Diabetes Week 2016 – Sunday 12 June to Saturday 18 June 2016:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Diabetes Week is a highlight in the Diabetes UK calendar. It’s a time when the organisation calls on support from everywhere to raise awareness of the condition, and raise funds for the charity’s work. Diabetes Week 2016 will take place from Sunday 12 to Saturday 18 June and the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department is supporting the week again this year.
Just about everyone has heard about diabetes. And, with 3.5 million people diagnosed in the UK and a further 549,000 who have the condition but don’t yet know it, most of us know a friend or family member living with diabetes. And yet it’s still hugely misunderstood, and there are so many myths and misconceptions out there that this year, the theme is Setting the Record Straight.
This Diabetes Week, Diabetes UK will be calling on everyone to share straight talking stories, facts and videos to let everyone know the truth about diabetes.
They will be focusing on what it’s actually like to live with it every day and talking about the things people with diabetes wish everyone knew about living with the condition.
Throughout the week, Diabetes UK will be talking about all of the ways they give support, advice, and chances to learn more about diabetes to help people be aware of the signs, symptoms and how to manage the condition well.
One of the goals of the BT 2016 campaign is to increase awareness about the rise in diabetes, mirroring the aims of the “Let’s talk about” campaign. Please see attached “Safe and Well” for more information on living and working with diabetes.
Measure Up – are you at risk of Diabetes?
Over two million people in the UK have Diabetes. Another 750,000 have diabetes but are completely unaware of it. Diabetes is serious. If left untreated it can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and other life-threatening complications. Many people with diabetes have had it for between nine and 12 years before it is diagnosed. By this time many of these people will have started to develop some of the complications. But the good news is that if people can spot their diabetes early they can greatly reduce the risk of serious health problems. So those who suspect they have symptoms should go to their GP and get a test.
Type 1 v Type 2 Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes usually affects people under 40 and is treated with insulin injections, diet and regular physical activity.
Type 2 diabetes is usually found in white people over 40 years old and in black and Asian people and people from minority ethnic groups aged over 25 years. It can be treated with diet and physical activity alone – although most people will also need tablets and sometimes insulin injections. Over three quarters of people with diabetes have Type 2.
Those at risk!
People who are white and over 40 years old, or black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group and over 25 years old and have one or more of the following risk factors, should ask their GP for a test for diabetes:
• A close member of your family has Type 2 diabetes (parent or brother or sister).

• Are Overweight or have a waist of 31.5 inches or over for women; 35 inches (80cms) or over for Asian men and 37 inches (94cms) or over for white and black men. 

• 80 per cent of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The more overweight and the more inactive you are the greater your risk. If you don’t know whether you’re overweight, ask your GP to measure your BMI.

• Have high blood pressure or had a heart attack or a stroke or circulation problems.

• Are a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome and are overweight.

• Have been told you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia.

• Are a woman and have had gestational diabetes.

• Have severe mental health problems.
The more risk factors that apply – the greater the individual’s risk of having diabetes.
The symptoms
The symptoms of untreated diabetes will usually be very obvious in people with Type 1 diabetes but not so clear or non-existent in people with Type 2 diabetes. If you’re older you may put the symptoms down to ‘getting on a bit’. Taking early action is key so if any of the following apply to you, ask your GP for a diabetes test:
• increased thirst

• going to the toilet all the time – especially at night

• extreme tiredness

• weight loss

• genital itching or regular episodes of thrush

• slow healing of wounds

• blurred vision.
The complications
Diabetes is serious because it can lead to life-threatening complications. These include:
• blindness

• kidney failure

• heart disease

• stroke

• nerve damage that can lead to amputations.
The risk of developing complications can be greatly reduced by getting diagnosed early and then controlling the diabetes. People can lead a full and healthy life with diabetes but the key is getting diagnosed as early as possible.
How to get involved in Diabetes Week 2016
There are plenty of ways to support Diabetes Week 2016.
Get involved
• Download the pack of awareness raising posters (PDF, 29KB) to put up in your local community to get the message out there to as many people as possible.

• You could create a blog or v-log about your own experiences to share during Diabetes Week.

• Diabetes UK will be producing loads of graphics, videos and posters that they would like you to share during Diabetes Week, either online or in your community to help raise awareness. Visit the website during Diabetes Week to download more materials to kick start the conversation #actually diabetes.

