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MOTION NO.
Composite 1
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to secure a commitment from Her Majesty’s Government and Post Office Limited in
respect of the future size and shape of the network. This commitment to include an acceptable compensation package in the event of
Branch closures. The Executive Council shall further pursue an aggressive approach in securing the future livelihood of remaining
Subpostmasters.
(Commitment from HMG and POL on the future of the network. A compensation package in the event of closures and secure the livelihood of
remaining Subpostmasters.)
STATUS
This is in hand and is part of the ongoing campaign.
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That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to continue a sustained nationwide campaign to get the Government to honour their
commitment to the Performance and Innovation Unit Report of 2000 to support a Post Office based solution which ensures that benefit
recipients can continue to access their entitlement in cash at Post Offices. As a matter of urgency this Conference mandates the Executive
Council to demand of Her Majesty's Government the withdrawal of any biased or intimidating correspondence from the DWP regarding
migration from the Post Office Card Account.
(Benefit recipients to continue to access benefits at Post Offices. The DWP to withdraw bias and intimidating correspondence on POCA
migration.)
STATUS
The sustained Campaign is very much in hand and a Parliamentary lobby has been arranged for the 18 October. DWP have advised that
since the trials there is no further planned communication on migration from POCA’s to banks.
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That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to demand that Post Office Limited urgently reviews its mechanisms for the launch of
new and joint venture products. Furthermore the NFSP should be involved from the outset in the creation, design, marketing and
development of these products.
(Review mechanisms for new and JV products. The NFSP to be involved from the outset.)
STATUS
POL have reviewed mechanisms and accepted that problems have occurred with administrative back up on some products. We are working
alongside POL in making representations to Government and Ministers about new Post Office products.
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That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to pursue improved motivationally driven remuneration packages for all joint venture
products.
(Motivationally driven packages for JV products.)
STATUS
This is in hand and a Business Development Trial is currently underway in some thirty offices
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That this Conference mandates the Executive Council to renegotiate the Goodwill Payments for disruption in service as the current payment
levels are unacceptably low and to re-determine the criteria for qualification.
(Improvement of goodwill payments and qualification criteria for service failures.)
STATUS
Formal negotiations will commence on the Goodwill Payments once the pay deal is concluded.
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That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to agree with Post Office Limited the immediate establishment of a permanent joint user
group with a remit to evaluate the current and future use of the Horizon system and to recommend changes to improve its speed and
functionality.
(Establish a permanent joint user group on the functionality of the Horizon system.)
STATUS
Work by the Horizon Next Generation workshop team continues. A further working group which will have Federation input will be established
this month.
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That this Conference agrees that the time taken to roll-over balance and trading periods on the Horizon system is unacceptable, and instructs
the Executive Council to negotiate with Post Office Limited for extended hours payments.
(Extended hours payment for Branch Trading periods.)
STATUS
The matter has been raised with Operational Support Centre they claim that now it takes no longer than the original balances.
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That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to negotiate a service level agreement relating to agreed office transfers. In particular to
ensure that training and audit is achieved within the contractual 3 month period. Any extension should only be with the Subpostmaster’s
agreement.
(Service level agreement on office transfers.)
STATUS
Formal representations are being made to POL.
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That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to negotiate with Post Office Limited improved systems of support and communication
for all Subpostmasters and at the same time establishing the restoration of formal direct contact between NFSP officers and Post Office
personnel.
(Improved support and communication between Subpostmasters, NFSP officers and POL.)
STATUS
Regular meetings with POL management have provided us the opportunity to input into communication channels.
MOTION 20
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to obtain permission from Post Office Limited for Subpostmasters to close for thirty
minutes once a week during opening hours for staff training if desired.
(Offices to close for 30 minutes per week for staff training.)
STATUS
Formal representations are currently being made.
MOTION 22
That this Conference demands better policing by Post Office Limited of the external marketing teams that come into our Post Offices and put
at risk our hard earned trust and integrity with our customers by their high pressure selling techniques and misinformation.
(Better policing of external marketing teams on Post Office premises.)
STATUS
POL has accepted that problems have occurred and have learnt from the experience.
