latest update from CWUHQ

[poopants]

No. 709/07
Ref 60000
Date: 7 August 2007




TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS







Dear Colleague



ROYAL MAIL DISPUTE



You will be aware that Royal Mail has undertaken a series of workplace briefings covering correspondence that was sent to me at 19.10 on Monday 6th August (a copy of the correspondence is attached).



Amongst other initiatives, the correspondence confirmed that Royal Mail have moved back from executive action on the 13th August and have instead announced that later start times and Network changes are now planned for 17th September and 1st October, respectively. The correspondence also contained a proposal on protection of allowances.



It is self evident that these latest moves by Royal Mail have come as a direct result of the impact of strike action and Union pressure.



Following this latest correspondence we have contacted Royal Mail and have in turn been contacted by the TUC.



The Postal Executive will be meeting tomorrow to consider these developments and further information will be sent out to Branches in due course.



In the meantime, it is essential that Branches continue to support the announced strike action.



Yours sincerely


Dave Ward

Deputy General Secretary (P)



Martin Collins

Assistant Secretary



Ray Ellis

Assistant Secretary



Bob Gibson

Assistant Secretary



Terry Pullinger

Assistant Secretary









Mr D Ward

Deputy General Secretary

Communication Workers Union

150 The Broadway

Wimbledon

LONDON

SW19 1RX










35-50 Rathbone Place

LONDON

W1T 1HQ



Tel: 020 7016 2828

Fax: 020 7250 2955 tom.melvin@royalmail.com

www.royalmail.com


Dear Dave



Employee Share of Savings Scheme (ESOS)



As you know, the ESOS agreement is up for joint review this year. We have taken a good look at the agreement and come to the view that it is unlikely that we would want to continue with the arrangements included in the agreement.



We believe the ESOS agreement has outlived its purpose as we now have other ways to reward people for their contribution to the business such as the local productivity schemes and the newly launched ColleagueShares.



We would like to conduct the joint review and come to a conclusion by the end of August. If, after that review, we decide not to continue with the scheme we will of course give you due notice.



There is currently £23.5 million ring-fenced in the ESOS pot and we look forward to discussing with you how this money is put into pay.




We will continue to fund the costs of the drivers' pay deal, and that will leave a small surplus

recurring each year out of projects currently contributing to ESOS. A schedule is attached.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

Yours sincerely





Tom Melvin

Operations Director

Royal Mail Letters
























Mr Dave Ward

Deputy General Secretary

Communication Workers Union

150 The Broadway

Wimbledon

LONDON

SW19 1RX










35-50 Rathbone Place

LONDON

W1T 1HQ



Tel: 020 7016 2801

Fax: 020 7016 2955

kevin.d.green@royalmail.com




Dear Dave



Network 2007 and later start times



As you know, we have been discussing the impact on the 56mph legislation, in numerous meetings, since the beginning of the year.



We are now being inundated with questions from our people about the planned changes to network and the knock-on impact in delivery. Understandably, everyone wants to know what's going on and what it means for them and we want to end this uncertainty for our people.



The new speed limit for 7.5 tonnes vehicles means we need to change our operation to ensure we comply with the law and maintain full connectivity in the network. The legislation comes into effect in January and we need to be ready well before then. We also need to contain the additional costs involved.



Your national officers have seen the detail of what we are planning and the changes needed to the network. Local managers have been trying to talk with their CWU representatives about what the changes mean locally.



Slower vehicle speeds mean later arrivals in delivery, which in turn require later start times for some of our people. Not all delivery office attendances will need to change and we will still need a number of people to continue to come in early to complete necessary indoor work and deal with firms' deliveries. The details are being worked up at each office and managers are continuing to keep CWU representatives in the picture.



These changes will not impact our existing service specification and we will continue to make the last letter drop by 1400 in towns and 1500 in rural areas. This effectively means weekday duty finishes of 1415 or 1515 respectively. We will endeavour to allow an earlier finish than this on a Saturday.



In order to comply with the January legislation, and to make sure the new ways of working are embedded in plenty of time for Christmas, we will be introducing the revised delivery attendances on 17 September and Network 2007 a fortnight later on the 1 October 2007.



We have always said that we would protect shift payments for up to three years in line with MTSF arrangements and that the cash equivalent would flow into a future pay package thereafter. However having listened to our people and our managers, it is clear that postmen and women earning the allowance would rather it was protected for them than see it spread out across a wider constituency.



Since this will cost the business exactly the same amount of money, we are proposing to CWU that we give individuals personal rights to the early shift allowance as long as they stay in their current role. Known as 'grandfather rights' this would happen once the changes have been deployed successfully in the office. This would apply to people in delivery who have been earning the allowance for six months or more or who have it protected under MTSF.



Given the operational need to make these changes, we would welcome your views on this proposal to allow people to keep their own allowance.



I want everyone to have reasonable notice of the changes and our managers will talk with everyone about what is happening. They will also discuss the plans with local CWU representatives as I'm keen to have their involvement in making the changes as smooth as possible. We will be talking about the impact of the changes in this office - and will consider people's personal circumstances such as childcare responsibilities and second jobs before we confirm the new duties.



Local discussions will need to take place over the next few weeks to give people the clarity they need over the changes and sufficient notice of their new attendance times.

I look forward to discussing this proposal with you at the earliest possible opportunity.

