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A Letter from Andy Furey 29 April 2010
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Further
to LTB 359, published 26th April, I am now able to advise Branches
and members that formal pay negotiations commenced yesterday with POL.
The POL negotiating team was lead by Debbie Moore, HR
Director, with support from Matthew Starks, Head of HR – Network, Reward
and Employee Relations, Keith Rann, Head of Supply Chain, Dave Harcourt,
Supply Chain Operations Support Manager and Adam Firby, HR Business
Partner.
Members within the following areas are covered
by this pay negotiation:
·
All Crown Office members, including Financial
Specialists and Product Specialists
·
All Supply Chain members, including CVIT, Cash
Centre grades, Admin and Swindon Supplies
·
All Administration members, including Field Support
Advisors together with the former P&ODS employees based in Farnworth
During the course of the negotiations, a frank
exchange of views took place, and it quickly became apparent that a
significant gap existed between our aspirations and POL’s position.
Supply Chain
A “closed offer” was made for all Supply Chain
grades, which means that it has to remain in confidence between the
negotiating teams. Our reaction to this offer was one of disappointment,
especially against the backdrop of excellent quality of service results
being provided by our members, particularly during the inclement weather we
experienced this winter. Additionally, our view is that POL has failed to
recognise the endeavours of our CViT members who have embraced and absorbed
new external contracts with BP and Aldi.
Also, we were quick to point out that our Supply
Chain members had in fact been subjected to an imposed pay freeze for 2009
and that, consequently, a significantly better offer would be required to
compensate our members for the increase in the cost of living, which is
currently on the rise. Accordingly, POL’s inadequate pay offer to our
Supply Chain members was rejected.
Crown Offices and Admin
In relation to our members in both Crown Offices
and Admin, POL was, unsatisfactorily, unable to make any offer. Our
response to this lack of progress was again one of disappointment, bearing
in mind that we are one month into the review period and POL clearly has
had sufficient time to arrive at a pay policy.
POL’s position was that they needed time to do
more work on this aspect of the pay negotiation. They stated this delay was
due in part to the arrival of the new Managing Director, Dave Smith, who is
apparently keen to influence the pay policy. To be fair, this is a
plausible explanation and we would want the MD’s input into the important
issue of members’ pay.
Next Steps
The plan is to meet with POL again on Friday 7th
May, where it is hoped that significant progress can be made. For this to
happen, POL will need to understand that all CWU grades across POL are
entitled to and deserve a meaningful pay increase to basic pensionable pay.
Whilst the progress made so far is less than
satisfactory, my negotiating team and I are determined to secure a fair and
reasonable pay settlement. Clearly, this will require POL to properly
recognise the value and worth of all its employees, irrespective of which
part of the company they work in. There can be no doubt that our members
are POL’s greatest asset and should be suitably rewarded.
Please ensure that this LTB is brought to the
urgent attention of all members working within POL.
Further developments will be reported.
All enquiries
on the above should be addressed to Claire Bowers on cbowers@cwu.org or
020 8971 7361.
Yours
sincerely
Andy
Furey
Assistant
Secretary
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