What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Pancreas
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and World Pancreatic Cancer Day is Thursday 17 November. Most people are not always as knowledgeable about pancreatic cancer as breast, lung or prostate cancer, but the disease is just as debilitating.
The pancreas is a fish shaped organ that lies behind the stomach, deep in the body. It measures about 6 inches long and less than 2 inches wide. The pancreas is made up of exocrine glands (which make pancreatic enzymes that break down food in the intestines) and clusters of cells (which make hormones like insulin that help balance the amount of sugar in the blood).
Pancreatic cancer starts when the exocrine glands or the endocrine cells form tumours, which can spread throughout the body. Cancers formed by the exocrine cells are much more common.
When pancreatic cancer spreads, the cancer cells may also be found in nearby lymph nodes, the liver, the lungs or in fluid collected from the abdomen.
What is the pancreas? 
The pancreas is a large gland that lies behind the stomach, at the back of the tummy area (abdomen) – at about the same height as the bottom of the breastbone. It is about 15cm (6 inches) long and shaped a bit like a tadpole. It is often described as having a head, body and tail. It is surrounded by several large and important organs and blood vessels. The head of the pancreas is next to the duodenum (first part of the small intestines). The body of the pancreas is the middle section, and the tail is next to the spleen. The liver, stomach, intestines, left kidney and gallbladder are also all close to the pancreas. The blood vessels that carry blood to the liver, intestines, kidneys and lower part of the body are very close to the pancreas, and may touch it. The pancreatic duct runs the length of the pancreas. It carries pancreatic juices, which contain enzymes made by the pancreas to the intestines. The pancreatic duct and bile duct (which carries a fluid called bile from the liver) both open into the duodenum (small intestines).
Facts About Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the UK.

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK – 26 a day.

8,500 people die from pancreatic cancer in the UK every year.

Just 5% of patients survive – it has the worst survival rate of all 22 common cancers.

The average life expectancy on diagnosis is four to six months.

There are around 9,500 new cases of pancreatic cancer in the UK every year.

About 1 in 75 people will get pancreatic cancer at some point in their life.

Pancreatic cancer affects men and women equally.

Nearly half of people are diagnosed as an emergency in our A&E system.

The earlier pancreatic cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving 5 years after being diagnosed.
Pancreatic cancer – what is it?
Pancreatic cancer occurs when a malignant tumour forms in the pancreas. There are two main types of pancreatic cancer: Exocrine tumours which make up the vast majority of all pancreatic cancers and come from the cells that line the ducts in the pancreas which carry digestive juices into the intestine, and rarer, Endocrine tumours which are much less common.
What causes pancreatic cancer?
The causes of pancreatic cancer are not fully understood. However, there are some risk factors that make developing pancreatic cancer more likely:
Smoking – There is a direct relationship between the amount you smoke and the risk of pancreatic cancer. Around a third of all cases are associated with smoking.
Age – The risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. It mainly affects people who are 50-80.
Chronic Pancreatitis – Long-term inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) has been linked to pancreatic cancer.
Diabetes – There have been a number of reports which suggest that diabetics have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Obesity – Recent studies have shown that risk is higher in people who are obese (have a Body Mass Index more than 30). Some studies show that obese women who carry their weight on their stomach area are at an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Stomach Ulcer – Stomach Ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection (a stomach infection).
Genetics – In about 1 in 10 cases, pancreatic cancer is inherited from a person’s parents. Certain genes also increase your chances of getting pancreatitis, which in turn increases your risk of developing cancer of the pancreas.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
In the early stages, a tumour in the pancreas doesn’t usually cause any symptoms, which can make it difficult to diagnose.
It’s important to remember that these symptoms can be caused by many different conditions, and aren’t usually the result of cancer. But individuals should contact their GP if concerned, or if these symptoms start suddenly.
The first noticeable symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often:
pain in the back or stomach area – which may come and go at first and is often worse when you lie down or after you’ve eaten

unexpected weight loss

jaundice – the most obvious sign is yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes; it also causes your urine to be dark yellow or orange and your stools (faeces) to be pale-coloured

