CWU – Branch Youth Officer – Quarterly NewsletterChristmas & Winter 2016/2017
Dear Member,
Please find below the newsletter for winter 2016/2017. Any queries can be directed to myself by replying to this email.
Contents

Christmas Bonus

Christmas Pressure

Christmas & Debt

Christmas & Bereavement 

Cold Weather

Utility Bills

Legal Services

Christmas Bonus – Royal Mail
This year’s Christmas Bonus for staff who work within Royal Mail is £100 plus a £100 incentive payment (pro-rata) which is the same as the last few years. This is due to be paid on the last payday before Christmas which is Friday 23rd December.
Christmas Pressure 
Hard to believe but we are now in the busiest week of Christmas Pressure, I know it comes every year and can be tough but in a couple of weeks it will all be done and dusted. I appreciate that whilst it is the busiest time and can be very stressful when mail is poorly addressed, delivery to neighbour and missing out on tips, Just remember to stay safe, don’t take any risks and report any accidents or near misses to your line manager/rep.  
Christmas & Debt
I am sure that most of you would have completed most of your Christmas shopping by now but if you are struggling to afford presents try to limit down the value of products your buying. A tip I was given one year when I was struggling was to buy people scratchcards. I am always very wary about credit cards and payday loans when it’s not needed.
Christmas & Bereavement
This time of year can be a real struggle for some who have sadly lost those who were close to them. It can be difficult to try and have a normal Christmas like in years past, but for those who are struggling, I can assure you that it does get better in time but if you need any support at this time of year I have put a link below.
http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/bereavement/pages/bereavement.aspx

Bereavement – Live Well – NHS Choices

http://www.nhs.uk

Find out about coping with bereavement after the death of a loved one, including losing a parent, child or someone you’ve been caring for, miscarriage, stillbirth and …
Cold Weather
It is really important that you have the correct footwear and uniform for the conditions you are working in, especially in snow and ice. If you don’t have them or cannot get them authorised by the uniform department speak to your manager. Remember if it doesn’t look safe don’t do it. Highlight any safety issues to your manager and keep the walklog updated even if it’s not your delivery. Try to make sure it’s always reported. If you cannot deliver to an address or area because of a safety issue, make sure you notify your manager at the earliest opportunity to avoid any potential delay conduct issues.
Utility Bills
Early indications show that as early as March, electricity and gas prices could rise by up to 10%. It would be wise to stay on the safe side and do a comparison to switch suppliers on a fixed rate. Whilst you may have to pay the higher prices in the end it may save you a few quid in the short run. 
Legal Services + Free Wills
As part of your membership with the CWU, you are entitled to free legal services through Unionline.
They also offer a Free Will Service for members! I have just done this myself as me and my partner are not married and I would hate to think that if the worst was to happen then he would be left out and struggle to cope. It did take a couple of months to come back but it is quite simple.
We also have a Legal & Medical rep within the branch who can assist you with certain aspects.
http://www.unionline.co.uk/

UNIONLINE – Your Trade union Law Firm

http://www.unionline.co.uk

UNIONLINE was formed by the GMB and CWU unions to provide legal services for its members. Specialists in personal injury, accidents at work, employment rights,

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me!
The next newsletter will be in March.
Regards
Matt Bellamy
Youth Officer

