CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS 2015/16

[ripio]

So, at Christmas the decision is made by the Government, but at New Year Royal Mail decide to move the bank holiday in Scotland despite the fact that the nationally recognised holiday in Scotland is on the Monday?

Yes, otherwise in Scotland we would need to work on the Saturday (2nd) in order to have the Monday off. Otherwise we would have a statutory extra days holiday entitlement to the rest of the UK. Hardly fair on our colleagues in rest of country?

No we wouldn't have a 'statutory extra days holiday', they could have declared the saturday 2nd january a non-service day in Scotland as they have done for saturday 26th december in the whole UK, they had already applied for and been granted exemption from the USO obligations for those two saturdays.
We would have had an extra non-service day, which may or may not be unfair on the rest of the country, but at least it would be treating two apparently equal situations equally.

[Pokemon Postmon]

So, let me get this straight, our union has agreed that a minority of staff will have to work an extra 8 hours in the run up to Xmas just for the fun of it?! Whether or not it's a Bank Holliday or a 'No Service' day, the same rules should apply.

[Martin Walsh]

The Union has nothing to do with declaring a non service day. Non services days have always been declared when the boxing day falls on a Saturday since I joined in the 1980s. The only difference now as opposed to then is that you used to have work the attendance hours you normally worked on the Saturday on the other days you were at work. It was called claw back. The union stopped this a few years ago.

The vast majority of staff will benefit from the non service day as they will get a full weeks pay but work less hours than their contracted hours. For those who have the Saturday off they will still have the Saturday off. If you are a rotating rest day than you have a credit for the Monday which is the official bank holiday.

Royal Mail would potentially call it a service day if it cost them that much as a non service day and I am sure everyone would be pleased to work on the 26th !

[TrueBlueTerrier]

So, let me get this straight, our union has agreed that a minority of staff will have to work an extra 8 hours in the run up to Xmas just for the fun of it?! Whether or not it's a Bank Holliday or a 'No Service' day, the same rules should apply.

No

The CWU have no input on what RM and Ofcom decide is a non service day, and if they did do you really think 5/6ths of members would be willing to go on strike, or take any action because some are still get saturday off as normal, just that all the others are as well. I would, without hesitation, if there was a ballot, but in the real world there is no chance.

[michie1810]

What about the backshift who are loseing out on the bank holiday

[rambo1]

What about the backshift who are loseing out on the bank holiday

Exactly! Cwu shafting one sixth of its members. Thought the u stood for union! It's the I'm alright jack attitude by some that are having their day off that week PLUS another on the 26th that really irks me. Well us that are Saturday off STILL get our day off so what's the problem. It's a joke that's what the problem is.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

its not the CWU that's shifting the workforce, its Royal Mail, and if people can't tell the difference I really despair.

If you think its unfair then start doing something about it, the CWU can only act on the basis of membership concerns. If you think something is unfair then you have to tell them. Blaming them on an unofficial forum when they are not the ones who made the decision, or even had any input, is pointless without doing something about it in the real world.

[k979aaa]

its not the CWU that's shifting the workforce, its Royal Mail, and if people can't tell the difference I really despair.

If you think its unfair then start doing something about it, the CWU can only act on the basis of membership concerns. If you think something is unfair then you have to tell them. Blaming them on an unofficial forum when they are not the ones who made the decision, or even had any input, is pointless without doing something about it in the real world.

Well the union is only as good as it's members.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

its not the CWU that's shifting the workforce, its Royal Mail, and if people can't tell the difference I really despair.

If you think its unfair then start doing something about it, the CWU can only act on the basis of membership concerns. If you think something is unfair then you have to tell them. Blaming them on an unofficial forum when they are not the ones who made the decision, or even had any input, is pointless without doing something about it in the real world.

Well the union is only as good as it's members.

mu point exactly.

[rogersh]

LTB 769/15 - Christmas & New Year Arrangements 2015/16


No. 769/15
Ref: 170 & 706A.06
Date: 2nd December 2015




For the immediate attention of:


All Postal Branches


Dear Colleagues


CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS 2015/16


Please find attached for the information of Branches the agreement in respect of Christmas and New Year arrangements for 2015/16 which was endorsed by the Postal Executive at its meeting on the 1st December.


Branches will be aware that discussions this year have been extremely difficult and have led to significant delay in reaching an agreed position. Given the unusual nature of this year's arrangements a number of issues have had to be addressed.


In relation to Enquiry Offices it has been agreed that on Christmas Eve closing times will be no later than 17:00 and on New Year's Eve offices will close at normal times except those who are normally open later than 18:30 who will close no later than 18:30, unless locally both parties agree to remain open until normal closing times.


