CWU Consultative Ballot - Parcelforce

[TrueBlueTerrier]

03 July 2013
LTB 457/13 CWU Consultative Ballot - Parcelforce




No. 457/13

Ref: 035

Date: 3rd July 2013



To: All Postal Branches with Parcelforce Members

Dear Colleague

CWU Consultative Ballot - Parcelforce

Branches will be aware that we recently undertook a consultative ballot of members employed by Royal Mail Letters covering the major issues affecting the future of the postal industry.

Many of the key issues involved in respect of privatisation, pension arrangements and pay policy also have a significant effect on CWU members working within Parcelforce and it is appropriate that these members also have the opportunity to express their support, or not, in regard to the actions being taken by their Union.

Therefore the Postal Executive has discussed this matter further and agreed that our Parcelforce members are to be included in the consultative ballot process. and the ballot will be undertaken on the following basis:

1. That ballot papers distributed in the workplace are identified to that particular workplace. Once distributed the member would return the ballot in an envelope provided to our normal independent scrutineers. It would be for the independent scrutineers to announce the result.


2. The ballot would be posed around asking the membership to support Union policy on the following questions:


I. Do you oppose the privatisation of the Royal Mail Group?
II. Do you support the CWU rejection of the company's pension proposal?
III. Do you support the CWU pay claim?
Details of the ballot timetable will be issued in due course.

This is an important exercise to engage CWU members in the workplace and empower the Union in discussions with the company and the Government.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or lwright@cwu.org quoting reference number: 035

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward Terry Pullinger

[bograt]

You mean they actually know we exist?

[eric the viking]

III. Do you support the CWU pay claim?

Some idea of what the claim is would be handy.

[smok3y666]

III. Do you support the CWU pay claim?

The one we know nothing about that was supposed to be implemented in April but we are still waiting for?

[tasape]

Some Clarification would be useful
are we at parcelforce negotiating the same 3 year deal as Royal mail ?
I ask because there is no mention of PFWW on any of the Papers out there,
Are we now being placed under the same Umberella as RMG or are we still a different entity regarding Pay and Condition Negotiations ?

[maisymoo04]

Isn't it nice to see the parcel force people on here

[Pinky 1]

No. 474/13
Ref: 035
Date: 8th July 2013
No. 474/13 Ref:035 Date: 8th July 2013
Dear Colleague

CWU Consultative Workplace Ballot - Parcelforce

The following will confirm the final arrangements for the CWU Consultative Ballot for Parcelforce members. This LTB should be immediately circulated to all Local Representatives.

The Independent Scrutineer

The Consultative Ballot will be overseen and conducted through Popularis Limited who are appointed as the independent Scrutineer. Popularis Limited are experts in ballots of this nature and have received the appropriate accreditation from the Department of Business Innovation and Skill (BIS).

The Timetable

The timetable for the ballot will be as follows:

Ballot Material Distributed to Branches by 11th July 2013
Ballot Opens: 15th July 2013
Ballot Closes: 06th August 2013
Result Announced 07th August 2013

Distribution of Ballot Papers

Popularis will distribute the ballot material/packs direct to CWU Branches by 11th July 2013. If any Branch has not received their ballot material by the 15th July 2013, then they must immediately contact Peter Metcalfe at CWU Headquarters on 020 8971 7368.

On receipt of the ballot material, or as soon as reasonably practicable, Branches will be required to visit workplaces and distribute the ballot material to each member at that workplace.

In order to provide assistance, the ballot material will be delivered to Branches in individual workplace packs. Each workplace pack will contain the required number of ballot papers relevant to that particular workplace. (Please note this will be based on the members listed on the CWU membership system as at 8th May 2013).

The ballot papers (which will be individually numbered and bar coded by the independent Scrutineer) will be accompanied by a pre-paid return postal envelope. To facilitate distribution, the individual member ballot material will be placed in a plain unnamed envelope. The local Branch is responsible for identifying the individual who will allocate the ballot papers in each workplace. This can be the Branch Secretary or another CWU official including the Local Representative.

Return of Ballot Papers

The purpose of this type of ballot is to engage members at their workplace and Branches should encourage members to complete and return the ballot papers immediately, or as soon as possible through the postal system. It is also permissible under this type of consultative ballot for Branches to receive the completed ballot papers back from the members in the workplace on the day of the visit and return them immediately on block to the independent Scrutineer.

