LTB 301/13 - CWU Consultative Workplace Ballot

[fishtank]

LTB 301/13 - CWU Consultative Workplace Ballot


No. 301/13
Ref: 21003
Date: 8th May 2013

To: All Branches with Postal Members
Dear Colleague
CWU Consultative Workplace Ballot
The following will confirm the final arrangements for the CWU Consultative Ballot. This LTB should be immediately circulated to all Area and Local Representatives.
The Independent Scrutineer

The Consultative Ballot will be overseen and conducted through Popularis Limited who are appointed as the independent Scrutineer. Popularis Limited are experts in ballots of this nature and have received the appropriate accreditation from the Department of Business Innovation and Skill (BIS).

The Timetable

The timetable for the ballot will be as follows:
Ballot Material Distributed to Branches by 22nd May 2013
Ballot Opens: 22nd May 2013
Ballot Closes: 18th June 2013
Result Announced 19th June 2013
Distribution of Ballot Papers

Popularis will distribute the ballot material/packs direct to CWU Branches by 22nd May 2013. If any Branch has not received their ballot material by this date, then they must immediately contact Peter Metcalfe at CWU Headquarters on 020 8971 7368.
On receipt of the ballot material, or as soon as reasonably practicable, Branches will be required to visit workplaces and distribute the ballot material to each member at that workplace.

In order to provide assistance, the ballot material will be delivered to Branches in individual workplace packs. Each workplace pack will contain the required number of ballot papers relevant to that particular workplace. (Please note this will be based on the members listed on the CWU membership system as at 8th May 2013).

The ballot papers (which will be individually numbered and bar coded by the independent Scrutineer) will be accompanied by a pre-paid return postal envelope and information from the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary (Postal). To facilitate distribution, the individual member ballot material will be placed in a plain unnamed envelope. The local Branch is responsible for identifying the individual who will allocate the ballot papers in each workplace. This can be the Branch Secretary or another CWU official including the Local Representative.

Return of Ballot Papers
The purpose of this type of ballot is to engage members at their workplace and Branches should encourage members to complete and return the ballot papers immediately, or as soon as possible through the postal system. It is also permissible under this type of consultative ballot for Branches to receive the completed ballot papers back from the members in the workplace on the day of the visit and return them immediately on block to the independent Scrutineer.

Remote Workplaces/Logistical Difficulties
In recognising the logistics involved and the fact that some Branches cover a very challenging geographical area, we are providing the facility for members in remote/smaller workplaces to have their ballot papers posted to their home addresses. As a general rule of thumb, this should normally apply to SPDO's or workplaces with less than 20 members.

It will be for Branches to organise their overall plan and determine which locations will fall into this category. It is also the responsibility of Branches to undertake the distribution of these ballot papers to members' home addresses. This alternative approach is designed as a practical way of assisting branches in dealing with the overall logistics of the ballot. It will also ensure that Branches can focus their visits on the larger workplaces.

The independent Scrutineer and the SDGS Department should be advised of any workplaces where the ballot will be undertaken through a fully postal vote. The SDGS Department will be available to advise Branches further on this aspect, although wherever possible Branches will be encouraged to carry out the ballot in the workplace.
Members on annual/sick leave

The facility also exists for Branches to distribute ballot papers to members on annual/sick leave direct to home addresses. Again it is the Branch who will be responsible for undertaking this work. Branches should keep a record of members requiring this facility and advise CWU Headquarters and the independent Scrutineer accordingly.

CWU Ballot Hotline/Requests for additional ballot papers
As in any ballot requests are sometimes made for duplicate or additional papers due to accidental errors on the membership system, or movement of members between Branches etc. In these circumstances, Branches should immediately contact the independent Scrutineer via a CWU Consultative Ballot Hotline the number of which is as follows:
02380 867335. Any such applications should also be accompanied by the following information:
· Reason for request
· Member's name
· Membership number
· Workplace
· Correct postal address

The Ballot Hotline is only designed for specific enquiries relating to the issues set out under this heading. Any general ballot enquires should be undertaken through the SDGS Department in the normal way.
The questions on the ballot paper

There will be four questions on the ballot paper:
· Do you oppose the privatisation of Royal Mail?
· Do you support the boycott of competitors' mail?
· Do you support the CWU pay claim?
· Do you support the policy of non cooperation with Royal Mail?
Each question will provide the opportunity for the member to vote either Yes or No. The ballot paper is bar coded in such a way that enables the independent Scrutineer to calculate and announce the result on each question separately.
Opportunity to recruit new members

As part of this exercise, Branches are encouraged to use the workplace ballot as an opportunity to recruit non-members. Any new members joining during the ballot period should have their forms processed in the normal way. However, they will be given the opportunity to immediately vote through special arrangements that have been agreed with the independent Scrutineer. This will involve the Branch contacting the Ballot Hotline number and in turn a ballot paper will be sent from the independent Scrutineer direct to the new member's home address.

