LTB 107/17 – Treatment of Casual and Angard Workers

Dear Colleague,

Treatment of Casual and Angard Workers

Over recent months the DGS(P) Department has received a number of enquiries from the field relating to the unfair treatment of casual and Angard staff. Branches will be aware that this has been a long-standing issue for the union and in response to ongoing concerns, Motion 103 was carried at Postal Conference 2014.

The Postal Executive is instructed to negotiate an agreement which sees the Royal Mail owned Angard casual workforce treated with clarity and fairness with regards to their terms and conditions within the workplace.

This group of workers has for far too long been unfairly treated with regards to their hourly rate which is much lower than the rate of an OPG working directly alongside them. They have no entitlement to paid meal breaks and have to work unsociable nightshift hours without their parity of pay for shift work with other Royal Mail employees. These workers actively support and join the CWU and it’s about time we actively supported them in their struggle for parity and fairness within the workplace.
Merseyside Amal

In light of Motion 103 and following a number of enquiries from Representatives expressing concerns about the way casual and Angard staff are being treated (when carrying out duties in Royal Mail workplaces) the CWU has written to Jon Millidge, Royal Mail’s HR Director, highlighting a range of problems with the request that the business investigate and resolve matters. The problems reported include: individuals not being properly compensated for meal relief time they have not taken, breaks not being paid, unfair deduction of wages, unclear and confusing pay slips, concerns around the advice and responses received from the payroll section, cancellation of shifts at short notice and problems with the system for booking future shifts.

Overall, the concerns raised reflect a broader problem, namely that there are clear differences in the treatment of Angard staff compared to Royal Mail employees. In view of the range of concerns, we have asked the employer to clarify what processes they have in place to ensure unfair treatment of individuals will no longer happen on Royal Mail premises and to work with the CWU to implement proper safeguards.

Clearly the current situation is not acceptable and we will continue to pursue the employer to ensure Angard workers are treated with dignity and respect in Royal Mail workplaces and demonstrate that the union is serious about representing and promoting their interests and supporting their ongoing struggle for parity and fairness.

Further updates will be provided to Branches in due course.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department quoting reference 42100.

Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)