Eastern No5 Branch

PO Box 438

Peterborough

PE4 5PE

York Container Cardboard Sleeves – Base Height Specification (300mm):
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Over the past month, the Health, Safety and Environment Department has received reports from a growing number of ASRs and IR Area Reps from across the country that there had been a specification change in relation to the height of the York Container, Cardboard Sleeve, false base, supporting cross-members which were being supplied via the new contracted suppliers ‘Smurfit Kappa’. The established false base height is 300mm (approx 12 inches). However, new stock was being supplied with a reduced height false base of 200mm (approx 8 inches). The Sleeves from the new stock were being introduced alongside old Sleeves and the difference is clearly visible (see attached photograph of a 200mm base alongside a 300mm base with the Cardboard Sleeve removed for visual purposes). As such this has been the source of many enquiries and complaints.
There have been no prior discussions in respect of this change between Royal Mail and CWU/HQ and therefore the matter was raised with the Royal Mail Logistics National Container Manager Mark Fletcher who had recently taken over the role along with his new team.
The change in specification has come to light due to the change in cardboard sleeve supplier to ‘Smurfit Kappa’ in recent months, with the new supplier being given what was thought to be an agreed, revised specification which included a lower false base and cross-members of 200mm which of course wasn’t the case. We were subsequently informed that the 200mm base height change was the result of an initiative undertaken back in 2009 to increase container capacity but it was not discussed with the Unions or promulgated and no further action was taken until now.
Following discussions with the Royal Mail Logistics National Container Manager, an apology has been received from the business and urgent action has been taken to rectify the change and revert back to the base height of 300mm.
The RML National Container Manager has now contacted the suppliers and given revised manufacturing instructions to re-instate the false base height from 200mm back to the original 300mm until any specification amendments can be jointly considered in the correct way, through the process of Risk Assessment, Ergonomic Evaluation, Trials and Safe Working Methods considerations at a later date in the new year. Royal Mail has also paid the manufacturer’s re-tooling costs so as to ensure a prompt reversion to the agreed base height.
The suppliers informed Royal Mail that re-tooling their machines would take approximately one week, so as to commence production of the Cardboard Sleeve False Base Cross-Member Supports at the 300mm height and in the meantime there is stock of approximately 2 weeks supply of the Cardboard Sleeves with the lower 200mm height bases being sent out to Amazon and Royal Mail sites as a contingency and a number of sites and offices have already been supplied with the 200mm height cross-members/bases as contingency stocks.
Given the situation of re-tooling and re-supply issues, Royal Mail has requested our co-operation and support in deploying and using of the Cardboard Sleeves with the 200mm bases and cross-member supports until the suppliers and Royal Mail can replace and re-introduce the cross-members and bases at 300mm. In view of this situation, and not wishing to add to any further costs and wastage issues it has been agreed that the 200mm base sleeves will be worked through the system and then disposed of via the Cardboard re-cycling programme, once no longer fit for purpose and replaced as normal with 300mm base sleeves as an when necessary.
It has been agreed, going forward, that any proposed changes to the York Container Cardboard Sleeve specification, including any proposed changes to base heights and other design issues, will be considered jointly in the new year and any changes agreed after careful consideration, risk assessment, ergonomic evaluation and trials if it’s decided to take the issue forward. This will be discussed alongside the proposed trials of the new design ‘Parcel’ version York Container which will be reported to Branches in due course.
When the Royal Mail Ergonomics Team last looked at the issue of York Container Cardboard sleeves and the use and height of the false base and container capacity in 2009, key findings of the study were that “Postural analysis reveals that the false base is effective in limiting the degree of bending involved in clearing items near the bottom of the container; the unloading task is judged to present an acceptable manual handling risk (less than twice the Health & Safety Executive Guideline figures). Conversely, if the false base is removed, excessive forward bending occurs as workers lean in over the sleeve to retrieve the lowest items, and the manual handling risk increases to an unacceptable level (exceeding the HSE guideline figures by a factor greater than 2). This goes against Royal Mail’s aim of reducing manual handling risks, so far as is reasonably practicable, when introducing new, or modifying existing, work equipment and processes. It is concluded, therefore, that a false base is essential in York containers used to convey loose-loaded Amazon small parcel/packet mail, in order to control manual handling risks to an acceptable level.” The key question following this will be around whether long term the 300mm height of the false base can be lowered without any occupational health impact and still be acceptable from a manual handling risk perspective, while increasing the fill capacity of each container.” Further reports will be made to branches in due course. The agreed height for the Base remains at 300mm until further notice.
Any Management enquiries should be directed to either Mark Fletcher National Container Manager Email: mark.fletcher@royalmail.com Mobile: 07889 124741 or Jason Wood National Container Supply & Development Manager Email: jason.wood@royalmail.com Mobile: 07801095605
Any Union enquiries should be directed to Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer at CWU/HQ.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB735/16 York Container Cardboard Sleeves – Base Height Specification (300mm):

Attachment 2 – Photograph 1

Attachment 3 – Doc1

TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE JOINT REVIEW OF ACTIVITY VALUE ANALYSIS (AVA)
(FORMERLY ZBB)
 
