CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS 2014

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 621/2014
Ref: 206A.08 170
Date: 9th October 2014

To: Branches with POSTAL Members


Dear Colleagues,

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS 2014

Branches and representatives will be aware that negotiations have been taking place with the business in respect of the Christmas Arrangements for 2014. Attached for your information is a copy of the agreement that has been concluded and cleared by the Postal Executive.

As in previous years we have acknowledged the USO and the consequential service requirements to meet it. It is anticipated that there will again be a significant number of packets in the system which will require special attention and adequate arrangements to be in place to cope with this increased demand.

The negotiations have included representation from the CWU in regard to Motions carried at Annual Conference 2014 in respect of the possibility of Saturday 27th December being classed as a non service day and the words contained in Para 3.5 in relation to on bank holidays.

In respect of Saturday 27th December 2014 the business informed the CWU in writing that in order to declare this as a non service day they would need to apply to Ofcom for an exemption to the USO. Ofcom are able to provide an exemption where there are ‘exceptional’ circumstances which make it impossible to fulfil the USO. However, Royal Mail considered that it would be very unlikely that an exemption would be granted and that it would be inappropriate for them to apply due to the likelihood of rejection and perhaps more importantly the negative image it would project in light of the current discussions with Ofcom over the threat of competition. The CWU gave consideration to this point and it was decided that the sensible way forward would be to seek satisfactory remedies to maximise the time off available on the 27th December, in order to ensure our members had the opportunity of improved time off and flexible attendances. Paragraphs 3.5 and 3.8 of the attached document refer.

With regard to Para 3.5 we believe that revised wording has been achieved which will enhance the ability of representatives to conclude local agreements and maximise opportunities for time off on the bank holidays.

In line with Conference policy Branches will note that Para 3.7 provides the opportunity for members to volunteer for either duty or additional earnings opportunities at Parcel Sort Centres.

In addition following extensive discussions with the business on the implications of the new SA on Leave arrangements in regard to Christmas Pressure SA, the terms of Para 6 ensure that our members continue to receive reward based on Christmas Pressure SA .

During discussions Royal Mail also expressed a wish to extend, above and beyond those in the existing trial of Sunday services, the number of sites opening Enquiry Offices on the two Sundays in the lead up to Christmas.

Given the higher levels of First Time Delivery (FTD) compared to last year, the focus over the last 6 months or so on FTD and the number of enquiry offices open on the Sundays leading up to Christmas, the business also indicated their wish to limit the number of offices performing re-delivery of parcels on Sunday 21st December. Therefore we have included a provision within the agreement in Paragraph 2, Sunday Delivery and Re-Delivery, that allows for local discussions within the unit if there are high volumes of packets that need to be re-delivered on this day, with a process to progress to the Delivery Director/Divisional Representative should any issues arise.

Branches should also note that the dates and times included in Paragraph 2, Enhanced Operational Arrangements Christmas 2014, are the standard requirements. Improvements have been made to these arrangements based on the above points and can be agreed locally where it is deemed necessary based on local knowledge and previous experience. There is also a criterion that has been used to determine the opening times for Enquiry Offices and these too are the standard requirements and can be altered locally where both parties agree.

Where general difficulties are encountered regarding Christmas arrangements then these should be progressed as soon as possible via the IR Framework and progressed to Divisional level.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be made to the appropriate officer:

Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, email address: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference number: 206A.08

Bob Gibson, Assistant Secretary, email address: hnutley@cwu.org quoting reference number: 170

Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary CWU Acting Assistant Secretary

[TrueBlueTerrier]

enq open xmas 2014.PNG

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Christmas Arrangements 2014

1 Introduction

This document summarises arrangements for Christmas 2014 and New Year 2015 based on the principles agreed for recent years. Robust staffing arrangements will be required during the Christmas period to ensure operational needs and USO obligations are covered in line with workload forecasts taking into account the aspirations of employees. It covers OPGs, OSGs, MGV drivers, Mail Screeners, MDECs, processing engineers scheduled to shift working, LAs whose conditioned hours attract assigned allowances and Network professional drivers as detailed below.

