CWU Union Learning Representatives Networking Event 2016#CWULearn16; #NotAPrivilege!
Dear Colleagues,
This year’s networking event will see an updated and refreshed agenda and will take place on the 16th / 17th November 2016 at:
St James Park, Barrack Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4ST.
This event will ensure that our ULRs can discharge their legally recognised responsibilities to great effect through networking with other educationalists. Over the two days, delegates will help develop strategies and initiatives to guarantee that CWU provided, first rate education and training opportunities can continue at a time when we are seeing massive cuts to adult education funding.
This year’s theme is ” Education: A Right Not A Privilege!” and will focus heavily on how we can safeguard and develop new and innovative methods in learning activities.
There will be opportunities:
· To meet with other CWU Union Learning Representatives

· To attend facilitated workshops

· To hear from high profile guest speakers

· To learn about the latest CWU learning developments

· And to celebrate your achievements!
Programme
Wednesday 16th November 2016, 12.50pm until 6.00pm

Registration from 11.30am, lunch from 12.00 noon – 12.45pm

Followed by Introductions, guest speakers and workshops.
Thursday 17th November 2016, 9.00am until 1.00pm

Main Event, Workshops and Panel Session

(Exact programme to be confirmed)
Conference Registration

Places are limited for this event so priority will be given to one ULR from each branch in the first instance but if you would like to send additional ULRs to this event please let us know.
Any additional places will be awarded on a first come first served basis and will be confirmed once the final date for registration application has closed.

Please note that CWU HQ will not be able to cover travel and subsistence or hotel expenses for this event. However, we will be providing lunch on the 16th November 2016.
Further detail – please read

ULRs can book a place by email in the first instance to learn@cwu.org with contact details including name, Branch, contact number and an email or postal address to which an application form can be sent or by contacting Michelle or Neil directly (as listed below). The form will be sent out to the individual ULR and this will need to be countersigned by the Branch Secretary. Delegates who have specific dietary needs or allergies must advise us of any requirements on the form.
To guarantee that your Branch is represented you must return your completed and signed application form to the Education and Training Department by Friday 30th September 2016. 

There are no specific conference hotels for the event as experience has shown that often better rates can be found on line than can be negotiated for group bookings. A list of hotels will be sent out in the confirmation letter.
Unfortunately, due to registration and accommodation not being linked, we will not be able to arrange substitutions for delegates. The Branch will need to contact both the Education and Training Dept. and the hotel directly to either notify of cancellation or replacement by another ULR from within the Branch.

This event is being supported by the CWU and the Union Learning Fund (England).
Release

This event should attract paid release for those accredited ULRs working for employers where the CWU is recognised. The event is specifically designed to meet the aims of ULR legislation and is fully supported through the Government Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The ACAS Code of Practice applies.
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Michelle Simpson or Neil Coleby by telephoning 0208 971 7340 (Michelle) or 07801 364088 (Neil) or by email to learn@cwu.org 
Yours sincerely,
 
Trish Lavelle

Head of Education & Training
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 433/16 – CWU Union Learning Representatives Networking Event 2016

Harassment Helpline – Change of Free Phone Number (0800 090 2303)
Please note the new Free Phone Harassment Helpline number is 0800 090 2303. This is now in operation.  
Could you please make as many members as possible aware of the new number? This number is a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 number and outside of hours, there is an answering machine advising members what to do. Our website has been updated.

 

Any enquiries please refer to the Equal Opportunities Department.
Yours sincerely
 
Linda Roy

Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 432/16 – Harassment Helpline – Change of Free Phone Number (0800 090 2303)

Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development 

Dear Colleagues

 

Branches and representatives will be aware of advice which has been issued by the department in relation to non-cooperation with industrial engineering activity since 2012 activity (LTB 162/12 and subsequently LTB’s 641/12, 366/13 and 640/14 refer).

 

During this time the department has been engaged in discussion with the business in relation to formalising an agreement in regard to Planning Values and Industrial Engineering in Mail Centres and RDC’s, in line with our agreed Progressive Agenda for Processing.

