Harrow and District CWU » Business

CWU PENSIONS LEAFLET – “TAKING YOUR BENEFITS EARLY”

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:03:33 +0000

Following Conference the Union met with our pension advisors, First Actuarial to discuss the terms of the motion and establish what type of information was needed to meet the terms of the policy contained in Motion 79.

You can also download the leaflet by clicking this link Royal Mail Pensions (16) to open the file in your browser where you will have to option to eother print or save it.

Royal Mail Group Announcement

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:57:35 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The Union has been told by Royal Mail that the company will be announcing to all employees this week that they are experiencing serious financial difficulties, that they are developing a new business plan and that the value of Colleagueshare is likely to plummet.

The company have explained that the reasons for this are as follows:

-         A harsher fall in revenue, profit and volumes than was forecast in the original business plan agreed with Government
-         Slower than anticipated progress on modernisation
-         A new business plan, in the process of being agreed with Government, that downgrades the future expectations of the company

In response to these announcements the Union has told Royal Mail that we have major concerns about these developments. A letter has been posted to all members’ home addresses and an advanced copy of this is attached.

In the meantime it is important that all CWU Representatives convey the following key messages to our members.

-         The Union does not accept that Colleagueshare could have plummeted from a valuation of around £1400 as late as last September – to virtually nothing.
-         The company must find a way to honour the previous Colleagueshare commitments and maintain the cash benefits due to our members
-         The Union has major concerns around the potential impact that a new business plan may have on all existing Agreements including job security, pay rises, lump sums and the shorter working week
-         We are calling for urgent meetings with the company and Government to address these issues.

Royal Mail to axe 1,700 jobs and close two postal centres (dailymail.co.uk)
Royal Mail Unveils Plans To Axe 3,400 Jobs (news.sky.com)
Royal Mail set to cut 1,700 jobs (bbc.co.uk)

Tariff Increase – Quadrant Catering – W/C – 4th October 2010

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:02:24 +0000

Image by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer via Flickr

Branches will be aware that Quadrant review the Tariff in April and October each year. We have received correspondence from Royal Mail setting out the increases that are taking place from 4^th October 2010.

We have informed the business of our intention to note the increases and a document will be placed before the next available PEC meeting to endorse that principle.

We have also made representation to Royal Mail seeking a meeting to discuss the ongoing increases and in particular the continuation of reviewing the tariff twice a year. We have also requested information regarding the existing financial subsidy that Royal Mail continues to invest in Quadrant Catering.

We will keep branches informed of any further developments in the meantime below are the increases that are due to be implemented w/c 4^th October 2010.

Description	Proposed Price from 4 Oct 2010	Price Increase

Standard Coffee	0.55	0.05
Large Coffee	0.60	0.05
Standard Tea	0.50	0.05
Large Tea	0.55	0.05
Chocolate Standard	0.55	0.05
Chocolate Large	0.65	0.05
Vended Tea	0.40	0.05
Vended Coffee	0.40	0.05
Cans Standard (canteen & vending)	0.70	0.00	Price Hold

Bacon	0.45	0.05
Egg	0.45	0.05
Hash Brown x 2	0.45	0.05
Sausage	0.45	0.05
Dry Bread/Toast	0.20	0.00	We will continue the current
Fried Bread	0.20	0.00	toast promotion at 15p
Value Plus Roll (Cheese, Corned Beef, Egg, Salad)	0.95	0.05
Value Plus Roll (Shoulder Ham, Tuna)	1.05	0.05
Additional item (cucumber, onion, pickle, tomato)	0.05
Additional item (mayonnaise)	0.10

Vegetables – Frozen	0.45	0.05
Chips, Roast, Saute, Croquette	0.80	0.00	Price Hold
Boiled, New & Mash Potato	0.70	0.00	Price Hold
Baked Beans/Spaghetti Hoops	0.45	0.05
Tomatoes	0.45	0.05
Rice & Pasta	0.60	0.00	Price Hold

Tariff Increase - Quadrant Catering - W/C - 4th October 2010 (136)

Privatisation is politically motivated

admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 02:17:29 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Union says Royal Mail is successful and modernising while privatisation is unpopular and politically motivated to get hands on pension cash.

The Communication Workers Union condemns plans announced today to privatise Royal Mail and vows to fight the politically motivated move by all means.

A YouGov poll last month found a majority of voters of every party oppose privatising Royal Mail with support at only 15 per cent. At the same time, Royal Mail is a market leader and the company’s profits rose by 26 per cent to £404 million in 2010. A fully funded modernisation programme agreed by both management and unions is in place bringing stability to the company. Royal Mail’s pension scheme assets total around £26 billion.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “Privatisation is old politics. It’s the failed politics of history which brought disruption to Britain’s utilities and railways and astronomical prices for consumers. Dangerously in this case, we fear the government may also be plotting to seize the pension assets.

“Privatisation would be devastating for Royal Mail and the whole country’s postal services. The universal service has been a key part of the UK post for 170 years but because it isn’t the profitable element of mail, the privatisation will put it at risk. This could damage the service for all customers including millions of small business and potentially harm the UK economy. Privatisation will also mean separation of Royal Mail and the post office network, putting the very existence of many more post offices that play such a key role in Britain’s communities at risk.

“Closures, cuts and profit will rule while customers, small businesses, communities and tax payers lose out. This report is politically motivated to please the ideology of the coalition. People who work in the industry know that privatisation has no positive role in this public service. Richard Hooper’s report of 2008 was flawed and his vision was proved to be unachievable. He still doesn’t have the answers to the challenges facing the postal service but faithfully trots out what his political masters request.

