Important Information – Major changes to the Education and Training Programme:Union Skills 1, 2 and 3 courses
Dear Colleagues,
Branches will recall LTB 97/16 which provided guidance regarding resourcing of future training courses as well as advice on how to maximise the benefit of courses on offer. It also advised that a new strategy and timely alterations to our programme would be required along with an opportunity to revise and update our core programme.

The areas of the core programme that required initial focus and most significant changes are outlined below:
• Union Skills 1, 2, 3 These courses are currently delivered over three 5 day weeks. We are now going to deliver this with a combination of classroom based and online learning via CWU Left Click over 12 days in total
• There will be two days for (Day 1); online pre-course and (Day 2); bridging work/training which will be supported via Branch ULRs locally, interspersed with two full 5 day weeks in the classroom either regionally or residentially
• This part of the programme has been re-named, “Essential Skills for CWU Reps Part 1 and 2” and it is important to note that branches will have to apply for reps to attend the whole programme rather than one week or other
• The Essential Skills for CWU Reps Part 1 and 2 will have to be completed by students in a single academic year i.e. 1 August to 31 July

Regional Learning Committee Officers and Branch Lead ULRs are currently being briefed on the changes, as well as the significant role they will play in supporting reps through this new process. It must be noted that any input they provide has been designed to sit squarely within their statutory rights and ACAS Codes of Practice. 
Where branches do not have ULRs currently, or access to Learning Centres / appropriate branch IT equipment for this purpose is limited, it is important to advise our course administrator, Maxine Todd, at the application stage so that contingency arrangements can be arranged. 
New Programme
Because of these changes, it has been necessary to reschedule some of our courses and attached is a newly amended version of the Alvescot Lodge Education and Training programme which has been agreed by the NEC and will now run from 1 August 2016 – 31 July 2017.
Regional Courses
These changes will apply to regional and residential courses equally. Therefore, branches and regions should bear this in mind when scheduling Regional Essential Skills for Reps Courses with the department.
Release Arrangements
Paid Release has now been agreed by both BT and Royal Mail for these new programmes for these courses as follows. For employers where we are recognised, release should apply where the training is relevant to the representatives duties and further advice on this can be provided by the Education & Training department:
• 1 day for Pre-course activities to be completed locally supported by a ULR

• 5 days for Essential Skills for Reps Part 1

• 1 day for Bridging activities to be completed locally supported by a ULR

• 5 days for Essential Skills for Reps Part 2
Branches should endeavour to give as much notice as possible to the employer of the dates required for release. A good benchmark to work to is between 4 to 6 weeks. Because these are new and different arrangements, branches should let the department know at the earliest opportunity if there are any issues or difficulties with regard to release.
Advice for Branches
During the transitional period where we move from the old system to the new, we would ask that branches and reps familiarise themselves with the new advice set out below to help us avoid any confusion.
If you or a representative from your branch have already applied for and been allocated a place on a Union Skills 1 course starting before 1st August 2016

Your Union Skills 1 course will proceed as planned. However, you will be asked to complete the online bridging activities prior to attending Essential Skills for Reps part 2. Your tutor will have information about this for you when you attend Union Skills 1 and the department will send you an enrolment key for “CWU Left Click”. We will notify your branch ULR so that a day can be arranged for you to complete the online bridging activities with the support of the ULR. Your branch will have to submit an application for Essential Skills for Reps Part 2 to be completed prior to 31 July 2017.
If you or a representative from your Branch has already applied for and been allocated a place on a Union Skills 2 Course starting before 1st August 2016

Your Union Skills 2 course will proceed as planned. There is no further action necessary. Your next course should be Advanced Skills for Reps Parts 1 and 2.
If you have already applied for a Union Skills 1 course starting on or after 1st August 2016

The Education & Training department will be writing to you with details of the changes to the course. We will be writing to ask your branch to confirm that you will be attending Essential Skills for Reps Parts I and 2 and clarifying the dates for the second part of the course. You will be sent an enrolment key for your pre-course activities which you will find on “CWU Left Click”. There is a single day’s release provided for you to undertake this in a local learning centre or workplace with the support of a ULR. Your branch Lead ULR has now been notified that you are registered for this course and will be contacting you regarding the date and venue for your pre-course activities.
If you have completed a Union Skills 1 previously and already applied for a Union Skills 2 course starting on or after 1st August 2016