Other possible symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
nausea and vomiting

bowel changes

fever and shivering

indigestion

blood clots

Those affected may also develop symptoms of diabetes if they have pancreatic cancer, because it can produce chemicals that interfere with the normal effect of insulin.
Diagnosing pancreatic cancer
The GP will first ask about general health and carry out a physical examination. They may examine the tummy (abdomen) for a lump and to see whether the liver is enlarged.
They’ll also check the skin and eyes for signs of jaundice and may request a urine sample and blood test.
If the GP suspects pancreatic cancer, the person concerned will usually be referred to a specialist at a hospital for further investigation where the following may take place:
an ultrasound scan

a computerised tomography (CT) scan

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

a positron emission tomography (PET) scan – where an injection is given of a very small amount of radioactive medication, known as a tracer, which helps to show up cancers in an image

Depending on the results of a scan, further tests may include:
an endoluminal ultrasonography (EUS) endoscopy – a type of endoscopy which allows close-up ultrasound pictures to be taken of the pancreas 

an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) – a type of endoscopy which is used to inject a special dye into the bile and pancreatic ducts; the dye will show up on an X-ray and highlight any tumours

a laparoscopy – a surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to see inside the body using a laparoscopy (a thin, flexible microscope)

A biopsy, where a small sample is taken from a suspected tumour, may also be carried out during these procedures.
NICE guidelines
In 2015, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidelines to help GPs recognise the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer and refer people for the right tests faster.
To find more on this read the NICE 2015 guidelines on Suspected Cancer: Recognition and Referral at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance
Treating pancreatic cancer
Cancer of the pancreas is difficult to treat. It rarely causes any symptoms in the early stages, so it’s often not detected until the cancer is fairly advanced. If the tumour is large, treating the cancer will be more difficult.
If diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the treatment will depend on the type and location of the cancer, and how far it’s advanced. Age, general health and personal preferences will also be taken into consideration.
The first aim will be to completely remove the tumour and any other cancerous cells. If this isn’t possible, treatment will focus on preventing the tumour growing and causing further harm to the body.
The three main treatments for pancreatic cancer are:
surgery

chemotherapy

radiotherapy

Some types of pancreatic cancer only require one form of treatment, whereas others may require two types of treatment or a combination of all three.
Recovering from Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
Recovering from pancreatic cancer surgery can be a long and difficult process.
Patients will probably experience some pain after the operation. Adequate pain relief will be prescribed.
After any type of surgery to the digestive system, the bowel will temporarily stop working. This means the patient won’t be able to eat or drink straight away.
The patient will gradually be able to sip fluids, before eventually being able to drink and eat more regularly. Advice will be given about what foods should be eaten following the operation.
After the tumour has been removed, the patient will probably have a six-month course of chemotherapy, which greatly increases the chance of being cured. But because cancer of the pancreas is difficult to diagnose and treat, many people don’t recover completely.
Treatment can be very effective in helping to ease symptoms and make the patient as comfortable as possible. Chemotherapy can help shrink the tumour and slow down its growth.
World Pancreatic Cancer Day -Thursday 17 November
This month, Pancreatic Cancer Month and on Thursday 17 November, World Pancreatic Cancer Day, the CWU will be joining individuals and organisations in the UK and across the globe to show that we are “in it together” in the aim to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer. World Pancreatic Cancer Day is organised by an International Steering Group made up of the following organisations: Pancreatic Cancer Action (UK), Pancreatic Cancer UK, PurpleOurWorld Australia, The JCM Foundation (USA), Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society (Canada), European Cancer Patient Coalition (EU), PASYKAF (Cyprus).
Pancreatic Cancer UK
Pancreatic Cancer UK is a charity fighting to make a difference by taking on pancreatic cancer, by supporting those affected by the disease, investing in research, lobbying for greater recognition of pancreatic cancer, and being there for everyone involved in the fight. The Charity wants to make sure that everyone touched by it gets the support and information they need. The Charity is here for everything you need to know about pancreatic cancer.
They provide expert, personalised support and information via a Support Line and through a range of publications

They fund innovative research to find the breakthroughs that will change how we understand, diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer

They campaign for change; for better care, treatment and research, and for pancreatic cancer to have the recognition it needs.

