LTB 666/19 - Delivery of Election Material - National Agreement and Revised Unit Payment

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 666/19 - Delivery of Election Material - National Agreement and Revised Unit Payment

No. 666/2019

20th November 2019

DELIVERY OF ELECTION MATERIAL – NATIONAL AGREEMENT AND REVISED UNIT PAYMENT

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB No. 637/2019, detailing the position regarding the Delivery of Election Material, the Postal Executive have now endorsed a nationally agreed position with the employer that has realised an immediate raise in the unit payments for delivery of election material.

Over a series of three meetings in recent weeks, including the day after the High Court case, the CWU made the strongest possible case to have an immediate increase in the rates and also to begin to redress the imbalance of rates that are manifested across the country at present.

Royal Mail, for their part, came to the discussions equally adamant that they did not believe that the case for an increase was one that had sufficient merit and was outside of the annual pay round talks. In addition, they went on to further state that essentially, they could not understand that election material is not part of normal workload and therefore also not subject to unit payment for their delivery, which of course, we did not accept.

The discussions were obviously influenced by the High Court judgement last week, given the advent of the General Election upon our members. That said, the employer proposed an increase of 3% on all unit payments across the board. The negotiating team immediately rejected that offer in the room, explaining that it did not meet with what we saw as an acceptable increase, nor did it address the disparity of payments in any way, shape or form.

The union invited the company to adjourn and reflect on that position and to come back with an increased offer without delay, given that poll cards are in the offices as we speak and candidate materials are imminent. We met the employer again on Monday the 18th November and received an improved offer, which is summarised as follows:

An immediate increase to all unit payments of 5% in global overall paybill terms for the delivery of election material.
An incremental effect on the increase that means greater increases percentage wise for the lower ranges of the unit payments, in line with our policy – meaning 7% for the lower end of the scale and 3% for the higher earners.
A re-affirmation that whilst pressure overtime cannot be booked for election material, members can still accrue overtime for excesses in normal workload that means that completion cannot be effected on that day, in line with normal national agreements.
A joint National review on the product and payments method during 2020.

The Postal Executive believe that after some years without an increase in the unit payment, this agreement, detailed in the attached letter from Kevin Thompson, National Delivery Director, gives our members a rise in the payments and also begins to address the position on differing unit payments levels.

The Postal Executive believe that this is the best agreement that could have been reached through negotiations with Royal Mail, given where we currently are on a National basis with the employer.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference number: 535.09.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

LTB 666.19 – Delivery of Election Material – National Agreement and Revised Unit Payment https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-xdijktd-jtfltzjh-i/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Letter from Kevin Thompson 19_11_19 https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-xdijktd-jtfltzjh-d/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Delivery of Election Material National Agreement https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-xdijktd-jtfltzjh-h/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View Online https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-xdijktd-jtfltzjh-k/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[broughts]

7% rise for 13 years great job CWU not!!

[POSTMAN]

they could not understand that election material is not part of normal workload and therefore also not subject to unit payment for their delivery

Let's be honest, election s**t, D2D s**t the fact the CWU got a payment for them back in the day is a master stroke.

[work]

they could not understand that election material is not part of normal workload and therefore also not subject to unit payment for their delivery

Let's be honest, election s**t, D2D s**t the fact the CWU got a payment for them back in the day is a master stroke.

Aye, but a ball-ache all the same if you cannae be arsed with the hassle...as a pt, my frame is done and good to tie-up at 0900 start...all the 'extra' election stuff is solely that: 'extra'. I'm not paid 'extra' for d2d's...it's just extra (non-nested) faff/weight/walking.

The election bumf is just as much a faff/weight/walk. Poll cards are the only thing that makes any sense and even that is forced extra-time upon the postie: as a timed delivery within so many days. One cannot finish on time and deliver the extra poll cards (multi occupancy) without data capture saying that your average speed per walk is equivalent to then doing full-time absorption...

My point is, more work per se. Not helpful to working to contract, huh. Don't forget RM are making £30 million outa this s**t. I think it's a typical short sighted quick quid personal approach (for some posties) versus getting our genuine all year round efforts recognised...They expect our 100% efficiency, but, cannot afford to pay us our OCT 2019: 2.6% rise Gross p.A. Smacks of bullcrap...obliged to do extra because it's paid=forced over your time. Cheers for that!

[Biker Mouse]

How about sorting out equal payments across all delivery offices? The difference in payments for election material between offices is galling. All payments should be equal, no matter which part of the country you deliver to. Make it a national agreement not a local one!

[rambo1]

How about sorting out equal payments across all delivery offices? The difference in payments for election material between offices is galling. All payments should be equal, no matter which part of the country you deliver to. Make it a national agreement not a local one!

Exactly. Well said.

[Celgar]

Our DOM told us the other day we have been given a 5% increase in payments for all the election materials.
RM are quibbling over this again as well as every other issue regarding how we do the job. It doesn't matter too much how they pay us as long as they pay us for all the time we work but they don't even want to do that. Prepping D2Ds and election leaflets isn't a two minute job - it takes considerable time especially if you get six or seven contracts and have hundreds if not closer to a thousand delivery points then election mailings on top. That time has to be paid for otherwise RM could be accused of advocating modern slavery.