The Education & Training department will be writing to you with details of the changes to the course. We will be writing to ask your branch to confirm that you will now be attending Essential Skills for Reps Part 2 and confirming the dates for the second part of the course. You will be sent an enrolment key for your bridging activities which you will find on “CWU Left Click”. There is a single day’s release provided for you to undertake this in a local learning centre or workplace with the support of a ULR. Your branch Lead ULR has now been notified that you are registered for this course and will be contacting you regarding the date and venue for your bridging activities.
If you have completed a Union Skills 1 and 2 and have submitted an application for Union Skills 3 course which was scheduled to take place on or after 1st August 2016

Please note that this course is no longer part of the CWU programme. We will be writing to you cancelling this course and we would advise that the next course that you attend should be Advanced Skills for Reps Parts 1 and 2. Branches should submit an application form in the usual manner.
This LTB focuses on the changes to Union Skills 1, 2 and 3 and further advice will be issued relating to our Advanced Skills programme in the near future.
Finally, can I thank branches and representatives for their assistance in this matter and request that any queries be referred to the department via our Course Administrator mtodd@cwu.org in the first instance.
Yours sincerely,

TRISH LAVELLE

Head of Education & Training
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 409/16 – Important Information – Major changes to the Education and Training Programme:

E&T Programme

Election of CWU National Trustees (Vacant Position – TFS) – 2016          
The NEC has agreed the arrangements for the election of the vacant position for the CWU National Trustees (TFS Constituency).
The term of office for this position will be from July 2016 to April 2017.
Accordingly please find enclosed the regulations, nomination forms and candidate consent and biographical detail forms for these positions.
The Timetable for the election is as follows:
Nominations open 7 July 2016 
Nominations close 18 July 2016 (14:00)
Despatch ballot papers 19 July 2016

Ballot closes 29 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 407/16 – Election of CWU National Trustees (Vacant Position – TFS) 2016

Attachment 1 – Election Regulations

Attachment 2 – Nomination Form

Attachment 3 – Candidate Consent & Biographical Details Form

REMINDER AND FINAL CALL – CWU Scholarship Fund calling for applications for the BA (Hons) International Labour and Trade Union Studies: Ruskin College Oxford
Dear Colleague,
I would like to remind Branches that we are still seeking applications for the BA (Hons) International Labour and Trade Union Studies course at Ruskin College.
I am pleased to report that the National Executive Committee has agreed to support two CWU Scholarship Fund bursaries for CWU activists to study for an initial two years towards the achievement of a certificate in higher education on the above course.
The course commences in September 2016 (date to be confirmed) and is delivered through short residential weekends at Ruskin College supplemented by distance learning. Further and more detailed information about the course is attached.
The NEC will review the level of funding available to provide continued support beyond the initial two year period in 2018.
This course will be of particular interest to CWU activists who have already completed a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, Diploma in Employment Law or the Diploma in Contemporary Trade Union Studies.
The criteria for applying for one of the bursaries are as follows:
Applicants will not hold a higher level or HE qualification e.g. a Degree or above

Applicants will be CWU activists with a proven record of participation in the union

Applicants will not usually have received previous support from the CWU Scholarship Fund

Applicants must be able to demonstrate how the bursary will assist them and how it will benefit the CWU and/or the wider labour movement

The bursary will cover the costs of tuition fees and accommodation for the two successful applicants; however, it will not cover the costs of travel and expenses. It is therefore advised that applicants request any additional support that they may need from their respective Branches.
In order to apply please complete the attached application form.
IMPORTANT: Please return your completed form to Michelle Simpson in the Education and Training Department by Wednesday 13 July 2016 – PLEASE DO NOT SEND THE FORM TO RUSKIN COLLEGE. We will send on the successful applications to the college on your behalf.
We expect to be in a position to notify successful applicants in early August.
 
