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News roundup Post Office Ltd announce Operational Excellence Initiative ost Office Ltd (PO) released P information last month relating to remuneration and the Operational Excellence Initiative. PO has developed remuneration increases and every postmaster will receive a one-off payment, equal to 15% of their variable remuneration for March 2024 trading, which will be paid this month. PO will also be launching an Operational Excellence Incentive to give colleagues the opportunity to boost their total variable remuneration by 5% each month, by meeting existing operational requirements for running your branch. These payments will be based on meeting specific requirements for daily cash declarations, cash pouch remittances, cash holdings and monthly trading accounting. The first remuneration payment for the incentive will be made on 30 September and will be based on activity in the August trading period. PO says the improvements will collectively be worth £30 million for postmasters. PO will share more information and support on Branch Hub over the coming months. NFSP STATEMENT During the 2019 Remuneration Review, the NFSP recognised that postmasters were not remunerated for all of the work they do on behalf of PO. Therefore, we encouraged PO to look at how postmasters can be remunerated for this work that primarily would be classed as back office. In the summer of 2023, PO agreed to carry out a time and motion study on exactly what work a postmaster and their assistants carry out on their behalf as part of their daily tasks. At the same time, the NFSP recognised that there were certain tasks that could reduce PO central costs and looked to work with PO on producing a model that enabled postmasters to share in any savings. This is what Back Office Payments, or as PO calls it Operational Excellence, is about and PO says the improvements are collectively worth £30 million for postmasters. This is the start rather than the end of this exercise as the NFSP seeks to work with postmasters and PO to improve remuneration. As we communicated before, the NFSP’s desire is for PO to come to us to have open and meaningful discussions in regards to remuneration in advance of any changes. This is to enable the NFSP time to properly and fully engage with the network to seek their views and feed back into the ongoing discussions with PO, so we can come to an amicable and pragmatic agreement that is beneficial for the network. As part of that desire, on 18 January, the NFSP held a national meeting and invited all members to attend so that we could discuss in an open and transparent manner Operational Excellence. At that meeting colleagues guided the NFSP as to their views on how Operational Excellence could be improved and also provided their thoughts on the level of remuneration associated with that. This was then fed back to PO in January. Despite requests from the NFSP to discuss the views of colleagues with regards to remuneration on Operational Excellence, PO has only just come back to the NFSP to indicate what is available in relation to any changes that could be provided. However, as is clear, PO has engaged with the Postmaster NEDs, regional forums, and the Postmaster Experience Director. As indicated in Calum Greenhow’s newsletter column last month, we highlighted how PO is engaging with these different groups and then coming back to the NFSP with the view that the proposals offered are acceptable to these other groups, despite the NFSP bringing the views of postmasters with whom they have engaged with on national calls. Therefore, there is still work to be done to make the necessary improvements that are acceptable to postmasters. Unfortunately, the lateness of PO’s response and their desire to communicate with the network, has prohibited the NFSP from engaging further with colleagues to seek whether they are agreeable to the amendments. Whilst the financial benefit will not be fully realised until September, the NFSP expressed the view that colleagues require help and support now to be able to fund the rise in their costs associated with providing PO services. Leaving the introduction of Operational Excellence until September gives us the opportunity to support and help colleagues to understand how this work can benefit them. When Operational Excellence is launched, we will be able to hit the ground running and immediately benefit from the financial increase. PO will be providing colleagues with an information pack in due course which we would urge you all to read, and feedback to the NFSP whether you agree with the proposal or not. 6 The SubPostmaster April 2024
INQUIRY TO BEGIN AGAIN THIS MONTH Phases 5 and 6 of the Horizon IT Inquiry begin again on Tuesday 9 April with evidence from former postmaster Alan Bates. The phases will run for 15 weeks and will have evidence from 68 witnesses before the closing statements on Friday 26 July. The witnesses include senior figures from Post Office Ltd (PO), Fujitsu, Royal Mail, the NFSP, and also politicians, civil servants, campaigners, and more. The Inquiry has launched a new listening project to hear from more people impacted by the Post Office Horizon scandal. In Your Own Words is a channel for anyone affected by the scandal to share their stories and how their experiences have impacted them. Experiences shared will inform a Legacy Project that the Inquiry is working with postmasters to develop. Anyone wishing to contribute to In Your Own Words can share their story through an online form which can be found on www.postofficehorizon inquiry.org.uk People are invited to share their own stories or to share on behalf of those no longer with us. Submissions are anonymous. Full coverage of the Inquiry is available on the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry YouTube channel. Meeting with the APPG and PO The NFSP met with the All-Party Parliamentary Group and PO last month. The discussions concerned: A compensation update. Compensation to be paid to some, once convictions are overturned following the legislation changes which apply only to England and Wales. Postmasters encouraged to apply even if they think they do not have a lot of evidence. Counter staff and employees also should apply. The compensation scheme is not only for postmasters. Governance of PO was discussed with the NFSP highlighting the Oversight Committee which offers a radical new approach. Call for the attempts by others to undermine the NFSP to stop. Government need to stop taking a light touch approach with PO and describing the relationship between the two at arm’s length. It is imperative the government changes its approach. The social value of the post office was raised, alongside the view that post offices provided resilience to local communities. The NFSP reiterated the need for support for today’s postmasters who are seeing the value of their business eroded due to successive government decisions. Colleagues are highlighting that they have seen the value of their investment eroded by inflation and are struggling to sell their business at the same level as what they paid for it either 20 or 30 years previously. The NFSP also highlighted emerging evidence that post offices are being closed by postmasters due to unviability. This is why it is essential that the governance of the business is changed and brings in other stakeholders who have an interest in the social value of the business. The NFSP met with strategic partners and senior politicians in February to discuss issues concerning the post office network. The group we met with represents more than 20% of the network. If they are concerned about the network’s future viability, that has to be a concern which government and PO take notice of. We urge government to work with the network, particularly the NFSP as the recognised representative body for postmasters, to come up with ways to take the network’s businesses forward. The discussions which took place centred on Back Office payments, remuneration, dealings with PO from a strategic partner perspective, self-service kiosks, the Restrictions Policy, the future of the post office network, an Oversight Committee and PO governance. Making calls abroad needn’t cost the earth UK & International Phone Cards To order your stock visit www.aqatelecom.com/webstore TELECOM TELECOM TELECOM Low cost call rates across the world Commercial revenue opportunity for your retail business 11% discount for NFSP members on all phone card stock orders! April 2024 The SubPostmaster 7
Page 1: THE THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NAT
Page 4 and 5: Comment CEO Calum Greenhow THE PAST
Page 8 and 9: News roundup Two Non-Executive Dire
Page 10 and 11: NFSP Interview Sue Bruce, of Hartin
Page 12: NFSP Interview only way that we wou
Page 15 and 16: PUDO TECHNICAL SUPPORT AMAZON Since
Page 17 and 18: BREAKOUT SESSIONS This year we’ve
Page 19 and 20: anch back to the district. “I app
Page 22: The NET update APRIL UPDATE FROM TH
Page 26 and 27: Post NFSP Office Member community i
Page 29 and 30: Helpline and press option 1. HR4UK
Page 31: NFSP RETAIL PARTNERS ACCESSORIES Em

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