Christmas Arrangements 2009

[POSTMAN]

1. Introduction

This document summarises arrangements for Christmas 2009 and New Year 2010 based on the principles agreed for recent years. Robust staffing arrangements will be required during the Christmas period to ensure operational needs are covered in line with workload forecasts while taking into account the aspirations of employees. It covers OPGs, OSGs, processing engineers scheduled to shift working and LAs whose conditioned hours attract assigned allowances.

2 Enhanced Operational Arrangements Christmas 2009

The following operational enhancements introduced last year will continue in 2009. These are intended to address customer concerns and provide an improved service.

Extended Enquiry Offices Opening Times

There will be extended opening times from Monday 14 to Thursday 24 December. A national specification has been issued categorising each Delivery Office and the required opening times. Some units’ times will vary depending on experience of previous Christmases and taking fully into account local needs and knowledge.

Packet Re-delivery Service

A Packet Re-delivery Service will be introduced on Sunday 20 and the evenings of Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 December. Adequate resource must be in place to meet the requirements of this service and ensure existing driving duties e.g. collections are not overloaded.

In all circumstances employee safety and the security of mail must be assured. Areas/Addresses identified as high risk i.e. deliveries suspended due to attacks, robberies or problem dogs etc will be excluded from receiving this additional service.

Sunday Collections

Will be made on 29 November 2009 and 6, 13 and 20 December 2009, although not an advertised service. Staffing will be on a voluntary basis and the operational arrangements will be agreed locally.

3 Attendance and resourcing arrangements

3.1 Postcomm has agreed Saturday 26 December 2009 is a no service day. There will be no USO collections and deliveries that day, Monday 28 December will be the bank holiday.

3.2 People normally scheduled to work on Saturday will not attend on 26 December and will not be required to make up the hours (i.e. there will be no claw back).

3.3 Rest days will apply in line with normal year round arrangements. Attendances may be varied by local agreement to take account of workload forecasts and service requirements. Where workload requires people can volunteer to work their normal rest day in return for a day in lieu or scheduled attendance. People required to work an additional attendance on a bank holiday, will be paid overtime or credited a day’s holiday in lieu. When their rest day falls on a bank holiday (not Saturday 26), people will receive an additional day holiday (including those working ‘a week off in six’).

3.4 Weekend duty holders will have separate scheduling arrangements based on the same principles as last year.

3.5 Local flexibility agreements and the National Pay and Modernisation agreement phase 3 annexes A and B will apply and be utilised during the Christmas period.
Both parties will explore opportunities to give people time off in annual leave in week commencing 28 December 2009.

4 Christmas Bonus Supplement

The Christmas bonus supplement of £100 for full time OPG and OSGs (pro-rated for part timers) will be paid on 18 December. The eligibility criteria for the Christmas bonus payment will be the same as last year, based on the four December weeks (commencing 30 November). In the unlikely event of any industrial action the abatement criteria will be drawn from the PBS agreement.

5 Scheduled Attendance

Scheduled attendance rates can be paid for pre-scheduled overtime worked during the Christmas period. These do not attract paid meal breaks.

6. Local discussions

As described in the interim national agreement discussions with local CWU representatives should be underway to ensure normal Christmas arrangements are concluded in line with previous national agreements. Details will be negotiated locally to secure reliable staffing. Local negotiations will consider the following options:

- People to work their normal rest day in return for a day in lieu or scheduled attendance/overtime.

- Pre-scheduling hours against forecast workload.

- Scheduled attendance or pressure overtime.

- Use of temporary / casual staff to supplement other resource.

Local negotiations will ensure that everyone has a fair and manageable workload.


6. Pay Arrangements

The Christmas Pay Timetable is attached. The improved systems in place for processing overtime claims means there is no need for advances in overtime pay.