Successful applicants will need to complete an interview process with Ruskin College.
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, either by e-mail: tlavelle@cwu.org or telephone on 020 8971 7340.
Yours sincerely,
 
Trish Lavelle
Head of Education and Training
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 408-16 – Reminder And Final Call – CWU Scholarship Fund

Application Form

Course Information

SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATE – CWU FACEBOOK GROUP
 

Dear colleagues,
Over the last six months, we have made significant strides in the CWUs presence on various social media platforms. We have made some excellent, high profile contacts as well as raising the unions’ profile.
In addition to this, we have held several online Q&A sessions, with the latest being viewed ‘live’ by over 7,000 CWU members. We are committed to continuing to better our online performance and more details on this will be shared in the coming months.
The purpose of this LTB is to inform Branches that we have decided to close the National CWU Facebook Group. Discussions on this have taken place across many months with presentations being made to the NEC, our Conference Fringe meeting and several regional and local forums.
This has not been a simple decision because clearly, the group has a significant following. On balance, though, it is, without doubt, the right thing to do for the following reasons;
The culture of the group does not reflect the values of our Trade Union. Several times, posts have been aggressive, contained foul language and led to complaints from members.

Employers have the opportunity to view online pages and members are putting themselves in a very dangerous position with some of the posts that have been made on the group.

The CWU cannot get any vital messages across in a sea of inappropriate posts, images and videos – this stops the union communicating with our members.

The group can also be viewed by media and the public – with this in mind, it is vital that we present a professional image.

This is in no way about shutting down debate. The new CWU Facebook page allows debate but it will be moderated, simply to remove foul and abusive language alongside any totally irrelevant, off topic posts.
The aim is to fully close the Facebook Group by September with the time between now and then being used to migrate members to the new page.
 
Branches are encouraged to share the following link to our new page with all members. https://www.facebook.com/ThecommunicationsUnion
Once we have all of our social media strands up and running then the debate can start about driving our key messages back to where they really matter – the workplace.
Any enquiries to this LTB should be directed to Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org
 
Kind regards
 
Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 405-16 – Social Media Update – CWU Facebook Group

 Pay and Overtime Issues

 

Further to LTBs 395/16 and 398/16, Royal Mail have notified the Union of a potential problem relating to payment for overtime worked on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July 2016.  

 

In their communication issued to managers, Royal Mail say they are shutting down PSP to make changes to the payroll system to process the April 2016 pay award and back pay. As a result, PSP will be locked to all users from 8pm on Friday 8th July 2016 until Tuesday 12th July 2016. During this period it will not be possible to input to PSP.

 

For weekly paid staff the shutdown of PSP means there will be a one week delay in payment for overtime worked on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July 2016.

 

The closure of PSP between the 8th-12th July 2016 will also mean delays to processing other transactions. Because of the system changes Royal Mail say their payroll teams will be unable to process Employee Change Requests (ECRs) or Assigned Allowances (HR17s) to the usual timescales. ECRs and HR17s submitted between now until Friday 15th July 2016 will be reflected in pay received on Friday 22nd July 2016.

 

Royal Mail have said that once the PSP system changes have been made, any overtime/allowances earned from Monday 4th April 2016 onward for weekly paid employees and from Friday 1st April 2016 for CWU monthly paid staff will be automatically adjusted and paid at the increased rate. The arrears in pay will also reduce the impact of any weekend overtime being paid late.

 

Royal Mail’s decision to close PSP at short notice is disappointing. Despite investing millions in a new payroll system, the business is nervous about the scale of processing the pay award and back pay and the potential impact on the system. CWU has sought urgent clarification as to why the business has taken the action this year and what exceptional arrangements could be put in place to ensure members don’t suffer any detriment.  

 

The business has pointed out that similar action was taken in 2014 when it was necessary to calculate back pay. Royal Mail believes that closing PSP is the safest way of avoiding potential disruption to the whole payroll system. The business is not offering any exceptional arrangements because it believes that to do so might also create problems with the system.  

 

Further enquiries on this LTB should be directed to Ray Ellis in the DSG(P) Department.

