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STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
FOR USE OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OFFICERS ONLY
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SUB-POSTMASTERS
REPORT OF A MEETING
OF THE
NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
held on
22nd & 23rd SEPTEMBER 1997
at
THE QUEENS PARK HOTEL, LONDON
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REPORT OF A MEETING OF THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
held on 22nd/23rd SEPTEMBER 1997
at the QUEENS PARK HOTEL, LONDON
Present Mr AM Burrows — Chairman
Mr J E M Burford
Mr A R Butlin
Mrs J Kendall
Mr J Peberdy
In Attendance Mr C Baker General Secretary
Mr K Davis Asst General Secretary
THE CHAIRMAN welcomed members of the Negotiating Committee to the
meeting.
A) REPORTS OF MEETINGS
The minutes of the meeting held with Post Office Counters on 10th July 1997
were amended as follows: Page 3, paragraph 1, line 3, delete “Sub-
Postmasters” and insert “the Post Office”.
The minutes of the meetings held on 2/3rd June, 3rd June, 10th July, 28th
July and 12th August 1997 were approved and signed as a true record.
B) MATTERS ARISING FROM THE REPORTS
1 POST OFFICE BOARD - PO BD
Nothing to report.
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Irrelevant
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+ THE POST OFFICE INQUIRY
It was understood the Select Committee would be interviewing the Post Office
during November 1997. No further information was available.
3(a)_ POST OFFICE COUNTERS BOARD - PO PC 02
Office Counters Executive Council (/ th October 1997 was
confirmed. /Note: Subsequently held oni RO 97]
THE GENERAL SECRETARY pointed € ng had been convened
as a result of the work lost for Scottist ® opportunity would be I
taken to question the CEC regarding Scotusn Power and:
« PayPoint and the loss of the public relations battle;
¢ APTs - the delay in Horizon was giving PayPoint a greater opportunity to
gain a foothold in the market;
¢ Seek a debit card trial from Girobank on the private side for terminals
which would double as APT machines with the Post Office paying half the
rent or a fixed amount per swipe;
¢ Endeavour to persuade the CEC to approach the Corporate Board for
financial assistance to buy or lease more APT machines;
« Royal Mail who had instigated three initiatives - direct approaches to small
businesses to buy stamps direct; following day delivery credit and debit
card payment; franking machines replaced with modem equipment which
did not require to be set at the post office;
¢ Format pricing which would remove the necessity for scales, bulk size
would determine the cost of postage.
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THE GENERAL SECRETARY commented that for the good of the
Corporation Post Office Counters had been bailing out Royal Mail for years.
Now the Counters Business, because of Scottish Power, PayPoint and Royal
Mail, needed bailing out. He suggested the Federation approached the
Corporate Board direct.
MR. BURFORD wished to know what, if anything, had gone wrong regarding
Scottish Power. He had received complaints about lack of consultation,
particularly from Post Office personnel who were equally concerned at the
loss of business.
MRS. KENDALL forecast problems arising from the direct approach by
Scottish Power to Sub-Postmasters to undertake the work on their private
side.
MR. BURROWS expressed concern as to how Sub-Postmasters could be
expected to hold the line if the multiples undertook the work. It was important iq
to hold a strong line regarding the multiples. In the future the Federation
would have to be more pro-active and was intrigued that information had not
been received from members.
Irrelevant
6 TRAINING FOR SUBPOSTMASTERS - PC HR 04
MR. BUTLIN reported on an initiative in the South West and South Wales
Region of Sub-Postmasters being offered £6.19 per hour to assist in training
other Sub-Postmasters. It was noted the national agreement was for £6.65
per hour to which Mr. Butlin had referred the Region and was awaiting a
response.
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8(b) PO STORES - PCNWo04
Nothing to report.
8(c) COUNTER AUTOMATION - BA/POCL - PC NW 06 01
THE GENERAL SECRETARY reported arrangements were being made for
him to visit the South Wales and South West Region to view the Horizon
platform.
A number of reviews were taking place.
ICL had considered whether to continue the Pathway business as it would be
5 years before they would make any money and the contract was for 8 years.
Horizon was 12 months behind the original date. In addition there was the
possibility of clients being lost to PayPoint. A meeting had taken place (
between John Roberts, John Bennett, David Brooke, Chairman of ICL and the
financial representative from Japan, who had agreed to proceed with the
Horizon programme.
Girobank was being kept informed by the Federation and was continually
reviewing its position with the Post Office.
The platform for CAPS was a long way behind schedule.
A review was being conducted by the Counters Business of the PDA. The
intention was to shrink the PDA which had grown to 130 personnel.
