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Last Updated Friday, 20 June 2008

CWU Annual Conference 2008

Postal Group Conference

 

Thursday 12th June 2008

 

Motion 51 was carried condemning the misapplication of the bullying and harassment procedure and the corrupt investigations in a number of cases manufactured against the CWU in the workplace, most noticeably in Burslem.  Conference affirmed the fact that it was committed to protecting each workplace from bullying and harassment and agreed:  That a review be conducted at national level, independently chaired, into the attacks against the CWU in the workplace by Royal Mail carried out under the guise of bullying and harassment.  That a fundamental review of the bullying and harassment procedure be conducted to achieve a role for the CWU at the earliest point and a role throughout and not just at the conclusion of a Royal Mail Investigation as well as contact made at Divisional Level immediately when a complaint is made against a CWU Representative or when consideration is being given to a formal investigation against a Representative.  An end to the corrupt sham of so called independent harassment investigators, who are nothing other than Royal Mail managers from a different location, and a return to bullying and harassment issues being dealt with in the workplace by the appropriate manager and CWU Representative.  Launch a bullying and harassment awareness campaign amongst the membership highlighting Royal Mail’s union busting tactics.

 

Motion 67 was carried instructing the incoming Postal Executive to negotiate with the employer an insurance policy that compensates Royal Mail Group drivers who lose their driving licence or have to come off driving duties due to ill health.  The policy should reflect the loss of pensionable pay suffered by the individual for a period of 10 years or until normal retirement age which is ever soonest.

 

Motion 75 was carried instructing the postal Executive to urgently negotiate that within the Attendance Procedure the following applies:  That no NHS, Hospital, GP, Specialist Medical Practitioner or Dental appointments will be counted as sickness within the procedure.  Nor will management put obstacles in the way of staff attending said appointments.

 

Motion 76, submitted by the Midlands Divisional Committee, was carried agreeing that the current Appeals Manager system in place in Royal Mail to hear appeals against dismissal and action short of dismissal in unsatisfactory.  Conference agreed that when an employee has been dismissed or subjected to serious discipline they are entitled to expect an appeal hearing where the Appeals manager will be as independent as possible and that the current arrangements do not provide that.  Conference therefore instructed the Postal Executive to instigate negotiations with Royal Mail to replace the current appeals arrangements with an appeal arrangement that provides the maximum independence of Appeals Managers, who are also of a suitably high enough grade to give members and representatives confidence that they have the authority to overturn dismissing managers decisions where justified, and whose normal day job does not include work that seriously conflicts with their appeal role.

 

Motion 80 was carried agreeing that in certain circumstances the immediate payment of lump sums under the ill health retirement agreement is not in the best interests of those members who have appealed against ill health retirement.  Conference therefore instructed the Postal Executive to negotiate a change to the agreement that allows individuals the option to delay payment of any lump sum pending the outcome of any appeal.

 

Motion 96 was carried agreeing that the current Employee Health Service ATOS do not act in the best interests of the CWU membership and are not independent of the employer.  The reports from ATOS to the employer are not impartial and can often conflict with the diagnosis of the members GP/Surgeon.  Conference instructed the Postal Executive to request with the employer for an immediate review of this process.

 

Motion 97 was carried instructing the Postal Executive that where a postal member has an EHS appointment agreed wit Royal Mail that Royal Mail will pay any travel expenses and the member will be given leave with pay.

 

Motion 104 was carried instructing the Postal Executive to achieve a Christmas Agreement no later than the end of October 2008, this will include, Saturday 27th December 2008 will be a non service day.  This will be achieved by whatever means necessary.