Dear Colleagues
Branches will recall that previously the department issued LTB 609/16 in relation to Price Waterhouse Cooper – Opportunity Model but at the time of release the issue of AVA (formally ZBB) was the subject of ongoing National discussions. 
Discussions have been ongoing for some time in relation to a Royal Mail proposal to review admin and operational support roles. These proposals had emanated through the business engagement with Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC), although PWC have played no active part in the discussions. Initial proposals in relation to the Royal Mail LA grades were presented to the C&CH Department and it quickly became apparent that the proposals were far more wide ranging and potentially also affected numerous roles across the Processing and Logistics functions.
Branches should note however that the business have confirmed that they do not wish to progress proposals in the Delivery function at this time.
Based on their own research and analysis the business wished to proceed straight to local discussions. We strongly believed however that this would be fundamentally at odds with their stated aim to standardise the tasks associated to each role and the relevant ways of working. As such we would not rubberstamp a predetermined outcome, nor would we accept the logic of a position whereby the business was suggesting that National standards could be established through local discussions.
Therefore National discussions have been taking place in regard to concluding a Terms of Reference to undertake this activity, which has included a series of meetings with Royal Mail with the respective departments represented by Ian Ward and Mahmood Ali, PEC members. In tandem, separate discussions commenced with Logistics, led by Katrina Quirke, PEC member.
Following extensive and at times difficult discussions, a TOR has now been concluded for the progression of this review activity which allows the Union the opportunity to properly assess and challenge the business rationale and ensures that all activity has National input and endorsement.
A copy of the TOR is attached for the information of the Branches.
Branches will note that the TOR establishes a National Joint Steering Group (JSG) which will coordinate all of the activity and the Functional Joint Working Groups (FJWG), who will consider the detailed proposals for each function, utilise the best expertise from the field and make recommendations to the appropriate National forums and Officers.
The TOR reaffirms the objective to standardise ways of working where appropriate to do so and ensures that all activity is led Nationally. Within the agreed framework all analysis undertaken by the business on the proposals to date will be shared with the CWU and further appropriate analysis or observation that is required will be agreed going forward. Any study undertaken will be jointly carried out by Royal Mail and CWU Industrial Engineers.
The JWG structure allows for full CWU involvement at every level and ensures that our Representatives are not disadvantaged financially through participation.
Both departments believe that the attached TOR provides the necessary safeguards and protections to ensure that we can engage on the AVA proposals in the most effective manner. 
Branches should note that local activity should be coordinated through the NJSG and Functional Working Groups. Therefore any other approaches for local change should be referred to the appropriate department.
Arrangements are currently being made for the initial meeting of the NJSG to take place.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the relevant Officer:
Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 052
or
Andy Furey, Assistant Secretary, email: lsheridan@cwu.org quoting reference number 900.
Yours sincerely
 
 
Davie Robertson Andy Furey  
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary  
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 724/16 – TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE JOINT REVIEW OF ACTIVITY VALUE ANALYSIS (AVA)

Attachment 1 – TOR Covering Review of Activity Value Analysis (AVA)

Post Office Dispute
The purpose of this LTB is to update CWU branches, representatives and members on developments in the POL dispute.
The General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary (Postal) have today made contact with and sent a written proposal to senior members of the Post Office Board in order to find a way forward and resolve all issues relating to the current dispute with the company.
In addition, the content of our proposal has been shared with the government minister responsible for postal services.
It is important we convey to all our members and customers that the union is doing everything possible to make progress and this will remain a priority issue.
In the meantime, talks did re-commence this morning between the respective negotiating teams and these are scheduled to continue for the rest of this week. We will update you on any further developments.
Yours sincerely
 
 
Dave Ward Terry Pullinger Andy Furey
General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (P) Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 734/16 – Post Office Dispute

RE-DESIGN – CWU NATIONAL OFFICER, TRISH LAVELLE 

The purpose of this LTB is to announce that Trish Lavelle, CWU Head of Education and Training, will from 1st January 2017, be seconded to work in the General Secretary’s Department to directly assist in moving forward the Re-design Project.

This placement will initially be for a 12 month period and may be extended, subject to a review at that point. In accepting this role Trish will be working to the General Secretary and will be responsible for developing the following work strands.  

• To oversee the re-design approach on all CWU structures outside of CWU Headquarters. This will also involve liaising with the DGS (P), DGS (T&FS) and the industrial constituencies to ensure a consistent approach is taken across the union. Initially, this means developing and agreeing a comprehensive Terms of Reference (TOR) for this crucial element of re-design. The TOR will set out clear aims, objectives and timelines for this work. This project will be informed by a wide and meaningful consultation that will aim to build a robust, union wide consensus on structures that are fit for the future challenges we face.

