New Royal Mail Group New Driver Safety Training Courses Provided by ‘Pertemps’

Dear Colleagues,

The Royal Mail Group Head of Road Safety has finalised the design of two new Safe Driving Courses with training provider ‘Pertemps’ which are now nationally available to drivers at all Offices.

The Royal Mail Group Road and Driver Safety team have been working with the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department and Postal Department, reviewing the ‘Pertemps’ Driver Training Courses and this has concluded with the addition of these new courses to be made available through the usual ‘Pertemps’ booking process.

The following gives you information on both of the new courses which we have jointly agreed.

1. Slow Manoeuvring Training

Slow Manoeuvring collisions are a particular issue for Royal Mail accounting for around 50% of all of collisions. Following a successful extensive trial of the Slow Manoeuvring Training it showed a 49% reduction in slow manoeuvring collisions and a 42% reduction in all RTCs. This course was developed to improve driver knowledge, skills and behaviours towards slow manoeuvring collisions. The course can be delivered individually, or in groups of up to 5 drivers and is designed to deliver cultural change in offices where slow manoeuvring has been identified as an issue.

This course will consist of 1 hour classroom session covering:-

• Brand Awareness

• Collision Statistics

• Facts

• Manoeuvring

• Reversing

• Risk Assessment

Additionally, there will then be a 1 hour yard element to make drivers aware of the risks associated with slow manoeuvring. This will include a practical element of the classroom training and will enable the driver to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom.

The Slow Manoeuvring training course has been well received during extensive trials and with excellent results.

The course will now be available for call-off by all offices operating van fleets, accessed via the Pertemps Portal.

As all ASRs and Branches will be aware, yard safety and yard accidents have been a particular concern for some time with many minor accidents occurring and some very serious accidents in yards and on customer’s premises also. Some of which have led to HSE and LA enforcement action and prosecutions. This led to a number of both joint initiatives and campaigns by the Health, Safety and Environment Department for improved yard safety, yard risk and workplace transport training and controls. This training is a positive step aimed at improving safety for both drivers and pedestrians with the aim of reducing personal injury accidents and property damage accidents. The training will therefore be very welcome and will be formally launched and publicised ahead of next week’s RMG/CWU Road Safety Campaign for January 2018.

2. Classroom Safe Driver Training

This is a new approach being taken with the introduction of 1 hour classroom session covering a broad range of key road safety subjects designed to achieve a safety culture change in high impact units or where driver safety issues have been identified.

The subjects covered are:-

• Speeding

• Mobile Devices

• Distractions

• Collisions

• Driving under the Influence

• Vulnerable Road Users

• Fatigue

These are all subjects covered as ‘themes’ in previous RMG/CWU Road Safety Week Campaigns agreed between Royal Mail Group and the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department and the course therefore fits well, following up those joint campaigns.

The training will be mainly aimed at groups of up to 12 drivers but can be delivered on a 1-1 basis where deemed appropriate and necessary. It will be available for units to call-off as required on the ‘Pertemps’ on-line training Portal.

As ASRs and Branches will be aware, the subject matters covered in the ‘Safe Driver’ Course are subjects on which Royal Mail Group and the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department have run agreed joint Road Safety Awareness Campaigns, covering these key issues. Additionally the CWU Health Safety & Environment Department has run a number of its own driver and Road Safety Awareness raising campaigns on many of these key issues, sharing our materials, LTBs, leaflets and posters with the Royal Mail Road Safety and SHE team. The most recent one being an LTB, leaflet and poster on driver fatigue/tiredness. Reps and members will have been involved, seen and made aware of the communications, posters, leaflets, activities and initiatives in their areas along with receiving WTLL sessions as campaign elements.

The course is an addition to the existing training courses, available through ‘Pertemps’. All of the key road safety subjects covered are already included in other longer courses and communications, however the course provides the training using a new approach and provides the option of a shorter, lighter touch rather than the full 4 hour, 1-1 on-road training courses.

The course involves no driving but targets behavioural change through engaging with drivers and prompting thought about driving styles, alertness, awareness and attitude to risks, and the potential consequences of poor driving standards for the drivers and other road users and pedestrians etc.

The course will provide drivers with information and thinking time to help them to be aware and to make good decisions and choices when they drive.

