London Mail Centre Rationalisation:CWU LTM

[POSTMAN]

TO: ALL CWU MEMBERS IN MOUNT PLEASANT, NINE ELMS MC, EAST LONDON MC AND RATHBONE PLACE

Dear Colleague,
We are writing to explain the reasons why the union are undertaking an industrial action ballot, why it is crucial that you
vote ‘yes’ and what it is we are determined to achieve on your behalf.

In doing so we understand that CWU members will be very worried about the current situation. This is not a position any
of us wanted to be in – but none of us can allow Royal Mail to get away with the appalling manner in which they
are treating employees.

Royal Mail’s approach to Mail Centre Rationalisation in London is completely outside the terms of our National Agreement
and unlike any other previous Mail Centre Rationalisation in the United Kingdom. This is the first time the company has
gone ahead with closure plans without all employees who wish to do so having the opportunity to either relocate with
the work or move to a suitable, alternative Royal Mail job.

If Royal Mail continues to press ahead regardless – then their plan will eventually lead to compulsory redundancies.

The facts are straight forward. Under their existing plan, with two out of three Mail Centres closing, the best scenario
(with full take up of VR) will be a full time surplus of approximately 1,040 employees and a part time surplus of
approximately 96 employees. Even in Mount Pleasant, which is staying open, there is already a surplus of approximately
534 existing employees because of transfer of international work to Langley and proposed increases in productivity levels.

Royal Mail’s recent actions in writing to home addresses with a preference exercise for voluntary redundancy – but no
choice of alternative jobs – is compelling evidence that the threat of compulsory redundancy is now real.

Not only was this type of preference exercise a breach of all existing agreements, but it was also a cynical and calculated
move to frighten employees. In a further dishonest act the company then told employees that unless they confirmed
acceptance of VR by the 5th May, VR offers would be withdrawn. The union forced Royal Mail to backtrack on this and
the company has now confirmed that VR will not be withdrawn and will continue to be on the table beyond the 5th May.

There can be no excuses for the actions of Royal Mail and the faceless senior managers responsible for this bullying
behaviour must be dismissed. What they are doing has nothing to do with looking after people and everything to do
with trying to break the resolve of CWU members.

The right response is to reject Royal Mail’s approaches. This will leave the company with no where to go and force them
to reconsider. The reality is VR will still be on offer for those who genuinely want it – but all of us must support those
who want a job by voting ‘yes’ in the forthcoming ballot.

What CWU are Seeking on your Behalf

Put simply, our key demand is that Royal Mail must finally accept that people come first. This requires new management
thinking alongside a new London Mail Centre Rationalisation Plan.

• There must be an upfront guarantee within any regional plan that it will be achieved without recourse to compulsory
redundancy. Royal Mail must immediately confirm that all full time and part time employees who want to remain in
employment will be guaranteed a decent job. This must also cover Engineers, Doorkeepers, LA’s, Romec and
Quadrant employees.

• We must increase and maximise the genuine choices and jobs available to all employees affected by any regional plan.
This must be delivered through a jointly agreed preference exercise that is fair to everybody.

• As the most modern purpose built Mail Centre currently in London, East London should remain open and its future
reviewed post the 2012 Olympics. This would enable Royal Mail to take full advantage of the opportunities for growth
of new products and services.

• In South London there should be a revised phasing plan for closure that moves more work to Croydon, Mount Pleasant
and East London. This will create a greater choice and increased number of good jobs for employees.

• The formula for London Weighting Pay Protection for employees who choose to relocate should be up-rated to reflect
today’s values. Employees should be given the choice of either the up-rated and significantly enhanced lump sum,
or the opportunity to maintain existing London Weighting payments on a personal reserved rights basis in perpetuity.

• We also require tailored solutions to satisfactorily address all outstanding issues in Mount Pleasant and Rathbone Place.

The aforementioned would meet all the requirements of our National Agreement and offers less risk to quality of
service than Royal Mail’s flawed plan. It is in line with a very similar solution to that which was recently highlighted in
an independent report. In accordance with the above the CWU will continue to press for a negotiated settlement with
the assistance of Roger Poole (Independent Chair) and ACAS.

In the meantime, it would help our case if you continue to debate and raise the profile of these issues with your
workplace colleagues. Let Royal Mail know that you stand firmly behind the principles of fairness and solidarity.
A ‘yes’ vote will really strengthen our hand and secure a much better outcome for everybody.

The union will be holding further workplace meetings to update you and explain our plans to galvanise support
elsewhere.
Yours sincerely

Dave Ward/Phil Brown

INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT TIMETA BLE
Legal Notice Served 5th May 2011
Ballot Papers Dispatched 12th May 2011
Ballot Closes 23rd May 2011

03443 London Mail Centre Rationalisation.pdf

[George door to dawes]

Theres is always a lot of talk about the north / south divide but i really wish all our brothers and sisters in the south good luck with their fight!

[Geezer]

Sent the above to a mate in the know, and he replied with this !

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Meeting later today I understand + RM have delayed the unagreed move of work out of East London......for now anyway.
I think the preference form stuff might be altered as long as the ballot is stopped. We shall see. Not good though.

[POSTMAN]

Cheers Geeze,no doubt Dingo will give us the latest soonish.