 

Historically in 2012 issues around industrial engineering activity arose when the business informed the department that they wished to use external Industrial Engineers, Scott Grant Ltd. to gather data across the RM pipeline which included Mail Centres and RDC’s. This came about due to a requirement for the business to convince the regulator that the costing and pricing approaches used in Royal Mail at that time were fair and competitive, hence the need to have independent verification of the key data that underpinned the pricing structure. In effect the key data being referred to was Data Bank Planning Values, derived from Royal Mail’s own industrial engineering assumptions.  

 

Since that time discussions have been taking place, although they have been somewhat protracted on both sides for various reasons. The business did agree in principle, as a show of good faith and commitment to the discussions, to provide training in Industrial Engineering techniques for four of our CWU Representatives in 2013. The training was completed in 2015 and the department now has 4 dedicated representatives who are fully trained and available to offer assistance in regard to measurement activities.    

 

The department can now inform you that an agreement which enables full involvement of our CWU Industrial Engineers in activity going forward and which details the processes and protocols to be applied has now been concluded and is attached for your information.

 

The attached agreement provides for:

 

➢ Transparency in relation to how data is being gathered, details of what data is being gathered and what it is being used for.

 

➢ That the IE’s will not report on individual performance.

 

➢ That any data gathered by IE’s during their visit/s will not be used for the purposes of either conduct or individual performance management, with such issues remaining proper to the role of line managers.

 

➢ The provision of the relevant kit/equipment for our IE’s to undertake measurement activity.

 

➢ The approach to be adopted by IE’s during site visits to undertake measurement activity.

 

➢ Recognition of the role of trained CWU representatives within the IE process and provision of adequate release time to participate with pay protection applying, in line with normal IR Framework arrangements.

 

➢ Review of agreement in 12 months.

 

The business has committed to make every effort to provide notification to the department prior to Industrial Engineering activity taking place and we will share any such information with representatives at sites affected. Therefore any activity that is proposed by the business at sites where notification has not been provided should be brought to the attention of the department.

 

In addition should any representatives require Industrial Engineering assistance they are asked to contact the department where any possible assistance will be afforded to them.

 

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 730.03

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

 Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development

 

 

Introduction

 

Royal Mail and the CWU are committed to working together to deliver growth, stability and long term success and the Agenda for Growth Agreement sets out the agenda to achieve this. The programme of work commits us to develop transparent, fair and jointly understood approaches to performance measurement tools in support of planning and performance improvement activity, in order to enhance our joint objectives. By working together we will develop transparency, understanding and consensus on planning values.
To facilitate much greater joint understanding and ownership of productivity and workload measurement it was agreed that Royal Mail provide training for four CWU representatives in industrial engineering techniques. The CWU representatives that are trained in industrial engineering techniques will support our joint objective to develop a ‘Blue Print Vision’ for Royal Mail, Mail Centres and RDC’s, and provide advice to the CWU National Officer with responsibility for Processing, in order to inform policy making and add value to the growth and efficiency agenda.
This training has now been completed and four nominated CWU representatives have achieved the required standard for accreditation as Industrial Engineers. An integral part of this agreement is a commitment by Royal Mail to provide the necessary training to ensure performance rating for the CWU representatives is maintained on an annual basis to ensure their accreditation remains valid.
 

Background

 

In 2012 Royal Mail commissioned Scott Grant Ltd, a firm of specialist industrial engineers, to verify national planning values used in the business for planning, productivity and cost measurement. The work entailed industrial engineers visiting a number of Mail Centres, Delivery Offices and RDC’s to review the planning values for each product stream. Royal Mail used the industrial engineering values to inform product costing and confirm that its pricing is competitive and profitable.

 

 

Industrial Engineering Activities

 

As part of their normal duties towards developing and maintaining the planning values, industrial engineers will regularly carry out work study tasks to collect data on the operation, including measuring distances, times for tasks, container fills and other flows of work to ensure the Royal Mail values used for traffic weighting and product costing are reliable. This activity will be supported by CWU trained industrial engineers to enable Royal Mail and the CWU to confirm that the work measurement is inclusive and up to date.