 

Yours Sincerely,
Ray Ellis

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Light Commercial Vehicle Driver Behaviour Technology – TRIMBLE
 
Dear Colleague
Further to LTB’s 555/15 and 630/15 regarding the conclusion of the proof of concept trial and related discussions, a joint review of the National Agreement took place between the CWU and Royal Mail on the 10th May 2016 in Farringdon. That meeting concluded with both parties committed to ensuring that the CWU will be fully involved in the ongoing deployment at all levels, which was agreed as essential if the benefits of this project are to be realised. 
This involvement will include all aspects of the initiative including implementation, monitoring, assessment and profile adjustment where agreed necessary. It also includes training opportunities for a number of nominated CWU representatives, providing them with a full system overview. This training will be on the basis of 2 CWU reps per region (6 in total) with a joint preference for one representative from IR and one representative from the ASR community who will work jointly on this issue within their respective Regions. The purpose is for all local matters to be raised to this level in the first instance, where decisions can be taken quickly on matters of adjustment or assessment including monitoring. Where such monitoring proves to be in breach of the National Agreement such as the consideration/sight of reports that should have been removed from the available suite or that a clear breach of the agreement has occurred these should be escalated immediately to the Outdoor department via an issues log.
In line with the above it would be appreciated if Branches/Regions could give this matter their urgent consideration and forward their nominations to this department no later than Monday 18th July2016. The go live date for CWU Representatives training on the system, which will be provided by Trimble, will be notified once the CWU Representatives have been agreed.
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300
Email address:outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
 
Yours Sincerely
                                  
Bob Gibson                               
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor   
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 400/16 – Light Commercial Vehicle Driver Behaviour Technology – TRIMBLE

THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE
Today, the Post Office Board has announced the closure and privatisation of a further 20 Crown Post Offices. This is the latest in a series of announcements from the Post Office that clearly demonstrates the Board has no viable plan to secure the future of our members’ jobs or this great British institution.
The reality is we now face the most serious situation in the history of the Post Office.
A further round of substantial job losses across the whole business – in Crowns, Supply Chain and Admin – this will lead to compulsory redundancies;

The closure of the Defined Benefit (DB) Pension Scheme which will leave thousands of staff significantly worse off in retirement;

Further branch closures, as part of a strategy leading to the wholesale privatisation of the Crown Office network;

The closure of over half of the Supply Chain operation, whilst exiting the external market.

The union has no choice other than to defend our member’s jobs and pensions by all means necessary. We will soon hold a companywide ballot for Industrial Action and are launching a fresh political campaign to call upon the Government – as the owner of the company – to intervene as a matter of urgency.
We are meeting Sajid Javid the Minister responsible for the Post Office early next week and will make it absolutely clear that we will not sit back and see another British Institution go the same way as the steel industry. We will press the minister to hold a summit meeting of all stakeholders to consider an alternative strategy for the future of the company.
On pensions, the union has taken legal advice and we are writing to the pension’s regulator asking them to investigate the actions of the company, the Trustee Board and the Government. Our legal advice suggests there is a potential for legal action if the company proceed with their plans to close the DB Scheme.
You will receive further information on the Industrial Action ballot timetable and all the issues in dispute early next week. Today we have written to our members explaining the union’s position.
It is essential we now bring together the support of the whole union to change, once and for all, the dynamics of this debate and fight for a different future.
Finally, we have attached to this LTB a copy of our Press Release and a link to an online article that has been published today in the Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dave-ward/post-office-cwu_b_10812932.html?edition=uk
Please ensure the content of this LTB is distributed to all members. Further information will be sent out in due course.
 
Yours sincerely                                                  
                                          
Dave Ward Ray Ellis Andy Furey                      
General Secretary Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary
                                                  General Secretary
 
CWU to launch strike ballot over Post Office privatisation
Union will ballot all Post Office members to “defend the future of great British institution”
Today (Tuesday) the Post Office board has announced the privatisation of a further 20 Crown Post Offices bringing around 175 job losses. This comes on top of a series of recent announcements including:
Significant job losses across the whole business (now totalling 2,000 since the beginning of the year) – in Crown post offices, Supply Chain and Admin. This will lead to compulsory redundancies;
The privatisation (franchise) of 41 Crown post offices announced at the beginning of the year;

The closure of the defined benefit (DB) pension scheme which will leave thousands of staff worse off in retirement (proposed to be closed from September 2016 affected 3,600 people);

A strategy that will lead to the wholesale privatisation of the Crown Office network;

The closure of over half of the Post Office cash handling operation, whilst exiting the external market (announced April 2016).