Remote Workplaces/Logistical Difficulties

In recognising the logistics involved and the fact that some Branches cover a very challenging geographical area, we are providing the facility for members in remote/smaller workplaces to have their ballot papers posted to their home addresses. As a general rule of thumb, this should normally apply or workplaces with less than 20 members. It will be for Branches to organise their overall plan and determine which locations will fall into this category. It is also the responsibility of Branches to undertake the distribution of these ballot papers to members' home addresses. This alternative approach is designed as a practical way of assisting branches in dealing with the overall logistics of the ballot. It will also ensure that Branches can focus their visits on the larger workplaces.

The independent Scrutineer and the SDGS Department should be advised of any workplaces where the ballot will be undertaken through a fully postal vote. The SDGS Department will be available to advise Branches further on this aspect, although wherever possible Branches will be encouraged to carry out the ballot in the workplace.

Members on annual/sick leave

The facility also exists for Branches to distribute ballot papers to members on annual/sick leave direct to home addresses. Again it is the Branch who
will be responsible for undertaking this work. Branches should keep a record of members requiring this facility and advise CWU Headquarters and the independent Scrutineer accordingly.

CWU Ballot Hotline/Requests for additional ballot papers

As in any ballot requests are sometimes made for duplicate or additional papers due to accidental errors on the membership system, or movement of members between Branches etc. In these circumstances, Branches should immediately contact the independent Scrutineer via a CWU Consultative Ballot Hotline the number of which is as follows:
02380 867335. Any such applications should also be accompanied by the following information:

· Reason for request
· Member's name
· Membership number
· Workplace
· Correct postal address

The Ballot Hotline is only designed for specific enquiries relating to the issues set out under this heading. Any general ballot enquires should be undertaken through the SDGS Department in the normal way.

The questions on the ballot paper

There will be three questions on the ballot paper:

Do you oppose the privatisation of Royal Mail Group?
Do you support the CWU rejection of the company's pension proposal?
Do you support the CWU pay claim?

Each question will provide the opportunity for the member to vote either Yes or No. The ballot paper is bar coded in such a way that enables the independent Scrutineer to calculate and announce the result on each question separately.

Opportunity to recruit new members
As part of this exercise, Branches are encouraged to use the workplace ballot as an opportunity to recruit non-members. Any new members joining during the ballot period should have their forms processed in the normal way. However, they will be given the opportunity to immediately vote through special arrangements that have been agreed with the independent Scrutineer. This will involve the Branch contacting the Ballot Hotline number and in turn a ballot paper will be sent from the independent Scrutineer direct to the new member's home address.

Conclusion

The administration of an individual workplace ballot is bound to present many challenges. However, we have taken every practical step to ensure
the ballot can run as smoothly as possible. A consultative ballot does not need to conform to the same legal requirements as Election or Industrial



Action ballots. Nevertheless, we have opted for a process that will be overseen by an independent Scrutineer, therefore providing credibility and integrity to the process. It is crucial that Branches now put in place their local plans in line with the content of this LTB and ensure that every effort is made to maximise the turnout of this ballot.

Any enquiries on the application of the ballot should be directed to the SDGS Department. Enquiries on industrial matters associated with the ballot, should be directed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or lwright@cwu.org quoting reference number: 035.

Yours sincerely


Tony Kearns, SDGS

Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary

Dave Ward, DGS (P)

[tasape]

there shouldnt even be a ballott now were being "Floated on the Stock Market" we should all stick together and have a Full Rejection within the group to show Solidarity

[1969tonka]

Anybody get the parcelforce letter today asking us to vote against cwu ?

[iainwilson]

Anybody get the parcelforce letter today asking us to vote against cwu ?

Yes pal I got that letter from Gary Simpson. I also got a talk off of my line manager this morning telling me to vote however I saw fit. I just wish I knew what I was voting for or against because the privatisation is going to happen anyway

It's all a bit of a mess really init?

I also have no idea what the CWU pay claim is or why I'm getting letters detailing Royal Mails pay offer.

Also is parcelforce being floated as a separate company to Royal Mail?

[wowser]

Is parcelforce being privatised then?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Is parcelforce being privatised then?

I would have thought so.

[wowser]

We just got briefed about it all last night in work.

[bograt]

Still don`t know what pay offer for us is/was supposed to be or if we are being privatised. Really wish union remembered we existed occasionally.

[wowser]

Been told parcelforce have very good relationship with union. We usually get it october september anyway