Resolution to Local Disputes

The interim agreement included the ability for all offices to either review or re-negotiate 2009 local change – dependent on whether change had been introduced by agreement or imposed by Royal Mail executive action. The agreement also included the terms of re-engagement at local level covering all the contentious issues that normally arise from a national dispute.

In order to track local progress, CWU divisional representatives and Royal Mail regional managers were jointly tasked with holding regular meetings with a common agenda that highlighted key elements of the interim agreement. This was then cross referenced with the actual progress being made at local level. Reports from these divisional / regional meetings have been fed back to the national parties and are then reviewed through the independent process.

Initially, in some areas, there were major problems in implementing the local aspects of the agreement. However, recent reports demonstrate we are now making progress in all regions.

been reached in approximately 70 units. The summary report is being shared with divisional representatives and it has been agreed that confirmation of local agreements requires joint sign off by the local parties.

In terms of the overall situation regarding the local elements of the interim agreement it can be seen that things are now moving forward although we want to see evidence of more agreements being reached in the next week or so.

National Negotiations

To take forward the national key principles of the interim agreement a negotiating structure was agreed covering operational change, job security issues, reward and relationships. This structure is supplemented by plenary sessions every Thursday where progress is reviewed on all the negotiations with the independent chair and ACAS.

The Postal Executive were given an update on the various strands of the negotiations by the relevant national officers. This can be summarised by saying that in the operational change meetings covering delivery, mail centres and the network, although draft proposals had been exchanged, negotiations were proving difficult particularly in delivery. However, it was felt that the review meeting of the 3^rd December had given fresh impetus to the talks and the officers were hopeful that real progress could be made this week.

On the other elements of the talks covering reward, job security issues and relationships, it was reported that negotiations were moving forward, albeit, it was recognised that we had not yet reached a pivotal stage.

The Independent Review Meetings

There have now been three independent review meetings facilitated by Roger Poole, the independent chair, and ACAS. At the 3^rd December review meeting we received an in-commercial confidence presentation from Mark Higson, the Managing Director, and his team. The presentation contained some new and helpful information in the context of the impact of Royal Mail’s transformation programme on jobs, full time to part time ratios and mail centre rationalisation.

In the question and answer session that followed the union received strong assurances from the Managing Director that the company’s plans would be shaped by any final agreement. Furthermore, the independent chair also made it clear to both parties that his expectation was that the agreement would shape the future of the business. Overall, this was seen as a helpful session for the union.

The review meeting then received reports on the state of play in all the negotiations. This was followed by suggestions from ACAS and Roger Poole on how we could remove barriers that were preventing progress in some areas. As a result of the 3^rd December review meeting there have been some helpful developments:

• ACAS will now directly assist delivery talks.
• Royal Mail has clarified their negotiating teams to ensure key players are always in attendance.
• There has been an important exchange of correspondence (attached) which provides the union with strong assurances over the status of the company’s regional plans and 2010 planned budget / local revision activity. It is important that branches convey the content of this exchange of correspondence to all local representatives.
• The independent chair explained that he would be sending out a communication (attached to LTB 1070/09) outlining his views on the current situation.

Summary

It can be seen from the afore-mentioned that, at this stage, the decision to engage external support is proving beneficial.

In taking stock of the overall situation, including the assurances given by Royal Mail over planned 2010 change, the Postal Executive yesterday accepted two very important points:

-         The union must continue to put our faith in the independent process as the only realistic way of securing a full and final agreement.

-         A return to strike action will be a last resort and will only be triggered if there is a breakdown in negotiations.

We are now focusing all our efforts on trying to finalise an agreement before Christmas. The Postal Executive has agreed to meet again on the 16^th December to review the situation. A further report will be issued in due course.