• If you’re a member of a Diabetes UK local group, you can find more materials on the Portal.
Hold a Patron’s Lunch
This Diabetes Week, Diabetes UK is also calling on all of its supporters to raise money for Diabetes UK by hosting a Patron’s Lunch. Join them in celebrating their Patron Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday this Diabetes Week. On the 12 June, Her Majesty will host the largest street party London has ever seen on The Mall, and Diabetes UK is inviting all of its supporters to join in the fun by holding their own bash.
Your Patron’s Lunch can be as large or small as you like – be it in your back yard or a village hall. All money raised will go towards funding their Careline, a dedicated helpline for people with diabetes and their families. There is a pack full of everything you need to make the party a success. For more information and to order your pack, go to https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Fundraising-events/Patrons-Lunch/
Further Information
For Information and Resources on Diabetes Week please contact Diabetes UK at:-
diabetesweek@diabetes.org.uk
Diabetes UK Central Office

Macleod House,

10 Parkway, London NW1 7AA

Tel: 0345 123 2399*

Fax: 020 7424 1001

Email: info@diabetes.org.uk

The Diabetes UK Careline is on 0845 120 2960 or email careline@diabetes.org.uk for confidential support and information.
The Diabetes UK website at http://www.diabetes.org.uk
About Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is the leading charity in the UK for people with diabetes, their family, friends and carers. Their mission is to improve the lives of people with the condition and to work towards a future without diabetes. They are a membership organisation – to join ring 0800 138 5605 or visit http://www.diabetes.org.uk/join
Diabetes UK Regional offices
Diabetes UK, Central Office Telephone 020 7424 1000 Email info@diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes UK Cymru Telephone 029 2066 8276

Diabetes UK Eastern Telephone 01376 501390

Diabetes UK East Midlands Telephone 0115 950 7147

Diabetes UK London Telephone 020 7424 1116

Diabetes UK Northern Ireland Telephone 028 9066 6646

Diabetes UK Northern & Yorkshire Telephone 01325 488606

Diabetes UK North West Telephone 01925 653281

Diabetes UK Scotland Telephone 0141 332 2700

Diabetes UK South East Telephone 01372 720148

Diabetes UK South West Telephone 01823 324007

Diabetes UK West Midlands Telephone 01922 614500

Attachments:

• Diabetes Awareness Raising Posters

• Safe and Well Issue 33 – April 2016
Yours sincerely

  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB369 Diabetes Week 2016 – Sunday 12 June to Saturday 18 June 2016.docx

Attachment 2 – Diabetes Awareness Raising Posters.pdf

Attachment 3 – Safe and Well Issue 33 April 2016.pdf

RALLY FOR YOUR RIGHTS – EU referendum event
In line with Annual Conference policy, we have worked alongside other Trade Unions to organise an EU referendum event.
‘Rally for your Rights’ has been organised by CWU, GMB, TSSA and FBU. Alongside representatives of these unions, John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor will address the meeting.  
The event details are as follows;
Date: Thrusday 16th June
Time: 18:30

Venue:   
HAMILTON HOUSE
MABLEDON PLACE
LONDON
WC1H 9BD
(Nearest tube station – Euston / Kings Cross)
All CWU branches are encouraged to send a delegation to this event. We are also investigating the possibility of filming / streaming the meeting to the wider membership. 
Attached to this LTB is a poster which can be used in workplaces and on social media. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward
General Secretary  
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 367/16 – RALLY FOR YOUR RIGHTS – EU referendum event

RALLY FOR YOUR RIGHTS – EU referendum event poster

National Men’s Health Week 2016 – Monday 13th June to Sunday 19th June:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
The Men’s Health Forum, an independent body founded by The Royal College of Nursing in 1994, has confirmed that National Men’s Health Week 2016 will run from Monday 13th June to Sunday 19th June and this year’s theme is Beat Stress.
We all get stressed. The question is: what do you do about it?
This is the theme of Men’s Health Week 2016.
It matters because if we don’t release stress, it can turn into something more serious.
There are many things we can do to beat stress: exercise, sing, dance, laugh, play or listen to music, paint, write, volunteer, learn something new and lots more.
The Men’s Health Forum’s message to men is: talk about how you beat stress, talk about what causes it. Talk to your mates, talk to your family. And if you want to talk to a professional try the Men’s Health Forum’s new Beat Stress service – free text chat with experts trained in beating stress, no names, no hassle. They will be launching the service during the week.
There’s still time to take part in Men’s Health Week. Sign up online to access the resource pack and keep up to date with the week at https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw. The resource pack for the week is available to those who have signed up for the week and it contains posters, graphics and briefings to help you with the week.
If there’s anything else that you need now or during the week, please don’t hesitate to contact the Men’s Health Forum via their email https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/contact.
Yours sincerely

