Assurances secured in new TUPE for ex-BTFS mail room staff

Close tabs are being kept on the transfer arrangements for ex-BTFS mail room employees who are facing their second TUPE in just eight months.

On April 1 the 37 CWU-represented grade employees were part of the disputed BT outsourcing which saw more than 1,700 loyal staff members transferred to either CBRE or ISS.

While housekeepers and security staff went to ISS, Facilities Services engineers, ground maintenance staff and postroom employees were transferred to CBRE – but last month CBRE announced that the comparatively small group working in BT postrooms across the country will now be transferring to Swiss Post on December 1.

News of the impending transfer –  which was rumoured a while ago, but then apparently put on hold –  was broken to understandably shaken employees on October 29, immediately triggering CWU demands for assurances on job security and the maintenance of  terms and conditions across the piece.

Comprehensive assurances were swiftly  received on both fronts – along with a clear undertaking by Swiss Post that a repetition of the widespread payroll problems that plagued a large number of ex-BTFS employees following their initial outsourcing by BT will not occur.

Assistant secretary Brendan O’Brien explains: “We made it very clear to Swiss Post from the outset that, if they want to get the  relationship with their incoming staff members off on the right foot, the very first thing they need to avoid is mucking up pay in December!

“I’m pleased to be able to report that this has been absolutely understood by the company, which has confirmed the normal pay date will remain unchanged, the only deviation from that being December’s pay date, which will be brought forward to December 20.

“The only hiccup in what has been an extremely smooth working through of the TUPE matrix was a mistake in the paperwork that suggested transferees needed to provide referees in the same way that Swiss Post normally requires of new recruits. Although that caused some consternation right at the start, that requirement has now been withdrawn following the CWU’s intervention.”

At the time of writing a travelling ‘roadshow’ is under way in which Swiss Post and CBRE are holding one-to-one meetings with all those who will be transferring to Swiss Post on December 1 – the intent being to allay any fears and to explain the various stages of the transfer process.

Brendan concludes: “After the initial shock of the transfer announcement, and the natural concerns it generated, all the feedback the CWU has received to date suggests a widespread sense of a relief amongst the CBRE transferees that they are going to a specialist postroom services provider that has secured a fairly lengthy contract to run BT’s postroom operation – hopefully providing stability for all those on that contract.

“Importantly the CWU is also close to securing a comprehensive recognition deal with Swiss Post – based on the agreement the union previously negotiated for those working for Swiss Post in Santander postrooms prior to that contract transferring to RR Donnelley.

“Obviously it’s early days as yet – but, as things stand, the omens look good for a smooth TUPE transfer on December 1 and a positive relationship with Swiss Post going forward.”