CSS merger

postmanbobby · Post by **postmanbobby** » 29 Jun 2016, 12:43

Hi, I have a question another office is to merge with us and we will have their CSS staff join ours. The reps say there will have to be a resign even though we can accommodate the staff with 4 vacant duties and we believe this doesn't constitute major change as none of our duties have changed. The higher union reps say there as to be a resign and that the merger office will have first pick because their machines started 6 months before ours. Is this right?. Thanks in advance.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 29 Jun 2016, 14:00

postmanbobby wrote:Hi, I have a question another office is to merge with us and we will have their CSS staff join ours. The reps say there will have to be a resign even though we can accommodate the staff with 4 vacant duties and we believe this doesn't constitute major change as none of our duties have changed. The higher union reps say there as to be a resign and that the merger office will have first pick because their machines started 6 months before ours. Is this right?. Thanks in advance.

Is this other office within your resourcing area or out side?

postmanbobby · Post by **postmanbobby** » 29 Jun 2016, 14:20

I believe so the merging office is about 10 miles away within the same area postcode although 2 different sectors our office is in the south sector the office to merge with us is in the north sector. Thanks again.

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 29 Jun 2016, 14:56

potentially one way to throw a spanner in the works, how long have those duties been vacant?

also any change your office is not happy with, instruct the rep to lodge a stage 1 disagreement over it, the rep or area rep do not need to agree with your position but should still do their job and fight any changes you are not happy with

postmanbobby · Post by **postmanbobby** » 29 Jun 2016, 15:08

The vacant duties have been created to accommodate the 2 new machines we are getting from the office that are merging with us. Area reps say this constitutes major change and a repick although I have looked at the agreement and although the times have changed by 30 mins this doesn't stop any one attending for their shift nothing as been altered in their work pattern and not a third of duties have changed.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 29 Jun 2016, 17:05

CSS duties afaik are classified as specialist duties. There is also pay protection to factor in

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 29 Jun 2016, 17:31

postmanbobby wrote:The vacant duties have been created to accommodate the 2 new machines we are getting from the office that are merging with us. Area reps say this constitutes major change and a repick although I have looked at the agreement and although the times have changed by 30 mins this doesn't stop any one attending for their shift nothing as been altered in their work pattern and not a third of duties have changed.

The CSS staff that are merging with your office are classed as surplus employees and under MTSF as " space Phoenix" states are pay protected and based on their allowances previously held. My opinion is if the vacant duties accommodate the CSS employees merging and this is their placement as a suitable job offer then there is no need to disrupt other staff in a repack as there is no percentage of duties altered to warrant a resign as under the way forward agreement. You have mentioned a 30 minute difference so I am getting the impression that the staff merging under pay protection may have to be paid a higher shift allowance than they are actually working and RM is taking the easy way out with a full duty resign. This may be classed as business driven hanger rather than a major change but to totally disrupt staff who are already experienced in their present duties with no change against the paying out of allowances not being worked needs to be challenged by the union and area level or higher.

superdazzy · Post by **superdazzy** » 29 Jun 2016, 20:40

You mentioned the other office getting first pick, surely this should still be done on seniority if you do have a repick?

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 30 Jun 2016, 11:44

superdazzy wrote:You mentioned the other office getting first pick, surely this should still be done on seniority if you do have a repick?

The employees from the other office doing css duties are getting to pick first because they may have held their allowances for a longer period than the other css employees. RM will avoid paying double pay protection where its possible.