“Royal Mail has always been a privatisation too far and there is a public majority out there who will vote this government out for flogging off our national assets and breaking our public services.”

Dave Ward

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Everyone’s a loser if you privatise the Royal Mail. Jobs and services will suffer and customers will see prices soar.

“We’ve put in place a detailed and fully funded modernisation programme which is dramatically transforming Royal Mail. Why does the government want to threaten the stability and capital of this programme when it’s proving a major success?

“We fear the pensions of our members will be at risk under privatisation. Everyone hears about the deficit, but there’s over £26 billion in assets which belongs to the postmen and women who have paid their contributions every week of their working lives. We will never let the government get its hands on that money for anything other than what it’s intended – to pay for the retirement of hard-working postal workers.

“Postal workers have invested in the modernisation of the service by fully supporting the business transformation agreement signed earlier this year. The company and its employees are working hard to transform the business together. Rather than reverse the progress, the government needs to show the same support for this key public service.”

Read the report here: The Hooper Report 2 (83)

CWU TV News | August 2010

admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:28:52 +0000

CWU TV brings you the latest stories from around the communications industry. This month we talk to Andy Kerr, Deputy General Secretary Telecoms about the BT Pay Deal, CWU Nominates Ed Balls for Labour Leadership, Non-address Mail Integrated into Workload, Climate Solidarity ‘e-group’ Launched and CWU Scoops TUC Communication Awards. To find out more about these stories, please visit the CWU website.

CWU TV News | July 2010

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:13:41 +0000

The latest stories from around the communications industry in July include CWUâ€™s Annual Conference in Bournemouth, Santander extend cheque processing contract in Bootle, new Royal Mail Chief Executive, the latest on O2 pay negotiations and Isle of Man Post Office 2010 Pay. To find out the latest on these stories, please visit www.cwu.org (Created July 2010)

CWU TV News | Conference 2010 – Royal Mail Part-Privatisation

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:40:24 +0000

CWU General Sectary Billy Hayes, spoke to CWU TV at their Annual Conference about the recent news that the new coalition government have plans to part privatise Royal Mail outlined in the Queen’s Speech. Billy Hayes expressed concern over these plans but vowed to fight to keep the Royal Mail in public ownership. (Created May 2010)

Results show Royal Mail success in public sector

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:04:27 +0000

Plans by the new coalition government to privatise Royal Mail have been slammed by the CWU as “regurgitated failed policies.”

Despite the company’s strong financial performance and newly agreed three-year modernisation strategy, the government has unveiled proposals to split Post Office Limited from Royal Mail Group and privatise the UK’s postal service.

Pointing out that the government’s announcement clearly contradicts its boasts of “new politics,” CWU general secretary Billy Hayes said: “This is old politics wrapped in new language.

“The British public has consistently rejected the privatisation of Royal Mail and the move to regurgitate failed policies will be deeply unpopular.”

When Richard Hooper recommended a part sell-off some 18 months ago, a key justification that he made at the time was that, in his opinion, private-sector involvement was the only way to improve industrial relations and modernise the business.

But the CWU argues that the recently concluded national agreement between the CWU and Royal Mail – Business Transformation: 2010 and Beyond – clearly proves Mr Hooper wrong on that score.

And Royal Mail’s annual financial results, which were released on the same day that the government unveiled its privatisation plans, provide strong evidence that modernisation by agreement within the public sector is a recipe for success.

CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said that the figures – profits up by 26 per cent from last year – showed that “Royal Mail has again proved is a strong leader in the mail industry.

“Postal workers have made a significant contribution through increased efficiency in all Royal Mail Group businesses, but the only way to sustain success, and deal with the real challenges that lie ahead, is for Royal Mail to remain wholly within the public sector.

“The three-year deal which we have agreed with the company for transformation will continue to provide stability and a framework for successful modernisation in the public sector,” Dave added.

CWU Welcomes Appointment of Royal Mail Chief Exec

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:54:25 +0000

The Communication Workers Union today (Wednesday) welcomes news that Royal Mail is to appoint Canada Post’s Moya Greene as the new Chief Executive replacing Adam Crozier who left last month.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “It’s good to see the appointment of a person with a public sector background to Royal Mail.

“It’s important that the new chief executive continues to move ahead with business transformation in partnership with the CWU. We look forward to meeting Moya Greene and establishing a productive working relationship.”

Privatisation back to old politics

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:51:34 +0000

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The Communication Workers Union today (Tuesday) describes plans by the coalition government to privatise Royal Mail as “old politics” and says there is no public mandate for the move which would put post offices at risk.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “The coalition government has read this wrong. Royal Mail is a public sector success story, making hundreds of millions of pounds in profit while modernising and delivering first class services to every residential and business address in the UK.

“Privatising public services is deeply unpopular. Breaking up Royal Mail Group and flogging parts to private companies will damage services and lead to price hikes for customers. It’s old politics dressed up in new language.

“The commitments given on post offices are misleading and disingenuous. Breaking the link with Royal Mail could take valuable business away from the Post Office while leading to greater costs for Royal Mail. The post office network is an expensive but vital community service but today’s proposals place the Post Office in grave danger of further waves of closures.

“We will fight these proposals. There’s no mandate from the public to privatise Britain’s postal services, it’s not supported by the public and it’s not supported by postal workers.”