LTB 420/17 – PFS (FORMERLY ROMEC) MEMBERS: FOUR PILLARS

No. 420/2017

29^th June 2017

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleagues,

PFS (FORMERLY ROMEC) MEMBERS: FOUR PILLARS

Queries have been received over the position of CWU Members in Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions (PFS) formerly known as Romec, in regard to the Union’s Four Pillars campaign. This LTB is intended to provide clarification.

Those PFS members who are members of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) are affected by the pension discussions with Royal Mail and the position of the Union that any settlement for RMPP members in Royal Mail should also apply to RMPP members in PFS. The Union’s proposal to Royal Mail is that membership of the WinRS scheme proposed by the Union should be extended to all employees, not simply current members of RMPP. If we are successful in achieving this objective in Royal Mail it will not automatically apply in PFS. PFS is a separate bargaining unit, as confirmed in the agreement which facilitated its return to full Royal Mail Group ownership and any change to pension arrangements would, like other terms and conditions applying to PFS members, need to be negotiated separately with PFS.

In respect to the other three pillars: redesign of the pipeline does not directly impact PFS; PFS is not covered by the legally binding sections of Agenda for Growth; and the Union has no specific policy on the shorter working week for PFS members. A fundamental difference between the position in Royal Mail and PFS is that the Four Pillars talks are taking place as part of the 2017 pay review whereas in PFS the April 2017 pay award was part of a three year pay agreement concluded as part of the agreement which brought Romec back in to full Royal Mail ownership – the next pay review in PFS is not due until April 2018.

This therefore means that PFS members would not be part of any dispute with Royal Mail Group on pay, shorter working week, pipeline or extension of legally binding agreements. PFS members are therefore not covered by the current Four Pillars discussions with Royal Mail.

It is important to avoid any potential confusion or misunderstanding. PFS, as a bargaining unit, is not covered by the Four Pillars claim. Any settlement on pensions agreed with Royal Mail would not automatically apply to all PFS members, only to those who are current members of the RMPP.

The Union will of course be pursuing a pay claim for members in PFS in April next year and will wish to consult with Branches and representatives on the terms of the claim. In addition, it is our policy to improve pension benefits for members in PFS and we will consult on our strategy to achieve this. The intention is to hold a National briefing for branches with PFS members before the end of this calendar year as a key part of the process of developing pay and pensions policy for PFS members going forward.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 024. Email address: rellis@cwu.org

Yours Sincerely,

Ray Ellis

Assistant Secretary