• To oversee the on-going work and recommendations from an independent listening exercise that took place with our Headquarters employees earlier this year. This will involve working with our HR team, staff side unions and employees to develop and improve ways of working for CWU staff.

• To be a member of the main Project Management Board (currently in the process of being set up), responsible for moving forward and co-ordinating all the various elements that make up the overall Re-design Project.

For the period of the secondment I have agreed with Trish the following arrangements to ensure the Education and Training Department continues to deliver the full range of training and education services that we currently provide.

Lee Wakeman and Paul Dovey, who both presently work directly to Trish will jointly assume responsibility for the day to day running, planning and management of the department. Trish Lavelle will maintain oversight and continue to report to both the NEC and Conference on Education and Training issues.

During this period the union will also take the opportunity to review our education and training programmes and the facilities they operate from. This will be a separate stand-alone project within re-design, the details of which will follow early in the New Year.

Finally, I can confirm that Branches will receive a full update on re-design before Christmas. This will clearly set out the work that we have been doing at CWU Headquarters and the steps we will be taking in the New Year.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

PAUL MALONEY BRANCH CHAIR – BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT BRANCH
Further to LTB 684/16, regarding the above, Branches will be aware that Paul Maloney Branch Chair; Birmingham District Amal Branch was the victim of a most serious criminal assault, which resulted in life changing injuries and eventually his death. Because the circumstances surrounding Paul’s death and as the cause of death has to be fully investigated by the County Coroner and potentially the Crown Prosecution Service, the investigations are unlikely to conclude until mid to late January 2017. Until such times as these enquiries are concluded Paul’s body cannot be released. There will therefore be an unavoidable delay in Paul’s funeral.
The Birmingham District Amal Branch have been deeply moved by the extraordinary amount of condolences received and requests for information on the date of Paul’s funeral.
Once the Branch has advised Headquarters of the date of Paul’s funeral a further LTB will be sent to Branches.
Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Department.
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 731/16 – PAUL MALONEY BRANCH CHAIR – BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT BRANCH

POST OFFICE: FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY & PENSIONS – INDUSTRIAL ACTION AND POSTCARD CAMPAIGN
Dear Colleagues
 
All reports received regarding the strike on Saturday 3rd December indicated it was successful overall. The senior managers who were dispatched to work in the Crown Office Network on the first two strike occasions did not cover the action on Saturday. This meant Crown Offices that had been kept open on previous strike days were on this occasion closed. This strike action focused primarily on the Crown network as the vast majority of our members in Supply Chain work Monday-Friday as there are no cash deliveries to Post Offices on Saturday. Also our Admin grades are generally Monday-Friday duties with the exception of the Customer Helpline based in Chesterfield and the call centre above Caernarfon Crown Office. For the third occasion running, Unite members were also called out on strike.
Further Strike Action
Given the Post Office is continuing to deploy its plans, it is necessary to escalate the industrial action. To this end, the Postal Executive has unanimously endorsed 5 further days of strike action as follows:
Monday 19th December – Crowns & Admin