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MOTION 23
The nebulous art of conceptually selling a Branch code and the belief of Post Office Limited that this is our mutual saviour are both flawed.
Modern computer technology can surely bring insurance quotations and personal loan projections to the customer via Horizon and the back-
office printer. It seems that only the reluctance of Post Office Limited and the joint venture prevents this progress, amidst a cloud of financial
regulation and data protection.
This Conference requests that the Executive Council vigorously pursues a course of action to implement such enhancements within the next
12 months.
(Insurance quotations and personal loan projections produced via Horizon and the back office printer.)
STATUS
Formal representations continue to be made although there are issues around formal training & FSA accreditation.
MOTION 24
That this Conference Instructs the Executive Council to acquire from Post Office Limited, within 30 days of closure of this Conference, a
detailed assessment of the implications for Subpostmasters’ income and costs, from the introduction of Royal Mail “Pricing in Proportion”,
and to disseminate the information to Regional and Branch Secretaries to consider before acceptance.
(Regional/Branch Secretaries to be provided with an assessment of the implications on income and costs when ‘Pricing in Proportion’ is
introduced. (within 30 days of the closure of Conference).
STATUS
The claim has been submitted to POL and the matter is in negotiations. Whilst these negotiations continue it was difficult to disseminate
information out to Branch Secretaries within the 30 day time scale. (NEEDS LATEST INFORMATION TO BE ADDED).
MOTION 29
That this Conference mandates the Executive Council to negotiate a pay award not less than the percentage increase of statutory minimum
wage, noting additional days and holidays.
(Pay award to be no less than the statutory minimum wage.)
STATUS
Pay negotiations on going
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MOTION 30
That this Conference requests that the Executive Council negotiate a higher payment for all passport transactions caused by the recent
changes in regulations.
(Increased remuneration for passport transactions.)
STATUS
POL has rejected our representations so far.
MOTION 43
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to negotiate with Post Office Limited that computer generated discrepancies are not the
responsibility of the Subpostmaster.
(Subpostmasters not to be responsible for computer generated discrepancies on Horizon.)
STATUS
Where evidence exists that the error is not as a result of human input then a claim will not be pursued.
MOTION 45
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to meet with Post Office Limited to negotiate the immediate restoration of values to the
various Horizon reports from which they have been removed.
(Restore ‘values’ on Horizon reports.)
STATUS
POL has given a commitment in principle to revisit this issue. They have however advised that “immediate” change to the system is not an
option.
MOTION 52
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to request that Post Office Limited provide details of the selection criteria for incoming
and new Subpostmasters, for publication in the Journal, and that these criteria be included in any pre-resignation letter.
(Selection criteria on the appointment of Subpostmasters.)
STATUS
Negotiations are on going.
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MOTION 53
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to negotiate and agree with Post Office Limited a review of the current format for
contractual and disciplinary hearings.
(Review of the current format for contractual and disciplinary hearings.)
STATUS
The matter has been raised with the Security Division of POL. Further discussions are under way.
MOTION 58
This Conference instructs the Executive Council to agree with Post Office Ltd that an urgent method of communication be established to
prevent unnecessary losses, where possible criminal activity has been identified in specific geographical areas.
(Communication to offices where criminal activity is identified in specific geographical areas.)
STATUS
This is with the Security Division there does now appear to be a willingness to use the MBS’s as a means of giving out warnings as a means
of warning Subpostmasters to fraud in certain areas.
MOTION 59
The continuing failure of Post Office Ltd. to deliver an effective relationship with the branches via a Retail/Sales management facility is a
constant concern to all Subpostmasters.
This Conference requests the Executive Council to maximise its new-found closer working relationship with Post Office Limited to positively
influence the process needed to redefine the structure of Retail/Sales management for the significant financial benefit of all Subpostmasters.
(Redefine the structure of Retail/Sales Management to financially benefit Subpostmasters.)
STATUS
A Negotiating Committee meeting with Alan Cook will take place in the near future where he will indicate the new structure and show how
retail/sales management will be delivered.
MOTION 60
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to seek an improvement to the telephone ‘split billing’ to include all Post Office branch
telephone numbers and Post Office business related numbers.