Support Line – Freephone
Pancreatic Cancer UK operates a Freephone ‘Support Line’ which is a lifeline for thousands of patients, families and friends. Available to anyone affected by pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic cancer specialist nurses understand the issues that individuals might be facing and can support people in coping with pancreatic cancer. They can provide individual specialist information about pancreatic cancer, treatment options and managing symptoms and side effects. As a listening ear, they can also help with your concerns and provide support and discuss sensitive issues with respect and acceptance.
Contact Details – Further Information:
Pancreatic Cancer UK

6th Floor Westminster Tower

3 Albert Embankment

London, England SE1 7SP

Tel: 020 3535 7090

Email: enquiries@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

Website: http://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/
Pancreatic Cancer Action
Pancreatic Cancer Action is another leading charity in the field with a focus on improving early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and improving the quality of life for those affected by pancreatic cancer. They are on a mission to stamp out late detection which is the reason that the survival rate has remained at between 2% – 4% for nearly 50 years.
Contact Details – Further Information:
Pancreatic Cancer Action 

Unit 9

Oakhanger Business Park 

Oakhanger

Hampshire

GU35 9JA

Tel: 0303 040 1770

Website: http://www.pancreaticcanceraction.org
Attachments:-
Pancreatic Cancer Fact Sheet

Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors Fact Sheet

Pancreatic Cancer Sign & Symptoms Fact Sheet

Pancreatic Cancer Poster/Leaflet

Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
 
 
Email Attachments – Click to download Attachment 1 – LTB661/16 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month & World Pancreatic Cancer Day Thursday 17 November:

Attachment 2 – Pancreatic Cancer Fact Sheet

Attachment 3 – Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors Fact Sheet

