SOCIAL MEDIA – SNAPCHAT 
 
Dear Colleagues,
 
As part of our overall approach to improving communications and finding different ways to engage with the membership, we have today launched two new snapchat accounts for the National Union and the General Secretary.
 
To connect with the CWU account add CWUNews
 
To connect with the GS account add DaveWardGS
 
We also plan to have our own snapchat filter in place for CWU Conference.
 
Please share this information with members in your branch areas.
 
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 122/15 SOCIAL MEDIA – SNAPCHAT

Election of: 
CWU Senior Deputy General Secretary 

CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (CCH) 

CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (OUTDOOR)

Nominations for the above positions closed at 14:00 on 28th February 2017.
Please find below a list of accepted nominations and respective nominating branches. 
 
CWU SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY 
Tony Kearns CWU Officers Branch (*ELECTED)
Nominating Branches:
Algus National
Glasgow & District Amal
Birmingham District Amal
Glasgow & Motherwell
Birmingham, Black Country & Worcester
Gloucestershire Amal
Bootle IPSL
Great Western
Bournemouth & Dorset Amal
Greater London Combined
Bristol & District Amal
Greater Manchester
Capital
Greater Mersey & South West Lancashire
Central Counties & Thames Valley
Harrow & District
Cleveland Amal
Hull & East Ridings Amal
Colchester & District
Isle of Man (Postal)
Cornwall Amal
Jersey
Coventry
Kent Invicta
CWU Officers Branch
Kingston Area
Darwen Capita
Leeds No. 1 Amal
Derbyshire
Leicester & Midshires
Doncaster & District
Leicestershire
Durham County Amal
Lincolnshire & South Yorks
East London Postal
London Parcels Stations Amal
East Midlands
London Postal Engineering
Eastern No. 3
London Regional Motor Transport
Eastern No. 4
London South West (Postal)
Eastern No. 5
Manchester Combined
Eastern No. 6
Meridian
Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders
Mersey
Essex Amal
Mid Wales, The Marches & North Staffs
CWU SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY – Cont.
Tony Kearns CWU Officers Branch  
Nominating Branches:
Midland No. 1
Somerset, Devon & Cornwall
Midland No. 7
South & East Thames Amal
Newcastle Amal
South Central Postal
North Anglia
South East Anglia
North East
South East London Postal & Counters
North Lancs & Cumbria
South East No. 5
North Wales & Marches
South East Wales Amal
North West No. 1
South London, Surrey & North Hampshire
Northern Home Counties Postal
South Midlands Postal
Northern Ireland Combined
South Wales
Northern Ireland East
South West No. 7
Northern Ireland Telecom
South West Wales Amal
Northern Ireland West
South Yorkshire
Northern/North West London
South Yorkshire & District Amal
Nottingham & District Amal
Southdowns, Weald & Rother
Plymouth & East Cornwall
Tyne & Wear Clerical
Portsmouth & District
Wessex South Central
Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW
West London Postal
Romford Amal
West Yorkshire
Scotland MT
Western Counties
Scotland No. 1
Wolverhampton District Amal
Scotland No. 2
Worcester & Hereford Amal
Scotland No. 5
York & District Amal
Shropshire & Mid Wales
 

CWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSTAL (CCH) 
Andy Furey CWU Officers Branch (*ELECTED) 
Nominating Branches: 
Bournemouth & Dorset Amal
Midland No. 7
Cleveland Amal
Newcastle Amal
Colchester & District
North Lancs & Cumbria
Cornwall Amal
North Wales & Marches
CWU Officers
Northern Ireland Combined
Darwen Capita
Northern Ireland East
Durham County Amal
Northern Ireland Telecom
East London Postal
Northern Ireland West
Eastern No. 4
Northern/North West London
Eastern No. 6
Plymouth & East Cornwall
Glasgow & District Amal
Portsmouth & District
Gloucestershire Amal
Romford Amal
Hull & East Ridings Amal
Scotland No. 5
Kent Invicta
Shropshire & Mid Wales
Kingston Area
South East Anglia
Leeds No. 1 Amal
South Wales
London 7
South West Wales Amal
London Parcels Stations Amal
South Yorkshire & District Amal
London Phoenix
Worcester & Hereford Amal
London Regional Motor Transport
 
