The New Government

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No: 517/10
Ref: GS 13.0
Date: 11/06/10


To all Branches)




To:    The Branch Secretary


The New Government

Following the General Election results the General Secretary wrote to all members of Parliament that were elected on May 6th 2010.

The purpose of which was to convey our congratulations and also introduce ourselves to them as the CWU - which is particularly important as the 2010 general election resulted in an especially large number of new Members – from all parties. We also congratulated those Members that had secured re-election.

As was notified to you in LTB 505/10, we offered our commiserations to our CWU supported MPs who did not get re-elected and those CWU Parliamentary panellist who were unsuccessful. We also offered congratulations to those in the CWU group that were successfully returned to Parliament.

Upon the formation of the Coalition Government on Monday 10th May 2010 and the subsequent announcement of “The Coalition: our programme for Government” - we wrote on the 14th May 2010 to Vince Cable MP seeking a meeting.

The meeting with Vince Cable MP, appointed Secretary of State at Business, Innovation and Skills, (BIS) took place on Monday 7th June.

Ed Vaizey MP who is now Minister for Culture was also in attendance.






The CWU team comprised of Andy Kerr, Deputy General Secretary Telecoms and Financial Services sector, Dave Ward, Deputy General Secretary Postal Sector, Stephen Bell, Head of Policy and the General Secretary, Billy Hayes.

The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the CWU to the new Government Ministers and give a brief outline of the sectors we cover and CWU issues, which are sector specific, Broadband, Royal Mail Group.

Both Deputy General Secretary’s gave specific details of the current position in their sectors.

The Government confirmed that they intended to introduce a first reading of the bill to privatise Royal Mail in October 2010.

The intention was that Government would own a minority stake in Royal Mail Group. The remainder being shared between other shareholders.

The idea of a strategic partner is still being examined and Richard Hooper is being consulted.

However it may well be a complete stock market flotation. Royal Mail pensions is also being considered along similar lines to that, which was proposed by Hooper. The Treasury is being consulted in this matter.

It was confirmed that the review of public sector pensions does not involve Royal Mail. Likewise, the review of Chief Executive’s pay in the public sector – would not involve Royal Mail.

Although our attention was drawn to the fact the remuneration arrangements for Moya Greene, newly appointed RM Chief Executive was considerable less than that enjoyed by her predecessor, Adam Crozier.

The General Secretary has written to Will Hutton who is conducting a review on this for the Government - see separate LTB 518/10.

Since the meeting we have written to BIS confirming our understanding, copy attached.

Any enquiries on this LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Department by email bhayes@cwu.org or 020 8971 7241.

Yours sincerely






W HAYES
General Secretary

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Will Hutton
Executive Vice Chair
The Work Foundation
21 Palmer Street
London
SW1H 0AD

GS/DC/1.0


9th June 2010


Dear Mr Hutton,

Fair Pay Review

It has recently been reported that you have agreed to head up a fair pay review on behalf of the Government.

The CWU welcomes the broad thrust of the need to examine and provide comparison on pay. In particular we believe that a number of changes are needed.

A)Fair Pay Review should look at public and private sector pay.
B)The relationship between the lowest paid person in an organisation up to Chief Executive should be looked at.
C)All organisations should be required by law to publish pay details of all individuals.

We have previously in the past supported a high pay commission.

We are required by law to publish the pay of the General Secretary. As a organisation we track how well the CWU performs on pay.

Attached is information on the above, already referred to.

1)CWU GS Pay
2)CWU Pay Handbook

Yours sincerely,

Billy Hayes
General Secretary

[POSTMAN]

the review of Chief Executive’s pay in the public sector – would not involve Royal Mail.