Disruption to Travel Arrangements - Volcanic Eruption

[TrueBlueTerrier]

19 April 2010
LTB 335/10 Disruption to Travel Arrangements - Volcanic Eruption Iceland

No. 335/2010
Ref. L23.03
Date: 19th April 2010


TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS & POSTAL DIVISIONAL REPS

For immediate circulation to all appropriate Area/Unit Representatives

Dear Colleague


Disruption to Travel Arrangements - Volcanic Eruption Iceland

A number of enquiries have been received at CWU Headquarters regarding the impact of the current closure of UK airspace on CWU members who are currently out of the country on Annual Leave etc and have been unable to return to work as planned.


I have attached the business guidance to Local Managers concerning the situation for your information and although due to the unforeseen nature of the event this advice was not agreed with the CWU prior to it being issued, it should be noted that it has been fully recognised that these are circumstances outside of the individuals' control.

The situation will be kept under review and further guidance will be issued should the current flying embargo continue but it has been confirmed that our members should not have their pay stopped for the additional period they are absent from duty.


Should Local Managers attempt to abate pay in instances where members have been unable to return to the country by other means, Representatives should challenge their actions via the IR Framework and advise the DGS(P) Department accordingly.


Further information and advice will be issued by the DGS(P) Department in due course.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to Martin Collins, Acting DGS (Postal) quoting reference number L23.03.


Yours sincerely



Martin Collins
Acting DGS (Postal)



Disruption to air travel

The closure of UK airspace following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland is having an impact on the travel plans of colleagues on, or about to take, foreign holidays whilst on annual leave.

Virtually no air traffic in or out of the UK is anticipated before Saturday morning at the earliest, with the backlog meaning that some people may have to wait several further days for a flight home.

Colleagues who return to work late after a delayed flight in these circumstances should take the additional absence as annual leave.

Colleagues unable to fly out on holiday because of the disruption should in these circumstances normally be allowed to postpone their leave if they so request.

While it is the responsibility of everyone to get to work each day, we recognise that some employees will face difficulties which are outside their control and we will do what we can to support them in finding acceptable solutions.

If you have any concerns, please speak to your line manager.

[thecoffeehouse204]

Thanks for posting this - we are currently stuck on holiday and the first flight they could book us back on isn't till next tuesday the 27th! It's good to know that my OH shouldn't face any disciplinary action for this situation as that was really worrying us.

Does anyone know if he will be allowed to take any of the days as unpaid - we really don't want to do this but as he won't be back in work till next thursday at the earliest we can't really sacrifice nearly two weeks holiday just for this. His leave from work has already been booked and whilst we can give up the week he booked in july (weren't going away anyway) his next leave is in October when our first baby is due and we'd ideally like him to be able to have 3 weeks off (2 weeks paternity & 1 wks leave) rather than only have 2 days left to use. Can they force him to sacrifice both these weeks leave or can he get paid a weeks leave for this week then take mon-wed next week as unpaid?

Thanks for any advice.

[wolfie citizen smith]

what a life saver you are TBT, god bless you

[fishtank]

This briefing has been sent to all BT people
Guidance on the current disruption to air travel
Due to the air travel disruption many BT people have been unable to return to work from holiday or business trips as planned.
The below information covers guidance to manage this situation:
• People managers must try to make contact with any affected members of their team to make sure they are OK;• People previously on annual leave should not be required to extend their leave but be granted paid special leave to cover their absence.


Two different companies both represented by the CWU but with a completely different people management ethos.
Well done BT ....Royal Mail.

[Martin Walsh]

This briefing has been sent to all BT people
Guidance on the current disruption to air travel
Due to the air travel disruption many BT people have been unable to return to work from holiday or business trips as planned.
The below information covers guidance to manage this situation:
• People managers must try to make contact with any affected members of their team to make sure they are OK;• People previously on annual leave should not be required to extend their leave but be granted paid special leave to cover their absence.


Two different companies both represented by the CWU but with a completely different people management ethos.
Well done BT ....Royal Mail.

CWU HQs are arguing that it should be paid special leave. They want indivdual cases to take to Royal Mail to ensure that they can make sure this happens. I have collected quite a few and are submitting them to the DGSP department for them to push forward.

[fishtank]

This briefing has been sent to all BT people
Guidance on the current disruption to air travel
Due to the air travel disruption many BT people have been unable to return to work from holiday or business trips as planned.
The below information covers guidance to manage this situation:
• People managers must try to make contact with any affected members of their team to make sure they are OK;• People previously on annual leave should not be required to extend their leave but be granted paid special leave to cover their absence.


Two different companies both represented by the CWU but with a completely different people management ethos.
Well done BT ....Royal Mail.

CWU HQs are arguing that it should be paid special leave. They want indivdual cases to take to Royal Mail to ensure that they can make sure this happens. I have collected quite a few and are submitting them to the DGSP department for them to push forward.

Any progress?

[fishtank]

CWU HQs are arguing that it should be paid special leave. They want indivdual cases to take to Royal Mail to ensure that they can make sure this happens. I have collected quite a few and are submitting them to the DGSP department for them to push forward.

Now why am i bumping a volcanic ash thread?
Act of God....members unable to attend work....forced to take annual leave...
What was the result of these individual cases?....anybody?