Postal Policy Forum :Amendments

[fishtank]

POLICY FORUM – JULY/AUGUST 2013
RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1

1 This Forum Supports the CWU policy stated in the report in regard to the company failed pension promises. We note the unions’ position on the linkage to pay and therefore agree to separate pay from the pension issue. However should the business pursue their pension policies through executive action it will immediately trigger an Industrial Action Ballot amongst our members in the businesses affected.
Merseyside Amal

Comp
2 Add at end:
The CWU shall oppose the current proposals from the companies regarding pensions, until the outcome of the CWU’s opposition to privatisation is known.
Cleveland Amal
Scotland No 2

3 Add at end.
This policy forum believes that the whole consultation process the company has embarked on is nothing short of a sham and that the Postal Executive is instructed to lobby with the trustees, the trustees to ballot members of the plan on whether they support or oppose the proposals
Leeds No 1 Amal

4 Add at end:
To fully protect all aspects of the final salary calculation for all benefits up to 2008 [previously POSS & POPS].

The Postal Executive is instructed accordingly.
Greater Manchester

5 Add at end:
Should there be a future change in the RPI Inflation figure which is used as the plans benefit calculator, such as :

No Longer being a recognised measure

The calculation in measuring what the RPI Inflation percentage is altered

The PEC shall ensure that adequate protections will be built in to any pension proposal to ensure any changes will not be detrimental to the pension plan.
Hull & East Riding Amal

6 Add at end:
That for the purpose of the plan benefit calculation purposes the maximum level of RPI should not be capped.
York & District Amal

7 Add at end:
That any pension solution shall contain a legally binding guarantee, that the scheme will remain open for a minimum of 10 years.
Durham Amal


8 Add at end:
That any movement between CWU represented grades will be classed as progression and not promotion, and therefore entitled to be linked in calculating an individual’s final salary pensionable pay entitlement.
Newcastle Amal

Recommendation 2

9 At the end of paragraph eight subject Non-Cooperation add the sentence:
Consideration should also be given to responding with either an area, regional or national ballot for strike action.
South Central Postal

10 If 10 is Carried 11 Falls
Add at end:
The CWU make a categoric statement that withdraws all co-operation on World Class Mails.

The CWU highlight the extreme costs that WCM has on the business taking into account the amount of WCM champions/managers and OPG’s on Full Time release and all other release costs.

Furthermore the CWU actively campaign to oppose WCM and other TQM methods throughout Royal Mail.

The Postal Executive is instructed accordingly
North East Division

11 Add additional line to the following:
Non-Co-operation – The Union will enforce the policy of non-co-operation as set out in the Consultative Ballot on a consistent basis across every function, this will now include all aspects of World Class Mail.
South Midlands Postal Branch

12 Add at end:
That any postal operator entering any part of the market shall have to meet the same regulatory/legislative standards as Royal Mail
Newcastle Amal

13 If 13 is Carried 18 Falls
Add at end:
Due to the “Growth & Infrastructure Act 2013” coming to the attention of our members, the NEC will obtain a report from an appropriate Barrister in how this legislation would affect the Union and its members in the future if free shares were issued.

This report will also outline any potential impact on the individual. This report will be circulated to the membership no later than 30th September 2013.
Greater Manchester


Recommendation 3

14 Add at end:
There will be no zero hour contracts and existing staff with less than 16 hour contracts will have the opportunity to increase their hours up to the minimum of 16 hours if they so desire.
Greater Manchester

15 Remove bullet point nine:
“The workforce would remain predominantly full time with a 75/25 split with measures agreed to monitor this in practice.”

And replace with:
“The workforce would remain predominantly full time with a minimum of 75% full time and a maximum of 25% part time. The CWU should seek to get a commitment to maximise full time duties and go beyond 75% full time.”
South Central Postal

16 In the event of privatisation we will seek protections and assurances, with explicit commitments, from the company that will protect our members’ interests in regard to ‘employee shareholders’ contained within Chapter 27 – 205A - of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013; which was inserted as an amendment after 205 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Merseyside Amal

Comp
17 That Any agreement on Pay, Pensions, New Governance Model, Agenda For Change, or the Industrial issues will be subject to a Special Conference/Policy Forum of the CWU.
Anglia
London Parcels and Stations Amal
London South West Branch
South East London Postal and Counters Branch


Recommendation 4

18 If 13 is Carried 18 Falls
ADD AT END:
Due to the “Growth & Infrastructure Act 2013” coming to the attention of our members, the NEC will obtain a report from an appropriate Barrister in how this legislation would affect the Union and its members in the future if free shares were issued.

This report will also outline any potential impact on the individual. This report will be circulated to the membership no later than 30th September 2013.
Greater Manchester

Recommendation 5


19 In support of the Policy Lines stated we agree to enhance our campaign through the use of Cyber Pressure on leading businesses that may be interested in the selling or purchase of Royal Mail. To encourage branches, members and like-minded organisations to register their objections and to also threaten to withdraw their support or use of goods and services that these business’ provide. Furthermore the union should also start to use full-page adverts in the popular press and rural community publications, they should also explore the benefits of radio and TV placements / adverts.
Merseyside Amal

20 Add at end:
That a generic motion be produced for submission to all CLP’s.
Newcastle Amal

21 This Policy Forum condemns Section 31 of The Growth & Infrastructure Act 2013 and recognises it as an attack on workers employment rights specifically removing the right to claim unfair dismissal and no right to redundancy pay when workers agree to become “Employee Shareholders”

The NW/NW Division fully supports the SORM campaign and is confident of success. However, we recognise that there is a possibility the government may press on with an employee share allocation as a desperate measure in order to attempt to undermine our campaign.

The PEC is instructed to give the widest possible publicity amongst the membership to the terms of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 “Employee Shareholders” as part of the anti privatisation campaign
North Wales/North West Division

[fishtank]

Amendments not admitted to the Agenda

X Add at end: except that due to the decisions taken by the CWU trustees of the plan along with the members of the pension board that has brought our Final Salary scheme into jeopardy once more after only nine months. This policy forum instructs the PEC to insist that the CWU trustees of the plan donate one year’s salary from their earnings as trustees of the plan, to the CWU’s national welfare fund, as gesture of goodwill.

This must be carried out by the end of March 2014 in line with any proposed changes to the scheme.
Glasgow & District Amalgamated Branch


X Add at end:
This policy forum instructs the PEC to ballot members of the plan whether they support or oppose the proposals to change the terms of the current scheme to any new agreement.
North East Division

X
If 19 is Carried Composite 20 Falls
Add new paragraph at the end to read:
The CWU at national, regional and branch levels must campaign for the Labour Party to openly and publicly:
1.) Declare their opposition to the privatisation of Royal Mail.

2.) Make a clear and unequivocal commitment to support and defend a 100% publicly owned postal service.

3.) Make a clear and unequivocal commitment that following any privatisation, of any part or all of Royal Mail, the next Labour Government will re-nationalise it.

The CWU must call on Ed Miliband to make a public statement in line with all three points above.
South Central Postal

X
If 19 is Carried Composite 20 Falls
Add at end: The PEC shall use all means necessary, i.e. Labour Party Annual Conference, Labour Party National Policy forum, co –ordination with other trade unions in TULO etc., to seek agreement from the Labour Party that they will adopt a policy that if Royal Mail is privatised it will be re-nationalised by the next Labour government in its’ first term in office.
Anglia
Eastern No 4