LTB 026/24 - Royal Mail/CWU Joint Communication Covering The Review Of The 30-Minutes Flexibility Agreement (RMG/CWU Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement - Appendix 1)

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-026-24-roya ... ppendix-1/

LTB 026/24 - Royal Mail/CWU Joint Communication Covering The Review Of The 30-Minutes Flexibility Agreement (RMG/CWU Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement - Appendix 1)
No. 026/24

18th January 2024



Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail/CWU Joint Communication Covering The Review Of The 30-Minutes Flexibility Agreement (RMG/CWU Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement – Appendix 1)

Branches and Representatives will be aware of the commitments contained in the Business Transformation, Recovery and Growth Agreement in relation to Appendix 1, section 2, 30-Minutes Flexibility Agreement, meeting customers’ needs, outlined here: –

In parallel with the seasonal variation approach the Joint Agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU committed to Jointly Review the approach to the use of 30 Minutes Flexibility, previously agreed in the 2007 Pay & Modernisation Agreement and in line with the 2013 Joint Statement covering Fairness, Dignity & Respect in Delivery. This joint review will be to understand how this approach can address workload changes at a route level on a daily basis and develop a revised agreement which will support the efficient delivery of the USO.

The review will gather information relating to how the existing policy is being applied and what arrangements are in place in units, particularly where this approach has been formalised and adopted. The review will also consider and determine how SI/SO data can be used with applying this flexible arrangement.

In line with this, talks were held with Royal Mail during October and November of last year on how best to move forward with such a joint review. However, whilst progress was made and we had in place a working draft in terms of moving this forward, we were unwilling to conclude a final proposed position until we had reached a joint understanding with Royal Mail surrounding the outstanding point in terms of how Seasonal Variation has impacted and changed individual Annual Leave entitlements in the PSP system, which was outlined to Branches in LTB 229/23 (Letter To Branches); further noting that the agreement on Seasonal Variation is clear in that this should not have any detrimental impact on members booked or planned annual leave for 2023/2024, or carried over leave into the next leave year.

Accordingly, and given that progress has now been achieved on this outstanding point along with some others in terms of Seasonal Variation, as reported in LTB 017/24 issued on 15th January, we have equally now concluded and have agreed to the attached Joint Communication (with the two listed Annexes), which we believe are self-explanatory.

In setting out this Joint Communication it is appropriate to highlight that we have agreed to a limited review process which will be undertaken by our Divisional Reps and Royal Mail RODs. This process will require local COMs and CWU Reps to complete a short electronic survey, with 4 units per ROD area to be selected from a set list of 120 units (based on the feedback given under the Quality Of Service & Resourcing Checklist In Line With The RMG/CWU Joint Statement – June 2023: Section 2.5 Improving Quality Of Service & USO Compliance).

The process is designed to cover all ROD areas ensuring an equal balance of COM/CWU Rep involvement and to further ensure that we have balanced feedback from units that have confirmed that they ‘do’ or ‘do not’ currently operate the 30-minute flexibility agreement.

The details in terms of the survey and this Joint Communication along with the approach have already been outlined to Divisional Reps, who in turn will hold further joint launch sessions within the ROD areas for the selected units with the aim of all completed electronic surveys to be returned by Friday 9th February. Following this, the feedback will be jointly reviewed at national level in order to then conclude a joint report by 8th March.

Whilst the National Joint Communication is clear in relation to the process to be taken and the timelines involved, we also remain clear that any review of the current 30-minute flexibility agreement is based on the direct principle that it is to be used and only called upon for genuine and unforeseen operational reasons, that it does not become a regular occurrence and is not used as a means to fill any operational gaps of Royal Mail’s own making.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 230.03, email address: JRODRIGUES@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,



Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

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[RTP]

Flexible agreements are supposed to work both ways. This review and its conclusion should have taken place before messing about with our working hours yet again from the start of next week. Also what ever happened to the notice period given for change of hours. If memory serves it was around 3 to 4 weeks. Instead we have been given a matter of days notice.

[deadbox]

The CWU are now finished in Royal Mail , they simply reflect whatever RM want to happen within the workplace and issue a statement to that effect. Local reps justify the loss of out T&C’s by saying that it’s better than what RM said they originally wanted. I remember a time when the union won improvements in our working conditions & a pay rise - now they just trade away our T&C’s for a couple of quid extra a week. I’m still a member , but I’m wondering why !

[enskied]

And another of our terms flushed down the by the union top brass. The can't keep hold of anything.

[LouBarlow]

Flex has been a thing since 2007. Were you all moaning about it back then? If people here have even had to flex since then I will be amazed.

That said, having it run in parallel with seasonal variation start/finish time changes is clearly ridiculous. You need an honours degree to work them out now, they change so frequently. Adding flex to the mix isn’t going to help.

[tramssirhc]

Just as the time owed was about to be repaid the CWU play yet another blinder and agree to limitless flexibility.

[ted_e_bear]

"Whilst the National Joint Communication is clear in relation to the process to be taken and the timelines involved, we also remain clear that any review of the current 30-minute flexibility agreement is based on the direct principle that it is to be used and only called upon for genuine and unforeseen operational reasons, that it does not become a regular occurrence and is not used as a means to fill any operational gaps of Royal Mail’s own making."

To me a genuine reason would be the lorry breaking down on route to the DO, mind you would they spin it and say well it was unforeseen that someone went off sick so you have to flex to cover the duty if that was the case then it's also a thumbs down from me I'm knackered enough as it is.

[enskied]

Flex has been a thing since 2007. Were you all moaning about it back then? If people here have even had to flex since then I will be amazed.

That said, having it run in parallel with seasonal variation start/finish time changes is clearly ridiculous. You need an honours degree to work them out now, they change so frequently. Adding flex to the mix isn’t going to help.

I have flexed several times before, however it was optional and as I could do it I did. Then management tried to crack on you had to do it if they said. The last times after strike days. I've never done it for a manager who tried to tell you you had to.
Now thanks to CWU looks like the gaffers get to abuse this as they see fit.

[Rommagic]

The early ones?.

[pieoftheday]

I have never been asked to flex 30mins, so how does it work? If they ask me to flex 30 mins on a Monday can I start 30 mins later Tuesday?

[enskied]

I have never been asked to flex 30mins, so how does it work? If they ask me to flex 30 mins on a Monday can I start 30 mins later Tuesday?

You were supposed to be given back the 30 mins within 7 days. The crap managers used to adjust your start time rather than letting finish 30 mins early.
So it never was fair.

[postslippete]

I have never been asked to flex 30mins, so how does it work? If they ask me to flex 30 mins on a Monday can I start 30 mins later Tuesday?

Yes, and as far as I'm aware flexing is entirely voluntary. They cannot force you to work past your scheduled finish time if you don't want to.

[scoobydo79]

I have never been asked to flex 30mins, so how does it work? If they ask me to flex 30 mins on a Monday can I start 30 mins later Tuesday?

Be careful on this. I came in 30 minutes later on the following day and was told the time came out of my prep time and not my sorting time.Never did it again lol

[enskied]

I have never been asked to flex 30mins, so how does it work? If they ask me to flex 30 mins on a Monday can I start 30 mins later Tuesday?

Yes, and as far as I'm aware flexing is entirely voluntary. They cannot force you to work past your scheduled finish time if you don't want to.

Was voluntary.... Now debatable.

[postslippete]

The business appears to be pushing flexing and looking for areas where it has been successfully implemented with a possible view to extending it towards other delivery offices.

In all honesty, I would be prepared to come in and flex 30 minutes earlier if it meant I could leave the office 30 minutes earlier. Hope this helps their survey.