LTB 547/20 – COVID-19: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) Members
No. 547/2020
16th November 2020
TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH ROYAL MAIL GROUP MEMBERS
Dear Colleagues,
COVID-19: Sick Pay – Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) Members
Since the Government announced that England would go into a second lockdown and
members who are in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) category have been
instructed to shield, the CWU have been pressing Royal Mail to amend the Sick Pay
Policy to take into account the exceptional circumstances of Coronavirus Covid-19.
Earlier today Royal Mail communicated their latest policy and it is attached to this LTB
as APP1.
During our meetings we have been expressing the view many of our members,
especially our CEV members will potentially be suffering severe financial difficulties due
to the result of the previous lockdown situation and will be more likely to be moving
towards half or nil pay. Our CEV members will by now have received a communication
from the NHS/Government advising them not to attend work and stay at home
‘shielding’ unless they can work from home.
The latest policy decision means Royal Mail sick pay will be extended to those CEV
members who are due to move onto half or nil pay, including those with less than 12
months service until the 2nd December 2020. Whilst this policy change from Royal Mail
will be very welcome news to CEV members, it is disappointing Royal Mail continue
with policies which are divisive and look at cost rather than the health of our
members/their employees, as this policy does not flow through to any member who is
not in the CEV category. Therefore, if you are contacted by track and trace or another
means and are told to self-isolate for a period of time, you will not continue to get full
pay should you fall into the half or nil pay category, due to exhausting your period of
full pay.
No matter what category of health you are in, members will have to face a very difficult
decision and may have to choose between attending work in defiance of the
Government request or accepting half pay or nil pay if they stay at home.
We do not believe this decision is easier for anyone who is not in the CEV category and
therefore believe the policy should apply to anyone who is contacted by Government to
shield or self-isolate.
Representatives and branches should also note the conditions this policy change has to
annual leave. The new policy insists any pre-booked annual leave has to be taken and
if there are any further lockdowns, any remaining annual leave has to be taken by 31st
March 2021, whether it overlaps with shielding or not, not even being allowed to carry
over the normal 5 days.
This policy decision only applies to CEV employees in England as Scotland, Northern
Ireland and Wales have their own devolved governments. When members are told to
shield going forward we will be discussing this with Royal Mail.
Whilst we want to acknowledge the positive moves for members who are in the Critically
Extremely Vulnerable category who are shielding, for members who have to self isolate
as a result of CV19 this will be seen as divisive and unfair. Many of these members will
be faced with the dilemma of having to choose between risking coming into work or
suffering a financial detriment through no fault of their own. The CWU will continue to
push for these members to be supported further by Royal Mail as we believe short term
cost savings on sick pay are not the right way to support employees through this
pandemic in exchange for the potential health risks involved.
We will continue our discussions with Royal Mail as we believe there will be further
lockdowns and this is only a short term fix. We want to agree a strategy with Royal
Mail which is fair to everyone and where members do not have to make the unenviable
decision of putting themselves, their families and their fellow colleagues at risk through
not being able to afford to stay away from work.
All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS
Department, quoting reference 404. Email address: khay@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Carl Maden
Assistant Secretary (Acting) PTCS Department