LTB 047/16: Voluntary Redundancy Offers in Royal Mail (PILON) and Resourcing in General "becoming a crisis we can no longer [sic] ignore"

[POSTMAN]

LTB 047/16: To: ALL POSTAL BRANCHES

For Immediate Circulation to All Area / Unit Representatives

Dear Colleagues,
Voluntary Redundancy Offers in Royal Mail (PILON) and Resourcing in General

The purpose of this LTB is to bring to the attention of all CWU Representatives and members the fact that the situation in respect of Royal Mail’s resourcing strategy is becoming a crisis we can no longer ignore.

National Agreements and industrial stability are clearly being threatened and we are making representation at the highest level to put an end to a failed resourcing strategy and the constant breaches of our agreements.

By way of background, Branches and Representatives will recall that in early 2015 the business unilaterally embarked on a scoping exercise to identify individuals who wished to leave the business on VR Terms. Aligned to this activity was an offer of pay in lieu of notice (PILON) as an enhancement of the terms currently available in the National MTSF Agreement.

Whilst the union had real concerns that such an approach would drive behaviours which would undermine current agreements, an agreed Joint Statement was produced which insisted that all surplus VR’s had to be agreed locally (LTB 113/2015 refers and is attached for ease of reference).(LTB 113/2015)

However the union’s fears and concerns were proven to be valid as the failed ‘rush to redundancy’ initiative created huge resourcing problems at local level, as well as generating a real threat to our industrial stability, a situation which is still live and relevant today.

Therefore it beggars belief that departments in CWU HQ have been informed that in spite of the resourcing anarchy, quality failures and local pressures that crystallised as a result of last year’s debacle, the business appears to be once again pursuing a drive to reduce headcount before the end of the financial year and in advance of resolving the resourcing problems that still exist.

Despite the apparent acceptance at senior level in Royal Mail that last year's headcount reduction approach was ill advised, we still have part-time employees constantly working beyond their conditioned hours but not having or being offered contracts which reflect the actual hours they are working. There is an extraordinary amount of managers performing deliveries on a regular basis (hardly a lesson in efficiency when one considers their terms and conditions).

We are also concerned that arrangements are being made with Agency companies to supply a revolving door approach to resourcing, as opposed to a recruitment approach that complements our National Agreements. It is our belief that all these issues must be resolved before any discussions take place to agree further headcount reduction.

The growing sense of insecurity and uncertainly in the field and the deterioration of local industrial relations is being further aggravated by Regional and Local Managers promoting next year’s business plans based on single wave, production control methods and increased headcount reduction, none of which are agreed with the union.

This highlights why the National Briefing on the 3rd February is imperative, as it will allow us to close any knowledge gap, consider the facts and inform the development of future CWU policy to be considered at a future Policy Forum.

Against that backdrop and whilst we take these issues up at national level, we urge all Local, Area and Divisional Representatives to use the IR Framework to resist any attempts by management to sell or reduce the number of permanent jobs without resolving current issues, including the removal of managers from deliveries.

We must be resolute in insisting full compliance with our National Agreements and the recent Joint Statement on resourcing (LTB 715/2015 refers and is also attached for ease of reference).

To be absolutely clear we still believe in the future of our great business and the need for industrial stability but we cannot ignore or accept our agreements and the promise of developing a genuine, mutual interest future vision, being constantly broken.
Yours sincerely,

_
Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (P)

[General Mannerheim]

What took them so long?
Oh yes the elections where a big distraction as was pandering up to Cobyn's selection, oh yes let's not forget getting the People Post off the ground and appointing a new head of communications, not to mention the fatigue study,expect our resident union poster to pop up with these excuses.

[GT750rider]

" To be absolutely clear we still believe in the future of our great business and the need for industrial stability but we cannot ignore or accept our agreements and the promise of developing a genuine, mutual interest future vision, being constantly broken. "

OK.... so if Royal Mail don't adhere to National Agreements, what are the Union going to do about it ?