Attachment 4 – Pancreatic Cancer Signs & Symptoms Fact Sheet

Attachment 5 – Pancreatic Cancer Poster/Leaflet

The Future of the Post Office – Political Campaign

The purpose of this LTB is to update branches on our political work and recent developments in relation to the Post Office dispute and to outline the support we would ask from branches on this. 
As branches will be aware, the dispute was a key focus for the union at both Labour Party and TUC Conferences in September. The TUC unanimously backed the union’s motion expressing its support for our members taking strike action and Labour Conference agreed that the party should commit to establishing a Post Bank as part of its next manifesto – this is further than it has ever gone before. 
The union’s campaign was also promoted by the Communications Department through social media, with a number of General Secretaries from other union’s giving their backing to the CWU with online videos. We also distributed a briefing to delegates at Labour Conference on the dispute. 
Following this, there are a number of activities we have undertaken in Parliament to move the political campaign forward:
• We have secured a backbench debate in Parliament on the Post Office for 17th November – this required a significant amount of lobbying to gain cross-party support for a motion and support on the Backbench Business Committee in order to approve the debate. 
• We have provided tailored briefing documents to MPs whose constituencies are directly affected by the Post Office’s proposals in advance of the debate and are lobbying to secure support for this. 
• We have written to all MPs outlining the crisis the Post Office faces and the key demands of our campaign. 
• Early Day Motion (EDM) 571 calling for a new strategy for the future of the Post Office was tabled by Kelvin Hopkins MP. This currently has 51 signatures. 
• A range of written and oral questions have been provided to MPs to raise in Parliament to put pressure on the government. 
• We have contacted the Public Accounts Committee and the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee to push them to hold an inquiry on the issue. Discussions on this are ongoing. 
• Members of the CWU Parliamentary Group of MPs have taken up the issue and are pushing this with the government, the Labour frontbench and the relevant Parliamentary Committees. Many of the above points also involved support from MPs on the group. 
Alongside this, we have been working closely with the Labour Shadow BEIS team of Clive Lewis MP, Gill Furniss MP and Jack Dromey MP. We have met with them to talk through the issues, the campaign and how this can be progressed in parliament and the media and we have provided them with a detailed briefing document, oral questions and written questions. 
We have also met with and spoken to the government minister with responsibility for the Post Office, Margot James MP, who we are continuing to push over our key demand that the government pause the programme of cuts and bring together key stakeholders to work out a new strategy for the future. 
Finally, as branches will have seen, a significant number of MPs have backed our members on social media using the hashtag #PeoplesPost, particularly on the last day of industrial action on 31st October. A significant amount of work has been done by the Communications Department to secure their support. 
Government consultation
On 9th November the government published a consultation document on the future of the Post Office which we believe is a direct response to our campaign and the pressure that it is coming under in both parliament and more widely. 
It is important to recognize that this is a significant development. The government and the Post Office are due to start discussions over a funding package from 2018 onwards and it has never previously conducted a consultation to feed into this. 
While the consultation document does not set out a vision for the future of the Post Office and may be intended by the government to provide some cover for continuing on the path of managed decline, we clearly need to use this opportunity to make the case for a positive strategy based on growth and to get the public’s support for this. 
We will therefore be running a campaign to get as many submissions as possible to back the union’s position and in particular our call for a Post Bank. Further information will be provided on this shortly. 
Support for the political campaign
In order to support the political work we are doing, we would ask branches to undertake the following actions:
i. write to their local MP to urge them to take part in the debate on the Post Office on 17th November – the debate will be in Westminster Hall at 3pm;
ii. ask members to contact their local MP on Twitter to urge them to take part in the debate with the following tweet:
With flagship branches closing the Post Office is in crisis. Please take part in the debate on 17th Nov 3pm #PeoplesPost
iii. write to their local MP to ask them to sign EDM 571 at the following link https://www.parliament.uk/edm/2016-17/571. 
It is extremely important that MPs hear from constituents on the campaign and in particular that Conservative MPs are aware of the strength of feeling on the issues. Branches are therefore asked to treat this as a priority. 
Next steps
As branches will appreciate a significant amount of work is being done to the move forward the political campaign on the Post Office. We will be continuing to push these issues and will be seeking a fresh meeting with the government in the wake of the consultation announcement. Any queries branches have in relation to this element of the campaign should be directed to gsoffice@cwu.org. 
To inform our future decision making, a senior reps briefing and Special Postal Executive will be held on Thursday 9 November together with a national briefing on Monday 14th November at the Indian YMCA. Further information on the industrial elements of the dispute will be provided to Branches by the Postal Department as appropriate and any queries on this should be directed to hnutley@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward Terry Pullinger

General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 659/16 – The Future of the Post Office – Political Campaign

Online course – CWU Mandatory Fair & Equal in the CWU
Dear Colleagues,
Branches are invited to submit applications to the Education and Training Department for an online version of the mandatory CWU Fair & Equal in the CWU course which has to be undertaken by all CWU representatives.
This online course will start on the week commencing 6th March 2017 and students should be prepared to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week, for three consecutive weeks, undertaking activities on the course, which will be completed by Friday 24th March 2017.
Full online tutorial support will be provided and the course will be fully accredited in line with CWU policy.
This online course is aimed at representatives who fall into one of the following categories:
• Work in an unrecognised area and therefore have no access to release from the employer

• Live and work in a geographically remote area where the prospect of running a viable classroom based course is unlikely

