LTB 652/18 - Post Office: Privatisation of 74 Crowns to WHSmith - TUPE Avoidance

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 652/18 - Post Office: Privatisation of 74 Crowns to WHSmith - TUPE Avoidance

No. 652/2018

16th November 2018

Dear Colleagues

POST OFFICE: PRIVATISATION OF 74 CROWNS TO WHSMITH – TUPE AVOIDANCE

Earlier this week we became aware that WHSmith has prematurely advertised for Counter Clerks in 10 of the 74 Crown Post Offices earmarked for privatisation, via the job website “indeed.co.uk”. This inappropriate and insensitive activity has taken place despite the Post Office informing the Union that the earliest possible date for the first of these “franchises” to take place is end of January 2019.

The 10 Crowns, all of which are currently “hosted” within a WHSmith store are as follows:

Aberdeen Eastbourne Southend

Bradford Lowestoft Tonbridge

Chichester Orpington Warrington

Dunfermline

It is absolutely outrageous that WHSmith is advertising for new Counter Clerks with indecent haste when we haven’t even met with the Post Office or WHSmith under the auspices of TUPE consultation. In fact the Union has offered dates to meet with both the Post Office and WHSmith and as yet there has been no meaningful response in respect of engaging with the Union in a formal meeting under TUPE consultation.

The actions of WHSmith are totally premature and clearly demonstrate an attitude which effectively proves WHSmith does not want our members to TUPE across. The policy of TUPE avoidance is evident, especially as our members are coming under immense pressure to sign away their TUPE rights by indicating they wish to avail themselves of a compensation package via a Settlement Agreement, despite the detailed monetary terms not being made available to them by the Post Office.

To add insult to injury, WHSmith is seeking via these job adverts to replace quality jobs (with Trade Union recognition) with new staff on bargain basement pay rates. Added to this is the fantasy and spin of WHSmith claiming a “fantastic rate of pay” of £7.83, which is the current minimum wage. Additionally, annual leave entitlements are being advertised at 28 days (which includes 8 bank and public holidays). This compares with annual leave of 25 days for our Post Office members on commencement of employment rising to 30 days after 10 years, with the 8 public and bank holidays on top of this.

Below is an example of the indeed.co.uk advert which will no doubt over time include many more Crown Offices that are facing privatisation:

“New Post Office opening 2018!! – Aberdeen Union Street, WHSmith High Street

Full Time and Part time hours available (flexibility required)

Fantastic rate of pay on offer for this position – £7.83 per hour.”

The full advert can be accessed by using the following link:

https://www.indeed.co.uk/viewjob?jk=d6d ... serp&vjs=3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The feedback we have received from our members is one of feeling completely let down by the Post Office. Members’ jobs being advertised at minimum wage is effectively a kick in the teeth and has resulted in our members feeling thoroughly undervalued by both Post Office and WHSmith. At best it is insensitive, especially as the individual consultations regarding their future has only just begun. The members in these Crowns are in the process of having a series of one-to-one meetings with Post Office management where they will be given an opportunity to decide whether to TUPE across to WHSmith, take up a redeployment opportunity or to leave with a “Settlement Agreement”. At a time when these one-to-ones are taking place, for the members to see their jobs advertised at minimum wage at such an early stage is extremely upsetting. In view of this provocative development, we are writing to the Post Office to lodge our very strong objections to the actions of WHSmith.

Finally, the job adverts on indeed.co.uk and the minimum wage position has already been highlighted to MPs via the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Post Offices which took place early this week, chaired by Gill Furniss MP, Shadow Minister BEIS. It would be an understatement to state that those MPs and Peers present at the APPG were both shocked and disgusted by the attitude of WHSmith in this regard. Clearly we need to keep up the profile of this matter politically. To this end, Branches are once again reminded to actively promote our Microsite – http://www.saveourpostoffice.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and take all necessary steps to ensure members sign the online petition and write to their MPs.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey Terry Pullinger Dave Ward

Assistant Secretary DGS (P) General Secretary

18LTB652 Post Office – Privatisation of 74 Crowns to WHSmith – TUPE Avoidance http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-njkkjdy-ztkjiuyil-h/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



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[Navalron]

Dirty, greedy bastards. £7.83 an hour is the minimum wage and to tell bullshit. Another couple of years there will be no crown offices. As an ex postman driver I've been in hundreds of offices both crown and franchised and without a doubt the crown office staff were more knowledgeable and there were more on duty cutting down on the time customers had to wait. Some of the private ones, especially in newsagents, could hardly speak English. It's not their fault as their being exploited also. It's a disgrace and whsmith is another place to be boycotted along with the likes of nestles, and all the union busting companies that I don't buy from. Get it up them.