privatisation and unfair competition and represents a strong endorsement of the Union’s agenda to protect its members’ terms and conditions. Above all the Consultative Ballot again demonstrates that our key messages have connected with the membership.

In the coming weeks and months the Union will be committed to ongoing negotiations with the company in order to resolve all outstanding issues. Throughout these talks it is crucial that we retain our focus on the central policy questions that have been overwhelmingly supported by the membership in the Ballot. The following sets out how we intend to build on the results of the Consultative Ballot.

Privatisation – The 96% result was headline news and we will continue to remind Government and the company that their central policy has completely alienated the workforce. The result will strengthen our hand in negotiations, particularly around the need for an alternative. It will also be used as a visual image in our ongoing campaign and to get the Labour Party to embark on a serious fight against privatisation.

The Boycott – We always acknowledged the boycott was part of an overall strategy to highlight the Union’s concerns, it was always understood that at some stage we were likely to face a legal challenge. Having considered all the issues surrounding a potential injunction, which could have prevented the Union from taking legal Industrial Action on a range of issues, the CWU gave Royal Mail an undertaking that we would not call for a boycott of competitors’ mail on reliance of the Consultative Ballot result.

However, the legal undertaking also made it clear to the company that the Union would explore if there is any legal way of carrying out a future boycott as a form of Industrial Action following a properly constituted Industrial Action Ballot. The policy of exploring all legal avenues on the boycott has now been ratified by the Postal Executive.

The Union is committed to building pressure over the issue of unfair competition and we will also expose Royal Mail’s abject failure to tackle End to End competition. In recent months the company has moved from being a vocal critic, to publicly supporting Ofcom’s ‘wait and see’ approach. We want Royal Mail to explain to the workforce how they intend to protect revenue, jobs, and the pay and conditions of our members and we will invite the company to support the Union in a range of future activities focused on the actions of the Regulator.

The boycott policy has already been effective in creating a lot of publicity. As a direct result of the Union’s actions we have seen Ofcom backtracking on the damaging proposals they were contemplating from their user needs consultation. We have seen Ofcom, for the first time, layout a detailed process on what needs to happen for them to directly intervene on End to End competition. Furthermore, we have seen Ofcom publicly commit to a firmer monitoring of the ongoing situation with a major review in 2015. Now the CWU will focus on fresh strategies to tackle unfair competition. As part of this the Union will make it clear that we support workers who are being exploited in other companies by campaigning for all private Postal Operators to pay at least the living wage.

Non-Co-operation – The Union will enforce the policy of non-co-operation as set out in the Consultative Ballot on a consistent basis across every function. In applying this policy we are not asking CWU members to take Unofficial Industrial Action. What we do expect is that until we have reached an agreement on the company’s future strategy, then no local office should be supporting any further budget cuts, efficiency savings or revisions outside of the BT 2010 Programme, or any revisions or savings not covered by any existing National Agreements. As part of this policy, because of our concerns over the future parcels strategy, neither are we supporting any further mail centre/RDC rationalisation. The correct approach to implementing the policy will be via the Nationally agreed Industrial Relations Framework. The terms of a Generic Disagreement in line with National policy will be drawn up and circulated to Branches prior to the Policy Forum and this will provide further clarity on this matter. In the event that management threaten or take Executive Action, then a properly and legally constituted Ballot for local Industrial Action is the correct way to proceed.

CWU Pay Policy – The Union continues to press for a straightforward above inflation pay settlement in line with the policy supported by the membership.

RECOMMENDATION 2: That we continue to build on the central issues covered by the Consultative Ballot along the policy lines stated.


SECTION 3 TAKING NATIONAL TALKS FORWARD


Reflecting back on the December 2012 Summit Meeting, the March 2013 Policy Forum, Annual Conference and National talks since, it remains clear that major differences still exist between Royal Mail and CWU.

Although some progress was made on outstanding BT delivery matters and recently processing functional talks have been more constructive, notwithstanding that management have pressed on with rationalisation planning, the key policy positions adopted in Liverpool remain outstanding and the Union has no agreement over the company’s future strategy. Moreover, they remain outstanding when the Government and Royal Mail press ahead respectively with privatisation and further pension changes and whilst pay was due in April 2013.

It is the view of the Postal Executive that the current situation is unacceptable. The truth is, the company has only begun to negotiate seriously following the consultative ballot result. The Union must now refocus National negotiations on the key issues that will determine our members’ future. The situation has become so serious that we have made it clear to the company that if we cannot resolve all outstanding issues, then we will implement a National Industrial Action Ballot.

