LTB 290/20 - 200 £ COVID-19 Recognition Payment

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Jun 2020, 13:05

LTB 290/20 - £200 COVID-19 Recognition Payment

No. 290/20
4th June 2020

Dear Colleagues,

£200 COVID-19 Recognition Payment

Further to LTB 263/20 circulated on 20th May 2020, colleagues are advised that a response has now been received from Royal Mail which provides clarification on their qualification criteria for this payment.

For ease of reference the questions raised by the union and the company’s response is listed below:

Q 1: Will the payments be made in the spirit of the Christmas guidelines for such payments?

A: “We make two separate payments to employees in the run up to Christmas. You are right that there are some parallels with one of these, the Christmas Supplement that is paid to just OPGs, albeit not directly the same.

This is a one-off discretionary non-contractual payment. This payment is based on appropriate eligibility criteria linked to colleagues contracted duty hours.”

Q 2: In respect of part timers and the pro-rata nature of the payment (especially given the payment is focused on those who worked), will part-timers be paid for the actual hours they have worked?

A: “For all eligible employees the calculation for the payment is based on contracted duty hours. Additional hours worked on scheduled attendance and overtime does not count towards the payment for part time or full time employees. However, part-time employees that varied their contractual hours and worked full-time for a four-week period during the period (between Monday 16 March 2020 and Sunday 10 May 2020) will be paid the one-time Covid-19 payment in full.”

Q 3: Attendance – To be eligible will an individual need to have attended work for the entire 16th March – 10th May 2020 period?

A: “As we encouraged employees to take booked annual leave, employees who were absent due to annual leave do not have these days or weeks deducted for the purposes of calculating any payment.

The payments are proportionate. Ultimately this is not about judgement on those who could not work but a positive recognition of those who could and did support.”

Q 4: Equality Act 2010 – Is there a potential risk that the qualification criteria could be discriminatory by excluding those who have been absent from work during the 16th March/10th May period due to conditions which mean they are likely to be considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010? Is there a further potential risk of discrimination claims by excluding those who have had to take unpaid leave due to caring responsibilities as in many cases this will be female employees.

A: “We believe our approach complies with all equality laws”

I trust the above information provides colleagues with clarification on the company’s position with regards to their qualifying criteria for the £200 recognition payment, although I appreciate the response may be disappointing for some members. It should however be remembered that we are dealing with a one-off, non-contractual, discretionary payment made to recognise the contribution of those members who were able to work and support the operation under the status of key workers.

Colleagues are however advised that I have written again to the company with the request that they reconsider the criteria for our part time colleagues who worked in excess of their conditioned/contractual hours, in light of the fact that many colleagues would not have had the opportunity to vary their conditioned hours of attendance at short notice. Branches will be updated accordingly once a response is received.

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)

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Jun 2020, 13:07

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 04 Jun 2020, 16:37

I don't know about cats and pigeons - a picture of a steaming pile of turd would be more apt.
It is a bit like a Monty Python spoof of a trade union but not as funny. In fact not funny at all.

Q. But what if someone was off because they needed to self isolate.
A, Then they've been a very naughty boy......

Q. But £200 isn't very much
A. I remember when we lived in hole in road we'd have killed for £200

Q. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to our concerns.
A. It's passed on! This union is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! 'It's a stiff! Bereft of life, It rests in peace. Its metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'Its off the twig! It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-UNION!!

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 04 Jun 2020, 17:09

I always wanted to be a lumberjack...

Bridgeman · Post by **Bridgeman** » 04 Jun 2020, 17:17

How much of this bonus should a p/timeron on a 24hr contract be expected to receive? Albeit a p/timer who worked between 25 to 30 hrs overtime a week in this time period

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 04 Jun 2020, 17:20

All that's missing is the option to opt out.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 04 Jun 2020, 17:22

Bridgeman wrote:How much of this bonus should a p/timeron on a 24hr contract be expected to receive? Albeit a p/timer who worked between 25 to 30 hrs overtime a week in this time period

Roughly £130 ish before tax and NI

Decky Boy · Post by **Decky Boy** » 04 Jun 2020, 17:41

One must remember that without the tenacity of the CWU there would be no payment ! The payment per individual is never going to be a life changing amount and indeed should be seen rather as a positive PR exercise for Royal Mail.

Collectively this gesture will cost us ( the vast majority of us are shareholders) £25 million...and is £25 million well spent in my book !

Finally , I harken back to earlier posts on this subject ( where I was rightly sensored by admin on this site ) ... it's true...even the parasites among us ( those colleagues who do not belong to the CWU, pay subs and who scab during strikes ) will all benefit from the £200 payment....though perhaps pro rata ?

This extraordinary one off payment is for soldiers only. Mambie pambies, snowflakes, chancers and parasites will likely get what they deserve ?

olilew · Post by **olilew** » 04 Jun 2020, 17:50

So people that had to self isolate are going be penalised for doing the right thing and protecting their colleagues?

Decky Boy · Post by **Decky Boy** » 04 Jun 2020, 18:01

olilew wrote:So people that had to self isolate are going be penalised for doing the right thing and protecting their colleagues?

I'm afraid so... or so it would seem ??? Those individuals weren't dancing toe to toe with the beast ? If you were self isolating you weren't in one of the front line trenches...there was no risk of being gassed...or shelled...or being ordered to go over the top into no man's land ! Rather , self isolators were bedded down in a quaint Belgian village hospital...far from the madding crowd...a million miles away from madness...

...at least that's how I see it ...

2yearpostie · Post by **2yearpostie** » 04 Jun 2020, 18:19

And remember its only for union members who work for royal mail. If you are a royal mail mail worker but not a member and have taken the same risks you get nothing,0,nowt.

Personally i think nobody should be getting anything,at least that way its fair.

Decky Boy · Post by **Decky Boy** » 04 Jun 2020, 18:26

Everyone in Royal Mail qualifies for this payment if they meet the relevant criteria.

Post by **CillitBang** » 04 Jun 2020, 18:27

2yearpostie · Post by **2yearpostie** » 04 Jun 2020, 18:36

Decky Boy wrote:Everyone in Royal Mail qualifies for this payment if they meet the relevant criteria.

Everything ive read says cwu grade only.

maisymoo04 · Post by **maisymoo04** » 04 Jun 2020, 18:39

I can not wait for all the P/T to start moaning again love it