The course will be used where improved driving skills are deemed necessary, and can be used within a unit for an individual or group session. For example the course may be used;

• Where high impact units are identified following an increase in collisions or where other collision reduction methods have not been effective.

• Where poor driving has been identified.

• Following an individual driver collision.

• For an individual driver who has received motoring offence penalty points on their drivers licence.

Details of the training subjects covered in summary:-

Speeding

This is an interactive session about what speeding is, asking why drivers drive too fast and what the risks and consequences on the road can be. It will highlight the new sentencing guidelines for speeding offences and the penalties and fines that can now be received.

Mobile Devices

This session covers the use of mobile devices while driving and the reasons behind why drivers do it. The acronym FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) will be used. Driver distraction risks and the increased legal penalties for using a mobile phone while driving are included as well as details about hands free mobile phone use and whether it is safe.

Seat Belts

This session covers the reasons why it is believed that drivers don’t wear their seat belts, and how seatbelts protects drivers in a collision. What the legal penalties are for failing to wear a seatbelt and what Royal Mail’s policy is.

Distractions

This session covers issues such as reading mail addresses or using a PDA while driving.

Collisions

This session covers Royal Mail’s accident reporting procedures and how a collision/accident can affect those involved.

Driving Under The Influence

This session will cover the impact and effects of both drink and drugs regarding safe driving standards, the legal limits, impairment and how it decreases drivers’ reaction times. It will also cover how drinking alcohol can affect drivers the ‘morning after’. The session also covers the penalties for offenders convicted for drink and drug driving.

Vulnerable Road Users

This session covers the issue of cyclists, children, old age pensioners, horse riders and learner drivers on the roads. The session will also focus on why collisions can occur with these groups of road users, the consequences and how to minimise the risks.

Fatigue

This session will cover effectively managing fatigue and how a driver will know they are tired. It will cover the dangers of drivers falling asleep while driving.

Further details of the Classroom Safe Driver Training Course will be publicised by Royal Mail Group shortly.

General

All drivers have a responsibility for safety both on site, in Royal Mail yards, at customers’ premises and on the road. Royal Mail and Parcelforce driver’s actions impact on their own safety and that of other road users and pedestrians.

These courses have been developed to support, correct, coach, encourage, raise awareness and improve driver skills and safety in order to address the risks to drivers and to support them in addressing the occupational road safety risks faced every day. The Health, Safety and Environment Department welcomes the additional training courses and encourages all driving CWU members to participate in the training courses.

A presentation of the safety courses for drivers was recently made to the CWU Regional Health and Safety Forum Secretaries and Chairs and it has been agreed that ASRs will be fully involved and will be able to attend the Safe Driver Training and Slow Manoeuvring courses in order to experience them and raise awareness amongst driving members of the benefits.

Some of the new training course or sessions will be held in a number of offices during the January Road Safety Campaign launch week with Courier publicity to support the roll out. The SHE Team, Office Managers and ASRs will be involved to ensure that RM and the CWU are joined up. A further report on the offices involved, once identified, will be made to ASRs and Regional Health and Safety Forums in due course.

As agreed with the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department, the RMG National Road Safety Manager will arrange for a number of courses to be put on around the country which ASRs and SHE Advisors will be invited to attend so that they can experience the training and become advocates of these courses when they are in the field. A further report on the dates and locations, once identified will be made to ASRs and Regional Health and Safety Forums in due course.

The reintroduction of an updated general ‘Driver Safety/Road Safety ’Training Course is something we’ve been wanting to see for some time and such training programmes and courses are supported and promoted by the Police, HSE, Brake, RoSPA etc.

Likewise the ‘Slow Manoeuvring’ and ‘Classroom Safe Driver Training’ courses are welcomed. Slow Manoeuvring has been subject to much discussion over the years, linked to Yard Safety in general and we need a consistent, concerted campaign to get more Drivers in more offices through safe driving awareness courses as strongly recommended by road safety organisations, experts and the Police.

These courses have been developed for the light commercial van fleet drivers and RMG has no immediate plans to deploy Slow Manoeuvring or Classroom Training in Distribution.