Tuesday 20th December – Crowns & Admin

Thursday 22nd December – Supply Chain

Friday 23rd December – Supply Chain

Saturday 24th December – Crowns & Admin

This decision has not been taken lightly and it is disappointing that the Post Office has so far failed to respond positively to the legitimate and serious concerns of our members. Therefore, the blame for the service to the public being disrupted lies squarely at the door of the Post Office, especially as it is clear they are planning to press ahead with more franchising, closures, job cuts and the closure of the Defined Benefit pension scheme. Worryingly the Post Office has no clear strategy for growth or a future vision that includes our members; hence the crisis. We need to fight for the very future of this industry and our jobs. It is for this reason an escalation of strike action is required.
All Branches and Representatives are urged to support our Post Office members.
Negotiations with the Post Office
We need to get the Post Office into serious negotiations in order to establish a mutually agreeable way forward to resolve this dispute.
Accordingly, following the Postal Executive meeting last week, a letter was sent to Martin Kirke, HR Director, on 7th December offering to meet all day every day this week for meaningful negotiations. A response was received on 9th December accepting just one day of talks on Wednesday 14th December. Clearly, after three strike days there appears to be no sense of urgency from the Post Office to resolve the dispute and this further demonstrates why we need to escalate the action. We have written back to the HR Director to express our disappointment surrounding the tokenistic one day for negotiations and made it clear that this indicates the Post Office is not serious or committed to meaningful engagement. We have also reiterated that our negotiating team remains available on Thursday and Friday this week to continue negotiations.
It should be noted that despite the Post Office’s recent positive comments in the press and in communications to members regarding its desire to resolve the dispute, no dates for negotiation were offered by the Post Office. The only meeting we have been invited to attend with the Post Office is the Group Executive on Wednesday 22nd December, which is the day after the close of the government consultation on the Post Office Network and ELEVEN weeks since our last meeting at ACAS. This is no substitute for proper negotiations and is deliberately designed to delay meeting with us until after the Christmas pressure period is over.
Press and Media 
The issues surrounding the Future of the Post Office and the BEIS consultation on the Post Office Network have gained significant media interest over the last few days with articles in the Sunday Telegraph this weekend which focused on the future of the rural Sub Post Offices and contained a quote from Dave Ward. The article can be accessed by using the following link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/10/future-rural-post-offices-hang-balance-ministers-consider-change/
There was also a piece in The Times this morning (attached), following on from the Telegraph’s story on the rural Sub Post Offices. In addition, Andy Furey was interviewed on LBC radio earlier today.
EDM 571 – Future of the Post Office
The above EDM has now gained support from 100 MPs which is a reasonable response after a slow start. Following the bankbench debate last month, we will be doing everything possible to raise the number of signatures further. Your assistance in this regard is appreciated and Branches are urged to examine the list of MPs who have signed the EDM and contact those who have yet to do so.
Postcard Campaign – Delivery to BEIS on Monday 19th December
Thank you again to Regional Secretaries, Branches and Representatives who have already returned thousands of postcards in response to the government’s consultation on the Post Office Network.
The deadline for returning postcards has been extended to Wednesday 14th December. Please make every effort to get as many postcards completed and returned to Marcia Murray in the Communications Department by this date.
On the morning of Monday 19th December, the first strike day, the postcards will be delivered in bulk to the offices of BEIS in Victoria Street, London. Further details in regards to the event on the day will be provided at the earliest opportunity.
Further developments will be reported.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Andy Furey Terry Pullinger Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal) General Secretary
 
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 728/16 – POST OFFICE: FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY & PENSIONS – INDUSTRIAL ACTION AND POSTCARD CAMPAIGN

Attachment 1: LTB 728/16

After 27 years, it’s time to leave the CWU. What will the future hold?

Source: Signing Off, Signing In…..

JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE DEPLOYMENT OF MASTER MOVER ALL TERRAIN ATP400 PEDESTRIAN OPERATED ELECTRIC TUG AND MODIFIED PEDESTRIAN POWERED PALLET TRUCK FOR THE MOVEMENT OF NESTED YORK CONTAINERS IN THE MAIL CENTRE & REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE NETWORK 
Dear Colleagues
 
Branches will be aware that in May 2015 the department issued LTB 341/15 Joint Statement between Royal Mail and the CWU Covering the Deployment of Mastermover ATP400 for the Movement of Nested York Containers in the Mail Centre and Regional Distribution Centre Network.
Subsequently in January 2016, a Terms of Reference was endorsed by the Postal Executive to allow further trial activity to take place in relation to using the ATP400 to load nested Yorks on a dock leveler at North West Regional Distribution Centre (NWRDC), Yorkshire Distribution Centre (YDC) and Leeds Mail Centre. In addition the TOR also covered a proposed modification in relation to a Pedestrian Powered Pallet Truck for the movement of nested York Containers in the Mail Centre and Regional Distribution Centre network. 
The trial activity has now concluded and recommendation from the Trial Coordination Working Group has been received that the changes that were trialed are suitable for deployment and the relevant H&S document has been concluded. 
The department has therefore concluded a Joint Statement with the business to enable the deployment to take place. A copy of the Joint Statement is attached for the information of Branches along with the relevant safety documentation.
Colleagues will note that in line with previous agreements the Joint Statement provides for continued full CWU involvement in the deployment activity.
Branches are requested to ensure that this LTB and the attached Joint Statement is brought to the attention of our representatives and members.
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: 715.16
Yours sincerely
 
 
Davie Robertson  
Assistant Secretary  
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 725/16 – JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU

Attachment 1 – JS Deployment of Nested York Containers 06.12.16

Attachment 2 – MasterMover ATP400 SSoW v4 11-11-16

Attachment 3 – Risk Assessment APT400

Attachment 4 – MP20 v1