No.  334/2005 Ref PTS/RE/dj/301 Date:  14 July 2005

ALL BRANCHES WITH PTS MEMBERS
Dear Colleague

 
ROMEC PAY CLAIM:  INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT

 
Romec was formally advised today that the CWU intends to ballot all Romec engineers for industrial action commencing Thursday, 21st July and closing Monday, 8 August.

 
I attach a letter which was sent today to those members to be balloted.
 
 
Our claim - £55 per week increase for all engineering, administrative and print and reprographic grades in Romec - is substantial but fully justified by trends in Royal Mail Group and competitor companies. Romec's own research evidence shows the relative decline in pay against outside industry in recent years - our claim would merely restore the position as it was before outsourcing.

 
It is also very clear that Romec can afford to pay. The money it has allocated in dividend payments to its owners Royal Mail Group and Haydens is more than sufficient to meet the claim in full.

 
The CWU has never taken national industrial action against Romec since its creation in 1989 - indeed there has been only one previous national strike ballot, three years ago, which facilitated a negotiated agreement without action being taken. We will use a mandate for industrial action wisely - but it is essential that our members give us that mandate by voting in favour of action.
 
 
I would be grateful if branches and senior representatives would do all that they can to reinforce the message from head office to vote yes for industrial action.
 
 


Yours sincerely,

 
RAY ELLIS
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
LTB 355/05 - Romec Engineers' Pay: Industrial Action Ballot Romec Pay Admin & Print & Reprographics
26 July 2005

 

Issuing officer(s): Ray ElliS

 

No.  355/2005 Ref MA/dj/301 Date:  26 July 2005

TO ALL BRANCHES
Dear Colleague

 
RE:  ROMEC ENGINEERS PAY: INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT
ROMEC PAY ADMIN & PRINT & REPROGRAPHICS
 
 
The purpose of this LTB is to inform all branches of the current position regarding the above Romec grades.
 
 
All branches within the PTS Section are aware that we are currently holding an industrial action ballot for Romec Engineers.


The ballot does not include our Administrative and Print & Reprographic grades, their pay talks have not been concluded as far as the union is concerned.

 
Romec management have decided to write individually to the grades not included within the ballot informing them that they will not continue with negotiations with the union and the current offer is final. Management have placed a return slip on the letter stating "If you would like to accept the offer, please sign and return this letter by 27 July 2005. We will then be able to apply the increase to your August salary and provide a special payment of backdated increase from 1 April 2005 to your bank account on 5 August 2005".


Romec are not making this offer out of kindness but because they want to take these grades out of the negotiating process in order to weaken the position of our members and this union.
We have sent a letter to all members within the Admin and Print & Reprographic grades. The letter contains a ballot paper and a return envelope and its content invites our members to say NO to Romec's offer and send a clear message back to Romec that our members deserve a real pay increase this year.

 
When Royal Mail outsourced Romec we were told that Romec would no longer be bound by public section pay policy but could pay staff in line with market rates. What in fact has happened is that real earnings in the Post Office has gone up and real earnings in outside industry has gone up, whilst in Romec they have stagnated.
Our message is clear.
 
 
To Admin and Print & Reprographic members - we will continue to negotiate collectively on your behalf and any final offer will be put to you in the normal democratic way.

 
To Engineers - your pay has stagnated vote yes to give the union a mandate for industrial action.

 
Any enquiries please contact Ray Ellis' department quoting this LTB.

 
Yours sincerely,

 
RAY ELLIS
ASSISTANT SECRETARY