Northampton Briefing – 1st & 2nd October

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 723/2008
Ref. 24202
Date: 24th September 2008



TO ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS





Dear Colleague

Northampton Briefing – 1st & 2nd October

Please find attached the following documentation.

Final Briefing Agenda
Pre reading material

We all know the National Briefing is taking place during a critical period.

The Hooper Review is imminent. Government lobbying has intensified. We are meeting the Managing Director of Royal Mail on the 25th September to discuss all aspects of Royal Mail’s modernisation plans and impress upon the company that the right way forward is for Royal Mail and CWU to immediately engage in meaningful negotiations.

All participants in the Hooper Review, including Royal Mail, Postcomm and CWU have accepted that the status quo for Royal Mail and CWU members is not an option.

Agreeing the right solution will be more difficult. Northampton is about all of us looking towards the future – not debating the past.

The following points are designed to place our pre reading document in its proper context.

1.The document is about being clear the challenges facing CWU are real and setting out the direction the Postal Executive intend to take. The document has been unanimously agreed by the Postal Executive.

2.At this stage it is a Briefing document for CWU Representatives, not the wider membership. Once we have received your feedback it will be our intention to use the document as a basis for a pamphlet to all individual members.

3.The document is designed to position the Union on the right side of modernisation by ensuring the future of the company is also driven by the needs of employees and customers as well as the needs of the business.

4.We know some of you face immediate concerns over the future of Mail Centres and we intend to address this at the Briefing and directly with the Managing Director of Royal Mail on the 25th September.




5.The National Officers will elaborate on the document during presentations at the Briefing

Please take time to read and carefully consider the document.

Finally, we would like to place on record our thanks for all the work put in by CWU Branches that made our demonstration and rally at the Labour Party Conference a great success. We look forward to seeing you on the 1st and 2nd October.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)



Northampton Briefing
1st & 2nd October
Agenda



WEDNESDAY 1ST OCTOBER



Tea & Coffee

1 pm
Introduction – Dave Ward DGS (P)

1.30 pm
What a Modernisation Agreement Looks Like?

2.00 – 4.00 pm
Bob Gibson, Outdoor Secretary presentation

Questions & Answer Session
Martin Collins, Indoor Secretary presentation
Questions & Answer Session
Terry Pullinger, Parcels & Logistics Secretary presentation
Questions & Answer Session
Tea & Coffee

4.00 – 4.30 pm
Andy Furey, POL Secretary presentation
Questions & Answer Session
Close

5.30 pm
Simpson & Millar Reception
6.00 pm

THURSDAY 2ND OCTOBER


A new employee benefits package

9.00am -11.00am
Dave Ward & Officers


Tea & Coffee

11.00 am – 11.30 am
Hooper Review-Billy Hayes, General Secretary

11.30 am -12.00 pm
Comms-Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications

12.00 pm -12.30 pm
What a Modern Postal Business Looks Like

12.30 pm -13.30 pm
Dave Ward


Close of Briefing

13.30 pm

[brothermagrew]

Yep and have you actually had a butchers at the 4 page pdf CWU Reps Briefing. It's there for all and sundry to view and yet they say the following. At this stage it is a Briefing document for CWU Representatives, not the wider membership.

[Big Daz]

Yep and have you actually had a butchers at the 4 page pdf CWU Reps Briefing. It's there for all and sundry to view and yet they say the following. At this stage it is a Briefing document for CWU Representatives, not the wider membership.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Yep and have you actually had a butchers at the 4 page pdf CWU Reps Briefing. It's there for all and sundry to view and yet they say the following. At this stage it is a Briefing document for CWU Representatives, not the wider membership.

No the PDF document won't open for me but that is funny

[Big Daz]