• Have an access or educational need that would make online learning preferable

• Have caring responsibilities that make a classroom based course preferable
Prospective students should have ready access to an internet connection and a computer with web browser and a basic word processor or text editor such as Microsoft Word.
They should also be familiar with basic computing operations such as:
• Web browsing

• Using internet Forums

• Using search engines such as Google

• Sending and receiving emails

• Simple file management

• Creating and editing basic text documents
Where the union is recognised for collective bargaining by the employer this course should attract 9 hours paid release in line with what is provided for equivalent classroom based courses.
The closing date for applications is Friday 19th January 2017. Application forms should be addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, BAMPTON, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; e-mail mtodd@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,

TRISH LAVELLE

HEAD OF EDUCATION & TRAINING
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 657/16 – Online course – CWU Mandatory Fair & Equal in the CWU

Terms of Reference – Driver Risk Assessment Trial
 
Dear Colleagues,
As Branches will be aware Royal Mail has a legal duty to safeguard employees and to undertake risk assessments, which includes our drivers, in addition to this there is also a moral duty to them. Therefore, in supporting a Driver Risk Assessment (DRA) process, it is important to attempt to find a way of making the process work better for everyone.
Despite the current agreed DRA being used by the business since 2008, utilisation of the system is very poor and when it’s used it is generally in a reactive post-collision capacity rather than as the pro-active tool that it’s intended to be. This approach is considered to be an evolution of the existing approach, learning from the issues identified in the last 8 years, rather than a new approach.
A revised approach to Driver Risk Assessment (DRA) has been agreed as part of a new trial and will commence on Monday 7th November 2016, through to end of April 2017, and has been developed to:
Ensure that a risk assessment is carried out and maintained for every driver of a Royal Mail vehicle

Ensure that suitable measures are taken to protect all drivers assessed as being at Moderate or Substantial risk of collision

Reduce the risk levels of drivers, and therefore the levels of collisions

Reduce the operational impact of the Driver Risk Assessment process

Review with the system developer, eDriving Fleet (formerly IDS), has identified that an adequate assessment of risk can be established from just the driving licence history and collision history, and the trial will therefore exclude the driver input. Drivers risk levels will be assessed using the Adequately Controlled, Acceptable, Moderate and Substantial risk system. Moderate and substantial will both require 1-2-1’s, and Substantial will additionally require on-road training.
It is estimated that c. 4% of drivers will fall into the Moderate risk category and 1% into the Substantial Risk category (though this will depend on the individual driver’s history).
It will be a requirement of the trial that a 1-2-1 must be held with all drivers assessed as carrying a Moderate or Substantial or risk of collision, using the system to explain the nature of the risk, and that this must be recorded on the system. Drivers assessed as at Moderate risk will be assigned eLearning modules and those assessed as at Substantial level of risk will be provided with in-cab intervention via utilisation where possible of the advanced driver coach. Where these are unavailable this will be carried out by Pertemps. This will ensure the experience of the driver remains positive throughout the process
Drivers who have already received training following the most recent ‘event’ (e.g. post-collision training following an RTC), will not be asked to repeat their training.
Reporting will be introduced to ensure management compliance with the process.
The trial will run at 30 offices (list attached) where all drivers will be required to sign a licence mandate, allowing access to their DVLA licence records.
Both parties agree that all individuals have a right to privacy at work and it is accepted that there is an obligation on both parties to sustain confidence and trust in relation to all employees, and that they should act in a way to engender that type of relationship. As such, any data emanating from the agreed process will remain confidential to the individual and will not be displayed on notice boards or in league tables, nor will it form part of any performance management. It is also agreed that such measures are not to be deployed for use as a disciplinary tool or a source of information to be used in conduct cases. 
The following measures will be used to assess the success, or otherwise, of the trial, and inform whether the approach should be further deployed:
The success in carrying out the assessment (% of drivers completed)

The success in applying suitable counter-measures (% of Substantial/Intolerable risk with eLearning or on-road training applied)