The Union will prioritise the following in our ongoing negotiations:

1. Securing a comprehensive agreement covering all aspects of the company’s future strategy including:
• The protections and assurances we require over the future in the event of privatisation and the growing threat of End to End competition.
• An agenda for growth and stability that builds on the shared vision of modernisation already agreed in the Business Transformation Agreement.
• Agreement on a parcels and packets strategy that both retains and grows work in the core network and Parcelforce. This would also cover the implications for all our existing networks, jobs, terms and conditions.
2. Securing a straightforward pay settlement in line with CWU policy.
3. Securing a long-term pensions settlement that fully protects all aspects of the defined benefits scheme, whilst enhancing the defined contributions scheme.

The aforementioned agenda is designed to embrace all outstanding policy agreed at the Liverpool Policy Forum and the issues being discussed in functional talks.

The Union is committed to engaging in serious negotiations to achieve a settlement on all these matters. However, the Postal Executive has agreed that if we cannot secure satisfactory agreements, the Union will hold a National Industrial Action Ballot no later than September 2013 and the PEC will have discretion to enact the Ballot earlier in light of events, the actions of management and progress made.

Calling for National Industrial Action in today’s economic environment and with the competitive pressures on Royal Mail is a decision that cannot be taken lightly. CWU members understand these pressures and their support will not be taken for granted. The Union will continue to communicate with our members and provide absolute clarity on our objectives in negotiations and in any subsequent dispute.

Essentially we are pursuing a set of agreements that fully protect our members’ terms and conditions and shape the future at the same time. The protection of terms and conditions will require explicit commitments from the company – for up to ten years – on the following:

• That Royal Mail would remain an End to End service provider and there would be no break up of the company or sale of individual functions.

• There will be no franchising out of any work currently carried out by or proper to our CWU represented grades. All employees will remain directly employed under CWU negotiated terms and conditions.

• There will be no outsourcing of any work proper to CWU represented grades.

• Existing Job Security Agreements to remain in place unless renegotiated and the preferential MTSF terms to be extended for a further 5 years.

• There will be no zero hour contracts.

• The Royal Mail Group to maintain its joint venture interests in ROMEC and Quadrant, or bring these back in-house.

• The use of agencies and fixed term contract staff to be explicitly in line with existing national agreements, including agreed measures to monitor this in practice.

• No two tier terms and conditions i.e. anybody joining the company during the period of the agreement would do so on the same terms and conditions as existing employees.

• The workforce would remain predominantly full time with a 75/25 split with measures agreed to monitor this in practice.

• All nationally agreed HR procedures would remain in place unless renegotiated

• The CWU would continue to be the recognised Trade Union and all existing facilities arrangements would remain in place.

• The IR Framework procedures would continue to apply unless varied by agreement.

The objective is to secure these assurances in a legally binding agreement providing long-term protection in the event of privatisation and its potential impact on CWU members’ terms and conditions. Such an agreement would also be framed to counter any attempt by the company to introduce the type of employment model, terms and conditions associated with private competitors such as TNT.

We have long understood the threat posed to workers from the marketisation and privatisation of postal services. By communicating clearly the industrial objectives of the Union in the workplace, we will highlight to our members the industrial reality of such policies. We have always known the impact of such policies on our members’ terms and conditions would be the battleground of the future – CWU must prepare for such a dispute now. In taking these policies forward we will also continue to raise these concerns in our ongoing discussions with Government.

RECOMMENDATION 3: That the CWU will prioritise National negotiations along the policy lines stated. If satisfactory agreements cannot be secured the Union will hold a National Industrial Action Ballot no later than September 2013. The Postal Executive will have discretion to enact the Ballot earlier in light of events, the actions of management and progress made.



SECTION 4 CWU ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS MODEL


As we move to the next stage of our strategy it is the right time to develop further an alternative to privatisation. The Postal Executive has looked at this previously and in conjunction with our Research Department we have discussed some outline business models. The Postal Executive has now agreed that as part of the Save our Royal Mail Campaign we should pursue a new business model structured around the following parameters:

• The Royal Mail Group should be a ‘not for dividend company’ with profits reinvested back into services and the workforce. It would operate for public good, balancing its social obligations with commercial opportunities.

• The company would be able to access capital by borrowing on the commercial markets without this contributing to Government debt. Network Rail is a perfect example of this. By creating a new Board structure it has been able to borrow over £27 billion in recent years. A fully modernised Royal Mail with proper employee alignment will also be able to self finance some of its own investment. Neither the Government nor the company can put forward any rational argument as to why this type of structure could not access capital.