(All Post Office branch and business related numbers to be included on ‘Split Billing’.)
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STATUS
Our repeated request for all post office branch numbers to be included has been rejected outright. A system has been put in place to review
any business numbers that any Subpostmaster believes is missing.
MOTION 61
This Conference instructs the Executive Council to review the arrangement that the remitting office is always responsible for cash shortages
in cash remittances until such time that Post Office Limited can demonstrate to the Federation that they have a robust system in place to
monitor cash shortages throughout the complete money transfer process.
(Remitting offices should not always be responsible for cash shortages until a robust monitoring system is in place.)
STATUS
This appears to be a specific problem for Scotland and the matter is with the Security Division.
MOTION 62
That this Conference requires the Executive Council to negotiate a method of Post Office recycling waste without cost to the Subpostmaster.
(Free recycling of Post Office waste.)
STATUS
Representations to POL on this issue so far have been unsuccessful. However we continue discussion on minimising waste by improving and
streamlining supply of stock.
MOTION 66
That this Conference deplores the levels at which Post Office Limited determine culpability after an incident and require the Executive
Council to negotiate with Post Office Limited reasonable and acceptable levels for the future.
(The determination of Subpostmasters’ culpability after an incident.)
STATUS
This matter is to be raised with Security.
MOTION 67
That this Conference requests the Executive Council to negotiate a change in the current loss/gain policy to include the use of an
independent arbitrator to decide on the ultimate liability of any Subpostmaster in the event of robbery/burglary in conjunction with Post Office
Limited and the NFSP.
(Change the losses/gain policy to include an independent arbitrator to ascertain liability in the event of a robbery/burglary.)
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STATUS
Despite past rejections a further approach is being made to the security department.
MOTION 70
That this Conference instructs the Executive Council to undertake an urgent review of Associate Membership re-addressing the issues of:-
a) Who may be an Associate Member.
b) What benefits of Federation Membership are they entitled to.
c) What fees, should be levied.
d) What Offices/Positions within the Federation are “open” to them.
(Review Associate Membership.)
STATUS
This is at present under consideration by the Publicity and Development Committee.
MOTION 72
That this Conference, in the light of unsatisfactory progress made to date in protecting individual Subpostmasters from harsh and unfair
penalties arising from IR Cashcheque fraud, instructs the Executive Council to implement without delay a scheme to provide adequate and
appropriate assistance and support to Subpostmasters seeking legal redress.
(Provide assistance and support to Subpostmasters seeking legal redress on penalties arising from IR Cashcheque fraud.)
STATUS
Strong representations have been made to the Chief Operations Manager and a response is awaited on certain Cheque Frauds. The motion
will be further discussed at the October EC meeting.
Ref. Back
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Motion 19
That this Conference urges the Executive Council to liaise with Post Office Limited in identifying the origin of leads from joint venture
products, at it has no confidence in current methods.
(Identify the origin of leads for JV products.)
STATUS
This remains a key issue in discussions with POL. Changes to the Pay Advice will help to clarify “line of sight”. We remain unconvinced that
all sales are accurately recorded.
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Ref. Back
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Motion 32
New compensation structure is not covering those offices which experience downtimes of less than a day for weeks on end.
(Subpostmasters to be compensated for the full time that Horizon is off-line.)
STATUS
This will be taken up as part of the Goodwill negotiations.
Ref. Back
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Following recent experiences, it would appear that we are no further forward in achieving the aims of this motion.
(Mystery Shopper reports used as a training aid.)
STATUS
The mystery shopper information required to enable the Subpostmaster to use it to train their members of staff who failed to answer questions
correctly has now been included.
Amendment to Rule 1V(e)
Members shall pay an annual subscription for each office except where the office is a satellite and or an outreach office where the Host/ Core
office will be the subscribing office.
For offices with an annual salary of £7,630.00 or below £46.80
For offices with an annual salary of £7,630.01 or above £162.48
(Subscription rates to apply to only the Host/Core office if there is also a Satellite/Outreach office.)
STATUS
Currently work in hand. The membership computer system enhancement to pick up satellite/outreach offices is underway.