Conclusion
The administration of an individual workplace ballot is bound to present many challenges. However, we have taken every practical step to ensure the ballot can run as smoothly as possible. A consultative ballot does not need to conform to the same legal requirements as Election or Industrial Action ballots. Nevertheless, we have opted for a process that will be
overseen by an independent Scrutineer, therefore providing credibility and integrity to the process. It is crucial that Branches now put in place their local plans in line with the content of this LTB and ensure that every effort is made to maximise the turnout of this ballot.

Any enquiries on the application of the ballot should be directed to the SDGS Department. Enquiries on industrial matters associated with the ballot, should be directed to the DGS(P) Department.
Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns
SDGS


Dave Ward
DGS (P)

[worktotime]

fishtank , what is the unions policy on a pay deal and what is the policy on the non cooperation with r/m ?

[fishtank]

fishtank , what is the unions policy on a pay deal and what is the policy on the non cooperation with r/m ?

The union's position on a pay deal is above inflation,at least 2 years,no strings attached.
The position on non-cooperation is not to agree to any new/further efficiency/budgetary savings outside the scope of BT2010 until a new agreement is in place.

[notts1862]

Im not sure if its me but same old story union dragging there feet again. 3 Months gone by without a pay deal.And by the look at things were looking around Christmas time before the union decide to do something positive about it. Will we get it all back dated or will we get stitched up again like the last pay deal.
We need to hear everything whats going on not like last time where both sides kept silent and then nothing.
Sorry but do not feel confident in this pay talks and other union matters.

[Pat Ostman]

Well the questions are loaded, obviously, so it'll be determined by how many people fill them in.

[nataddick]

I thought this was supposed to be a 'wide ranging' consultative ballot on a number of key issues. 4 answers is all the feedback they need from members ?

[dvbuk55]

. Do you oppose the privatisation of Royal Mail?
· Do you support the boycott of competitors' mail?
· Do you support the CWU pay claim?
· Do you support the policy of non cooperation with Royal Mail?

Now I may be a little bit numb here but the answers for all four are going to be Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes BUT what is it going to prove to the union? It is certainly not going to be an answer as to whether members are willing to take industrial action and so there should be a 5th question - "Are you prepared to take industrial action".

This consultative ballot will probably produce a yes vote and the union are going to do exactly what, go to RM and say our members don't like the idea of privatisation or DSA, they want a substantial pay rise and they say they won't cooperate. Having said that there's been a helluva lot of cooperation over the last three years wouldn't you say?

[clashcityrocker]

Even if you were to put a fifth question, it would be pretty meaningless.
It is very easy to say yes, you will take industrial action but that doesn't mean you will.
Does it mean you would support an all out seven week stoppage?

Eighth question - will you actually stand on a picket line or will that be too much of an inconvenience?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Despite the fact that its unscientific and won't match the Unions official results, and that people will vote differently on here than in the ballot itself I have added 4 threads in the Poll Section http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... m.php?f=10" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; so people can discuss each point seperately, and vote also if they wish.

[fishtank]

You could argue it's more about engaging the membership than testing the resolve of the members.
You could also argue it's more about testing the ability of branches to get out and engage those members.
My worry is if it shows up weak areas what does HQ intend to do about it,give those branches a deserved kicking,pull in certain divisional reps,area reps and officials and ask them what the f**k they think they are getting paid/release for or just use it to play the blame game for a poor negotiation position and subsequent poor deal/failure to stop privatisation?

[notts1862]

Dont want to sound defeatist but the 4 questions posed by the union is pointless. Every one would say yes because its not binding. But when push comes to the shove i think most post people would think twice on a yes vote.
Ask would you be prepared to strike and see what the answer would be.

[dvbuk55]

You could argue it's more about engaging the membership than testing the resolve of the members.
You could also argue it's more about testing the ability of branches to get out and engage those members.
My worry is if it shows up weak areas what does HQ intend to do about it,give those branches a deserved kicking,pull in certain divisional reps,area reps and officials and ask them what the f**k they think they are getting paid/release for or just use it to play the blame game for a poor negotiation position and subsequent poor deal/failure to stop privatisation?

Is that not an indictment of the current CWU hierarchy that they have to spend our union subs to "engage" the membership, surely we should always have been in the loop and engaged.