[halfull]

who has woke them up??? I wonder if the 20% reduction(subs) in membership is finally getting them to wake up to the daily horror going on in do's up & down the country?
My grandad once told me there has never been a man born that does not panic if his pockets (£) are attacked, looks like the sheer amount of people leaving the cwu is forcing them to get their hands dirty & do some work instead of looking for an easy life all the time.
If they think its bad now, my gosh wait until 6pm finish times & 6+ hour deliveries come in!!!!!!! The cwu will no longer exist within 12 months!! Alot of people on big money will be unemployed!
Just hope this is the beginning of real change that needs to happen within delivery & its only the cwu & its members that can make this happen! 1st thing that needs to be tackled is the CURRENT workload! Its WRECKING people!

[spen]

Can someone explain what does all that mean

[k979aaa]

Well if I can get another four weeks pay and my MTSF payment in full probably go with that rather than be worked to death in the line of duty so much for the CWU I always voted for the best agreement and was steadfast in my opposition to the royal mail master plan. But cannot carry on with the lack of support by the people who I pay every week for the last 20 years plus to represent my interests at the highest level of the CWU they don't even back our rep's in the office so that is where we are at with the CWU HQ. Should have took charge of this long ago the horse has bolted before the cart even arrived so much for the humble postman and his job has now gone and will be done by part time staff for evermore so let this be the obituary of the last postman standing.

[ziggy]

I know it's completely selfish but part of me hopes for longer deliveries, they will have to reduce the workforce and hopefully I can be offered VR. I'm fed up with the fight, with the daily aches and the struggle. I can't see us ever getting an achievable work load. Having to argue for the right to work to time not only to the Dom but to the people I work with as well is annoying. The ar$e lickers and the gutless have helped to ruin this job. It's maybe a false hope but I'm looking forward to getting out.

I know I can just leave but there's no other jobs here so a VR payoff would give some breathing space.

[POSTMAN]

Can someone explain what does all that mean

It means that a strongly worded letter,some words in block capitals,some underlined with the odd ! in as well will be sent to room 101 @ Royal Mail HQ.

[world class male]

LTB 047/16: To: ALL POSTAL BRANCHES

For Immediate Circulation to All Area / Unit Representatives

Dear Colleagues,
Voluntary Redundancy Offers in Royal Mail (PILON) and Resourcing in General

Therefore it beggars belief that departments in CWU HQ have been informed that in spite of the resourcing anarchy, quality failures and local pressures that crystallised as a result of last year’s debacle, the business appears to be once again pursuing a drive to reduce headcount before the end of the financial year and in advance of resolving the resourcing problems that still exist.

why does our rep champion the employment of 5 or 6 mid-late 50 year olds thrust in at the deep end putting further pressure on the experienced but tiring postie after a dozen or so have left the business, spoke to 3 new starters and not in the cwu nor intending to join

we still have part-time employees constantly working beyond their conditioned hours but not having or being offered contracts which reflect the actual hours they are working. There is an extraordinary amount of managers performing deliveries on a regular basis (hardly a lesson in efficiency when one considers their terms and conditions).
this has been going on for years and constantly ignored by the cwu

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Terry Pullinger can kiss my arse because some of this crap isn't new news,
I know of staff who are PT and worked 40+ per week for 10 years or more EVERY WEEK and still PT

the one plus from this is I've learnt how to changethefontcolour

[Rommagic]

Will they be offering Evr before April this year?.

[egibson62198]

The only way to wake up Royal Mail up to there inadequate staffing base is if we were to work to rule and watch the business stumble from one day to the next. Now I know people may need the extra money but an overtime ban is in all our interests for the sake of our long term future because at the moment driving down amount of full timers, will eventually lead to no union and ultimately ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS. The company's resourcing strategy failing is their for all to see in delivery, why else do u think when someone calls in sick all hell breaks loose because they have either cut staff levels to the bone or allowed huge amounts of employees leave with no intention of ever replacing them leaving them short staffed something they fail to admit which places pressure on all of us. C'mon just ballot for National industrial action over the numerous breaches of National Agreements and stop pandering to them. Cant believe how many people have buried their heads in the sand over the issue. I have no doubt a overwhelming majority would vote in favour. Lets force their hand and make them get round the table and discuss the issues like unachievable workloads, unfair absorption and ultimately too many chiefs not enough Indians.