INTRODUCTION
The CWU faces considerable challenges.
The Postal Services Act 2000 has seen the rapid expansion of competition – threatening the Universal Service
and the future viability of the company.
Royal Mail’s current modernisation plans mean we face the prospect of thousands of job losses
and office closures across the Network.
The cost of providing good pensions remains a huge and growing problem – whilst the company’s
imposed new pension arrangements are unacceptable to the membership.
The Government’s position on Post Office closures remains unacceptable to the union and the vast
majority of the public.
Finally, the Worldwide Postal Market is now being adversely affected by the digital revolution and a world financial crisis.
We know the combined impact of the above mentioned is creating real anxiety and uncertainty for all CWU members
over their future.
Despite these difficult and pressurised times we are confident that if we continue to campaign it is
entirely possible to create a successful future for CWU members and the company.
The Postal Executive believe this cannot be achieved simply through industrial conflict. Crucially, a positive future
hinges on a Labour Government accepting their responsibilities to act now and provide political solutions.
The commitment agreed at Warwick 2 to maintain Royal Mail as both a wholly and integrated public sector organisation
has now been endorsed at Labour’s Annual Conference. Whilst this places us in a very strong position with Government
we must be absolutely clear that the Manifesto Statement in itself will not suffice. The Government must support this by
placing Royal Mail on a sound financial footing, including a pension solution.
02334 Published by the Communication Workers Union 2008
A COSTED SOLUTION THAT DELIVERS OUR AGENDA
We have put forward in our submission to the Review Team 3 key areas to improve Royal Mail’s
future financial viability.
Reopening the Price Control Mechanism in conjunction with new products and services – end the current access subsidy
– agree a mechanism for a USO Support Fund to be paid for by our competitors.
By comparison, Royal Mail has put in a submission asking for additional money to clear the pension deficit (anticipated
to grow in excess of £5.5 billion by the 2009 evaluation). Secondly, support the USO and close the financial gap in their
current Business Plan (£2.5 billion). Thirdly, an unquantified amount to assist in transformation of the business. We know
this maybe part of their agenda to pursue privatisation. We must also remember that the financial support they are seeking
does not include the cost of a new pensions deal or any of the benefits we want from a Modernisation Agreement.
However, the fact remains that pensions is the elephant in the room. If this cannot be solved, either
directly with Government or indirectly through the recommendations of the Review Team then the
company is never going to be financially viable going forward.
Therefore, the question everybody must face up to is how are we going to achieve a financial package that makes the
company viable and also delivers the union’s agenda?
To support any new financial package it is self evident that some of the existing Government money must now be put
to immediate and better use. This includes Colleagueshare and the Escrow account. We must also establish where the
money is going from the sale of Royal Mail’s property portfolio.
GETTING NATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS STARTED
Royal Mail’s current plan is being delivered on a piecemeal and disjointed basis. For example they claim the Mail Centre
Network is being developed Regionally and they have yet to finalise any plans for Delivery. This approach allows Royal
Mail to dictate the pace of both change and negotiations, whilst never giving us the full picture. In turn, this means it is
difficult to co-ordinate negotiations and achieve real benefits for our members.
Our Conference policy is to achieve a National Agreement that can deal effectively with modernisation and pensions.
Therefore, our immediate problem is how we move Royal Mail away from the piecemeal approach, particularly in Mail
Centres, into coordinated national negotiations. The union is due to meet Royal Mail’s Managing Director on the 25th
September and it is self evident that if Royal Mail refuse to engage with the union over the next couple of weeks then
we will have no alternative other than to prepare for a National Industrial Action Ballot.
SUMMARY
We are at a critical juncture.
The outcome of the Hooper Review is imminent. Direct lobbying of Government has and must continue to intensify
and we want immediate negotiations with Royal Mail over modernisation. Therefore, the purpose of the Briefing is to:
• Review developments since Annual Conference
• Set out, in more detail, how we intend to take forward Emergency Motion E12 and other relevant Conference Policies
• Jointly ensure we have an honest debate – receive your input and feedback – as a step towards any formal decision
making processes in the future
To assist in our deliberations we have attached 2 documents that provide further clarity on the Postal Executive’s
position. We need to know whether you support the approach and policies outlined in these documents.

[Big Daz]

THE CWU VIEW OF WHAT A MODERNISATION AGREEMENT LOOKS LIKE?

The Postal Executive accepts the modernisation of Royal Mail is both a necessity and a priority for the union.
However, this cannot be on the basis of Royal Mail’s current slash and burn approach. Instead, Royal Mail must work
with CWU to develop a joint vision of the future. This must benefit postal workers and customers as well as reducing
operational costs and increasing efficiency.
This can only be achieved if both parties immediately show a willingness to engage and reach
a negotiated National Agreement.
The Postal Executive accepts that we must fully embrace new technology/automation alongside safe working
practices and appropriate training.
■ The Postal Executive accepts that the impact of new technology/automation and increased efficiency
will mean the following:
• A potentially significant reduction in overall job numbers.
• A reduction in the overall number of Mail Centres and some new builds.
This must be subject to agreed rationale and criteria.
• More flexible delivery spans determined by the needs of the service and availability of modern
equipment. Door to Door must be integrated into normal workload.
• From a Network perspective we should pursue the policy of creating a total distribution company, defend
and develop the home market (total end to end provider), develop new geographical markets (global reach).
Move into markets with greater growth prospects (e-commerce etc).
■ A new employee benefits package covering the following:
• A reopening of pension negotiations to secure the best possible pension provision for existing staff
and new recruits in line with existing policy.
• Higher basic pay with the aim of securing £400 over an extended pay deal.
This would need to include pay simplification.
• A 35 hour net working week.
• A company with single status family friendly policies operating across all businesses.
■ A new job security package covering the following:
• Agreement to no compulsory redundancies with easier access to existing VR terms.
• A Government supported retraining package to provide employees with real choice over their futures.
• Improved relocation and ETE packages that reflect the significant changes in the company’s operational structure.
• A continuing resourcing mix of predominantly full and part time working on agreed terms with the union.


