LTB 436/17 Conflict of Interest – Revenue Protection

No: 436/17

Date: 28th July 2017

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS.

Dear Colleagues

RE: CONFLICT OF INTEREST – REVENUE PROTECTION.

The Revenue Protection community are uniquely positioned with regular access to the customer as well as the ability to affect changes to customer invoices. As such, this leaves them at greater risk of exposure to situations where there may be a conflict of interest.

Following a recent fraud, Royal Mail took action to inforce their policy around anti bribery in 2016. The fall out of the fraud identified a need to also strengthen anti-corruption processes within Royal Mail.

The department were approached by Royal Mail in early June and asked to engage on a process which will ensure our members / Royal Mail employees declare any conflicts of interest. This initially raised some alarm bells and we met with Royal Mail to discuss our concerns.

Following this meeting we have now agreed a joint statement which protects our members’ interests as well as Royal Mail. The joint statement and declaration are attached to this LTB.

The conflict of interest declaration will be an online form where members will be asked to declare if they are directors of companies etc, who have an account with Royal Mail where they may be able to influence the account.

To ensure our members are protected we have agreed:-

  • Members will be asked to complete the conflict of interest declaration online and send it off.
  • Conflict of Interest declarations are confidential and must be treated as such.
  • Security Teams and not line managers undertake the vetting of all submitted declarations.
  • Potential “conflicts” will be managed within the RP Leadership Team and not line managers, supported by Security as appropriate.
  • If there is a conflict of interest, the members will still be able to work in Revenue Protection, however, will not be able to check any work which is from a company with which they are associated.

Any enquiries should be addressed to PTCS department, quoting reference PTC/RH/kh/402. Email address: khawkins@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis

Assistant Secretary