LTB on CWU pay proposal rejection.

[stephen500]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/cwu-rej ... posal.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
CWU rejects misleading Royal Mail proposal (Go to members area for LTB, or scroll down)

1st July 2013


"CWU has rejected Royal Mail's proposal on pay and conditions as misleading and unacceptable. Postal workers voted by 99% in favour of a straight-forward above-inflation pay rise. What they have been presented with is a proposal laden with strings that will increase the uncertainty of their future.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Postal workers want more security; what's on offer is less. With privatisation looming, the protections Royal Mail have put on offer are not worth the paper they're written on. Our members clearly voted - by a huge 99% - for a pay rise without strings attached yet the company ignores them.
"Only a year ago the government and Moya Greene promised postal workers that their pensions were secure - now they have reneged on their promise and postal workers' pensions are again under attack. For the company to present this as some kind of benefit linked to a pay offer is scandalous. This is daylight robbery of a further £2 billion of pension scheme assets being used to subsidise privatisation. CWU is seeking a parliamentary enquiry and a review of the European state aid settlement.

"The pay rise is only there as a sweetener to swallow some very bitter pills on damaging changes to pensions, and a raft of workplace uncertainty. The deal that they've spun in their press release is not the real deal. Postal workers will know that.

"As far as industrial stability is concerned, the company has no real strategy for growth. Royal Mail consistently claims it has a plan for growth but it can't explain it to the workforce. All postal workers see are budget cuts and increasingly unmanageable workloads.

"If we can't get the assurance we want over our members' future then industrial conflict is inevitable."

CWU reasons for rejection:

While in today's climate the pay element will be seen as significant, the offer must be viewed as an overall package and in the context of our major concerns over the company's future strategy, pensions, privatisation and end to end competition.


- The pay element in isolation does not meet with the terms of CWU policy for an above-inflation, no strings attached pay rise and we will be seeking a higher, more straightforward settlement.

Neither does the pay element address our claim for significantly improved overtime rates and new bonus arrangements.

As well as a higher basic pay award, CWU will be seeking more certainty in any long-term deal, rather than inflation reopener clauses.


- The linkage to the previously rejected pension proposals is unacceptable.

- The protection of some terms and conditions are neither extensive enough, explicit enough nor adequate in their longevity. Neither are they legally enforceable and would not offer CWU members any protection in the event of a change in ownership.

- An agenda for growth and stability is something CWU has wanted and will support if the conditions are right. However, this offer lacks clarity over the future and is not a substitute for a proper agreement over the company's future parcels strategy. "
LTB below:
LTB 445/13 ROYAL MAIL PAY AND CONDITIONS OFFER - REJECTED
To view this download, Go to members area of cwu.org

No. 445/13
Ref: 21003
Date: 1st July 2013


To: All Branches with Postal Members


Dear Colleague


ROYAL MAIL PAY AND CONDITIONS OFFER - REJECTED


It was reported previously that as the Consultative Ballot concluded, the Union received a three year closed pay and conditions offer from the company. The purpose of this LTB is to confirm the detail of the offer and explain why it has been rejected.


THE ROYAL MAIL PAY AND CONDITIONS OFFER


1. Pay


Year One (April 1st 2013 to March 31st 2014) - 2.6% basic pay increase + £300 lump sum payable December 2013 (subject to Industrial Action clause) *


Year Two (April 1st 2014 to March 31st 2015) - 3% basic pay increase (subject to review if inflation is below 2.3% or above 3.3%) *


Year Three (April 1st 2015 to March 31st 2016) - 2.8% basic pay increase (subject to the same review of inflation) *


* All basic pay increases to flow through to Overtime/Scheduled Attendance rates, all allowances including Shift, London Weighting and Scottish Distant Island Allowance.


2. The pay offer is conditional on acceptance of the following:


Acceptance of the previously rejected pension proposals currently out to consultation.

Three year protection of existing contracts of employment and some other terms and conditions, alongside a commitment to no outsourcing for the three year duration of the deal.

The development of an agenda for growth and stability with a commitment to a workplan to take this forward.


CWU Reasons for Rejection


In considering the offer the Executive recognise that in today's climate the pay element will be seen as significant, but the offer must also be viewed as an overall package and in the context of our major concerns over the company's future strategy, pensions, privatisation and end to end competition. Further reasons for rejecting the offer are as follows:


The pay element in isolation does not meet with the terms of CWU policy and we will be seeking a higher, more straightforward settlement.



Neither does the pay element address our claim for significantly improved overtime rates and new bonus arrangements.


As well as a higher basic pay award, the Union will be seeking more certainty in any long-term deal, rather than inflation reopener clauses.


The linkage to the previously rejected pension proposals is unacceptable.



The protection of some terms and conditions included in the offer is a key Union agenda item. However, the protections attached to this offer are neither extensive enough, explicit enough nor adequate in their longevity. Neither are they legally enforceable and would not offer CWU members any protection in the event of a change in ownership.



An agenda for growth and stability is something the Union has wanted and will support if the conditions are right. However, this offer lacks clarity over the future and is not a substitute for a proper agreement over the company's future parcels strategy.



Next Steps


All in all, although this offer has been rejected, it does demonstrate that the company now appear to be serious about resolving issues that have been on the Union's agenda for some time.


The Union is committed to further negotiations and a meeting has been arranged with the company later this week. Please ensure the content of this LTB is distributed to all local workplaces.


A further LTB will be issued this week confirming arrangements for a Conference/Policy Forum, alongside a Special Report setting out our next steps. Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.


Yours sincerely


Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)"

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorry Stephen already posted in RMs response thread http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=53675" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I'll move this into the Union room for reference purposes so thanks for posting it.

[stephen500]

Sorry Stephen already posted in RMs response thread http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=53675" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I'll move this into the Union room for reference purposes so thanks for posting it.

I try to check if already posted, but some times miss it!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorry Stephen already posted in RMs response thread http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=53675" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I'll move this into the Union room for reference purposes so thanks for posting it.

I try to check if already posted, but some times miss it!

No worries at all

[Rommagic]

What is going on with the pay rise etc talks?.

[philip spiby]

They are a million miles apart, way it's going you ll prob get April 2013 and April 2014 pay rises at same time. Check after we had the ballot, if its a big yes vote, may be new offer, but it will still be with strings attached. It's only 5 months late.

[UnhappyGremlin]

They are a million miles apart, way it's going you ll prob get April 2013 and April 2014 pay rises at same time. Check after we had the ballot, if its a big yes vote, may be new offer, but it will still be with strings attached. It's only 5 months late.

For some reason RM are convinced that the only issue is HOW MUCH they are offering, as they increased the offer from 8.6% to 8.8%, which was also rejected.
They also appear to want a deal to incorporate a 'no strike clause', which the union isn't likely to agree to.
They cannot fathom that we are more concerned by the pension issue and privatisation.

[k979aaa]

They are a million miles apart, way it's going you ll prob get April 2013 and April 2014 pay rises at same time. Check after we had the ballot, if its a big yes vote, may be new offer, but it will still be with strings attached. It's only 5 months late.

For some reason RM are convinced that the only issue is HOW MUCH they are offering, as they increased the offer from 8.6% to 8.8%, which was also rejected.
They also appear to want a deal to incorporate a 'no strike clause', which the union isn't likely to agree to.
They cannot fathom that we are more concerned by the pension issue and privatisation.

And the way we are all treated they think of us all as black slaves from the 1820s! I resent this company with all my heart and I don't think I am the only one.