These new courses are great opportunities to demonstrate a joint commitment to the safety of our drivers.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB018 New Royal Mail Group New Driver Safety Training Courses Provided by ‘Pertemps’

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CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 31st January 2018

Branches would wish to know that a preliminary agenda which contains motions and Standing Orders for the forthcoming CWU Retired Members Conference being held in London on Wednesday 31st January 2018 and can be accessed by clicking the link below:

Preliminary Retired Members Agenda

Hard copies of the agenda will be sent to those that have registered using the online registration system.

Credential cards for delegates/visitors and voting cards for this conference will be issued at registration on the morning of the conference.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by telephoning 020 8971 7256 or by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB016 – Preliminary Agenda

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UNI WORLD WOMEN’S CONFERENCE & WORLD CONGRESS 2018

The 5th UNI World Congress will take place at the Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool, United Kingdom from 17-20 June 2018 and the 5th UNI World Women’s Conference will take place at the same venue from 14-15 June 2018.

Nominations are invited for the CWU delegation to the above named Congresses, the delegation size and nomination entitlements are as follows:

Postal Constituency

1 NEC Member elected by and from the Postal Constituency

3 Lay Members elected by and from the Postal Constituency

(at least one of whom must be a woman and at least one of whom must be 29 or under)

Telecoms and Financial Services Constituency

1 NEC Member elected by and from Telecoms and Financial Services Constituency

3 Lay Members elected by and from the Telecoms and Financial Services Constituency

(at least one of whom must be a woman and at least one of whom must be 29 or under)

The timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open 12 January 2018

Nominations Close 26 January 2018 (14:00)

Ballot Opens   1 February 2018

Ballot Close 15 February 2018 (14:00)

The election regulations, nomination forms and candidate biographical detail and consent forms are attached to this LTB. Further copies are available on request from the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB014

Election Regulations – 2018

Nomination Forms 2018

Candidate Biographical & Consent Form 2018

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General Conference 2018 – Sunday 22nd/Monday 23rd April 2018

Further to LTB 646/17 this is a reminder that the closing date for motions to General Conference 2018 is midnight Tuesday 6th February 2018. If sending Motions by post, Branches must ensure they use a signed for service which guarantees delivery by the closing date and time. Attached are motion forms and the motion guide for submitting motions to General Conference 2018.

Entitlements

In relation to the General Conference 2018, all Branches are entitled to submit three motions to General Conference. Regional Committees are entitled to submit three motions to the General Conference however one of the motions must be from the Regional Women’s Committee. Regional Health and Safety Forums are entitled to submit three motions on Health, Safety and Environmental matters.

In addition, branches and regional committees may also submit one rule amendment for the Rules Section of the agenda.

Branches/Regions/Health and Safety Forums/Minority Conferences and the NEC are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Please note that all correspondence must be sent by email to conferences@cwu.org and no other personal email address.

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB015 – General Conference

General Conference Motion Form 2018

General Motion Guide 2018

HS Form 2018

Rules 2018

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National Update on 4 Pillars

Today we were advised by the National Officers that substantial progress has been made on all the 4 Pillars Issues.

The progress is now sufficient enough to start drafting the worlds of a potential agreement. Anyone who has been involved in negotiations before will know that agreeing a set of words which both parties are content with is often more difficult than agreeing the principles of an agreement.

Additionally our National Officers are aware that Royal Mail have to also agree to resolve the problems of resourcing and changing the culture within the workplace.

This has been even more highlighted since Christmas where a combination of high vacancy levels , high sick leave and the limits of the working time Directive Agreement has led to an increase in the use of casuals , more managers on delivery , work rolling from one day to the next and an increase in unfair treatment of staff.

The CWU are meeting Royal Mail over the next 3 days to concentrate on getting a solution on Resourcing and culture. Further talks are planned for next week.

Real detail on the issues cannot be provided at this point as the union’s principle remains that nothing is agreed until we have an agreement on all the issues however we can confirm that on all the following substantial progress has been made and the following principles established :

One Pension Scheme and an agreed Wage in Retirement scheme will be in place and also if needed transitional arrangements.

Progress on pay which is based on a percentage increase flowing through to all pay and allowances. This will be for a two year period.

Talks on extending the legal guarantees are on-going but progress has been made.

SWW an hour off and a timeline for 35 still to be finalised.