The 2004 Christmas agreement abolished claw back of hours arising from public, bank holidays and no service days and these arrangements remain in place for Christmas 2014/15.

For Network professional drivers, Bank Holiday attendance arrangements will be made in line with the terms in the national agreement on the introduction of the professional driver and will be covered off separately.

2 Enhanced Operational Arrangements Christmas 2014

The following enhancements will operate in 2014. These are intended to address customer concerns and provide an improved service.

Extended Enquiry Offices Opening Times

There will be extended opening times from Monday 8 December to Wednesday 24 December. Closing times on Christmas Eve will be no later than 17:00. On New Year’s Eve offices normally scheduled to close later than 17:00 may close at 17:00 (as New Year’s Eve is on a Wednesday)

A national specification has been issued categorising each Delivery Office and the required opening times. Some units’ times will vary depending on experience of previous Christmases and taking fully into account local needs and knowledge.

Sunday Opening

All of the offices currently taking part in the Sunday opening trial will continue to open on Sunday’s during December. The majority of these will open between 12:00 and 16:00 (some will open between 10:00 and 14:00 as feedback from the trial continues to be evaluated).

In addition to the offices above a further circa 125 Enquiry Offices have also been identified which are not currently part of the trial, for opening on Sunday 14th and 21st December. These offices identified for opening will operate for a minimum of 4 hours between 10am and 4pm, subject to local discussions and operate staffing arrangements in line with normal arrangements and be paid at Scheduled Attendance rate.

Supplementary Parcel Delivery Service

Delivery offices will introduce supplementary parcel deliveries, where locally assessed and deemed necessary. The operational dates will vary by unit dependent upon the local traffic forecast.

These supplementary parcel delivery duties will form part of the normal local discussions covering Christmas arrangements and will take full account of local circumstances in ensuring sufficient resource to cover the workload. They will usually take place between 0700 and 1000; additional deliveries may take place between 1500 – 2000 (and no later than 2100)subject to the local discussions

In all circumstances employee safety and the security of mail must be assured. Areas/Addresses identified as high risk e.g. deliveries suspended due to attacks, robberies or problem dogs etc will be excluded from receiving this additional service.

Sunday Delivery and Re-delivery The Sunday delivery trial within the M25 area will continue during December in line with the agreed Joint Statement/TOR for Sunday Services. The increase in 1st time delivery and the additional number of enquiry offices open combined with more rigorous planning mean it is anticipated that there should be no need for Sunday deliveries or re-deliveries. However if any office finds it necessary due to a high number of undelivered items arrangements will be made via local discussions, where discussions locally fail to resolve the matter it will be referred to the appropriate Delivery Director & Divisional Representative for speedy resolution. Sunday Collections Can be made on 23 November 2014 and will be made on 30 November, 7 and 14 December 2014, although not an advertised service. Staffing will be on a voluntary basis and the operational arrangements agreed locally.

3 Attendance and Resourcing Arrangements

3.1 Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December are the Christmas Day and Boxing Day Bank Holidays. There will be no USO collections or deliveries on these days

3.2 Thursday 1 January 2015 is the designated New Year Bank Holiday (plus Friday 2 January in Scotland) There will be no USO collections or deliveries on 1 January (and 2 January in Scotland)

3.3 As agreed in 2004, people will not be required to make up hours they would have worked arising from the bank holidays or non USO days In line with normal bank holiday arrangements people who would normally be scheduled to work on the day of the Bank Holidays in the provision of USO collection and delivery services will not be required to attend (with the exception of some Network Professional Drivers) and not be required to make up the hours.