Dave Ward, general secretary of the CWU, said: “We face the most serious situation in the history of the Post Office. Taken together, recent announcements from the board demonstrate there is no viable plan to secure the future of our members’ jobs or this great British institution. The board should hang their heads in shame and we reiterate our call for them to resign with immediate effect.
“The role of the Government in this crisis must also be highlighted. We are meeting Sajid Javid the Business Secretary who is responsible for the Post Office early next week and will make it absolutely clear that we will not sit back and see another British institution go the same way as the steel industry. We will press him to hold a summit meeting of all stakeholders to consider an alternative strategy for the future of the company.
“We are left with no choice but to defend the jobs and pensions of our members and the services they provide. Plans to instigate a national industrial action ballot of our whole Post Office membership are now underway.”
CWU will announce a ballot timetable shortly which will cover 3,500 people working across the Post Office.
 
-ends-
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 404/16 – The Future of the Post Office

POST OFFICE: CROWN OFFICE NETWORK – FRANCHISING UPDATE
Dear Colleagues
Tranche 2 Announced
The Post Office has today announced the second “Tranche” of Crowns to be privatised to retail partners. In Tranche 2 there are 20 Crowns in total, impacting upon at least 150 jobs. This 20 is in addition to the 39 Crowns previously announced for franchising in January. The list is as follows:
                                   Blackfriars Road Kingstanding
                                   Bransholme Leigh Park
                                   Dingle Llangefni
                                   Duke Street Londonderry
                                   Dunmow Morriston
                                   East Kilbride Newhaven
                                   Finsbury Park South Ockendon
                                   Harold Hill Springburn Way
                                   Holywell St Leonards on Sea
                                   Kingsland High Street Willenhall
Members have been briefed by management this morning in the Team Talk sessions. Our Territorial and Area Representatives were provided with the information late yesterday and where possible would have made arrangements to visit impacted Crowns today to provide the necessary support to members.
This announcement will obviously be devastating news to the members in the affected Crowns; it is an outrageous decision with no substance or business case to back up the policy except that the Post Office is looking to save more money and make more profit. This news comes at a time when the Post Office should be looking to invest in the Crown Network to secure a future for the Post Office as a whole, rather than relying on a tired old cost cutting strategy.
We understand the Post Office is planning a third Tranche of franchising later this year – at this rate there will be no Crown Network left in a few years time.
Overarching Agreement – Emergency Motion E3
The Post Office will be fully aware this further Tranche of franchising flies completely in the face of the sentiment and key objectives behind our conference policy as determined by the carriage of Emergency Motion E3. The following paragraph specifically relates to the Crown Office Network:
“2) Crown Office Network – we must bring to an end the totally unjustifiable attack on Crown Offices through the incessant Franchising/closure model which is nothing more than Privatisation. The Crown Network must feature in the Post Office’s vision for the future and as such be an integral part of the overall network with a long-term future, thus ensuring job security.”
It follows that the Post Office is not serious in wanting to establish a mutually beneficial Agreement regarding the future of the Crown Network. Accordingly, the actions of the Post Office must be viewed as extreme provocation. Our members deserve a decent future working in the Crown Network. Therefore this Union cannot allow the Post Office to systematically destroy our Crown Office Network.
This announcement makes an Industrial Action ballot more difficult to avoid as the Post Office has effectively thrown down the gauntlet by continuing to not listen to our strong representations.
Meeting with Sajid Javid, Secretary of State, BIS
As a consequence of Post Office plans to systematically dismantle the Post Office, we are meeting with Sajid Javid the Cabinet Minister responsible on Monday 11th July. Dave Ward, General Secretary and Andy Furey, Assistant Secretary will be making it abundantly clear to the Minister that this Union and its members are demanding a real vision for the future which entails investment, growth and jobs. Our strong message to the Minister will be that we will not tolerate the Post Office being driven into oblivion by crass management decisions that impact so dreadfully upon our members’ future.
Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward Ray Ellis Andy Furey
General Secretary Acting Deputy General Secretary (P) Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1