 
CWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSTAL (OUTDOOR) 
Mark Baulch East London Postal (*ELECTED) 
Nominating Branches: 
Birmingham District Amal
North Wales & Marches
Bristol & District Amal
North West Central Amal
Cleveland Amal
North West No. 1
Colchester & District
Northern Home Counties Postal
Cornwall Amal
Northern Ireland Combined
Darwen Capita
Northern Ireland East
Derbyshire
Northern Ireland Telecom
Doncaster & District
Northern Ireland West
Durham County Amal
Nothern/North West London
East London Postal
Nottingham & District Amal
Eastern No. 3
Plymouth & East Cornwall
Eastern No. 4
Portsmouth & District
Eastern No. 5
Romford Amal
Eastern No. 6
Scotland MT
Gloucestershire Amal
Scotland No. 5
Greater Manchester
Shropshire & Mid Wales
Greater Mersey & South West Lancashire
Somerset, Devon & Cornwall
Harrow & District
South & East Thames Amal
Hull & East Ridings Amal
South Central Postal
Jersey
South East Anglia
Kent Invicta
South East London Postal & Counters
Kingston Area
South East Wales Amal
Leeds No. 1
South Midlands Postal
London 7
South Wales
London Parcels Stations Amal
South West Wales Amal
London Phoenix
South Yorkshire & District
London Regional Motor Transport
Southdowns, Weald & Rother
London South West (Postal)
West London Postal
Midland No. 1
Western Counties
Midland No. 7
Wolverhampton District Amal
Newcastle Amal
Worcester & Hereford Amal
North Lancs & Cumbria
York & District Amal
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be directed to Senior Deputy General Secretary for the attention of Peter Metcalfe on 0208 971 7368, or pmetcalfe@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
 
TONY KEARNS
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download
– Election of: CWU Senior Deputy General Secretary, CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (CCH) & CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (OUTDOOR)

OUR NHS MARCH – Saturday 4th March 2017 
Earlier this month, we issued LTB 087/17 which gave details of the important OUR NHS March and Rally which takes place on Saturday 4th March 2017. 
We are writing again to encourage as many CWU branches as possible to be in attendance at this event. We have been asked to assemble, within the ‘Trade Union block’ at Tavistock Square in good time for the commencement of the march to Parliament which will lead off at midday. The CWU position will be identified clearly by the presence of our giant balloons. 
DATE: Saturday 4th March 2017

TIME: 12 noon

ASSEMBLE: Tavistock Square, (Trade Union Block) London, WC1 (nearest Tubes:

Russell Square / Euston)

MARCH: Through London to Parliament

Given recent press coverage and the heightening risk to the future of our NHS, it really is important that CWU members and activists get involved in this demonstration and show our solidarity and support for the NHS and for the members and unions working in the Health and Care Sector. 
The link below gives further information on the plans for the day: 
http://www.ournhs.info/
Any further enquiries regarding this LTB119/17 should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS1.1 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
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Attachment 1: LTB 119/17

Election of CWU Regional Secretaries – 2017 
Further to LTB 054/17 dated 30th January 2017 at the close of nominations the following had been received:
Eastern Region 
Paul Moffat
Central Counties & Thames Valley
*ELECTED
Midland Region
Kate Hudson
South Midlands Postal  
*ELECTED
North East Region
Paul Clays
York & District
*ELECTED
Northern Ireland Region
Billy Hannaway
Northern Ireland West
 
David Kennedy
Northern Ireland Telecom
 
Fra Martin
Northern Ireland Combined
 
David Moffett
Northern Ireland East
*Ballot Required
North West Region 
Carl Webb
North Lancs & Cumbria
*ELECTED
Scotland Region 
Craig Anderson
Scotland No 1
 
John Brown
Glasgow District Amal
 

Tony Sneddon
Scotland No 5
*Ballot Required
South East Region 
Paul Carpenter
South East No 5  
*ELECTED
South West Region 
Kevin Beazer
Bristol & District Amal
*ELECTED
Wales & The Marches Region  
Gary Watkins
Gwent Amal  
*ELECTED
London Region 
Khurram Khan
South West Middlesex Amal
 
Ian Murphy
Harrow & District Amal
*Ballot Required
Please note that the timetable for the ballots is as follows: 
Dispatch ballot material from: 16th March 2017
Close of ballot: 4th April 2017 (first post)  
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

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LTB 120/17 – Election of CWU Regional Secretaries 2017

Safe & Well – February 2017 
To: All Branches with Telecom Members  
Dear Colleagues, 
Please see attached the February 2017 edition of Safe and Well newsletter with contributions from our USRs and field teams. It contains news around a Near Miss, Exchange Safety & Vehicles. 
Other focus is on MEWPs as a result of a recent incident, articles from the field, updates around hot sites and round up on Waste Education – which is also a good news story this month. There is a myth buster on ladder checks and a roundup of publications for the month. There is also a reminder where to find guidance on weather.
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Offi
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LTB 118/17 Safe & Well February 2017

Safe & Well Issue 43 February 2017

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) COURSE – 10/11 APRIL 2017 – LONDON 
As you may know Youth Conference carried two motions this year directly relating to mental health, especially suicide amongst young adults. 
Mental Health issues within the workplace is still very much a silent problem and often reps are ill-equipped to deal with the many situations that arise directly as a result of some mental health occurrence such as depression, stress or suicidal tendencies. 
The Youth Committee has therefore arranged for a two-day course for Branch Youth Officers and/or youth reps to take place 10th and 11th April 2017 at: 
Unite Eastern & London Regional office
33-37 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB Tel: 020 8800 4281 Fax: 020 8802 8388 
Start time 1000 – finish time 1730/1800 (both days) 
Course Details:
The two day Adult MHFA course is an internationally recognised course. After taking it, participants will be able to:
Recognise the symptoms of mental health issues

Provide initial help

Guide a person towards appropriate professional helpWhat will Participants learn?

