POL: PAY 2010 & 2011 AND FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK

[POSTMAN]

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

POL: PAY 2010 & 2011 AND FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK

I would like to update Branches on the situation regarding pay for Crown Office members and the future of the Network.

Pay Freeze – Unacceptable

Disgracefully, ten months on from the pay review date, and despite many meetings, POL continues to insist that our members do not warrant a pay rise, stating that they are under-worked and overpaid. We also face, on 31st March 2011, the expiry of the Crown Office guarantee, which, whilst protecting the 373 Crowns, provides job security. I have made every effort to secure an extension to this guarantee but, regrettably, POL has ignored my representations.

On 12th January, I wrote to Paula Vennells, Managing Director, POL, setting a deadline of 28th February to conclude these matters to our members’ satisfaction, by awarding them with a fair and decent pay offer. For your information I attach my letter. I stated in my letter that unless we are able to make significant progress on pay, we will have no option but to ballot for Industrial Action. This letter was also sent to members’ home addresses.

For your information, I have attached the response from POL to this LTB. POL has simply reiterated its view that our members are overpaid (by one-third) compared with people working in franchised and Sub Post Offices. Clearly, POL is ignoring the fact our members are highly skilled, professional individuals, who are dedicated to their jobs whilst providing excellent customer service. Our members deserve better! Paula Vennells, in her reply, also totally ignored my proposal for an extension to the Crown Office guarantee. Clearly, this is not even on POL’s agenda and, indeed, it likely that POL is actually considering further franchising or closures.

I responded to Paula Vennells’ letter on 3rd February, and, once again, this has been sent to members’ home addresses. This correspondence is also attached to the LTB for your consideration.

The attitude of POL leaves us with no choice but to ballot for Industrial Action. Negotiations have now broken down and a formal Trade Dispute now exists. Subject to Postal Executive endorsement, we will be liaising with the SDGS department in drawing up a ballot timetable. Further details will be reported in due course.

Members Meetings

In order to keep members fully informed, and to afford them the opportunity to ask questions regarding our policy and strategy in this matter, all Branches with members working in Crown Offices are required to call members meetings (after work) between Monday 14th and Tuesday 22nd February inclusively. This activity is imperative.

Territorial Representatives (TRs) will provide support where required and Area Reps (ARs) will be available to help co-ordinate these meetings. If Branches would like a Postal Executive member to attend a members meeting, requests should be made via Claire Bowers at cbowers@cwu.org as soon as possible. Ian Ward, Huw Davies and possibly other PE members will be able to attend, subject to availability, and I will be attending the following meetings (this list is not exhaustive and is subject to change):

• Cleveland Amal Tuesday 15th February
• Glasgow & District Amal Wednesday 16th February
• Merseyside Amal Thursday 17th February
• Cornwall Amal Monday 21st February

Communications

I am pleased to advise that our Communications department has been quick to set up the following media portals in order that members can keep up-to-date, or leave queries, which will be answered either by my department or by the relevant TR / AR.

• Facebook Group – http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home ... 9125585516" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
• CWU Website – http://www.cwu.org/pol-pay-amp-the-futu ... ffice.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
• Email address – polpay@cwu.org
• Telephone number – 020 8971 7325

I would ask Branches to encourage members to use these methods of communication in order to understand the background to this pay dispute and to participate in the debate so that the necessity to achieve an overwhelming YES vote in the ballot for Industrial Action is fully understood.

Dispute Avoidable – Ball in POL’s Court

Our members have been patient enough. In 2007, we ran a successful ballot and achieved an excellent YES vote. I am confident we can achieve a similar result in 2011, provided all Representatives pull together to gather membership support. POL has underestimated the strength of feeling of our members and still has the power to avoid Industrial Action by offering our members a fair and decent pay deal, backdated to April 2010.

Membership Recruitment

I am delighted to report we have, in the last two weeks, recruited more than 100 new Crown Office members. We are facing a very difficult few months ahead, and I would urge all Branches to get behind our recruitment campaign. Whilst overall membership levels are very good, we can always improve. Strength lies in numbers; if we can increase our membership, we have a greater opportunity to improve our members’ terms and conditions and job security.

Further developments will be reported. Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be directed to Claire Bowers, cbowers@cwu.org or 020 8971 7361.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy Gen Sec (Postal)

[POSTMAN]

There is also a CWU pdf from 4th Feb...
http://www.cwu.org/assets/_files/docume ... ce_Net.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[subbie]

Why do Crown Office colleagues think that they are "skilled" and Sub Office Agents are not?

Subbie

[POSTMAN]

Why do Crown Office colleagues think that they are "skilled" and Sub Office Agents are not?

Subbie

Ask NFSP.

[subbie]

Well that's no answer is it?