Christmas 2009 Pay Arrangements

Weekly-Paid Contracted Employees

w/c 7th December (pay date Friday 11th December)
Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 30th November

w/c 14th December (pay date Friday 18th December)
Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 7th December
Christmas Supplement

w/c 21st December (pay date Thursday 24th December)
Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 14th December

w/c 28th December (pay date Thursday 31st December)
Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 21st December

w/c 4th January 2010 (pay date Friday 8th January 2010)
Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 28th December

w/c 11th January 2010 (pay date Friday 15th January 2010)
Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 4th January


Monthly-Paid Contracted Employees
Cut-off will be Sunday 13th December
Pay date will be Thursday 24th December

Royal Mail CWU
23 November 2009.

cwu__1259771378_09LTB1060.doc

[Pegman]

After reading that I now know why our DOM is making us all take our days off, tight git

[loserx1]

So if ive read that right - people whose day off falls on the 26 Dec are going to lose out and not get an extra day in lieu - surely this cant be right

[rmdriver]

When their rest day falls on a bank holiday (not Saturday 26), people will receive an additional day holiday (including those working ‘a week off in six’).



My day off is Saturday. Does that mean I won't get Sat 26th back?

[Pat Ostman]

They can shove their pro-rata bonus up their f***ing arses.

[OnAFlyer]

So if ive read that right - people whose day off falls on the 26 Dec are going to lose out and not get an extra day in lieu - surely this cant be right

When their rest day falls on a bank holiday (not Saturday 26), people will receive an additional day holiday (including those working ‘a week off in six’).



My day off is Saturday. Does that mean I won't get Sat 26th back?

From reading that, no. It's my day off as well, what a stinker. If it's not your day off, you get it off anyway so you've had 2 days off that week. - if it is your day off, you get one day off that week and no Lieu day.

Thanks RM.

[celerycelery]

Is it right that if your day off falls on this day you are not entitled to a day in lieu?. Doesnt seem fair that those who's day off it is on the saturday have to work 40 hours that week whilst everyone else will be doing 32 hours.

[Woodcutter's Son]

DIM told us that this morning - causing major outrage with those affected. But then Area Union Rep said it's bollocks and you will get day in lieu. Not sure 100% if this is fact though.

[wacko74]

I'm a leave reserve and probably gonna be a 'spare' on xmas week more than likely out doing pkts and specials, where do i stand if my dom tells me my day off that week just happens to be the fri or sat?

[celerycelery]

After a quick phone call apparently all agreed by that the union that if your day off is saturday 26th december then TOUGH. You dont get a day in lieu and you'll be working more hours than 80% of the office whose day off falls on either the mon/tues/weds/thurs or fri.

[snoddy]

Its no surprise that the union is finished when those who are due 26th as a day off are expected to work 40hrs and everyone else works only 32hrs.
Happy xmas CWU

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Its no surprise that the union is finished when those who are due 26th as a day off are expected to work 40hrs and everyone else works only 32hrs.
Happy xmas CWU

Not quite the theory is sound but we are all getting the Friday off.

so its 24 hours for everyone with a Mon - Thu day off but paid 40 hours

32 Hours for everyone due a Saturday or Friday day off - but here is the big difference Fridays will get a day back.

--------------------------------------

I have a suspicion and that all it is - Royal Mail said we would have Saturday off gash but we would have to make up the hours. The Union disagreed and said everyone should get if off and get a day in lieu if it was a rostered day off . After discussion and compromise the Union got this deal which lets down 1 in 6 rather than all.

Another thing to take into account that fixed days off, which some are, the ones that have fixed Saturdays off have had 2 day weekends all year and those with weekdays off have not. Those with rotating days off have had long weekends of 3 days every 6 weeks. So in balance over the year perhaps it does all balance out. Comments

Do I like the arrangement - TBH not made my mind up yet but perhaps its the best option out of those available.

[celerycelery]

Cant see a problem making the hours up especially over the 2 weeks of xmas pressure. Union should have said included in any agreement that those days off on the saturday get a lieu day. Or at least given them a day off in that week instead of the saturday. If not then see if RM had the balls to make everyone work the 26th cause i bet they wouldnt.

[dannyboy]

my dayoff that week is the saturday 26. will RM pay me overtime every day but stop rest of office who would need to work 8 hours to make there time up to 40 hours if you see what i mean

[itllnottouchyou]

When their rest day falls on a bank holiday (not Saturday 26), people will receive an additional day holiday (including those working ‘a week off in six’).



My day off is Saturday. Does that mean I won't get Sat 26th back?

your lucky to get a sat off nae luck