Shorter Working Week - LTB will be issued tomorrow afternoon

[fishtank]

Cheers lovejoy.

[lovejoy]

Pace of Change / Shorter Working Week –
A National Joint Statement between Royal Mail and CWU

Royal Mail and the CWU have previously agreed that the one hour reduction in the standard working week will be introduced no later than the w/c 28th January 2013 in all functions, for all eligible full time employees remaining on a 40 hour week at that point. Where this happens in advance of the appropriate planned revision, the reduction in hours will be allocated in time from that date. A Nationally agreed range of options for implementing this will be issued in due course. Similarly the shorter working week will be introduced for part time employees no later than the w/c 28th January 2013 by applying an hourly rate increase in the usual way.

To meet the requirements above it is agreed that from the 28th January 2013 the divisor used to determine the hourly rate for all PT employees will be 39. This will in effect mean that all PT employees will receive an increase in basic pay. The amount will vary depending on the number of hours worked.

In order to capture the 1 hour due to all full time employees as detailed above DOMs and local CWU representatives should positively engage in local negotiations to identify and agree an adjustment to attendance times that delivers a 39 hour week. The joint aim will be to conclude these negotiations as quickly as possible. The adjustment to attendance times agreed will be recorded in a signed local agreement between the CWU rep and local manager. Copies will be forwarded to the respective HQs.

Where an agreement cannot be reached before the 30th January 2013 the employees in the unit will be provided with the following list of options in no order of preference and all of equal status. The employees will then decide which option will be introduced based on their wishes that delivers a 39 hour week.

Attendance times can be altered so that duties finish 12 minutes earlier each day of the week. This applies to 5 day week duties. Where other duty patterns exist the reduction will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Attendance times can be altered so that duties start 6 minutes later each day of the week and finish 6 minutes earlier each day of the week. This applies to 5 day week duties. Where other duty patterns exist the alteration will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Attendance times can be altered so that duties start 12 minutes later each day of the week. This applies to 5 day week duties. Where other duty patterns exist the reduction will need to be adjusted accordingly.

A Locally agreed temporary arrangement that delivers a 39 hour week for the Unit.
The option agreed will be recorded in a signed local agreement between the CWU rep and local manager. Copies will be forwarded to the respective HQ’s. Where the unit chooses option D this will move into a fast track disagreement process to be resolved by a CWU Divisional rep and the Delivery Director. Where they cannot resolve the disagreement within 24 hrs this will be moved to national level for resolution.

Any disagreement over the interpretation of this agreement will be referred to the signatories below for resolution. In all instances all eligible employees are entitled to move to a 39 hour week from the w/c 28th January 2012. Both parties are encouraged to conclude an agreement that delivers an adjustment to attendances based on a 39 hour week.


Signed………………………………………. Signed……………………………………..
Mike Newby Royal Mail Bob

[lovejoy]

Posted on mobile so not sure if it is formatted on?!

[fishtank]

Posted on mobile so not sure if it is formatted on?!

It's fine.
Thanks again.
I might be misreading it,just had a quick glance but is there no banking hours option available?

[superteamu10]

We want the agreement to include definite IPS finish times and the hour to be taken off at the end of the duty. We won't 15 mins taken off at the end of a Monday, Wed, Thur and Fri. We agree not to touch a Sat as the DOM says she needs that time on a Sat to ensure everyone completes.
However, there will seem no benefit to us unless it is tied in to IPS times. It used to be 8.30 on the busy days to come off IPS, but this DOM just keeps us on there as long as she feels.
In practice I couldn't see how we could cut 15 mins off the IPS anyway, plus we have absolutely no trust in our DOM to adhere to any agreement.
There is also the issue of the half hour flexible time they can use on a busy day, but you never ever get that back.
I can't see us being able to agree to any option.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

impressed by at least one line that jumps out

The employees will then decide which option will be introduced based on their wishes that delivers a 39 hour week.

but will wait to be educated by those with more and harder earned scars than I have.....

However, If I have missed nothing this is a good sign.

[Ahebban]

I don't see any option offering a Banked Hour alternative to options A-D either. Was it ever a serious consideration for CWU to bring to the negotiating table?

None of the options stated give me or colleagues any reason to jump for joy.

[Ahebban]

As ever, HQ and RM allow themselves the privilege of 'weeks' to negotiate matters - and then expect Unit members to conclude an agreement in 4 working days (and one of those is a Saturday!)

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

There is also the issue of the half hour flexible time they can use on a busy day, but you never ever get that back.

Flexing 30 minutes is a two way agreement, the OPG or the lino can suggest it, but both have to agree (and more importantly the OPG). It cannot be forced upon OPGs at managers' convenience.

[Martin Walsh]

Yes the union put forward banking an hour until a revison but clearly Royal Mail believed this would be a significant cost to them as all full timers would get an hour per week extra in annual leave and that leave would protential cost to be covered. Royal Mail's postion was an to introduce later starts on Monday and Tuesday.

Whislt the agreement has come late and that is worthy of criticism. The fact remains that if you cannot agree on where the reduction of the hour is then the default postion is the 4 options and the members decide.

There is no mention of the IWT or workplan. If you cannot move it on then you first flag it up to your area rep and Divisonal rep ans then if they cannot resolve it then it goes to Bob and Mike Newby.

Now under those circumstances no one in any unit should have a reduction of 1 hour which is not supported by the members in the unit.

yes it should have been concluded earlier but to achieve an agreement it takes 2 sides and clearly Royal Mail were testing the loyalty to the union and seeing who would agree the reduction without a national agreement and who would hold the line , sadly some done the deal and others ensured that we eventually got a national solution.

[dvbuk55]

How long is it anticipated the outstanding revisions will take and where was the list of options previously?

[Cut Off King]

RM position - Reduction in hours but no reduction in workload

CWU position - Bank hours to prevent this happening

RESULT - RM got what they wanted & members will get shafted.

[fishtank]

There could be an unfortunate knock on effect from this.
Reducing the working day by 12 minutes per day without changing the outdoor workload will most likely increase the office EP and since the guidance for setting the indoor performance states that the revision should not reduce the current office EP these offices will have to go into a revision with a higher baseline than they would have with a 40hr week.

[Martin Walsh]

Most have reduce the indoor element which has increased the indoor performance. Without a revision you cannot reduce your outdoor so even if you reduce your attendance at the end then most offices I know are then reducing the indoor element so if you normally leave the office on delivery at 10 then you will leave the office at 9:48 under the shorter working week on a 5 day attendance and pro rata on less than 5 days.

[clashcityrocker]

I think that is undoubtedly one of the reasons this is being brought in.
And why RM were keen for the time to be taken from the indoor operaion by later starts, rather than the end of the working day.