LTB 263/20 - COVID-19 RECOGNITION PAYMENT

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 21 May 2020, 12:26

LTB 263/20

20th May 2020

Dear Colleagues,

£200 COVID-19 Recognition Payment

Further to LTB 254/20 and the attached Joint Statement circulated on 15th May 2020, Branches/colleagues should be aware that the DGS(P) department has received a number of enquiries relating to the qualifying criteria for this payment. I have formally raised these issues with the business and further dialogue is continuing.

Branches/colleagues must however remember that it was only following pressure from the union nationally that management decided to make a payment at all and therefore it is important to point out that the £200 payment is a one-off discretionary, non-contractual payment and not subject to the usual criteria in place for other lump sum payments – the most notable of which being the two Christmas lump sum payments.

The union will of course endeavour to ensure that as many members as possible receive all or part of this discretionary payment, but it must be remembered that the main focus of this payment is to acknowledge colleagues who have worked throughout the current COVID-19 crisis and continue to do so.

We should also not lose sight of the very real challenge the union and its members face due to the loss of letter traffic and the impact this has had on Royal Mail’s financial position. Equally it is of the utmost importance that we establish a framework for high level talks to resolve our current dispute and our 2020 pay claim.

The DGS(P) Department will ensure that Branches are provided with additional updates as further developments occur. In the meantime Branches are asked to circulate this LTB as widely as possible and to please stay safe.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 21 May 2020, 13:30

it must be remembered that the main focus of this payment is to acknowledge colleagues who have worked throughout the current COVID-19 crisis and continue to do so.

Or another way of looking at it is if less people had been stupid and gone to work with symptoms maybe less people would have died.

Just a thought Terry before you start handing out medals for presenteeism.

smok3y666 · Post by **smok3y666** » 21 May 2020, 14:19

Loos of letter traffic? I keep seeing this posted here and there but in reality? Do they just listen and believe what RM tell them?

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 21 May 2020, 14:22

smok3y666 wrote:Loos of letter traffic? I keep seeing this posted here and there but in reality? Do they just listen and believe what RM tell them?

No they have the figures from the machines.

ebbzie · Post by **ebbzie** » 21 May 2020, 14:38

clashcityrocker wrote:
smok3y666 wrote:Loos of letter traffic? I keep seeing this posted here and there but in reality? Do they just listen and believe what RM tell them?
No they have the figures from the machines.

Are these the same figures that they say have been dropping by loads every year? If these figures were correct we would now be delivering about 10 letters per walk each day

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 21 May 2020, 14:55

ebbzie wrote:
Are these the same figures that they say have been dropping by loads every year? If these figures were correct we would now be delivering about 10 letters per walk each day

Only if you can't do basic maths.

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 21 May 2020, 15:05

ebbzie wrote:
clashcityrocker wrote:
smok3y666 wrote:Loos of letter traffic? I keep seeing this posted here and there but in reality? Do they just listen and believe what RM tell them?
No they have the figures from the machines.
Are these the same figures that they say have been dropping by loads every year? If these figures were correct we would now be delivering about 10 letters per walk each day

How many people/walks have you lost in your office? The letters have dropped and so have the people sorting and delivering them so we don't see much or in some case any reduction in workload

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 21 May 2020, 15:16

anyone who can't see that the letters have ''dropped off a cliffedge'' is deluding themselves. believe me, i would be the first to say it if it wasn't true. but they have dropped dramatically this last few months.

Frankie15 · Post by **Frankie15** » 21 May 2020, 15:43

Woody Guthrie wrote:
it must be remembered that the main focus of this payment is to acknowledge colleagues who have worked throughout the current COVID-19 crisis and continue to do so.

My question is.. If payment is due to people who have worked throughout and I'm guessing not to anyone who went out with symptoms or whatever. What about the ones who actually tested positive for Covid 19 and went sick through no fault of their own?? I for one tested positive and am 100% positive I contracted it on delivery.

2yearpostie · Post by **2yearpostie** » 21 May 2020, 16:23

daveyeff wrote:anyone who can't see that the letters have ''dropped off a cliffedge'' is deluding themselves. believe me, i would be the first to say it if it wasn't true. but they have dropped dramatically this last few months.

They will have, 70% of companies have been closed since March.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 21 May 2020, 16:49

ebbzie wrote: well in the 20 years i ve been here they have been dropping 10% a year , so you do the maths you sarcastic pr**k

Show me where anyone has said they have been dropping by 10% each year.
The figure usually quoted for the past few years is 5/6%.
A drop of 5% for 5 years does not equate to a 25% drop.
It certainly doesn't equate to your 10 letters/walk.

Post by **IloveMYredTROLLEY!** » 21 May 2020, 17:13

But aren't we officailly "a parcel delivery firm managing a decline in letters"?

worktotime · Post by **worktotime** » 21 May 2020, 17:47

daveyeff wrote:anyone who can't see that the letters have ''dropped off a cliffedge'' is deluding themselves. believe me, i would be the first to say it if it wasn't true. but they have dropped dramatically this last few months.

do you think , I must be deluded then as the post boxes I empty on my delivery have been as full as xmas as it was the only way people could contact each other , so are they counts just stamped mail ? and its not just down to the letter counts what about call rates ? I could be going to every house and delivering 1 letter and not 2 - 3 , BUT the parcels have also gone through the roof .

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 21 May 2020, 18:07

not long ago just about every duty in our office was getting 3 trays each day(some were getting 4) except tuesdays which was 1 and a half. now, we are getting 1 to 1 and a half per day. and tuesdays about 3 quarters full. tuesday gone i had 235 letters in me tray. the only reason i had plenty of work was cos the duty hadn't went out since the previous thursday. our nearest neighbouring offices are exactly the same. yes i definitely think they've dropped massively. packets, as you say though are through the roof. i used to be the first to shout out they were liars and their figures were shite. but now, im afraid its a reality.

sindba · Post by **sindba** » 21 May 2020, 18:32

In all honesty I don't have a problem with the money only going to those who have actually worked.

At least those isolating are / were safe at home, which is worth a lot at a time like this.

It wasn't announced in advance, so doesn't really encourage presenteeism.

(Disclosure - I don't get the money myself)