  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB368 National Men’s Health Week 2016 – Monday 13th June to Sunday 19th June.docx

Attachment 2 – Mens Health Week Poster.pdf

CWU Accounts 2015
Further to LTB 212/16 dated 6th April 2016 and LTB 250/16 dated 22nd April 2016.
Please find attached the details of the monies that make up Branch Funds. 
The attached document lists each Branch with the brought forward balance from 2014 and the closing balance for 2015. This demonstrates the movement in each account for the financial year 2015.
Additionally please find attached the Financial Statement required by Section 32A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended, for the period 1st January – 31st December 2015.
Please can you ensure that this information is brought to the attention of the members of your Branch. 
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
 
TONY KEARNS
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 365/16 – CWU Accounts 2015

Attachment 1 – Branch Balances

Attachment 2 – Section 32A Financial Statement

Dying to Work’ Campaign – Motion 57(2016) – Royal Mail Group Terminal Illness Guide
This is an update report to branches on the ‘Dying to Work’ campaign, further to LTBs 260/16 dated 26 April 2016 and 581/15 dated 7 September 2015.
Motion 57 was accepted at 2016 Conference instructing the NEC to provide regular updates on the ‘Dying to Work’ campaign and to raise awareness amongst our members in the workplace.
The TUC’s ‘Dying to Work’ Campaign called for all TUC affiliated Unions to support the campaign and to raise the profile of the campaign and to pledge to promote the new campaign which is designed to support those workers fighting for their right to work whilst coming to terms with their terminal illness, seeking to achieve dignity and respect that terminally ill workers deserve. A lot of workers with a terminal diagnosis decide that they want to continue working as long as they can, either because they need the financial security or because they find that their work can be a helpful distraction from their illness. Whichever choice a person makes, they should be able to expect help and support from their employer. Unfortunately the experience of many workers is that their employer is either unsympathetic or puts up barriers to them continuing in work.
Representations have been made to Royal Mail and BT, and this update is in relation to the discussions with Royal Mail Group’s Head of Health who I am pleased to report has given positive support to our campaign.
See attached letter dated 25 May from Judith Grant Royal Mail Group Head of Health confirming that she is progressing with two Royal Mail policy Standards, discussed at our last meeting and is progressing with the attached documents to ensure that the principles in the ‘Dying to Work’ campaign are covered in Royal Mail’s policy standards. The Summary document attached is good at the moment but the Guidance document attached needs some amendments and so Judith Grant will be progressing this with the RM Group HR Policy team to ensure that the company is giving the best advice to managers to enable them to support someone with a terminal illness. I will issue a further LTB once the attached Policy Documents are updated.
However an important extract from the attached Royal Mail Group Terminal Illness Guidance is as follows and is in line with what the ‘Dying to Work’ Campaign aims to achieve:-
Continuing to work

It is quite common for employees who are diagnosed with a terminal illness to carry on working, even whilst having treatment. Royal Mail will do everything it can to support them to carry on working for as long as they feel able.
If they want to stay at work, there are a few things that they should discuss with their manager, including:

• Any time off you they will need for medical appointments or treatment.

• Whether they wish to consider reducing their hours or applying for flexible working.

• How their illness may affect the type of work they can do and what alternative work may be available.

• Whether the advice of the Occupational Health Service is required to assist with finding suitable alternative work.
It’s important for the employee to regularly meet with their manager to discuss how they are coping with work and whether any further adjustments need to be made. There may be circumstances when adjustments cannot be met.
Further updates will be published in due course.
Further information:- Dying to work campaign: http://www.dyingtowork.co.uk

Yours sincerely
  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 364/16 ‘Dying to Work’ Campaign – Motion 57(2016) – Royal Mail Group Terminal Illness Guide:

Email from Judith Grant

Terminal Illness Guide

Terminal Illness Summary

UNI WORLD POST AND LOGISTICS CONFERENCE – 2016
The UNI World Post and Logistics Conference will take place in Dublin, Ireland on 13/14th October 2016.
Please find attached the Election Regulations, Nomination Forms and Candidates Consent and Biographical Details Form. These must be completed and returned by 21st June 2016.
The nomination entitlements are as follows:
Branches with members in the Postal Constituency: 
1 NEC Member from the Postal Constituency