• There would be a company charter set out in legislation that would confirm Royal Mail as the USO provider and act as a locking mechanism against any further attempts to alter the structure of the company. The charter would set out a list of ethical principles and values that the company would be bound by, including its approach to employee and industrial relations.

• There would be an overhaul of the governance structure and the main Board representatives would be balanced between appointees with social, commercial and ethical responsibilities. The Unions could nominate a small number of Board members, but not from within their organisations.

• The company would implement the High Pay Commission recommendations with a fixed pay differential between what Board members, Senior managers and the workforce earn.

• The company would operate single status benefits from the top to the bottom. Incentive schemes would relate to a fixed percentage of people’s overall salary.

The Union’s task is to articulate the potential for a credible alternative. The detail of this is something that could be developed subsequently. By bringing this ingredient into the campaign our overall position will become stronger.

RECOMMENDATION 4: That the CWU campaigns for an alternative to privatisation along the policy lines stated.



SECTION 5 SAVE OUR ROYAL MAIL CAMPAIGN


We set out a clear plan to create a campaign based on a coalition of organisations that would be interested in coming together to Save Our Royal Mail.

To maximise inclusion and to broaden the coalition, we focused the coalition campaign on price rises, rural service, services to the blind and armed forces and the threat to the universal service.

The coalition was quickly successful in acquiring the support of the countryside alliance, some business groups and consumer groups. The coalition has focused on pressurising Conservative and Liberal Democratic MPs whilst also gaining media publicity.

The coalition has being carrying out meetings with MPs and stakeholders and building support around the threat to the universal service and the impact of price rises on small businesses. At the time of writing several conservative MPs are calling for a back bench committee debate on the floor of the House of Commons.

In addition the coalition has been working with financial PR experts to create a negative narrative about the sale in the city. This has also seen commentators including the FT raising concerns about a potential sale price. This supports our efforts to persuade Conservative MPs to raise concerns regarding value for money for the tax payer. These political efforts have made progress and it is clear that the Government is still not confident about the type or timing of any sale.

One area where we need to raise our efforts was increasing awareness of the public and filling MPs mailbags with letters from constituents. To bridge this gap we launched the postcard campaign alongside a week of campaign activity. We have also launched a high profile online campaign. There is a targeted Save Our Royal Mail website which links visitors to the write to them.com website and to an online petition at change.org. We continue to drive traffic to the online campaign. It remains our aim to consistently raise the profile of the sale of Royal Mail to the public, to the media and to MPs.

One of the most significant developments of the campaign has been the intervention of the Bow Group. This is a conservative lead think tank that is very influential among Tory MPs and Ministers. Initially the Bow Group expressed reservation about privatisation and are now set to publish a report that has taken views from across the political spectrum. We expect that report to come out against privatisation and this will be a significant step for the campaign.

The position of the Labour leadership has hardened up, as the campaign has progressed. Ed Miliband made his opposition clear at a public event in Birmingham, and at a recent meeting with the GS and DGS(P). Chuka Umunna, at the same meeting, endorsed opposition without any qualification of “full” privatisation. At the National Policy Forum (NPF) on June 22nd, when questioned by the GS, Ed Miliband reaffirmed Labour’s opposition, and said that CWU members should be told this.

The Labour Shadow BIS Secretary also spoke at our lobby on 2nd July and again confirmed the Labour Party’s direct opposition to Royal Mail Group privatisation.

The actual policy that Labour will adopt for the General Election in 2015 is subject to a lengthy policy process. The crucial stage of this process – the “Warwick” meeting of the NPF – will be in late summer 2014, as negotiations around the General Election manifesto come to a head. The CWU will co-ordinate with other unions in TULO to maximise our position.

The priority at Labour Party Conference 2013 will be a well organised fringe meeting to highlight the campaign against privatisation. This will take place on the evening of Sunday 22nd September.

Before Labour’s 2013 Conference, we aim to get the campaign on the national Party “grid”. This means that the Party adopts the campaign as a national priority for a specific period. Our aim will be to get a day of action involving all the Constituency Labour Parties engaging in joint activity with local CWU Branches.

RECOMMENDATION 5: That we continue to build momentum on the Save our Royal Mail Campaign along the policy lines stated.


CONCLUSION

We all know the problems we are dealing with are very complex. The strength of our position thus far has been our ability to consider the various elements in the overall debate and pull these together into co-ordinated policy. The policy lines recommended in this Special Report are a further example of this.

