CWU REPS BRIEFING ISSUE 2: UPDATE ON TALKS WITH ROYAL MAIL GROUP

[POSTMAN]

CWU REPS BRIEFING
ISSUE 2: UPDATE ON TALKS WITH ROYAL MAIL GROUP

TO ALL CWU REPS
Following on from Issue 1 of the CWU Reps Briefing we are now able to give an update on discussions that have been taking place with the employer on a range of issues.
We ask that you share the information within this briefing with all members.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE
We are pleased to report that significant progress has been made that removes Royal Mail Group’s executive action and two joint statements have been issued. Full details were shared via LTBs 215 and 216 and the CWU has secured:

• • An improved migration process from the old standards to the new – benefitting thousands of CWU members.
  • A delay in the implementation of the statutory sick pay arrangements until October 1st (originally August 1st).
  • The right to appeal and have CWU representative at those appeals for AR1 and AR2 warnings.
  • Ongoing discussions and reviews of the policy through the national joint working groups.
  • A commitment from Royal Mail to negotiate a new Collective Agreement by the end of September.

Briefings on the changes will now be prepared for all CWU representatives.

MAIL CENTRE SURPLUSES
The discussions on surpluses have been ongoing and are now at a crucial stage. We have made progress and further talks are scheduled this week. We fully recognise the urgency of the situation for the members involved and have made this clear to Royal Mail. We will report further developments as soon as we have them.

BUSINESS RECOVERY, TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH AGREEMENT
Quality of Service across the UK is at its worst level ever. Nothing will change until Royal Mail stop attacking their best asset – the workers. You feel it in the offices every day, the media cover it constantly, customers cannot rely on Royal Mail anymore and mass reputational damage is being done to the company.
Long term staff are leaving, new entrants are walking straight out of the door and the industry is rife with agency staff. If Royal Mail are to survive then now must be the turning point. Please be assured that we continue to raise these issues at the highest level of the business.
The company have indicated to us that they would like to jointly engage the regulator to discuss USO compliance and initial discussions have taken place between us and Royal Mail Group. At this point there is nothing significant to report other than the CWU will ensure all members input into our strategy in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we would urge members to ignore any rumours on this subject. If there are any developments, we will report them to you straight away. Be assured though - we are not in the market for letting Royal Mail off the hook on quality and USO compliance. Any discussions on the future of the USO will be fully in line with the agreement i.e. what is the best way to secure its future, whilst also recognising the need to develop our joint project on expanding the role of postal workers.

NATIONAL BRIEFING
An online briefing was held on 21st August This briefing updated your Branches on the issues above as well as recruitment and the Lord Falconer Independent Review. We have asked Branches to update you locally.

YOUR ROLE AS CWU REPRESENTATIVES
As with issue 1 of the briefing we ask that you share this information with your members in person, via office WhatsApp groups and social media pages.
Representatives should also be prepared for your Branch to commence intensive recruitment activity in the coming weeks aimed at targeting new entrants to the business. We would encourage you to pick this up in the workplace with immediate effect so we can hit the ground running.
Resources and materials will be available to support this later in the week.
COMMUNICATIONS AND SUPPORT
We are now close to launching our online portal which will give you access to regular updates on all aspects of the Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth agreement. We are confident this will be a useful tool for members.
We are also scheduling in a series of live Q&As with members in the coming weeks to ensure we rebuild levels of engagement across our social media channels.

SUMMARY
You will have no doubt seen the announcements from Royal Mail on changes to their Regional Operations Director management team. We are sure these changes will continue to take shape, particularly with the appointment of a new CEO in the very new future.
We have made it clear we need to see a complete change in attitude from the employer at all levels. That said, we know what really counts is what we do as a union and as a membership. If we are organised, together and communicate in the most effective way possible then we will overcome all the challenges we currently face.

Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Andy Furey
Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

[zz666]

Make up your mind cwu. You either want to keep the uso or you don't.

[guardianangel]

The horse has bolted they got off the hook long time ago,there is no such thing as a USO our office hasnt complied since the start of Covid ,this uso thing is now just a myth .Your trying to recruit members because you lost so many,ive heard the non union guys telling the newbies to save their money,its going to be a hard sell.

[SpacePhoenix]

In MCs if there are supernumeraries on all shifts then where can the supernumeraries go other than deliveries?

[funkflex55]

The horse has bolted they got off the hook long time ago,there is no such thing as a USO our office hasnt complied since the start of Covid ,this uso thing is now just a myth .Your trying to recruit members because you lost so many,ive heard the non union guys telling the newbies to save their money,its going to be a hard sell.

Spot on. USO is long gone where I work too. If it's not tracked or special then it the customer will wait until it arrives. And cutting the USO will make no difference, RM will still do whatever the f**k they want because ofcom has about as much power as CWU. None.

[scoobymunster]

In MCs if there are supernumeraries on all shifts then where can the supernumeraries go other than deliveries?

Would this mean MCs cutting use of agency staff or would the cuts still have MC staff redeloyed elsewhere?

[Gary55]

did i read it wrong but i thought we would be paid ssp for 2 days after the first absence not 3/4 for subsequent absencses . please tell me i have it wrong and the union has not joined royal mail in screwing sick people into the ground

[SpacePhoenix]

In MCs if there are supernumeraries on all shifts then where can the supernumeraries go other than deliveries?

Would this mean MCs cutting use of agency staff or would the cuts still have MC staff redeloyed elsewhere?

That's the crazy thing, even though we've got supernumeraries on each shift, each shift is still using at least half a dozen casuals each day

[Acca Dacca]

did i read it wrong but i thought we would be paid ssp for 2 days after the first absence not 3/4 for subsequent absencses . please tell me i have it wrong and the union has not joined royal mail in screwing sick people into the ground

The terms were fully paid for first absence and SSP for first two days of second absence but SSP rate is actually zero for first two days

So unpaid for first two days of second absence

[Stella102]

So what happens to the supernumery in MC what is the progress being made?

[N|M]

So what happens to the supernumery in MC what is the progress being made?

Right now nothing but talks are still going on

MAIL CENTRE SURPLUSES
The discussions on surpluses have been ongoing and are now at a crucial stage. We have made progress and further talks are scheduled this week. We fully recognise the urgency of the situation for the members involved and have made this clear to Royal Mail. We will report further developments as soon as we have them.

[Navalron]

In MCs if there are supernumeraries on all shifts then where can the supernumeraries go other than deliveries?

Would this mean MCs cutting use of agency staff or would the cuts still have MC staff redeloyed elsewhere?

That's the crazy thing, even though we've got supernumeraries on each shift, each shift is still using at least half a dozen casuals each day

Well obviously your union is really f****d then. Never would I let that crap go on.

[guardianangel]

Haven't heard a thing from any union officer in our work place since they tricked people into voting yes,looks like they got what they set out to achieve,self preservation.

[denhamhoop]

In MCs if there are supernumeraries on all shifts then where can the supernumeraries go other than deliveries?

Would this mean MCs cutting use of agency staff or would the cuts still have MC staff redeloyed elsewhere?

That's the crazy thing, even though we've got supernumeraries on each shift, each shift is still using at least half a dozen casuals each day

Only half a dozen on Nights this week it's been around 20 each night and a couple of people have transferred from other shifts onto nights yet I'm still Supernumerary(Because obviously not enough work Hmmmmm) methinks "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"

[RTP]

The biggest elephant in the room is the new starter contracts. Not pointing the blame at either side here, but until that is addressed the ship will continue to sink.