Monitoring of drivers risk scores (to demonstrate impact on driver risk levels)

Monitoring of collision records (to demonstrate impact on collision performance)

The level of time/expense required to complete the process

Progress of the courses, and measurement of success, will be reviewed at Road Safety Strategic Involvement meetings and at the Joint Road Safety Taskforce. Both meet regularly and include full representation from CWU.
We believe also that the necessary safeguards are included in the terms of reference for the trial, including further review and national agreement if Royal Mail wants to widen this initiative beyond the trial sites, as well as protections for our members in regards to the correct use of data, its use and individual’s privacy and non use of conduct. Any Enquiries please contact either:
Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300.02
Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
 
Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, Email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number 202.11a
 
Yours Sincerely, 
 
Mark Baulch Davie Robertson  
CWU A/Assistant Secretary CWU Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 653/16 – Terms of Reference – Driver Risk Assessment Trial

Attachment 1: Terms of Reference Royal Mail and CWU Trial of Revised Driver Risk Assessment Process

Attachment 2: List of DRA Offices

Joint Review of WTLL (Work Time Listening & Learning) in Delivery Offices
 
Dear Colleagues,
As Part of the Integrated Delivery Programme, People, Engagement and Training strand, Royal Mail approached the department in order to jointly undertake a WTLL Review; this is in order to try and improve the communication between the company and our members and improve on the current overall levels of employee engagement in delivery units.
As such Royal Mail and the CWU have agreed to undertake a joint review of Work Time Listening & Learning (WTLL) in 120 delivery offices – 40 per region. (Listed at appendix 1 – chosen due to size and 2016 high and low Employee Survey results for question 5c.)
The review has been introduced to gather specific data about face-to-face communication and identify good practices and opportunities for improvement.
The review will be undertaken by an independent manager who isn’t linked to the unit, who will use a set of jointly agreed questions (which are also attached). They will ask the local manager(s) and CWU rep(s) about the WTLL process, before making observations in the unit during a WTLL session and speaking to frontline staff about the process.
The results and outputs gathered from this exercise will be collated and reviewed initially by the People, Engagement and Training strand, these will then be presented to the Integrated Delivery Programme (IDP) steering group to in order to discuss and determine next steps.
The review will start from Monday 7th November, until Friday 25th November 2016.
We believe that with the inclusion of the CWU in the future process, this could be a worthwhile exercise for the union as a whole and could also provide an opportunity that will allow the CWU to more meaningfully participate in the WTLL process in future.
In addition the agreed outputs will feed in to the overall joint review exercise being undertaken on Employee Communication and Engagement Processes as outlined in the national agenda for growth agreement.
Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 230.01 Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mark Baulch, CWU A/Assistant Secretary  
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 651/16 – Joint Review of WTLL (Work Time Listening & Learning) in Delivery Offices

Attachment 1: WTLL Review Questions

Attachment 2: Joint Communication RM CWU Review of WTLL in Delivery

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2015 – MOTION 63
 
Dear colleagues,
I write to inform branches, we have dealt with the issues raised in motion 63, General Conference 2015. The full details of the motion and our actions are set our below.
Conference instructs the NEC to produce a report on how best to use social media to forward CWU policies.
The Review must look at current activity and determine whether it is ‘Fit for Purpose’. The terms of reference (ToR) will need to be established. In those ToR key tests need to feature which are listed below; 
Does the Facebook Group ensure that correct information is presented to our members?

Does the Facebook Group protect members from cyber bullying, when contributing within the group?

Does the Facebook Group allow non-members to access the Group?

Does the Facebook Group deny managers’ access to the Group?

Does the Facebook Group project the correct image of the CWU to the membership?

How is the Facebook Group Moderated/Administered from CWU HQs?

How much misinformation is posted on the Facebook Group?

Does Twitter provide more control of correct information flow? 