Branches will also wish to note that Saturday 26th December has been sanctioned as a Non USO/Non Service day for Royal Mail by Ofcom. This means that there will be no deliveries or collections on that day.


However, it is not deemed to be a Bank or Public Holiday. The Bank Holidays fall on Friday, 25th and Monday, 28th December. There will be no days in lieu granted for staff not due to attend on the 26th.


The decisions to move Bank Holidays are made by the Government not Royal Mail or the CWU hence the 26th is not a Bank Holiday the Government have moved it to the Monday. This can be seen on the following link http://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.


Under the terms of the Postal Services Act and Royal Mails license obligation (USO) they are due to deliver and collect 6 days a week excluding Sundays and Bank or Public Holidays, which would have meant that as the 26th is not the Bank Holiday Royal Mail would normally be obliged to deliver and collect on the 26th. This is the reason why Royal Mail supported by the CWU made an application to Ofcom for a Non USO/Non Service day. The application was then put out to public consultation and at the end of the consultation Ofcom made a decision to grant the non USO/non service day. They also agreed that this would continue in future when the 26th falls on a Saturday.


With regard to the 26th December, non Service/USO day Para 3.2 confirms the joint commitment that for Inland operations where staff are required to attend it is on a voluntary basis with any shortfall made up by use of other resourcing options. It should be noted however that the expectation is that the requirement to attend will be very low and staff who do attend will be paid at SA rate for all hours worked on the 26th December.


The exception to this is HWDC where the nightshift is required to attend in order to meet service requirements and Bank Holiday Premium will be paid for the hours worked up till Midnight.


By far the most difficult aspect to resolve has been the arrangements for night workers for week commencing 28th December, due to the unusual circumstances where there are non consecutive bank holidays as the second Christmas Bank Holiday and the New Years Day Bank Holiday fall within the same working week.


This led to an impasse on the requirement for conditioned hours in that week, with the business asserting that as the Sunday night was a rest day staff would be awarded a Bank Holiday Credit for the rest day and would therefore have to attend on both the evenings of the 28th December and the 1st January (excluding Scotland) on conditioned hours. We were unwilling to accept this and argued that the business was attempting to balance conditioned hours over more than one working week.


The final agreed position on this matter is contained in revised paragraphs 3.7, 3.8 and 3.10. Within these we have now achieved:


Ø Improved wording on maximising employee aspirations for time off by utilising the full range of resourcing options (Para 3.7)
Ø Acceptance that where agreed resourcing arrangements result in attendance beyond conditioned hours, staff may either elect to receive a lieu day or the appropriate overtime rate for the additional hours (Para 3.8)
Ø That any resultant overtime on either Bank Holiday will attract normal Bank Holiday rates (option A or B) (Para 3.10)


Branches should note that the pay rates quoted in the agreement, i.e. SA rates, are for OPG grades and that for other grades the reciprocal amount will be paid.


Additionally we have amended the previous wording that night operations will commence at the normal time which has been included in past years, which should allow discussions on a later start time where that is locally desirable.


Finally the wording in relation to Scotland recognises that similar arrangements to in effect move the Bank Holiday entitlements from Monday, 4th January to Saturday, 2nd were agreed in Scotland 2009/10. The new wording outlines that attendance and remuneration arrangements should mirror those agreed in 2009.


Branches should note that as in 2014 arrangements for Network Drivers have been concluded in a separate agreement and are contained in LTB 766/15.

Branches are requested to ensure that our representatives and members are made aware of this LTB and the attached arrangements.


Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:


Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 706A.06.

Bob Gibson, Assistant Secretary email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org. Quoting reference number 170.



Yours sincerely




Davie Robertson Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary CWU Assistant Secretary

"With regard to the 26th December, non Service/USO day Para 3.2 confirms the joint commitment that for Inland operations where staff are required to attend it is on a voluntary basis with any shortfall made up by use of other resourcing options. It should be noted however that the expectation is that the requirement to attend will be very low and staff who do attend will be paid at SA rate for all hours worked on the 26th December."

At our RDC staff who would normally work on a Saturday (mainly Tues to Sat shifts) have been detailed to attend (IN ATTENDANCE) Saturday 26 December as normal, in agreement with the cwu area distribution rep. Apparently they (ARE UNLIKELY) to resource enough agency staff to cover. So much for "...It is on a voluntary basis".

NOTE; Bracketed capitals have been edited in to clarify exact terminology used.

The actual notice states "Christmas working arrangements" . "Following national agreement duty attendance schedule summarised below" Attendance for duty & SA .... Tues to Sat . IN ATTENDANCE on 26 December.
Still confused at the apparent contradiction of VOLUNTARY & IN ATTENDANCE.

