POL: National Agreement Working Towards A Prosperous Network

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 812/09 - POL: National Agreement: Working Towards A Prosperous And Long Term Crown Office Network

No: 812/09
Ref: 134
Date: 17 September 2009


TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS




Dear Colleague


POL: National Agreement: Working Towards A Prosperous And Long Term Crown Office Network


As a consequence of the above National Agreement, Branches will be aware that we have been working with POL to introduce key elements of the agreement in a consistent and fair way. This is necessary in order that Crowns have a long term sustainable future.


The Permanent Duty Review Agreement and other factors have contributed to surplus hours and supernumerary employees being present in some Crowns. These include the following;



* External recruitment of FSS above the staffing template
* PostShop closures following Crown Office Refurbishment Programme (CORP)


As part of our National Agreement, the following measures were put into place:



* Targeted Voluntary Redundancy
* Ceasing some Specific Event Contracts

* Redeployment into suitable vacancies in other Crowns


Redeployment Process
Where Crowns have surplus hours or supernumerary employees, volunteers will be asked to come forward for redeployment. If there are no volunteers, the decision on who should be redeployed will be based on a combination of the following:



* Cost of member's excess travelling expenses
* Their potential travelling time
* Their personal circumstances


It has been agreed with POL that around 100 members from Crowns which have surplus hours will be redeployed to nearby branches where there are vacancies or Specific Event Contracts are ceasing.


In this respect, for your information please see the associated Joint Statement. Redeployment decisions will be made in line with the Crown Office Staffing Agreement (COSA) and a copy of the redeployment section of COSA follows the Joint Statement, along with a set of agreed Q&As associated with redeployment.


Redeployment will start at the end of September, will continue in October and in some cases will take place in January 2010 when Phase 3 duties are introduced. In line with our MTSF agreement, those members who are redeployed will be paid excess travel expenses for three years.


Appeals Process
I am pleased to advise that all appeals regarding redeployment will be heard by the member's relevant Regional Manager with representation from a TCR. This clarifies COSA "Redeployment of surplus colleagues", "Step 4", which states that appeals would be heard by the member's line manager. The Regional Manager and TCR's involvement should make for an objective and impartial decision.


The redeployment exercise is part of our commitment to overcoming the cost challenges faced by the Crown network and is designed to safeguard our member's jobs by building a more sustainable future for the Crown network.


Specific Event Contracts
I would also like to provide Branches with a further set of agreed Q&As based on questions POL has received from employees regarding Specific Event Contracts. This information, which is attached to this LTB is provided for your assistance when representing SEC members.
If you have any enquiries, please contact Claire Bowers on cbowers@cwu.org


Yours sincerely




Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

[saunders265]

It will be interesting to see how this develops. Anybody with half a brain could see from the start that the initial plan to recruit against 750 FSS positions was ridiculous. There was never going to be enough work for them to do. I appreciate that most of these were supposed to come from internal applicants – but most people were bright enough to see through it. Now we look to be heading for a position where existing staff in Crown Offices will be displaced and inconvenienced - with CWU collusion.

And what about the new Product Service Specialist posts? The £3000 extra income may be achieved in some larger Crowns, but for most – not a hope.

March 2011 here we come!

[billyhayes]

The writing is on the wall that there will be definitely be more crown closures in the 2011-2016 'plan' and this will be the last year or two of
the current VR terms as the MTSF expires next year.
In other words...

1.jpg

"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts, And I looked and behold: a pale horse. And his name, that sat on him, was Death. And Hell followed with him."