Why is a Crown Counter Clerk (Postal Officer grade) of say 10 years seniority deemed "skilled" by the CWU compared to say me, who has 35 years Counter experience yet deemed "not skilled" by the CWU ?

Skill infers "qualifications" what qualifies a Crown Office Counter Clerk as being skilled?

Sensible answers please.

Subbie

[POSTMAN]

Subbie,i haven't read the whole thing properly but have the CWU said that subbies are not skilled anywhere.

[sussub]

Don't think subbies are even mentioned.

Lovely, divide and conquer

[subbie]

Hi Postman

Well if they did, then 80% of POL's income (a fact) is generated by alleged "unskilled labour" eg Subbies with seemingly no ill effects to the company. (except that the arse-holes in Old Street blow this income on alleged "skilled labour")

So it remains to be answered what is so skilled about being a Crown Office Counter clerk?

Come on Postal Officers what do you contribute to the Network that a Subbie does not???

And what qualifies you to demand such a salary compared to your equivalent Sub Postmaster?

I dont mind a person being rewarded based upon their qualification to do a job and their contribution to the company they draw a wage from, but this needs to be justified.

Subbie

[billyhayes]

Methinks subbie's a bit John Smiths...

But seriously, in the simplest terms, we are a unionised workforce.
As such we are paid more than our 'equivalents' who are not.
Tis the same in any industry where the union negotiates higher wages for their members.
That's what we pay them for.

Your statement that pay should be based on the contribution... How do you explain Adam Croziers £2M a year pay packet? His contribution to Royal Mail must have been second to none.

I think POSTMAN knocked it on the head. NOBODY be it CWU or crown staff said you were less skilled.
Also, why question what the CWU does for its members when you aren't part of it? Smacks of sour grapes to me

Maybe you should get your own house in order, the federation, to do the same for you.
You complained many months ago that you are now paid LESS by POL for the work you do... That is patently unjust I say... BUT.. in all that time what did you and your 'federation' do about it?

It looks to me that you bent over touched your toes, gave a couple of good coughs and let them give you exactly what they thought you deserved...

[subbie]

Sorry Billy to disappoint, I aint elephant trunked.

And being Unionised does not make a person skilled, so stop avoiding the question.

Subbie

[billyhayes]

Sorry Billy to disappoint, I aint elephant trunked.

And being Unionised does not make a person skilled, so stop avoiding the question.

Subbie

By 'John Smiths' I meant 'bitter'. I dont get the elephant trunk bit at all.

How was I avoiding the question?????

I think the bit you are getting your knickers twisted about is this;

"For your information, I have attached the response from POL to this LTB. POL has simply reiterated its view that our members are overpaid (by one-third) compared with people working in franchised and Sub Post Offices. Clearly, POL is ignoring the fact our members are highly skilled, professional individuals, who are dedicated to their jobs whilst providing excellent customer service."

Not one single; national officer, territorial rep, area rep, counter clerk, our cleaner OR my pet marine fish has made the statement that we are more skilled than others!!!!!

They negotiate for us or we walk. Simples.

You see what you want to see...

[billyhayes]

Don't think subbies are even mentioned.

Lovely, divide and conquer

And who's this silly arse who decided to turn up this late to the party??

You're not mentioned because they DONT REPRESENT YOU!

That is down to the Federation of Planets or whoever they are.

Seriously, subbie, is this one for real?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

so stop avoiding the question.

Subbie

There is no question to avoid - as Billy says the Union represents Crown members, why would it comment on non union members that would be outside their purview, or responsibility.

Why is a Crown Counter Clerk (Postal Officer grade) of say 10 years seniority deemed "skilled" by the CWU compared to say me, who has 35 years Counter experience yet deemed "not skilled" by the CWU ?

Skill infers "qualifications" what qualifies a Crown Office Counter Clerk as being skilled?

Sensible answers please.

Subbie

Nowhere does it say Crowns are more skilled than Subbies, in fact the inference is that the skills of a counter clerk should be recognised by the bosses. So the real questions perhaps should be why isn't your federation using the same argument to increase your payments in recognistion of that skill.

Sensible questions please.

[subbie]

You lot should be politicians, they skirt around questions as well.

The claim was that Counter Clerks in Crown Offices are "skilled" (inferring that Sub Office agents are not) leaving the comparison with Sub offices out of this for now, what skills is it that you have that justifies the salaries you enjoy, and what do you contribute to the network?

Subbie

Billy I thought you were descending into cockney rhyming slang John Smith's (pissed) Elephant Trunk (drunk)

[fishtank]

I'd like to think my Union would call me highly skilled...whether it was true or not.
It's kind of like when the Mrs Fishtank tells me i'm the best she's ever had....i know it's probably bullshit but it's nice to hear all the same....
I think subbie wants my wife to comment on his performance.