Pipeline – Real progress has been made on the Pipeline. If you analyse Royal Mail’s original Pipeline proposals of a 9-5 duty than the current position of the negotiations is a world away from what Royal Mail originally proposed. .

In fact talks have progressed to such an extent where we believe if there is an agreement that members concerns over significant later finishes will be largely allayed.

We realise that members and reps are frustrated that they do not have the full details of all the issues , however we will endeavour to update you further when we get further information.

It is clear that progress has only been made because of your support.

Finally remember you will get the final say on any agreement by the way of an individual member vote.

In the meantime our National Officers need our continued support whilst in the negotiations.

Keep the faith !

Royal Mail Group First Aiders – Annual Refresher First Aid Training – Communication From RMG HR Services Training Delivery Team

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.

Employers are legally required to ensure their First Aiders are competent and maintain their skills throughout the three years in which their FAW certificates are valid.

This refresher course provides First Aiders with an opportunity to practice and update their skills as a qualified First Aider, at any time while their First Aid certificate is valid.

The HSE strongly recommends that First Aiders attend a refresher session once every year during this three year period. This course is for people holding a current First Aid at work or Emergency First Aid at work certificate.

This session builds on the First Aiders expertise and confidence by involving them in realistic situations with simulated casualties. Candidates will practice First Aid in practical, hands-on scenario sessions.

The course does not renew First Aid certificates or extend the validity period of certificates.

The HSE strongly recommends that First Aiders undertake annual refresher training, over half a day, during any three-year certification period. Although not mandatory, this helps qualified First Aiders maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes to First Aid procedures.

Royal Mail Group and CWU support this approach and the current policy is to offer annual refresher training.

It has been agreed with Royal Mail HRS that a standard letter will be created and sent out to all First Aiders annually stating that to keep your First Aid skills up to date it is recommended that you attend annual First Aid Refresher training.

All First Aid Refresher training courses are now available for self-registration on the Royal Mail online ‘SuccessFactors’ intranet site.

On receipt of a letter from Royal Mail Group HRS, First Aiders should proceed as follows:-

Those who have access to ‘SuccessFactors’ should log into ‘SucessFactors’ and book themselves onto a ‘First Aid Refresher Training Course’. Those booking themselves onto a course should inform their line manager as they will need to authorise this in the system.

Those who do not have access to ‘SuccessFactors’ should speak to their line manager to agree a suitable training course date for them to attend from those available on ‘SuccessFactors’.

If there are no suitable scheduled dates on offer then an e-mail should be sent to:- hrsctrainingdeliveryFirstAid@royalmail.com and HRS will add the First Aider concerned to a waiting list for a course in the First Aider’s area.

Attachment: Copy of the Royal Mail Group Human Resources Services Standard Letter to First Aiders due to attend a Refresher Training Course.

Would ASRs please check with all their offices to ensure that First Aiders have been booked on their Refresher Training and if not, ensure that an e-mail is sent to:- hrsctrainingdeliveryFirstAid@royalmail.com

Any problems, ASRs should initially raise it with the RMG Regional SHE Team and escalate via the escalation process should there be a failure to resolve the matter.

Royal Mail Group and the CWU at National level are keen to increase the number of First Aiders at those locations currently non-compliant and to also maintain the numbers once in place.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB013 Royal Mail Group First Aiders – Annual Refresher First Aid Training – Communication From RMG HR Services Training Delivery Team

First Aid Refresher Letter

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Royal Mail Group January 2018, Bi-Monthly Road Safety Campaign, Launch W/C 15 January – Slow Manoeuvring and Reversing Safety Campaign

– Managers Responsibilities

To: All Branches with Postal Members

Dear Colleagues,

The Royal Mail Group (RMG) Bi-Monthly Road Safety Campaign, commences next week,

week commencing 15 January 2018.

Further to the earlier communication to all Royal Mail Group CWU ASRs, this LTB is to provide the detailed information and documentation on the campaign, which CWU is fully supporting.

Following consideration of arrangements last year, there is now one National Road

Safety Week in November which is the UK National ‘BRAKE’ and ‘THINK, and ‘RoSPA’ supported Road Safety Week.

RMG working with the CWU supplement this with Bi-Monthly Road Safety Campaign and the first 2018 Campaign, launching next week (W/C Monday 15 January) is the first one that concentrates primarily on ‘Managers Responsibilities’. Previous campaigns were aimed more specifically at drivers.