THE CWU VIEW OF WHAT A MODERN POSTAL BUSINESS LOOKS LIKE
• The Royal Mail Group must remain as a wholly publicly owned and fully integrated business.
The ability to continue as an end to end service provider is paramount.
• Royal Mail must be placed on a sound financial footing with a genuine ability to compete on a level playing field.
Regulation needs to be completely reformed. The key role of any future Regulator would be to ensure that the
Universal Service Obligation can never be placed at risk.
• The Royal Mail Group should have defined social obligations in legislation. This would ensure the company
is driven by the right balance between its commercial needs and those of its customers and employees.
• We want to see Post Office Limited develop as the shop front for Government services (both nationally
and locally), the retention of the Post Office card account (POCA) and the creation of a peoples’ universal bank.
• The Post Office Board needs major reform and modernisation. In future the Board would be made up of a balanced
number of non Executive Directors, Trade Union nominated Board Members and representatives
from consumers/communities.
• The company must develop a new range of products and services focusing on the opportunities that exist through
fulfilment and more tailored services linked to community based activities.
• Innovation and investment in new forms of hybrid and intelligent mail arrangements (data collection
and home collection).
• The company would require the best, safest and most modern equipment available.
Safe working practices would have a higher profile.
• The company would move away from punitive application of conduct, attendance and harassment procedures
to a more modern approach based on commonsense and the opportunity to nip issues in the bud.
• The Dignity and Respect Agenda would be jointly delivered by Royal Mail and the union in all workplaces. Royal Mail’s
interpretation of zero tolerance must be removed and a more sensible and fair approach taken in dealing with bullying and harassment procedures.

[dvbuk55]

That is certainly some agenda. All it needs is RM, Hooper and the Government to come on board and hey presto! Now where on earth has Toto gone, oh yes down the yellow brick road.

[johnnyp]

You dont think its a goer then mate Still its a start and at least the CWU are coming up with ideas Is it to late for these visions of success Or will we be saved and turn the business back round and all be able to retire at 50 on pensions fit for kings.

[brothermagrew]

Agenda or not, to me and I would suspect many others this is one of the most relevant parts of the briefing document.

The union is due to meet Royal Mail’s Managing Director on the 25th
September and it is self evident that if Royal Mail refuse to engage with the union over the next couple of weeks then
we will have no alternative other than to prepare for a National Industrial Action Ballot.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

That is certainly some agenda. All it needs is RM, Hooper and the Government to come on board and hey presto! Now where on earth has Toto gone, oh yes down the yellow brick road.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Actually now having read through that it makes me quite hopeful, lets hope the membership comes on board and the PEC stick to their guns on this one. In my opinion this is the time to push the Unions and members agenda just as Labour have appeared to a little to the left, and just as :lfo is getting ready to leave. If we waste this opportunity the Union will become even weaker than some think it already is.

[BELIAL]

THE CWU VIEW OF WHAT A MODERNISATION AGREEMENT LOOKS LIKE?

The Postal Executive accepts the modernisation of Royal Mail is both a necessity and a priority for the union.
However, this cannot be on the basis of Royal Mail’s current slash and burn approach. Instead, Royal Mail must work
with CWU to develop a joint vision of the future. This must benefit postal workers and customers as well as reducing
operational costs and increasing efficiency.

■ The Postal Executive accepts that the impact of new technology/automation and increased efficiency
will mean the following:
• A potentially significant reduction in overall job numbers.
• A reduction in the overall number of Mail Centres and some new builds.
This must be subject to agreed rationale and criteria.
• More flexible delivery spans determined by the needs of the service and availability of modern
equipment. Door to Door must be integrated into normal workload.

Now guess which bits RM will agree to?Am I paying these people to represent me? Not for much longer

[Edward Hunter]

Thats our door to door money gone then IMO deregulation has made no sense for the government. Like it or not RM are now getting more work out of us. We were capable of turning a profit in the old days, think what Brown and co would rake in nowadays.But hey whats the sense in having a well run public service, providing good steady secure employment for tens of thousands and making a profit, when you can deregulate and give up all the profits to private share holders of other companies who access your delivery network for a pitance

[johnnyp]

Its what we do with that D2D money thats the key mate,how about funding a shorter working week and safeguarding full time jobs.

[guvenor]

rumour has it rm want 4hr +del spans to safegaurd f-t employment on town walks
and 5hr rurals
anyone haerd or know about this