It was suggested an upbeat message be circulated to members. As a result
of a meeting held on 15th August 1997, it had been agreed to publish a
monthly article in the journal to be organised by Alison Orsmond.
Unfortunately no articles had. been received but arrangements had been ¢
made for the Editor to interview Paul Rich.
The difficulties regarding the implementation of the Horizon programme
would be raised at the meeting with the CEC on 6th October 1997.
{It was pointed out the Horizon platform was not capable of processing APT
transactions.
8(d) COUNTER AUTOMATION - APT/BAR-CODING - PC NW 06 02
Concern was expressed that not all Sub-Postmasters had APT machines and
could not, therefore, consider the PayPoint threat. The CEC meeting would
place great emphasis on this aspect.
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8(e) COUNTER AUTOMATION - ALPS - PC NW 06 07
Nothing to report.
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Irrelevant —
3 CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS 1997
97/RB1(E) Introductory Payment spread over § years
Correspondence sent to Post Office Counters and circulated.
97/RB1(H) Adjust shortfall caused by 53 week year
The subject had been raised in the pay discussions with Post Office ¢
Counters. It was suggested the subject was pursued in meetings with Post
Office Counters rather than in correspondence (Box 13).
97/3 Align payments upwards for similar transactions
The Post Office had agreed to meet and discuss intermittent allowances.
97/4 Seek incentives for efficient management record
Letter sent to Post Office Counters and circulated.
97/5 Leave negotiating door open for impact of
minimum wage legislation
Action already taken.
97/6 POCL to pay same hourly rate when training assistants
Attention was drawn to the lack of financial headroom and it was suggested
the subject be pursued with caution in correspondence.
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°
97/7 53rd week
To be dealt with in Box 13 of the Pay Review.
97/10 Payment for DNS products
Letter written to Post Office Counters and circulated.
97/12 Investigate payment for POPOS display
97/15 Information/negotiate payment for POPOS
Both items were being pursued in correspondence as well as Box 13 of the
Pay Review. Concern was expressed that POPOS could become mandatory
as opposed to the current situation of voluntary participation by Sub-
Postmasters.
97/18 Offset improvements/equipment against Intro Fee
To be pursued through the Network Forum meetings.
97/19 Joint Sub-Postmaster appointments
97/21 POCL booklet for shortages
Action already taken by the General Secretary.
97/23 Unclaimed holiday substitution carried forward
in exceptional circumstances
To be pursued in correspondence.
97/24 immediate settlement on telephone call allowance, Bristol
To be the subject of a meeting with Post Office Counters. It was noted the
Post Office new telephone call system of free calls to the clients for whom
work was undertaken, had not come to fruition. It may be necessary to
challenge the Inland Revenue on the benefit in kind and obtain a
dispensation.
97/28 Seek relief for counter losses during automation for those
with good accounting record
Action had already been taken and the subject would continue within the
Horizon discussions.
97/29 Provision of Horizon program to check calculation of Salary
Action already in hand.
97/RB4(P) Update on provision of interest-free loans for security
It was suggested the matter be pursued with the Retail Development Centre
and in the Network Forum meetings.
97/RB4(R) Update on provision of relief/s following attack trauma
Write to the Retail Development Centre, followed by a meeting.
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97/35 Free relocation of security equipment when
Sub-Postmasters improve office I
It was pointed out that if the Post Office did not provide free relocation of
security equipment, they were, in fact, in breach of the contract.
Bearing in mind the security budget was reduced by 10% in the current year,
it was suggested the subject be referred to both the Security Division and the
Network Forum meetings.
Attention was drawn to the fixed price contract with Romec who sub-
contracted the work. Cases were known of Sub-Postmasters who had
obtained much lower quotations from other contractors whom, it transpired,
were then the sub-contractors used by Romec. Concern was expressed that
both Sub-Postmasters and Post Office Counters were being over-charged by
Romec. ‘
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97/36 Installation temporary TV surveillance following serious
raid plus full security survey
To be raised in the Security meeting.
97/37 Negotiate competitive closed circuit TV package for
Sub-Postmasters
A closed circuit television package had been arranged by the Federation on
behalf of Sub-Postmasters. The package had been featured in the August
1997 edition of The SubPostmaster journal.
97/38 Consider needs when arranging patterns for cash and
stock
Correspondence had been sent to Post Office Counters.
97/40 Disclosure of information by POCL and Police following
criminal attacks
To be raised in the Security meeting. The General Secretary would also
taise the matter during the Crimestoppers Trust Annual dinner on 11th
November to which he had been invited.
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IMAN thanked those present for their attendance.
ELAINE AUSTIN
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