3 Lay Members from the Postal Constituency (One of whom must a woman and one of whom must be under the age of 30 at the date of the conference)

The timetable for the election is as follows:
Nominations open: 7 June 2016               
Nominations close: 21 June 2016 (14:00)
Despatch ballot papers: 28 June 2016

Ballot closes: 12 July 2016 (14:00)
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
 
TONY KEARNS
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 360/16 – UNI World Post and Logistics Conference – 2016

Attachment 1 – Regulations 2016

Attachment 2 – Nomination Form 2016

Attachment 3 – Candidates Consent & Biographical Details Form 2016

RM/CWU Dog Awareness Week 2016 – Mon 4th July to Sat 9th July – Dog Attack ‘Hot-Spots’ – Top 10 Postcode Areas & Top 10 Delivery Offices: Hotspots: 
To: All Branches with Postal Members 
Dear Colleagues,
To remind you, LTB 348/16 informed Postal Branches, Area Safety Reps and Regional Health and Safety Forums that the RM/CWU Dog Awareness Week has moved back one week to Mon 4th July to Sat 9th July.
LTB 290/2016 issued on 12 May appealed to all ASRs to positively assist the 2016 Dog Awareness Campaign by approaching members who have been attacked to request their support for the campaign by agreeing to be ‘Case Studies’ during Dog Awareness week and volunteering to speak to the press and media about their experience. Local and Regional Press are particularly interested in the personal angle for stories they run and it could mean the difference between getting important coverage to raise awareness of customers about the need to be responsible dog owners and keep their dogs under control so avoiding attacks on postal workers.
To make Dog Awareness Week 2016 a success it is vital that we are able to make reference to local cases of Postal Worker victims of dog bites to encourage the local press to take an interest and run stories that raise awareness. These stories will include advice to customers which will help to reduce dog attacks on Postmen and Women occurring in the future. 
CWU HQ and Royal Mail HQ are jointly appealing to anyone who was bitten or attacked by a dog, particularly in the last year or so, to volunteer to have the details of their case used in the local media and to talk to a press reporter either in person or over the telephone. This could include a feature on radio or television or an article in a newspaper. 
The support of members willing to do this could mean the difference between an article being printed in the newspaper or not being run at all as the press and media always prefer to speak to someone who has experienced the type of incident the article is all about.
Would Area Safety Reps, Area Delivery Reps and Branches please assist with encouraging members to come forward to support the campaign.
We now have the national dog attack statistics for 2015/2016 and I reproduce below from the national league table the Top Ten Postcode areas – those with the most dog attacks on postal workers and the Top Ten Delivery Office units with the most dog attacks on employees in the past year 2015/2016.
Royal Mail and the CWU are specifically interested in obtaining volunteers from these areas and offices to support Dog Awareness Week and to agree to be Case Studies for the Press and Media. WOULD ASRs COVERING THESE POSTCODE AREAS AND THOSE ASRs COVERING THE DELIVERY OFFICES PLEASE MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO VISIT OFFICES AND CANVASS SUPPORT SEEKING VOLUNTEERS PLEASE.
Volunteers details should be forwarded directly to:
Nick Burns RMG Safety Engagement Manager. Contact details:-

Mobile: 07801091380

Email: Nicholas.Burns@royalmail.com

Top Ten Postcode Area Hotspots
Postcode Area
Number of dog attacks in the Area
Delivery Office in PCA with largest no’ of dog attacks
NG
68
Newark – 8 attacks
PE
65
Orton Southgate – 15 attacks
Northern Ireland
57
Belfast North – 7 attacks
TN
56
Tonbridge – 10 attacks
RG
54
Reading, Bracknell & Newbury – 7 attacks each
LS
51
Aireborough – 7 attacks
S
51
Barnsley – 8 attacks
PL
50
West Park – 12 attacks
GU
49
Guilford, Camberley and Farnham – 6 attacks each
NE
48
Blaydon on Tyne & Jarrow – 7 attacks each
Top Ten Delivery Office Hotspots
Delivery Office
Number of Dog Attacks
Wrexham DO
15
Orton Southgate DO
15
Bath DO
13
Basingstoke DO
13
West Park DO
12
Taunton DO
12
Lincoln DO
12
Chelmsford DO
12
Chippenham DO
11
Edinburgh West DO
11
Thanks for your help and support.
Yours sincerely

  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB354 RM CWU Dog Awareness Week 2016 – Mon 4th July to Sat 9th July – Dog Attack ‘Hot-Spots’.docx