New LTB:Basic Pay Supplements - Area Distribution Drivers

[POSTMAN]

LTB 521/10 New Basic Pay Supplements - Area Distribution Drivers

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS & POSTAL DIVISIONAL REPS
For immediate circulation to all appropriate Area/Unit Representatives


Dear Colleague

New Basic Pay Supplements - Area Distribution Drivers

A number of enquiries have been received at CWU Headquarters regarding the status of the Area Distribution/MGV Driving Grade in respect of the Reward element of the Business Transformation Agreement following the publication of LTB 503/10 (copy attached). The reference to Distribution employees receiving the £8.00 per week supplement and £75.00 lump sum has resulted in confusion as to who are entitled to receive these payments.

The new non-pensionable supplement to basic pay applies to all OPGs/OSGs in Mail Centres, OPGs/OSGs in Collection Hubs who are not eligible to receive the Delivery Pay Supplement and Royal Mail CWU Grades in MDECs pro-rata for part-time employees. The supplement and lump sum payment are not applicable to Distribution MGV Grades.

The DGS(P) Department is aware of the difficulty a number of our Field Representatives were encountering so Dave has requested I clarify the position for these members on behalf of the Postal Executive.   

When the Professional Driving (MGV) Grade was established in 2007, the Union secured a significant improvement in the basic pay for the new grade which took into account both their skills and the need to comply with the requirements of Road Traffic Directive, which restricted the hours drivers of vehicles fitted with Tachographs could work over an agreed reference period. These improvements were partially funded by monies accrued from the ESOS Scheme which my predecessor Martin Collins established for Mail Centres as part of the 2003 Pay and Performance Agreement.

The rate of pay agreed for the new Professional Driving (MGV) Grade was £380 per week consisting of:

The OPG Basic Pay of £324.92 per week.
The permanent consolidation of the MGV Driving Allowance of £27.08.
An additional increase of £27.08, a significant part of which was funded from the ESOS scheme.

The weekly National Pay Rate for the Area Distribution Grade (including the 2% from April this year) currently stands at approx £414.13 per week, this is of course higher for colleagues working in the Inner and Outer London Areas and when compared with the new OPG rate of £354.56 the Area Distribution Grade earns £59.57 per week more in basic pay.

Branches and members will recall that the ESOS Scheme was also used to fund a large proportion of across the board increases paid to the CWU under the Pay and Modernisation Agreement including the £175 lump Sum payments.

Whilst not seeking to devalue either the role of the Professional Driving (MGV) Grade or the contribution members made in supporting the Union throughout the recent dispute, it was decided to use the remainder of the ESOS fund to support part or all of the £8.00 Mail Centre Supplement for members working in Mail Centres e.g. Processing & Distribution (non MGV Drivers), Collection Hubs and MDECs. The decision was also taken to distribute the remaining monies to provide the £75.00 lump sum payments.

I trust the above clarifies who are entitled to the new weekly basic pay supplements of £8.00 and lump sum payments of £75.00.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed as appropriate to Phil Browne, Acting Assistant Secretary Indoor Department quoting reference number L16.04.