Royal Mail is today launching its fourth annual Dog Awareness Week, which runs from 4 to 9 July 2016. The week aims to raise awareness of the issue of dog attacks on postmen and women and encourage responsible dog ownership. Royal Mail Group and the CWU are once again working jointly on the campaign.
There are still around 3,000 dog attacks on postmen and women every year. Reported dog attacks have fallen by 10% on the previous year to 2,660 but the CWU estimates than many minor incidents and attacks 500 – 1000 more go unreported and another part of the campaign is to encourage outdoor delivery members and Parcelforce members to report ALL incidents with dogs because the next time it may not be a near thing and could be serious. It is discovered too often following serious attacks, resulting in life changing injuries that several minor incidents and near misses were not properly reported and had they done, the serious attack may have been avoided. Dog Attacks remain a major problem!
Despite this, even based on the officially reported figures, seven postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK. This figure rises by 10% during the school holidays and in the summer months when parents and children are at home and family pets are allowed to roam properties and gardens without constraint with front, back and side doors plus windows and side garden gates left open.
New research¹ released today as part of Royal Mail’s Dog Awareness Week found that over a quarter (27%) of UK parents who own a dog confessed that their canine has been loose in the house when an exterior door (such as the front door) was open. In the last year, 36% of dog attacks on postal workers have happened at the front door while 35% took place in the front garden– the equivalent to 1,888 attacks. At these times, dogs are more likely to be unsupervised in the garden.
Royal Mail Group’s Dog Awareness Week is supported by the Communications Workers Union and a wide range of organisations and animal charities including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, the National Police Chief’s Council and the National Dog Wardens Association
Dogs can be quite protective of their owners and homes. They believe they are merely defending their property, but it’s important to recognise that this behaviour can sometimes escalate to dog bite incidents with anyone coming to a home, including postmen and women. No one should feel unsafe in the workplace and it’s important dog owners realise this and act responsibly and comply with the law that requires them to do just that. Owners must take the necessary steps to give postmen and women respect and safety from dog attacks. Owners should encourage good behaviour when postal workers come to make deliveries. Dog owners should be spending time getting their pets familiar with visitors coming to the house and so create a safer environment for all.
The overwhelming majority of dogs that CWU members come into contact with do not present any problem at all but dogs are territorial and will defend themselves, their family and their territory if they feel it is being threatened.
Postmen and women deliver to over 29 million addresses across the country every day and we want them to be vigilant, assess the situation, exercise caution and certainly take no risks when delivering the mail and parcels. This dog awareness week is also a campaign during summer time when we appeal to dog owners and their families to help reduce the numbers of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden by keeping control of their dogs and acting responsibly by taking a few simple precautions.
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) are fully supporting the RMG/CWU Dog Awareness week again this year. The NPPC have been working in partnership with Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union to use the new Dangerous Dogs Legislation (which the CWU achieved through the ‘Bite-Back’ Campaign) and the ‘Postal Workers Service Level Agreement’ (SLA), signed by RMG, CWU and NPCC to improve the safety of postal workers from dog attacks.
The new law provides us with a great opportunity to hold those responsible to account, tackle irresponsible dog ownership and ultimately improve the safety and confidence of Postal Workers and all members of our communities. The new dog control laws now identify and penalises chronically irresponsible dog owners. One owner was recently fined £8,800 after his dog injured and Postwoman as she put letters through the door. The penalties can include losing their dogs and Jail. Dog owners need to fully understand that their actions usually are the cause of a dog being dangerous and simple precautions can prevent the pain for everyone concerned. No matter what breed of dog is involved, the dog can present a substantial danger to postal workers.”
In the Autumn of 2015, the Postal Workers SLA was piloted in 5 of the biggest Police forces in England; the Metropolitan, Merseyside, South and West Yorkshire and West Midlands, to try to understand the demand and any areas of improvement. The SLA has been a positive step forward in dealing with dog attacks and the NPCC is continuing to encourage Police forces nationally to utilise the tools available to them to tackle irresponsible dog ownership; by educating where possible and prosecuting where appropriate.
Working together, Royal Mail Group, the Communication Workers Union and the National Police Chiefs’ Council will be considering the rollout of the SLA nationally in England and Wales, to ensure Dog Attack incidents are dealt with consistently.
To help promote dog safety, a special Dog Awareness Week postmark will be applied to all stamped items from Monday 4 July 2016 to Friday 8 July 2016.
A wide range of activities will be taking place during Dog Awareness Week including;

• Royal Mail postmen and women speak about their own experiences of dog attacks

• Dog Awareness posters will be in place in all Royal Mail enquiry office’s giving dog owners tips on how they can help

• Dog wardens will be visiting a number of Delivery Offices across the country giving dog safety talks to postmen and women
Top Postcode Areas for Highest Number of Attacks
Postcode Area Number of attacks
Nottingham 68

Peterborough 65

Northern Ireland 56

Tonbridge 56

Reading 54

Leeds 51

Sheffield 51

Plymouth 50

Guilford 48

Newcastle 48

Top Tips for Dog Owners
Even the most friendly dog can be a danger to postal staff. Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable.
Here are some ideas to help your postman deliver your post in safety:

• Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or woman arrives. Secure your dog in the back garden or a closed room.