[demon]

What about a rotation week person he will have all ready worked the 8 hours to have that Saturday off and a rotation day off person will not ie there day off Thursday they still get the Saturday that canot be right as a rotation week person is paying for a day of when he should be off any way

[Martin Walsh]

This is from Dale Lang one of Royal Mail IR national team responding to questions from staff and mangers.

I think many companies would do as you suggest and move everyone's rest day to Saturday in the week of the 26th December. However we can't do this as we gave a commitments in the Christmas 2004 agreement which remains part of the Agenda for Growth contract with the CWU.

Saturday 26th December has been confirmed as a non USO day and that means people normally scheduled to work on the day will be given the day off and not required to make up the hours they would have worked. This is the consequence of what the CWU describes as the NO CLAWBACK AGREEMENT . The CWU agreed to fund the recurring costs of not rescheduling the hours out of a national productivity pool ( PBS)

The agreement also confirmed people could retain their normal rest days unless they volunteered to work overtime or switched to other days and I don't believe anyone would agree to move their rest day to Saturday 26th December.

People not scheduled to work on 26th December ( and instead taking their rest day ) are not given a day in lieu.

In addition because the 26th is not a bank holiday no SA holiday pay should be paid for Saturday.

[k979aaa]

This is from Dale Lang one of Royal Mail IR national team responding to questions from staff and mangers.

I think many companies would do as you suggest and move everyone's rest day to Saturday in the week of the 26th December. However we can't do this as we gave a commitments in the Christmas 2004 agreement which remains part of the Agenda for Growth contract with the CWU.

Saturday 26th December has been confirmed as a non USO day and that means people normally scheduled to work on the day will be given the day off and not required to make up the hours they would have worked. This is the consequence of what the CWU describes as the NO CLAWBACK AGREEMENT . The CWU agreed to fund the recurring costs of not rescheduling the hours out of a national productivity pool ( PBS)

The agreement also confirmed people could retain their normal rest days unless they volunteered to work overtime or switched to other days and I don't believe anyone would agree to move their rest day to Saturday 26th December.

People not scheduled to work on 26th December ( and instead taking their rest day ) are not given a day in lieu.

In addition because the 26th is not a bank holiday no SA holiday pay should be paid for Saturday.

Well if they choose to make my rest day the 26th all goodwill will come to an end and a very bitter one at that.

[POSTMAN]

This is from Dale Lang one of Royal Mail IR national team responding to questions from staff and mangers.

I think many companies would do as you suggest and move everyone's rest day to Saturday in the week of the 26th December. However we can't do this as we gave a commitments in the Christmas 2004 agreement which remains part of the Agenda for Growth contract with the CWU.

Saturday 26th December has been confirmed as a non USO day and that means people normally scheduled to work on the day will be given the day off and not required to make up the hours they would have worked. This is the consequence of what the CWU describes as the NO CLAWBACK AGREEMENT . The CWU agreed to fund the recurring costs of not rescheduling the hours out of a national productivity pool ( PBS)

The agreement also confirmed people could retain their normal rest days unless they volunteered to work overtime or switched to other days and I don't believe anyone would agree to move their rest day to Saturday 26th December.

People not scheduled to work on 26th December ( and instead taking their rest day ) are not given a day in lieu.

In addition because the 26th is not a bank holiday no SA holiday pay should be paid for Saturday.

So what exactly is the above saying,all the reserves can not be put on the Sat rest day which will be the norm for most?
And if so why hasn't it been put out?

[rogersh]

LTB 769/15 - Christmas & New Year Arrangements 2015/16


No. 769/15
Ref: 170 & 706A.06
Date: 2nd December 2015




For the immediate attention of:


All Postal Branches


Dear Colleagues


CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS 2015/16


Please find attached for the information of Branches the agreement in respect of Christmas and New Year arrangements for 2015/16 which was endorsed by the Postal Executive at its meeting on the 1st December.


Branches will be aware that discussions this year have been extremely difficult and have led to significant delay in reaching an agreed position. Given the unusual nature of this year's arrangements a number of issues have had to be addressed.


In relation to Enquiry Offices it has been agreed that on Christmas Eve closing times will be no later than 17:00 and on New Year's Eve offices will close at normal times except those who are normally open later than 18:30 who will close no later than 18:30, unless locally both parties agree to remain open until normal closing times.


Branches will also wish to note that Saturday 26th December has been sanctioned as a Non USO/Non Service day for Royal Mail by Ofcom. This means that there will be no deliveries or collections on that day.