[world class male]

The only way to wake up Royal Mail up to there inadequate staffing base is if we were to work to rule and watch the business stumble from one day to the next. Now I know people may need the extra money but an overtime ban is in all our interests for the sake of our long term future because at the moment driving down amount of full timers, will eventually lead to no union and ultimately ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS. The company's resourcing strategy failing is their for all to see in delivery, why else do u think when someone calls in sick all hell breaks loose because they have either cut staff levels to the bone or allowed huge amounts of employees leave with no intention of ever replacing them leaving them short staffed something they fail to admit which places pressure on all of us. C'mon just ballot for National industrial action over the numerous breaches of National Agreements and stop pandering to them. Cant believe how many people have buried their heads in the sand over the issue. I have no doubt a overwhelming majority would vote in favour. Lets force their hand and make them get round the table and discuss the issues like achievable workloads, unfair absorption and ultimately too many chiefs not enough Indians.

All this is correct but while there is a small percentage of employees who are still fit enough to do large amounts of overtime (20hrs+p/w) thus justifying those above saying the rest of us can now take more out on delivery, and the very slight chance of made PT to FT is also out of the window.
yes there are days when it's possible to complete all they give us, but how many posties around the 50 year mark can sustain walking for around 5 hours a day everyday and now there's talk of even longer
I fear nothing will change, those wanting overtime will continue, I can understand if they're on low contracted hours but these are mainly FT or around 34hrs ,
the union hierarchy will continue to bury their heads in the sand.
would like to know the cwu's membership numbers/contributions now compared to 5 years ago

[egibson62198]

they

20 hrs plus per week good luck to them either gonna be Arnie lookalikes or dead before their 50 and 20 hrs plus per week of a wage cut everytime their on annual leave or should the workload cripple them wage cut whilst on sick leave some reward for all their hard work in my eyes but its their greed that blinds them to the real possibility of having hours made up through national agreements and working to rule to force the company away from blatant exploitation and profiteering

[world class male]

they

20 hrs plus per week good luck to them either gonna be Arnie lookalikes or dead before their 50 and 20 hrs plus per week of a wage cut everytime their on annual leave or should the workload cripple them wage cut whilst on sick leave some reward for all their hard work in my eyes but its their greed that blinds them to the real possibility of having hours made up through national agreements and working to rule to force the company away from blatant exploitation and profiteering

apart from working day off, it's mostly indoor work so not physical but sleep deprivation would do me
when those who start on time come in, most of the ips is done and a fair bit of walks thrown in too, this leads to us been out earlier giving them a good enough reason to pop an extra street or 2 to deliver.
our deteriorating physical condition doesn't even come into it

[Minischoles]

Can someone explain what does all that mean

Basically last year, Royal Mail in their infinite wisdom decided to offer Voluntary Redundancy to huge numbers of offices in Operations; then realised that they had let far too many go and were now facing massive resourcing problems pretty much across the business. Cue mad scramble to recruit, which is still ongoing because they'll only offer PT contacts, which coincided with christmas and recruiting agency at the same time

However instead of learn from this mistake, RM are now going to once again offer VR (despite still not having met the shortfall in staff) so that it looks good on their end of financial year report; staff costs down = share price up.

Seems the Union has finally woken up to the facts
- there are not enough staff
- staff there are, are on PT contracts and frequently working well over these
- managers are performing duties, due to sickness, A/L or just plain not having enough people
- agency staff are being treated despicably (this isn't just an operations thing either, this is everywhere, agency are getting shafted worse than usual)

What, if anything, the Union are actually going to do about it is another matter, as this has taken then six months plus to finally notice.