Yours sincerely





Kevin Green

P&OD Director, Letters





cc: Bob Gibson, Martin Collins, Terry Pullinger










Mr D Ward

Deputy General Secretary

Communication Workers Union

150 The Broadway

Wimbledon

LONDON

SW19 1RX








Royal Mail

35 Rathbone Place

London

EC1V 9HQ



Mobile: 07850 763122

paul.tolhurst@royalmail.com


Dear Dave



Sunday Collections



Royal Mail has taken the decision to cease street box collections on Sundays. Customer demand for Sunday collections is very low, less than one per cent of mail volumes, and the cost of handling the mail collected is disproportionately high. The unit cost of the small volume involved is about four times more than for mail posted at other times.



Sunday collections are not part of our universal service obligations. Nevertheless we have consulted with Postcomm and Postwatch on our proposals.



Implementation of this change will enable us to reduce costs with little impact on customers. We will give notice of the change to customers; those bulk customers who justify and require a Sunday collection as an advance 'Monday service' will continue to receive a collection. We are discussing an implementation date with Postcomm of around the end of October this year and will advise you of this once it has been agreed.



Jeff Street is leading the project. He will be happy to meet CWU national officers to explain what is involved and take views on how we progress things locally. There are unlikely to be any duty changes required, however, there will be a reduction in scheduled attendances. Local managers will discuss the details for their units with the CWU representatives, and provide due notice for the cessation of Scheduled Attendances in line with the current national agreement.

Yours sincerely





Paul Tolhurst

Network Director

[dvbuk55]

Good post - very informative - I wonder if the talks are a further indication that RM are willing to negotiate - 13th Aug for Later Starts has now become 17th September and cessation of Sunday collections has gone from 30th September to end of October - in addition the MTSF agreement for shift allowance has now become Grandfather allowance - pretty apt really in my case.

There is the excess of ESA to be taken into consideration from natural wastage. And the ring fencing of the moneys we are already owed for future pay deals? is this another case of jam tomorrow?

[rockypostie]

have u got the proper document so i can print off and put up at work.

cheers

[stubaby]

ALL OUT this is it accept this and we are f****d

[billypants]

this shows our action is having the desired effect and is a step in the right direction, but, there is a long way to go yet before we reach an acceptable compromise so keep the faith and keep strong. . . . together we are getting there

[Wild Rover]

Do not read too much into this.

Having googled "speed limit for 7.5 tonnes + 56mph", there's not a great deal on it.

As quoted earlier, the strike is obviously having an impact, and a little backing down, perhaps, by RM today ;)

[Spartacus]

ALL OUT this is it accept this and we are f****d

Agreed 100%

[stubaby]

From a PEC member there is movement from Royal Mail.
I cannot divulge much but they are crippled nationally and have admitted they are in crisis.
Apparently there IS more money how much i do not know and there have has been movement they are crapping their pants.
Hold on tight boys!!

[BELIAL]

totally agree.RM's tactics have backfired. later start exec. action was intended to make strikers feel powerless and insignificant.In my small town DO the people extremely upset by this were the strike breakers. They somehow got the idea that the union produced pro forma was in short supply, and that submission of which was a legal requirement to opt out of later starts.

[disheartened]

From a PEC member there is movement from Royal Mail.
I cannot divulge much but they are crippled nationally and have admitted they are in crisis.
Apparently there IS more money how much i do not know and there have has been movement they are crapping their pants.
Hold on tight boys!!

I know you cant say much to perk us up,but speaking for myself and a few close collegues the lack of correspondence from CWU is a tad disappointing,but you seem to be on the ball or know someone with their finger on the pulse,try your best to keep us informed without dropping yourself in the mire

Cheers

Steve

[Wild Rover]

Perhaps he can't say much, but he's said enough already. It'd be interested to know of more Breaking News you have.

You may be a PEC member, but you didn't have to post what you already have on here - spill the beans - and stop pussyfooting around your original post; or are you a windup?

Considering thousands of us are relying on new info (and you seem to have it), i'd be grateful if you could divulge more.

[billypants]

From a PEC member there is movement from Royal Mail.
I cannot divulge much but they are crippled nationally and have admitted they are in crisis.
Apparently there IS more money how much i do not know and there have has been movement they are crapping their pants.
Hold on tight boys!!

excuse my ignorance but what is a "PEC member"

and Wild Rover, if this guy is trying to help us, is it really wise to insult him, lets at least give him the benefit of the doubt

[Wild Rover]

Negative billypants.. He's come on here and divulged some pretty interesting stuff. He's obviously in the know and likes this site, so i don't see why he can't post more...

Nothing insulting about my post. CWU and RM haven't really divulged much recently, stubaby seems to have a mark on them, so why not go the whole way and spill all?

Btw, a PEC is Professional Executive Committee ;)

[stubaby]

Perhaps he can't say much, but he's said enough already. It'd be interested to know of more Breaking News you have.

You may be a PEC member, but you didn't have to post what you already have on here - spill the beans - and stop pussyfooting around your original post; or are you a windup?

Considering thousands of us are relying on new info (and you seem to have it), i'd be grateful if you could divulge more.

I am not a pec member by a long shot or a wind up but its very important to carrying on supporting the strike until any movement is announced.
Both sides are keeping their cards close to their chests as neither side wants to be seen giving any ground.
As i have said there has been some movement but what, i do not know, but any kind of movement is a start.
All will become clear at a guess by close of play tomorrow, because the CWU have said all along if there are talks there will be NO strike.
What i do know is Royal Mail are in the s**t and they have explained this to the CWU and that they need to steady the ship and find a way out of this mess.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

PEC is I belive the top line of Union Bosses Dave Ward etc - What the initials are I would guess Postal Executive Committee or something.