However, it is not deemed to be a Bank or Public Holiday. The Bank Holidays fall on Friday, 25th and Monday, 28th December. There will be no days in lieu granted for staff not due to attend on the 26th.


The decisions to move Bank Holidays are made by the Government not Royal Mail or the CWU hence the 26th is not a Bank Holiday the Government have moved it to the Monday. This can be seen on the following link http://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.


Under the terms of the Postal Services Act and Royal Mails license obligation (USO) they are due to deliver and collect 6 days a week excluding Sundays and Bank or Public Holidays, which would have meant that as the 26th is not the Bank Holiday Royal Mail would normally be obliged to deliver and collect on the 26th. This is the reason why Royal Mail supported by the CWU made an application to Ofcom for a Non USO/Non Service day. The application was then put out to public consultation and at the end of the consultation Ofcom made a decision to grant the non USO/non service day. They also agreed that this would continue in future when the 26th falls on a Saturday.


With regard to the 26th December, non Service/USO day Para 3.2 confirms the joint commitment that for Inland operations where staff are required to attend it is on a voluntary basis with any shortfall made up by use of other resourcing options. It should be noted however that the expectation is that the requirement to attend will be very low and staff who do attend will be paid at SA rate for all hours worked on the 26th December.


The exception to this is HWDC where the nightshift is required to attend in order to meet service requirements and Bank Holiday Premium will be paid for the hours worked up till Midnight.


By far the most difficult aspect to resolve has been the arrangements for night workers for week commencing 28th December, due to the unusual circumstances where there are non consecutive bank holidays as the second Christmas Bank Holiday and the New Years Day Bank Holiday fall within the same working week.


This led to an impasse on the requirement for conditioned hours in that week, with the business asserting that as the Sunday night was a rest day staff would be awarded a Bank Holiday Credit for the rest day and would therefore have to attend on both the evenings of the 28th December and the 1st January (excluding Scotland) on conditioned hours. We were unwilling to accept this and argued that the business was attempting to balance conditioned hours over more than one working week.


The final agreed position on this matter is contained in revised paragraphs 3.7, 3.8 and 3.10. Within these we have now achieved:


Ø Improved wording on maximising employee aspirations for time off by utilising the full range of resourcing options (Para 3.7)
Ø Acceptance that where agreed resourcing arrangements result in attendance beyond conditioned hours, staff may either elect to receive a lieu day or the appropriate overtime rate for the additional hours (Para 3.8)
Ø That any resultant overtime on either Bank Holiday will attract normal Bank Holiday rates (option A or B) (Para 3.10)


Branches should note that the pay rates quoted in the agreement, i.e. SA rates, are for OPG grades and that for other grades the reciprocal amount will be paid.


Additionally we have amended the previous wording that night operations will commence at the normal time which has been included in past years, which should allow discussions on a later start time where that is locally desirable.


Finally the wording in relation to Scotland recognises that similar arrangements to in effect move the Bank Holiday entitlements from Monday, 4th January to Saturday, 2nd were agreed in Scotland 2009/10. The new wording outlines that attendance and remuneration arrangements should mirror those agreed in 2009.


Branches should note that as in 2014 arrangements for Network Drivers have been concluded in a separate agreement and are contained in LTB 766/15.

Branches are requested to ensure that our representatives and members are made aware of this LTB and the attached arrangements.


Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:


Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 706A.06.

Bob Gibson, Assistant Secretary email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org. Quoting reference number 170.



Yours sincerely




Davie Robertson Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary CWU Assistant Secretary

"With regard to the 26th December, non Service/USO day Para 3.2 confirms the joint commitment that for Inland operations where staff are required to attend it is on a voluntary basis with any shortfall made up by use of other resourcing options. It should be noted however that the expectation is that the requirement to attend will be very low and staff who do attend will be paid at SA rate for all hours worked on the 26th December."

At our RDC staff who would normally work on a Saturday (mainly Tues to Sat shifts) have been detailed to attend (IN ATTENDANCE) Saturday 26 December as normal, in agreement with the cwu area distribution rep. Apparently they (ARE UNLIKELY) to resource enough agency staff to cover. So much for "...It is on a voluntary basis".

NOTE; Bracketed capitals have been edited in to clarify exact terminology used.

When the LTB was posted earlier this month, in conjunction with the notice "in attendance", the premise must have been that enough agency staff could not be resourced, as opposed to UNLIKELY.
Staff whose duty is on the Saturday 26th would be paid regardless if they worked or not, so it may suit not to resource enough agency staff!. So our hopes (ASPIRATIONS) have been dashed - we are working Saturday 26th.