 

Planning values that have been validated or developed for standard or new operating procedures for indoor processing activities specific to Mail Centres and RDCs will include industry standard, recognised contingency and rest allowances where applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

Methodology

 

All relevant equipment, such as study tablets and measuring wheels, required to undertake measurement activity will be provided to the CWU IE’s by Royal Mail on an as required basis depending on the nature of the task and the level of involvement. Full familiarisation training will be delivered to ensure that they are fully conversant with all functionality.

 

Key measurement activity will be jointly undertaken where practically possible. It is neither a requirement nor will it be feasible for the CWU IE’s to take part in all studies. The proposed programme of IE activity will outline the key measurement activity that is to be jointly undertaken. Allocation or alignment of resource from the CWU trained representatives will be the subject of agreement at National level in advance of the activity taking place. This process will afford the CWU IE’s the opportunity to be made aware of study work and provide the ability for them to express a preference in relation to activity that they would like to participate in. Equally and in line with the agreed joined up approach, where the CWU IE’s are made aware of sites/issues that may benefit from studies taking place they will have the opportunity to propose relevant activity and all such requests will be considered by Royal Mail.

 

The CWU will have access to all data gathered as part of the studies that take place. Prior to industrial engineers visiting a site employees based there will be briefed to make them aware of the visit(s) and the purpose.

 

When the industrial engineer(s) arrive they will be met by the unit manager who will introduce them to the local CWU representative(s) and staff involved as well as other managers where applicable. They will then be shown around the office to familiarise them with the layout and processes at the unit concerned.

 

Observations will be made on processes compliant with agreed standard operating procedures, Safe Systems of Work and local/National agreements. Standard operating procedures, Safe Systems of Work and local/National agreements should be adhered to at all times.

 

The IE’s will not report on individual performance and are employed to assess how long tasks take and whether these may be improved. Data gathered by IE’s during their visit(s) will not be used for the purposes of either conduct or individual performance management. Individual performance management remains the role of line managers working with their teams.

 

Work study activity may also involve photography or filming, and employees will be asked in advance if they have any objection in participating, if they prefer not to be included they will not be filmed. The information and data is primarily designed for National use. Local feedback on the methods, layout, equipment etc. and overall unit performance (but not individuals’ performance) may be discussed with the managers and the CWU representative(s) where there are opportunities for improvement. Where this is the case then the full terms of existing National agreements, joint statements and guidelines will apply including the IR Framework.

 

Local CWU representatives will be advised in advance of a planned visit to their site and a CWU liaison representative will be nominated and afforded reasonable release to discuss and participate in the activity to reassure CWU members of the commitments and protocols contained in this document. Employees will be jointly briefed by local managers and CWU representatives before the visit commences to advise them of the purpose of the IE activity.  

 

 

Data Gathered

 

Following work study activity data gathered will be analysed by the industrial engineering team. All data will be shared and discussed with the trained CWU representatives for their feedback into agreed outputs.

 

Information resulting from the study work will be discussed and shared with the CWU Nationally either at pre-arranged meetings or at the National Processing Group (NPG).

 

 

Concluding Principles

 

The whole approach is underpinned by a commitment to deliver cultural change, which is designed to align the interests of customers, the workforce and the company.

 

The role of the CWU representatives trained in industrial engineering techniques within these processes is fully recognised, as is the requirement for appropriate release in order for them to meaningfully prepare, participate and obtain the views of CWU Representatives and members during site visits.  

 

Once the requirement for release has been agreed between the National parties it is anticipated that local managers will facilitate this release and that all reasonable requests will be granted. When preparing for, participating in or assessing work study or measurement activities, pay protection will apply in line with normal IR Framework arrangements.

 

 

Review

 

A review of the way of working in relation to this agreement will take place 12 months from the date of this agreement, to ensure it is working productively in the interests of improved industrial relations and efficiency.

 

Any questions of interpretation, implementation or application of this document shall be referred to the respective headquarters for resolution.