• If you have a back garden, please close off the access, in case your dog could get round to the front when the postman calls.

• Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for or collect an item which can’t go through the letterbox. Please keep your dog in another room before answering the door and make sure children don’t open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.

• Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered

• Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived before you let your pet back into your hallway. Check outside before letting the dog out to make sure the Postman or Woman has left and the gate is shut. Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.

• If your dog likes to attack your mail consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s fingers

• If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.
Top Tips for Postmen & Women
AVOID & STAY SAFE
AVOID:

A – Avoid interacting with all dogs

V – Value yourself; don’t put yourself at risk

O – Observe; keep your walk log up to date

I – Inform others of potential risk to stop them being attacked

D – Defend yourself if necessary, using your delivery equipment
Speak to your manager or CWU rep to find out more.
STAY SAFE:

• 71% of attacks happened at a customer’s door or in their garden so take no risks

• Never put your fingers through a letterbox – use a posting peg

• If there’s a gate to the property, rattle it and wait a few seconds to see if a dog is present. Listen and look for signs of a dog’s presence, Dog bed, toys, food & water bowls

• Never accept assurances – always ask owners to restrain their dogs and step away

• Use your pouch or trolley as a barrier between you and a dog, if approached unexpectedly

• Never tease or antagonise a dog

• Report all dogs on your duty via the WRAP system and check Walk Logs

• Under the revised Dangerous Dogs Act, postal workers have legal protection from dog attacks on private property

• If you are attacked, we urge you to report it, even minor incidents – first to your manager and then to the police. You could help stop future attacks happening.
Royal Mail Group and the CWU are committed to driving Dog Attack numbers down. We now have the law in place to do it but we need to get messages across to members; Firstly, Don’t take risks! Secondly, Don’t ignore minor incidents! – Report it! It may be far worse next time! Thirdly, support investigations and prosecutions – too many injured members refuse to support prosecutions and give evidence, leaving dog owners guilty of criminal offences to get away scot-free!   

 

Attachments:

Dog Awareness Week Posters & Newsflash

 

 

                                                                                                    
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 402/16 Royal Mail CWU Dog Awareness Week

Att.1

Att.2

Att.3

Att.4

Att.5

Att.6

Light Commercial Vehicle Driver Behaviour Technology – TRIMBLE 

Dear Colleague

 

Further to LTB’s 555/15 and 630/15 regarding the conclusion of the proof of concept trial and related discussions, a joint review of the National Agreement took place between the CWU and Royal Mail on the 10th May 2016 in Farringdon. That meeting concluded with both parties committed to ensuring that the CWU will be fully involved in the ongoing deployment at all levels, which was agreed as essential if the benefits of this project are to be realised. 

 

This involvement will include all aspects of the initiative including implementation, monitoring, assessment and profile adjustment where agreed necessary. It also includes training opportunities for a number of nominated CWU representatives, providing them with a full system overview. This training will be on the basis of 2 CWU reps per region (6 in total) with a joint preference for one representative from IR and one representative from the ASR community who will work jointly on this issue within their respective Regions. The purpose is for all local matters to be raised to this level in the first instance, where decisions can be taken quickly on matters of adjustment or assessment including monitoring. Where such monitoring proves to be in breach of the National Agreement such as the consideration/sight of reports that should have been removed from the available suite or that a clear breach of the agreement has occurred these should be escalated immediately to the Outdoor department via an issues log.

 

In line with the above it would be appreciated if Branches/Regions could give this matter their urgent consideration and forward their nominations to this department no later than Monday 18th July2016. The go live date for CWU Representatives training on the system, which will be provided by Trimble, will be notified once the CWU Representatives have been agreed.

 

 

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300

Email address:outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

 

 

Yours Sincerely

​

Bob Gibson                                

CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor