London Mail Centre Dispute : Resolution

[POSTMAN]

London Mail Centre Dispute – Resolution





All Postal Branches will be aware that following the carriage at Annual Conference of the London Mail Centre Emergency Motion, Royal Mail and CWU faced the prospect of a major dispute with national implications over the very real threat of compulsory redundancies.



The week after Annual conference Royal Mail agreed to a period of fresh talks during which time it was accepted that there would be no movement of work and no notice of Industrial Action. In order to give both parties the space to resolve the dispute Royal Mail also agreed to extend the period that our Industrial Action Ballots remained legally valid.



We are now pleased to report that these negotiations concluded last Friday with a comprehensive agreement that was endorsed yesterday by the Postal Executive, the CWU London Divisional Committee and its Constituent Branches.



A full copy of the agreement is attached and the main points are as follows:-



Strengthened job security including a guarantee that Mail Centre Rationalisation will be completed in London with no compulsory redundancies.

Royal Mail has reaffirmed that this means existing full time employees who wish to remain in employment will be able to retain a suitable full time job and existing part time employees will be able to retain their contractual hours if they wish.


There will now be a new Joint Preference exercise that will finally allow all employees to select from the full range of options. This means no employee will be disadvantaged as a result of not participating in Royal Mail’s earlier and restricted VR Preference Exercise.



There will now be a new job matching process that will directly involve the CWU. For full time employees this includes agreed criteria for what will normally be deemed a reasonable job offer. The approach to job matching also explains how seniority will be used in each affected site.


There is an agreed People Plan that provides a wide range of support initiatives that will increase the choices and available jobs to CWU members.


There are improved terms for employees transferring to HWDC and the opportunity for employees transferring anywhere to now receive their London Weighting lump sums in one instalment up front. The agreed enhancements will apply retrospectively to employees who have already transferred to HWDC as part of the rationalisation programme.


Elements of Royal Mails operational plan have now been adjusted and delayed to enable more time to deal with people and quality of service issues.


The adjusted operational plan will now be subject to meaningful reviews at each site in advance of key phases of the operational transfer of work. These reviews will confirm that the job security commitments are being met at each stage and that quality of service can be maintained to enable successful transition.


Royal Mail/CWU support structures have been put in place that will ensure ongoing CWU involvement at all levels and oversee the Operational Plan as it moves forward.


Safeguards have been built in to ensure that future inward delivery mail arrivals will be consistent with all the delivery commitments within the Business Transformation Agreement.


On the basis of no compulsory redundancies and the agreed review criteria the CWU has confirmed we will support the adjusted Operational Work Plan changes.



Against the background of this dispute and the conference Emergency Motion that dealt with the threat of compulsory redundancies, CWU Branches will recognise the agreed Joint Statement breaks new ground on job security and strengthens the processes contained in the Mail Centre section of the Business Transformation Agreement. The Joint Statement also goes some way to addressing the issues contained in the Essex Amal motion. It will now be the intention of the Union to build on these improvements in the forthcoming national discussions covering all the issues contained in Emergency Motion E3 agreed at Annual Conference. Furthermore, we will immediately seek to ensure that other current and forthcoming Mail Centre Reviews can benefit from these developments.







In concluding the Joint Statement the Union also continues to recognise that developments across the postal Industry, over capacity within the network and the introduction of new machinery will continue to mean that Mail Centre Rationalisation is an ongoing issue. In the case of the London Review, on the basis that Royal Mail meet the job security and quality of service commitments, then it will eventually mean the closure of East and South London Mail Centres. The work from these Mail Centres will be relocated to Mount Pleasant and the surrounding four Greater London Mail Centres.



In summary, there can be no doubt that the resolution to this dispute provides further job protection, support and improved terms for CWU members as they go through a very difficult period of change.



We would like to thank all CWU Branches for their support in bringing this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.

[dvbuk55]

At face value it looks like there are winners and losers ............again. Does this mean that there will be no compulsory redundancies anywhere or just in London? Because that's how it reads.

[MrGoose]

At face value it looks like there are winners and losers ............again. Does this mean that there will be no compulsory redundancies anywhere or just in London? Because that's how it reads.

Furthermore, we will immediately seek to ensure that other current and forthcoming Mail Centre Reviews can benefit from these developments.

If you failed to read that part?

[fishtank]

At face value it looks like there are winners and losers ............again. Does this mean that there will be no compulsory redundancies anywhere or just in London? Because that's how it reads.

Furthermore, we will immediately seek to ensure that other current and forthcoming Mail Centre Reviews can benefit from these developments.

If you failed to read that part?

It's nowhere near the same thing...not even close...unless you delete "seek to" and replace "can benefit from these developments" with "have exactly the same treatment".

Furthermore, we will immediately ensure that other current and forthcoming Mail Centre Reviews have exactly the same treatment

Are you telling me the two statements mean the same thing?

[dvbuk55]

At face value it looks like there are winners and losers ............again. Does this mean that there will be no compulsory redundancies anywhere or just in London? Because that's how it reads.

Furthermore, we will immediately seek to ensure that other current and forthcoming Mail Centre Reviews can benefit from these developments.

If you failed to read that part?

It's nowhere near the same thing...not even close...unless you delete "seek to" and replace "can benefit from these developments" with "have exactly the same treatment".

Furthermore, we will immediately ensure that other current and forthcoming Mail Centre Reviews have exactly the same treatment

Are you telling me the two statements mean the same thing?

Overarchingly not

[Lincox]

Surely it should be

Furthermore we have a guarantee that any upcoming Mail Centre changes will be dealt with in exactly the same terms and conditions as this London Mail Centre review.

[feduppostie]

and what of those that have already been through it will they get the money??

or is it just tough because they don't work in London?

[dvbuk55]

and what of those that have already been through it will they get the money??

or is it just tough because they don't work in London?

Yes, they need to grow a pair of course it helps if you have HQ in your bailiwick so you can't be ignored and you can moither the life out of them. You would think they paid more in subs..................well because they get paid more perhaps that would help the union coffers.........I mean if you are financially much better off it would seem only fair that you should pay more.

[Sam43]

Just as long as the London CWU members ok, who gives a f**k about the rest of us CWU members.

Thats how it is and how it will always be.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Just as long as the London CWU members ok, who gives a f**k about the rest of us CWU members.

Thats how it is and how it will always be.

That may be a comon perception but I really hope and trust its not true. I agree that the Labour Party are no longer a party of the working people and they no longer understand Trade Unionism or the ethos of "An injury to one is an injury to all". I just hope that CWU, who are affiliated to the Party are not going down this path.

I honestly think that on RMC the perception has come about partly because of managements insistence on making this claim at every chance during the 2009 dispute, but also because the London reps are both very active for their members both on here and in national discussions. I applaud Dingo and what he does for his members, and wonder if other reps, at his level, also posted as much information as he does, on here, whether London would get as much flack as it does.

I don't agree with Dingo on a fair few things but I cannot fault his dedication to fighting his corner for those he represents, and for being willing to communicate and debate on RMC as well.

[Lincox]

Yeah, fair play to Dingo. I can,t understand a lot of the support he gives to the cwu and it,s pEC for what appears to be very undecromatic policy, but I do believe that he is genuine and believes sincerely in the trade union movement.

[dvbuk55]

Yeah, fair play to Dingo. I can,t understand a lot of the support he gives to the cwu and it,s pEC for what appears to be very undecromatic policy, but I do believe that he is genuine and believes sincerely in the trade union movement.

That's true, he is committed, but that old adage springs to mind that when you lie down with dogs you end up with fleas.

[POSTMAN]

Yeah, fair play to Dingo. I can,t understand a lot of the support he gives to the cwu and it,s pEC for what appears to be very undecromatic policy, but I do believe that he is genuine and believes sincerely in the trade union movement.

That's true, he is committed, but that old adage springs to mind that when you lie down with dogs you end up with fleas.

Low.