 

​

Graham Baker​Davie Robertson

Head of Industrial Engineering​Assistant Secretary Royal Mail ​CWU        

HSE 2015/2016 Work Related Accident and Fatality Statistics – Workplace Deaths Increase to 144:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
The HSE have published annual data for work-related fatal accidents in Great Britain’s workplaces.
The HSE states that the long term trend has seen the rate of fatalities more than halve over the last 20 years. However, this year’s figures indicate that 144 people were killed while at work in 2015/2016 – up from 142 in 2014/2015 and the number of work related accidents and cases of ill health remains high.
The fatal injury figures do not include fatal at work road accidents or work-related deaths from fatal diseases.
In each of the last five years, the number of fatal injuries has been:-
2014/15 – 142 workers died

2013/14 – 136 workers died

2012/13 – 150 workers died

2011/12 – 171 workers died

2010/11 – 175 workers died

2009/10 – 147 workers died
The Health and Safety Executive has called on employers in all sectors to learn lessons and to ensure that their workers return home safe from work each day.
One death at work or life needlessly shortened, is one too many and behind every statistic lies a real story of loss and heartbreak and families left to grieve.
The HSE and UK government continue to boast that Great Britain has one of the best health and safety systems in the world, but we should always be looking to improve and to prevent incidents injuring workers or that cost workers’ lives.
Whilst proclaiming how good the UK’s Health and Safety record is, the anti-health and safety Tory government and ‘puppet’ HSE should remind themselves of the key work-related accident and ill health figures for Great Britain for last year (2014/15):-
1.2 million working people suffering from a work-related illness, 2,515 Mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures, 144 workers killed at work, 76,000 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR, 611,000 injuries occurred at work, according to the Labour Force Survey, 27.3 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury, £14.3 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions, Stress accounted for 35% of work-related ill health cases.
This year the HSE travelled the country asking industry representatives, employers, trade unions and others to work together to ‘help GB work well’ in order to reduce work related accidents and ill health and help keep Britain’s workers alive!
The new HSE figures show the rate of fatal accidents in key industrial sectors as follows:-
43 Construction

27 Agriculture

27 Manufacturing  

6 Waste and Recycling

103 Members of the Public (36 of those occurring on railways)
The highest fatal accident rates across all UK countries and regions were:- Wales – 0.93 per 100,000 workers; Scotland – 0.60 per 100,000 workers; Yorkshire and the Humber – 0.58 per 100,000 workers. The three were also the highest when averaged across the last five-year time period to 2014/15.
However, it should be noted that differences are strongly influenced by variations in the mix of industries and occupations. For example, in Scotland and Wales compared to England there are relatively more workers in higher-risk industries. Also, in London and the South East, there is a much higher proportion of workers in low-risk occupations than across the rest of England.
The HSE states that the latest statistics confirm the UK to be one of the safest places to work in Europe, having one of the lowest rates of fatal injuries to workers in leading industrial nations. When combining Great Britain and Northern Ireland data on fatal injuries, figures for the UK compare as follows with other EU member states:-
Germany (0.81)

Italy (1.24)

Spain (1.55)

France (2.94)
The HSE has also released the latest available figures on deaths from the asbestos-related cancer Mesothelioma, contracted through past exposure to asbestos and one of the few work related diseases where deaths can be counted directly. Mesothelioma killed 2,515 people in Great Britain compared to 2,556 the previous year.
A more detailed assessment of the data will be provided as part of the annual HSE Health and Safety Statistics release in early November.
Further information on these statistics can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm
The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. Its role is to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
The reporting of health and safety incidents at work is a statutory requirement, set out under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). A reportable incident includes: a death or major injury; any accident which does not result in major injury, but the injured person still has to take seven or more days off their normal work to recover; a work related disease; a member of the public being injured as a result of work related activity and taken to hospital for treatment; or a dangerous occurrence, which does not result in a serious injury, but could have done.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB429 HSE 2015-2016 Work Related Accident and Fatality Statistics