We are now entering a crucial phase and we believe the terms of this Special Report will place us in the best possible position to protect the interest of CWU members and the future of UK postal services.



Dave Ward Billy Hayes
Deputy General Secretary (P) General Secretary


Ray Ellis Bob Gibson
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary


Andy Furey Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

On behalf of the Postal Executive

[Midge]

The arrangements for the Policy Forum and attendees, are below:

No. 460/2013 Ref: 24210 Date: 4th July 2013


TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS


Dear Colleague

Postal Policy Forum

The Future of UK Postal Services and
The Protection of CWU Members Terms and Conditions

Wednesday 31st July 2013: 1300 – 1800 and
Thursday 1st August 2013: 0930 – 1600

Branches will wish to know that arrangements have been made to hold the following Policy Forum at:

Logan Hall
Institute of Education
20 Bedford Way
London
WC1H 0AL

Attendees

The following Representatives are due to attend the Policy Forum

• One Branch Representative
• Divisional Representatives
• Regional Secretaries
• Territorial Technical Services Representatives
• Parcelforce Regional Organisers
• All Royal Mail Area Representatives (Delivery, Processing, Distribution, Admin and Engineers)
• Fleet and Maintenance Service Representatives
• Territorial Counters Representatives
• Area Counter Representatives
• Romec Cleaners Regional Representatives
• Romec Engineering Representatives
• Quadrant Area Representatives
• Area Health and Safety



Note:

In addition to the above attendees and building upon the Local Representatives’ Briefings, we are requesting that Branches send three Unit Representatives to the Policy Forum.

Wherever possible Branches should ensure that one attendee is a woman.

Provisional Timetable
A final timetable will be sent out with the amendments.

Policy Forum Day 1: Wednesday 31st July 2013
1200 – 1300 Registration
1300 – 1600 Pensions - Recommendation 1
1600 – 1800 Taking the Consultative Ballot Forward – Recommendation 2

Policy Forum Day 2: Thursday 1st August 2013
0930 – 1200 Taking National Talks Forward – Recommendation 3
1200 – 1300 Lunch
1300 – 1430 CWU Alternative Business Model – Recommendation 4
1430 – 1600 Save our Royal Mail Campaign – Recommendation 5

All sessions will have time for presentations and Q & A’s prior to amendments being debated.

Branches and Business Coordinating Committees are entitled to submit one amendment per Recommendation. All amendments must be emailed to postalpolicyforum@cwu.org. Please note that no amendments will be accepted which have been sent to any other email address.

Attached to this LTB is:

o Letter from the Postal Executive Chair and Vice Chair
o Registration Form
o Registration and Voting Procedure
o Policy Forum Guidelines
o Amendment Forms

Royal Mail Group and POL have been informed of the Policy Forum.

Travel and subsistence costs associated with attendance at the Policy Forum will be in line with the instructions and advice issued in LTB 506/04.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB and the Special Report should be directed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely


Dave Ward Billy Hayes Jane Loftus
Deputy General Secretary (P) General Secretary Chair Postal Executive


Dear Colleague

We would like all Branches to send an additional three Unit Representatives as visitors so that our campaign messages are embedded in our local offices.

To assist Headquarters knowing in advance the numbers expected, you will need to fill in the attached Registration Form and Monitoring Section and email it to: dgspdepartment@cwu.org as soon as possible.

Amendments to the Special Report - The Future of UK Postal Services and the Protection of CWU Members Terms and Conditions

Open: Midnight Thursday 4th July 2013

Close: Midnight Sunday 21st July 2013

It is our intention to issue the Order of Business and Amendments for the Policy Forum no later than Tuesday 23rd July 2013.

Voting will be by a show of hands or a card vote if requested by the Chair.

If any Branch requires clarification or advice you can contact me by email: jloftus@cwu.org or by mobile 07790 076283.

Yours sincerely

Jane Loftus
Chair Postal Executive Peter Donaghy
Vice Chair

[knackeredneedadayoff]

The union have left it too late Royal Mail will be privatised by the time the meat pie gravy has cooled on king billys chin

[Martin Walsh]

There has to be a prospectus issue well in advance of a sell off. The earliest this will go out is September but this is moving back as pressure from the CWU is putting off investors.

[UnhappyGremlin]

I also think that, if we vote for and actually strike, any prospective deadline will be pushed even further back, as no one will be interested until industrial relations have calmed down and become stable.