This list is not exhaustive. 
This Report will need to be concluded within six-months following the close of General Conference 2015, this report will then be circulated to branches, with supporting recommendations. 
The NEC is instructed accordingly.
Eastern No.4 
Firstly, I would like to thank the Branch for raising such an important matter and apologise for the time it has taken to deal with this issue. Our social media plans and how we protect our members online are both vital to the overall communications strategy of the union. In short, the questions raised by the Branch were the exact reasons why we took the decision to close the Facebook group and open up a new page, which gives CWU HQ far more control over content.
 
Does the Facebook Group ensure that correct information is presented to our members?

 
No, information posted on the group, from dozens of sources was found to be incorrect and at times misleading. Now, all content is either posted directly by or shared by CWU HQ, so all information is in line with CWU policies and procedures.
 
Does the Facebook Group protect members from cyber bullying, when contributing within the group?

 
No, we found several incidents of inappropriate behaviour on the Facebook Group and this was overseen by a totally negative culture. Individuals and small groups dominated debate. With the introduction of our new approach, all replies, comments and posts from outside of The Communications Department are reviewed and if inappropriate, removed.
 
Does the Facebook Group allow non-members to access the Group? Does the Facebook Group deny managers’ access to the Group? 

 
No, it did not as a rule but with members leaving the union and retiring, it was always hard to take an exact line on this. Also, now the content is moderated and in line with our policies, we want to grow our following amongst members and the public – the page allows us to do this, without members putting themselves in the firing line. Trying to implement such stringent rules will not see our support bases grow. It is far better that we control the page on an open basis, than have a small unmoderated, free for all.
 
Does the Facebook Group project the correct image of the CWU to the membership?

 
The answer to this is, again, clearly no, for so many reasons – image, brand, foul language, bad advice, negative culture and more. The current page provides a clean feed of news and information for members.
 
How is the Facebook Group Moderated/Administered from CWU HQs? How much misinformation is posted on the Facebook Group?

 
Previously, the group was very loosely monitored, in essence, giving control of the site to members. Additionally, there were several problems with weekend monitoring and resource. Now, the page is monitored daily by our Website Administrator and we also provide cover at weekends. This insures that no misinformation is posted onto our page.
 
Does Twitter provide more control of correct information flow?

 
At the time of this motion being submitted, yes. Now, with our changes in place the flow of information on our Facebook and Twitter pages is equally accurate.
SUMMARY
We have significantly changed our social media strategy in 2016. This has resulted in better quality platforms, increased profile, increased followings and the ability for The CWU to become a ‘trending’ topic 5 times already. This is against a backdrop of never having done so before.
In 2017, we will, as a Department look to take this approach on several steps and more information on this will be shared in the near future. For now, I would encourage branches to share our key accounts with all members and inform them that regular news, views and videos are communicated on these platforms.
 
FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/thecommunicationsunion
Facebook Group: DAVE WARD GS
 
TWITTER
@CWUNews
@DaveWardGS
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 656/16 – GENERAL CONFERENCE 2015 – MOTION 63

CWU Conferences 2017
The date and venue for next year’s General and Industrial Conferences are as follows:
23rd – 27th April 2017

Conferences will be held at the Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth.
Further details will be issued regarding the timetable of the relevant conferences.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Chris Tapper in the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7331 or email ctapper@cwu.org
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 650/16 – CWU Conferences 2017

HSE Health and Safety Event 9th November
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
The Health and Safety Executive (H.S.E) Footwear, Leather, Textiles and Clothing Health and Safety Committee FLTC-HSC) are organising a special Health and Safety Event on 9th November 2016 at the SATRA Technology Centre, Kettering, Northamptonshire. 
The event focuses on occupational ill health and features:-
An interactive session on musculoskeletal disorders,

Presentations on:-  
Ergonomics

Mental Health First Aid

REACH

Health and Safety training

Spaces are limited, so please email applications to attend info@uklf.org to book your place. The event costs £48, including VAT. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 649/16 HSE Health and Safety Event 9th November 2016

JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING MAIL CENTRE WORKPLAN & SEASONAL PLANS
FOR THE PROCESSING FUNCTION
 
Dear Colleagues
Branches and representatives will be aware that issues in respect of Mail Centre Workplan (the advancement of 2c) and Seasonal Plans in relation to the Processing function have come to the fore in recent months, which have resulted in the department making representation to the business at National level.
Following productive discussions with the business the department has now achieved a Joint Statement which confirms that:
The CWU have not agreed any change to the Workplan for 2c or Tracked items (other than the bespoke Amazon arrangements)

That any future proposals for change to Workplan will be subject to discussion and agreement at National level prior to any activity in the field.

That the Seasonal Plans have been separated from the longer term discussions.

That any Seasonal Plans agreed will expire no later than the 17th January 2017 when current processing arrangements will resume, unless any revised position has been agreed and communicated as a result of the National discussions.

It is recognised that the pending strand activity on Future Design/Pipeline will have a bearing on Workplan in the longer term.

The Joint Statement has been endorsed by the Postal Executive and a copy is attached for your information.
The department hopes that the clarification provided in the attached Joint Statement will be welcomed by Branches, representatives and members and that engagement may now take place locally in relation to the Seasonal Plan arrangements.
Branches and representatives are requested to notify the department immediately if there are any attempts by management to breach the commitments contained in the attached Joint Statement.
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: 722.01
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
 
JOINT STATEMENT
REGARDING MAIL CENTRE WORKPLAN & SEASONAL PLANS
FOR THE
PROCESSING FUNCTION
 
Recent developments have highlighted that issues exist in relation to the current status of Mail Centre Workplan and Processing Seasonal Plans. It has therefore been agreed to issue this Joint Statement to provide the following clarification:
 
Royal Mail and the CWU have not currently agreed any change to existing Mail Centre Workplan for 2c or Tracked items (other than those Amazon Tracked 24 Direct Injection changes covered by the updated 2015 JS on Amazon Bulk Sort).

 
National discussions are however currently taking place in regard to Mail Centre Workplan arrangements. These discussions will assess resourcing requirements to smooth the traffic profile in order to protect our network and RDCs, improve the flow of mail throughout the pipeline and provide excellent Quality of Service while maintaining meaningful workload and earnings packages across all shifts.

 
These discussions are in addition to pending National discussions in relation to future vision, which may influence Mail Centre Workplan arrangements going forward.

 
Any long term proposals for change to Mail Centre Workplan will remain the subject of discussions at National level, with any agreed mutual interest outcome jointly communicated prior to any local discussions on deployment.  

 
Notwithstanding the above it is also recognised that the increase in the Tracked 24/48 product has operational implications which are particularly prevalent during the peak season. Therefore in order to support the operation and maintain QofS during this particularly busy time the following has been agreed:
 
Any proposed temporary Seasonal Plans in relation to Processing, which have been designed to relieve pressure within the RDC Network during peak, should be progressed as part of the Seasonal Plan discussions at each site.  

 
Any temporary Seasonal Plans agreed in relation to the Processing function will run with immediate effect and will cease by 17th January 2017.

 
The current agreed arrangements for Processing will resume on the cessation of the temporary Seasonal Plans. Should the abovementioned Mail Centre Workplan discussions be concluded prior to this date this will be jointly communicated to allow the relevant local discussions to take place in line with the IR Framework to facilitate any agreed changes.

 
We believe that the above information now provides the required clarification to enable local discussions to take place in relation to the Seasonal Plans for Processing and would request that the relevant engagement now takes place.  
 
Deborah Rodger Davie Robertson
National Head of Processing Performance Assistant Secretary
Royal Mail CWU
 
Date: 2nd November 2016
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 647/16 – JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING MAIL CENTRE WORKPLAN & SEASONAL PLANS FOR THE PROCESSING FUNCTION