Mike Newport – SPDO – POL Closures/SPDO Relocations
Dear Colleague
Branches will be aware that the Outdoor Dept appointed Mike Newport to interface with Royal Mail Nationally on the ongoing SPDO issues referred to above. Unfortunately, Mike has had to make an emergency visit to Australia and he is likely to be there for approximately one month.
However following discussions within the department and due to the importance of the SPDO Project Mike has agreed to continue dialogue with CWU Representatives and Royal Mail whilst away in order to maintain continuity on behalf of the Union. Royal Mail has also accepted this arrangement.
Obviously, Mike will not be able to attend any meetings whilst away, but should occasions arise where Branches require a representative from CWUHQ to attend any important meeting(s) specifically regarding the SPDO Project, we will do our best to provide a PEC member from within the department to attend. In the meantime all correspondence should continue to be sent to Mike and copied into the Outdoor department.
Mike can be contacted via the normal email channels, and should you wish to speak to him directly he can be contacted on his mobile phone number, albeit that it will need to be through the ‘WhatsApp’ phone call option, as this will use Wi-Fi and will not incur any international phone charges. ‘WhatsApp’ should be able to be downloaded and installed to any IOS, Windows or Android phone. If you wish Mike to call you on ‘WhatsApp’ then please email him requesting this and supplying your phone number. You will also need to be mindful of the time difference between the UK and where Mike is in Australia which is UK time +9 Hrs.
Representatives, who contact Mike whilst he’s away, will be informed by him when he will be returning to the UK and available to undertake his normal role. At the time of constructing this LTB, Mike is planning to be available in the UK w/c 15th August 2016.
Mike’s contact details and the preferable time to contact him by phone are listed below;
Email: mike.newport@cwuessex.org
Mobile No: 07884 454547 (WhatsApp only)
Time to contact by phone: 10:00 – 13:00 (UK time)
 
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 535.17
Email address:outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
 
 
Yours sincerely                                                            
Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 411/16 – Mike Newport – SPDO – POL Closures/SPDO Relocations

Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development
Dear Colleagues
Branches and representatives will be aware of advice which has been issued by the department in relation to non-cooperation with industrial engineering activity since 2012 activity (LTB 162/12 and subsequently LTB’s 641/12, 366/13 and 640/14 refer).
During this time the department has been engaged in discussion with the business in relation to formalising an agreement in regard to Planning Values and Industrial Engineering in Mail Centres and RDC’s, in line with our agreed Progressive Agenda for Processing.
Historically in 2012 issues around industrial engineering activity arose when the business informed the department that they wished to use external Industrial Engineers, Scott Grant Ltd. to gather data across the RM pipeline which included Mail Centres and RDC’s. This came about due to a requirement for the business to convince the regulator that the costing and pricing approaches used in Royal Mail at that time were fair and competitive, hence the need to have independent verification of the key data that underpinned the pricing structure. In effect the key data being referred to was Data Bank Planning Values, derived from Royal Mail’s own industrial engineering assumptions.
Since that time discussions have been taking place, although they have been somewhat protracted on both sides for various reasons. The business did agree in principle, as a show of good faith and commitment to the discussions, to provide training in Industrial Engineering techniques for four of our CWU Representatives in 2013. The training was completed in 2015 and the department now has 4 dedicated representatives who are fully trained and available to offer assistance in regard to measurement activities.  
The department can now inform you that an agreement which enables full involvement of our CWU Industrial Engineers in activity going forward and which details the processes and protocols to be applied has now been concluded and is attached for your information.
The attached agreement provides for:
Transparency in relation to how data is being gathered, details of what data is being gathered and what it is being used for.

That the IE’s will not report on individual performance.

That any data gathered by IE’s during their visit/s will not be used for the purposes of either conduct or individual performance management, with such issues remaining proper to the role of line managers.

The provision of the relevant kit/equipment for our IE’s to undertake measurement activity.

The approach to be adopted by IE’s during site visits to undertake measurement activity.

Recognition of the role of trained CWU representatives within the IE process and provision of adequate release time to participate with pay protection applying, in line with normal IR Framework arrangements.

Review of agreement in 12 months.

The business has committed to make every effort to provide notification to the department prior to Industrial Engineering activity taking place and we will share any such information with representatives at sites affected. Therefore any activity that is proposed by the business at sites where notification has not been provided should be brought to the attention of the department.
In addition should any representatives require Industrial Engineering assistance they are asked to contact the department where any possible assistance will be afforded to them.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 730.03
Yours sincerely
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 428/16 – Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development

Attachment 1 – TOR for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development

LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP ELECTION – AFFILIATED SUPPORTER SIGN-UP 
Please find below clarification on who will be able to vote in the forthcoming Labour leadership election with regards to trade union members. 
CWU members who pay the political levy and have already registered as affiliated supporters are eligible to vote in the election and do not need to sign up again this time round.  

All other CWU members who pay the political levy and joined the union before 12th January 2016 can sign up as an affiliated supporter of the Labour Party in order to vote. The deadline for this is 12 noon on the 8th August. They can do so at http://support.labour.org.uk – there will also be a page on the CWU website which will link to this shortly. 

Any CWU members who joined after 12th January will not be eligible to vote as affiliated supporters. They will, however, be able to sign up to vote as a ‘registered supporter’ as an individual by paying a one-off fee of £25 to the Labour Party. The registration process for this will run from Monday 18th July to 5pm on Wednesday 20th July only.

Finally, it should be noted that in order to register as an affiliated supporter, individuals will need to sign up to the following statement (there is an equivalent statement for registered supporters):
I support the aims and values of the Labour Party, am not a supporter of any organisation opposed to it and pay a political subscription to my trade union from which affiliation fees are paid on my behalf. 
In the leadership election last year the Party did exclude some individuals who, for instance, were members of other political parties. Applications for a vote will therefore be subject to a vetting process by the Party. 
It is important that you bring this information to the attention of all your Political Fund levy paying members including your Retired Members. We will give greater publicity to this issue next week on the CWU website (including the new Retired Members and Youth websites) and all CWU social media. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1: LTB 426/16 Labour Party Leadership – Affiliated Supporter Sign-up

Labour Party Developments 

The purpose of this LTB is to update Branches on recent political developments within the Labour Party and the position the CWU has taken on these.

 

The CWU response to the actions of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP)

 

As branches will be aware, following the vote to Leave the EU there were a series of resignations from the Shadow Cabinet and a no confidence vote in Jeremy Corbyn at the PLP designed to force him to resign and bring about a new leadership election. The union immediately made it clear that we condemned this infighting, and MPs abandoning their front bench posts, at a time when the opposition should have been united in holding the government to account.

 

In recent weeks, the union has also signed a number of joint statements with other affiliated unions which made it clear that we did not support the attempts to undermine the leadership election which took place less than a year ago and the union’s NEC published a statement to this effect on 1st July. This was circulated to branches with LTB 397/16.

 

Union brokered talks with PLP Representatives

 

Following the developments with the PLP, together with Unison and GMB, the CWU was involved in supporting and shaping the approach made by Len McCluskey General Secretary of Unite, to broker peace talks with a number of key Labour MPs.

 

It was agreed by all parties that these talks would commence formally on Sunday 10th July and it is important that all CWU Branches are aware that it was made clear to the senior representatives of the PLP from the outset that the question of Jeremy Corbyn resigning was not on the table.

 

Along with the other General Secretaries due to attend the talks, I was therefore surprised by the statement from Tom Watson, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party that was released to the media on Saturday morning without any prior consultation, claiming the talks had failed.

 

The truth is Tom Watson deliberately chose to abandon discussions before they had commenced in earnest. It would appear from subsequent events that the real motives behind this were that the representatives of the PLP had formed a view that the Labour NEC would support an interpretation of the Labour Party rules preventing Jeremy Corbyn being automatically put on the ballot paper as the incumbent leader.

 

Labour Party NEC meeting on 12th July

 

As Branches will be aware, after a long meeting on 12th July, the Labour NEC confirmed that as leader of the party Jeremy Corbyn would be on the ballot paper automatically. I want to place on record my thanks to Andy Kerr DGS (T) and CWU representative on the Labour Party NEC, for playing a leading role in ensuring they reached this position.

 

It has been clear that a significant number of MPs have opposed Jeremy Corbyn and the influx of new members in the party from the start and were determined to keep him off of the ballot paper. Jeremy Corbyn was elected less than a year ago with an overwhelming mandate and it would have been fundamentally wrong for the outrageous actions of the PLP to have succeeded. Thankfully, democracy and natural justice prevailed.

 

Media reports on Yougov poll of CWU members

 

Branches may also have seen reports this week claiming that trade unions, including from the CWU, had been polled on their support for Jeremy Corbyn. This was being used to suggest that he no longer had the support of trade union members.