3.4 Rest days will apply in line with normal year round arrangements. Attendances may be varied by local agreement to take account of workload forecasts and service requirements. Where workload requires people can volunteer to work their normal rest day in return for a day in lieu or scheduled attendance Where a rest day falls on a Bank Holiday (i.e. 25, 26 December or 1 January, plus 2 January in Scotland) and it is not operationally sensible to transfer the rest day to another day in the same week people will receive an additional day holiday (including those working ‘a week off in six’ or other variations on this theme) in the form of a day in lieu or alternatively the excess hours can be taken as normal overtime

3.5 In order to comply with the USO, night shift operations should normally resume at the scheduled time on 26 December and 1 January (2 January in Scotland). Local Christmas discussions/arrangements should ensure that agreed staffing arrangements are in place to meet these obligations in full, while balancing employee aspirations for time off on the Bank Holidays. To avail this discussions will consider the full range of resourcing options, including the realignment of conditioned hours across these weeks for night shift workers. Staff who attend within conditioned hours will receive the normal Bank Holiday premium for hours worked on the Bank Holidays. Staff attending out-with conditioned hours (on overtime) will receive normal Bank Holiday pay rates (options A or B as appropriate) for hours worked on the Bank Holiday.


3.6 Weekend duty holders (notional full timers and people who make three or less attendances each week) will have separate scheduling arrangements based on the same principles as in previous years.

3.7 Providing resourcing is secure at their parent offices people can volunteer for duty or additional earnings opportunities at neighbouring Parcel Sort Centres

3.8 Local flexibility agreements and the National Pay and Modernisation agreement phase 3 annexes A and B will apply and be utilised during the Christmas period. Both parties will explore opportunities to give people time off where possible consistent with customer and operational requirements. 4 Christmas Pay Supplement The Christmas pay supplement of £100 for full time OPG and OSGs (pro-rated for part timers) will be paid on Friday 19 December. The eligibility criteria for the Christmas bonus payment will be the same as last year, based on the four December weeks (commencing 24 November). In the unlikely event of any industrial action the abatement criteria will be drawn from the PBS agreement. The separate payment of £100 (pro rata for PT employees) agreed in the National Joint Statement - New Incentive Arrangements June 2012 will also be paid on Friday 19 December. 5 Scheduled Attendances Scheduled attendance rates can be paid for pre-scheduled overtime worked during the Christmas period. These do not attract paid meal breaks.

6 Scheduled Attendances on Leave/Bank Holidays

Royal Mail and CWU have further discussed Scheduled Attendance holiday pay and recognise the significant contribution Christmas Pressure SA has traditionally made to the levels of payment. As such to ensure that this contribution is not lost under the new arrangements, SA holiday pay for the Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day (plus 2 January in Scotland) bank holidays will be calculated by taking the average daily amount of SA worked by each individual in the 4 weeks prior to the bank holiday.

7 Local discussions Discussions with local CWU representatives should ensure Christmas arrangements are concluded in line with national agreements. Details will be negotiated locally to secure reliable staffing, ensuring everyone has a fair and manageable workload, and will consider the following options
- People to work their normal rest day in return for a day in lieu or scheduled attendance/overtime.
- Pre-scheduling hours against forecast workload.
- Scheduled attendance or pressure overtime.
- Use of temporary / agency staff as supplementary resource.
- Attendance arrangements on Wednesdays 24 and 31 December which are not bank holidays or non USO days.
- Innovative attendance arrangements on Saturday 27 December when traffic forecast is low

8 Pay Arrangements The Christmas Pay Timetable is attached at Annex A Royal Mail CWU October 2014

Annex A Pay dates during Christmas 2014 Pay dates and payroll processes remain the same for weekly paid employees, with current week basic pay, assigned allowances and previous week’s additional hours and ad hoc adjustments paid each Friday. Due to the impact of bank / public holidays on payroll operations, the following arrangements apply:

Weekly-Paid Contracted Employees
w/c 1st December (pay date Friday 5th December)
o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 24th November

w/c 8th December (pay date Friday 12th December)
o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 1st December

w/c 15th December (pay date Friday 19th December)
o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 8th December
o Christmas Supplement
Note: PSP will be closed for all changes from 2.00 a.m. Friday 19th December and will re-open at 7.30 a.m.