The quality assured MHFA instructor will deliver training that has been designed to fit into four manageable chunks. These are:

MHFA won’t teach participants how to be a therapist, but once they have completed the two day course they will be able to say they are a Mental Health First Aider. 

Mental Health First Aid, mental health, and depression

Depression (cont.) and suicidal crisis

Anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders and self-harm

Psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

In each section participants learn how to:

Spot the early signs of a mental health issue

Feel confident helping someone experiencing a mental health issue

Provide help on a first aid basis

Help prevent someone from hurting themselves or others

Help stop a mental health issue from getting worse

Help someone recover faster

Guide someone towards the right support

Reduce the stigma of mental health issues.The Adult MHFA course usually takes place over two full days. 

Everyone who attends the course will receive a copy of the MHFA manual and workbook, which are both excellent support resources. When participants have completed the course they will receive a certificate to confirm that they are a trained Mental Health First Aider.

The sessions will be a mix of presentations, discussions, and group work activities. The instructor will provide a safe learning environment and are trained to support participants throughout the whole course. If participants don’t feel comfortable joining in certain parts, then there is no pressure to.

 
How will Participants learn? 
Places are limited to 20 (the course may be run again if there is interest). Branches are asked to encourage their Branch Youth Officer or Youth Rep to take part. The cost of the course will be paid for by the national youth budget, but branches are asked to cover travel, subsistence and accommodation costs (if required) – no accommodation will be booked by head office. 
An application form is attached and should be completed by the branch/participant and emailed back to Jo Thair (jthair@cwu.org) by close of play on Tuesday, 14th March 2017 please. 
Queries on this LTB should be directed to Jo Thair at CWU Head Office via email: jthair@cwu.org or by telephone 0208 971 7487. 
Yours sincerely,
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 117/17 – Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course – 10/11 April 2017 – London

Mental Health for Health and Safety Professionals Conference Organised by the BMA on Thursday May 11 2017:   
To: All Branches 
Dear Colleagues, 
The British Medical Association (BMA), have notified the Health, Safety and Environment Department that they are organising a Mental Health Conference for Health and Safety Professionals on Thursday May 11 2017, 09:15 – 17:00 at BMA House, London WC1H 9JP. 
There is no final agenda or details as yet. 
Healthy Work and Tim Marsh are delighted to present this one day event at the BMA, on the subject of proactively managing mental health and wellbeing in your organisation and the event aims to provide those attending with both the theory and practical tools to take a programme forward. 
The conference features Alistair Campbell as keynote speaker and a range of industry experts including psychologists including Tim Marsh and Sharon de Mascia, MHFA, HR expert Pam Loch and Senior Industry leaders from organisations already successfully implementing programmes in their organisations such as Clive Johnson, Karl Simons and Judith Grant Royal Mail Group Head of Health.
For more information contact Heather Beach on heather@healthy-working.com 
This conference is brought together in partnership with BMA, Acre, Barbour EHS, British Safety Council, IIRSM and MHFA for England. 
Professor Tim Marsh and Sharon de Mascia are two well-known psychologists speaking at this one day event which takes place on May 11 at the BMA in London. Tim will address the “what is mental health” question and Sharon will demonstrate how to make the business case for mental health through work she has done with organisations in this area. This is not a cheap event! However IIRSM members of which, a number of CWU Safety Reps are, qualify for a discount. Special IIRSM member’s rate is £249 and standard rate is £295. IIRSM Members need to use the code: MPMH and Bookings need to be made by Thursday 16 March. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
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LTB 115/17 Mental Health for Health and Safety Professionals Conference Organised by the BMA on Thursday May 11 2017