 

While we were initially refused any information on this, we have now spoken to Yougov and have learned that the figures being used for our union were based on responses from just 57 people and nobody can yet verify whether they were actually CWU members. This falls well short of standard polling practices and we regard this information as little more than propaganda. We are aware that the individual behind it is a former Labour Party employee.

 

 

 

Next steps

 

Following the confirmation of the timetable for the leadership election this week, I will now be putting a document to the union’s NEC on the 28th July, to re-affirm our support and nomination for Jeremy Corbyn. This also reflects current Annual Conference policy.

 

CWU members who pay the political levy and who joined the union prior to 12th January 2016 will be eligible to vote in the election as affiliated supporters and further information will be sent out to branches today on the sign up process. We will be seeking to maximise the number of CWU members taking part in this.

 

Finally, we are giving consideration to holding a national political briefing/event in the near future and appropriate information on this will follow in due course.

 

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org.

 

Yours sincerely

 
 

Dave Ward

General Secretary

 

London Recruits 

We have been invited to support an independent film production under the working title of “London Recruits”. The film tells the story of how young, white Britons supported – and indeed kept alive – the anti-apartheid struggle being waged in South Africa by the then underground, outlawed and persecuted ANC.  

 

There is a direct connection between our union and this project. One of those featured in it, Steve Marsling, was a postal worker, during the period in question. The CWU’s predecessor unions all had strong links with the Anti-Apartheid Movement and we continue to support the work of its successor, ACTSA.

 

Remaining secret for decades their incredible story is now being made into a film that CWU members and branches can help bring to the big screen. The NEC has already made a donation to the project. Find out how you can be amongst the first to see the film.

 

Unions and the Anti-Apartheid Movement

 

By the 1960s, trade union, anti-apartheid and labour movements rallied behind the South African freedom struggle. The predecessor unions to the CWU all joined a number of campaigns and demonstrations, donated funds, boycotted South African goods, disrupted postal and telecoms services to and from South Africa and lobbied with employers to disinvest in South African companies.

 

The London Recruits selected for the missions were themselves young activists who came from the full spectrum of the labour and trade union movement and as such, the filmmakers behind London Recruits are working in collaboration with the unions to ensure that together we celebrate this important moment in our history.

 

-2-

 

 

 

Why back London Recruits?

 

This is a movie that you can help make. The project is appealing to members, regions and branches to support the project in any way they can and help them reach their funding target by

 

August 1st. You can be amongst the first to see the film via one of our trade union packages available on our website.

 

The CWU have supported the film at a national level. I believe the main themes of the film – of international solidarity, resistance against oppression and imaginative, direct campaigning – are all those that are very much part of the CWU’s core values.

 

VIDEO LINKS

 

See trade union endorsements of the project here: https://vimeo.com/165129944

See video endorsement of the London Recruits here https://vimeo.com/174339384 

Watch the official London Recruits trailer here https://vimeo.com/151562047 

 

1) Donate either personally or as a branch/group/ committee and take advantage of some of the great rewards which are on offer.

 

2) Book a special Q&A screening for your group/union branch/committee and be among the first to see the London Recruits film.

 

3) Book a speaker to address your union/ branch committee meeting or solidarity/ campaign event.

4) Request a London Recruits resource pack for more information on the film and how your branch/committee can get involved.

 

5) Like the film on Facebook/ follow us on Twitter and help us reach a wider audience.

 

A CWUYouth podcast with one of the original London Recruits and former postal worker Steve Marsling is at http://cwuyouth.podbean.com/e/london-recruits-an-anti-apartheid-film/?token=a58915037fb64f72c2b45d061ae650be

Yours sincerely

 
 

Dave Ward

General Secretary

 

CWU Rule Book
The revised Rule Book including the amendments carried at Rules Revision Conference 2016 is now available as a pdf.file via the CWU website.
You can download a copy of the Rule Book from the following link:

Click to access rule-book-2016.pdf

A hard copy will be sent to all branches.
Any queries regarding this LTB please contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 or by e-mail to aniven@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
  
 
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 423/16 CWU Rule Book

CWU Rule Book