w/c 22nd December (pay date Wednesday 24th December)
o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 15th December
Note: PSP will be closed for all changes from 2.00 a.m. Monday 22nd December until the payroll has been completed. This is anticipated to be approximately 6.00 p.m.

w/c 29th December (pay date Friday 2nd January 2015)
o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed 22nd December
Note: PSP will be closed for all changes from 2.00 am Monday 29th December and will re-open at 7.30 a.m. and from 2:00 a.m. Tuesday 30th December until the payroll has been completed. This is anticipated to be approximately 6.00 p.m.

w/c 5th January 2015 (pay date Friday 9th January 2015)
o Regular Pay (Basic & assigned allowances)
o Overtime / SA / Ad hoc allowances performed w/c 29th December
Monthly-Paid Contracted Employees Cut-off will be Sunday 14th December Pay date will be Wednesday 24th December

[gb93]

3.8 ? . Thought Xmas bonus is £200 now.

[rockytony67]

Local flexibility agreements and the National Pay and Modernisation agreement phase 3 annexes A and B will apply and be utilised during the Christmas period. Both parties will explore opportunities to give people time off where possible consistent with customer and operational requirements. 4 Christmas Pay Supplement The Christmas pay supplement of £100 for full time OPG and OSGs (pro-rated for part timers) will be paid on Friday 19 December.

The separate payment of £100 (pro rata for PT employees) agreed in the National Joint Statement - New Incentive Arrangements June 2012 will also be paid on Friday 19 December. 5 Scheduled Attendances Scheduled attendance rates can be paid for pre-scheduled overtime worked during the Christmas period. These do not attract paid meal breaks

[dave0876]

read the agreement 100 bonus and 100 increntive payment for phantom shares that equals 200

[ganda]

The Christmas pay supplement of £100 for full time OPG and OSGs (pro-rated for part timers) will be paid on Friday 19 December. The eligibility criteria for the Christmas bonus payment will be the same as last year, based on the four December weeks (commencing 24 November). In the unlikely event of any industrial action the abatement criteria will be drawn from the PBS agreement. The separate payment of £100 (pro rata for PT employees) agreed in the National Joint Statement - New Incentive Arrangements June 2012 will also be paid on Friday 19 December.

[yorkmover123]

Claw back agreement 2004 do I have to attend work on the boxing night and New year eve my duty attendance hours are from 22:00pm to 0600am will Royal Mail claw back hours 27/12/14 from mid to 0600am and the 31/12/14 from 22:00pm to midnight total of claw back hours 8 hours is this correct.

[Stella102]

If you go sick over x mas do u still get the £200

[P13]

If you go sick over x mas do u still get the £200

Yes

[Jupitor5]

If you go sick over x mas do u still get the £200

Guess who's going sick???

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If you go sick over x mas do u still get the £200

Guess who's going sick???

As they have gone public, and more especially if the manager knows their true identity, it could backfire. As RM can stop your pay if they believe the sick absence is not genuine, they can stop paying your contractual sick pay, which means no Christmas Bonus.

Although in most cases it could be successfully challenged, it probably means you'll be out of pocket over Christmas.

As far as I am aware they won't stop your SSP, but that doesn't qualify you for Christmas Bonus.

[justapostman]

UNION ??! They did't even ask if we can have 27 DEC off ???


UNION ... waste of money !!!!

[RTP]

Trying to keep track of all s/a and o/t is pretty hard this year.

Can anyone tell me if any of the above performed on xmas eve should have been paid this payday, or should it be paid next friday 9/1/14? Ta in advance.

[aiden01]

Trying to keep track of all s/a and o/t is pretty hard this year.

Can anyone tell me if any of the above performed on xmas eve should have been paid this payday, or should it be paid next friday 9/1/14? Ta in advance.

should have been paid today according to xmas arrangements ltb at top of this thread.