DFS fined £1m Following Worker’s Neck and Head Injuries – Warning to All Large National Employers Such as Royal Mail, BT, Capita, POL etc on Health & Safety: 
To: All Branches 
Dear Colleagues, 
DFS Trading Limited has been fined £1 million plus costs of £15,099 after safety failings led to serious neck and head injuries of a worker. 
Derby Magistrates’ Court heard that on 02 July 2015 the worker was unloading wooden furniture frames at one of their upholstery sites, when a worker was struck by an unsecured furniture arm which fell from an unstable load. The impact knocked the worker unconscious and he suffered serious neck and head injuries. 
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation identified fundamental and systemic failings in the company’s health and safety management systems which is far from what would be expected from a company of their size. The investigation found that DFS failed to adequately manage the risks of heavy loads being moved between manufacturing sites. The court heard the company also failed to supervise the work taking place with a number of near misses being reported from unsecured loads. 
DFS Trading Limited of Rockingham Way, Redhouse Interchange, Adwick Le Street, Doncaster pleaded guilty to breaching sections 3 of the Managing Health and Safety at Work Regulation and also section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and have been fined £1million and ordered to pay costs of £15,099. 
The HSE stated after the case that DFS is a large national organisation and the fundamental and systemic failings identified in their health and safety management systems is far from what would be expected from a company of their size who has the ability to deliver higher standards of safety. Unfortunately DFS were unable to do that on this occasion and a preventable accident was allowed to occur. 
In a statement DFS said: “The health and safety of our employees is extremely important to us. The employee who was injured, in June 2015, is a valued member of our team; we deeply regret the accident he suffered and we’re very glad that he is back at work in his previous role. This case has highlighted some areas where, on occasion, our procedures were not as strong as they should have been. Over the last eighteen months we’ve invested heavily in health and safety including reviewing our health and safety procedures and retraining all our employees. Our skilled craftspeople are critical to our success and we’re committed to ensuring their health and safety at work.” 
Footnote – New Health and Safety Sentences:
The significance of this case is the clear warning to all large employers such as Royal Mail and BT. New Sentencing Council Guidelines to the Courts came into force in 2016 for Health and Safety Offences, described as the most dramatic change to health and safety legislation since the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act in 1974. Under the guidance large organisations that have been convicted of the serious offences, where they have flagrantly breached the law and created a high risk of serious harm, or where serious harm has actually been caused, can expect to receive a fine proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and to their financial means. For some time there has been concern that penalties imposed for health and safety offences and corporate manslaughter offences, particularly on large organisations, were too low and the approach to sentencing in the courts inconsistent. It is mandatory for courts to follow the guidelines for all sentences passed after 1 February 2016, regardless of whether or not the offence took place before that date. This heralds the start of an era where sentencing in health and safety offences will increase dramatically in order to have a real economic impact. Higher fines will also carry significant commercial and reputational consequences. Tough new sanctions will be a timely reminder that standards in health and safety management cannot slip. The new guidelines are also likely to result in an increase in custodial sentences for individuals who have committed a health and safety offence. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 113/17 DFS fined £1m Following Worker’s Neck and Head Injuries – Warning to All Large National Employers Such as Royal Mail, BT, Capita, POL etc on Health & Safety

TUC and CWU Hits out at Plans to Stop Injured Workers and Motorists Claiming Legal Costs  
To: All Branches 
Dear Colleagues, 
The TUC, CWU and all UK Unions and Lawyers have criticised the Government’s plans, announced on 23 February to stop injured workers from reclaiming their legal costs in cases where claims are worth under £2,000. 
Ministry of Justice proposals announced last Thursday will mean that thousands of workers, mostly low paid, are no longer able to get the legal expertise they need to seek compensation after an injury. 
The Government has announced that it will be increasing the small claims limit for employers’ liability personal injury claims from £1,000 to £2,000. Although this is well below the £5,000 originally proposed (and which will now apply to road traffic claims), it is still an attack on the ability of workers to claim compensation and will disproportionately hit the lowest paid. It will restrict the ability of unions to support these members and will also have an impact on health and safety in the workplace as there will be less pressure on employers and from their insurers to deal with safety failures that lead to lower level injuries. There is also a concern that this is just a stepping stone to a further increase at a later date. 
The TUC has issued a press release on the announcement and Unions will continue to oppose it. 
People injured at work because of their employer’s negligence or those injured in road crashes because of other drivers mistakes, carelessness or recklessness shouldn’t have to pay their own legal costs. This will stop many low-paid and vulnerable workers from bringing damages compensation claims for personal injuries. It will also cost Unions more to support their members through legal services benefits. 
These plans are dangerous and will encourage bad bosses to cut corners with health and safety. So much for Tory Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech to the Tory Party Conference last October when she said on workers’ rights – “Existing workers’ legal rights will continue to be guaranteed in law – and they will be guaranteed as long as I am prime minister. We’re going to see workers’ rights not eroded, and not just protected, but enhanced under this government.” 
The government announced their intention to make these changes in their 2015 Autumn Statement and this announcement is the first part of their intended changes. They intend to follow this up with a fixed tariff of compensation payments or ‘cap’ on amounts awarded. This is clearly designed to benefit the Insurance Industry at the expense of ordinary working people who get injured.  
Yours sincerely 
 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
 
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LTB 112/17 TUC and CWU Hits out at Plans to Stop Injured Workers and Motorists Claiming Legal Costs