The Campaign theme is ‘Slow Manoeuvring and Reversing Safety – Manager’s Responsibilities’.

The HSE state that a third of all road traffic accidents in the UK involve someone who is at work. Last year over 500 people workers were killed, 5,000 seriously injured and 40,000 slightly injured in vehicle collisions at work.

Managing road risk is also a fundamental part of an employer’s legal and moral duty of care towards its workforce and members of the public.

Nearly one quarter of all deaths involving vehicles at work occur at slow speed during

reversing. (Health & Safety Executive). Slow speed collisions are a particular issue for

Royal Mail Group accounting for 50% of all our Road Traffic Collisions (RTC). Many reversing accidents do not result in injury but low speed collisions may injure pedestrians, other vulnerable road users, cause third party collisions and cause costly damage to vehicles, equipment and premises. Most of these incidents can be avoided by taking simple precautions.

During this Road Safety Campaign RMG and CWU jointly aim to reduce these types of

RTCs with Royal Mail and CWU working together focusing on these types of collisions so that drivers can be coached, trained and supported.

Attached is a ‘Joint Statement’ signed by myself and Shaun Davis Royal Mail Group

Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing & Sustainability.

CWU is fully backing the Campaign based on our discussions on the campaign approach and attached documents.

The Road Safety Campaign documents attached are:-

• RMG/CWU Joint Statement.

• A Managers Letter signed by Shaun Davis, Steve Cameron UK Operations Director and Gary Simpson Managing Director Parcelforce Worldwide.

• Special Campaign Poster.

• Managers Guidance Note.

• Managers Checklist.

• Managers WTLL.

During this Road Safety Campaign the aim is to reduce these types of RTCs with

Royal Mail and CWU working together focusing on these types of collisions so that drivers can be coached, trained and supported.

We will be focusing on three key areas:

• Safe site

• Safe vehicle

• Safe driver

The Campaign:

Managers will be carrying out Driver and Vehicle Safety SMATs, Yard Safety SMATs and Yard Risk Assessments.

• Area Safety Reps will be asked to carry out Safety Inspections concentrating on Slow Manoeuvring, driver and vehicle safety and yard safety.

• A Special Poster, Guidance Note, Checklist and WTLL will be circulated to all Units (Copies are attached).

• Managers, SHE Advisors and Area and Workplace Safety Reps are encouraged to work together on the campaign.

• ASRs and WSRs will be fully involved, consulted and will input into the campaign locally. This will be referred to in the documentation and Joint Statement.

• There are two new training courses available to Drivers, who are encouraged to attend these courses. They are the ‘slow manoeuvring course’ and ‘one hour driver safety short course’. (Note: It has been agreed that ASRs can attend theses course to familiarise themselves with the content and promote the courses amongst driver members).

The Campaign is not tied to just one week and we want the focus on the campaign

to be sustainable so ASRs, SHE team and Operational Managers can focus on the issue and programme the WTLL, Poster distribution, Checklist Use, Yard Assessments, SMATs and safety Inspections with best effect to most suitable local timetable and arrangements.

• The Joint Statement states: “ASRs and WSRs will be fully involved, consulted and will input into the campaign locally.”

• The Managers Checklist states: “Consult and fully involve the CWU Area Safety Rep and Workplace Safety Rep on the above. Invite them to carry out a Safety Inspection when you carry out your SMATs.

• Work jointly on improving Driver and Yard Safety. ASRs/WSRs can attend the slow manoeuvring course to familiarise themselves with the course and encourage drivers to attend.

• The Managers Guidance states: “Fully involve, consult and work with CWU Area Safety Reps and Workplace Safety Reps, taking into account their valuable input and the findings of their Workplace Safety Inspections and Reports.” The WTLL states that Managers should work with the ASR and WSR and should request assistance with presenting the WTLL as well as jointly viewing the campaign film prior to the WTLL and prepare for the session and questions that may be received.

Royal Mail and the CWU agree that the safety of the workforce is paramount. Vehicle and driver safety, road risk, slow manoeuvring and reversing safely are top priorities for us all.

Please support this Road Safety Campaign – Would ASRs and WSRs pro-actively engage the SHE Team and Operational managers to get involved and lift the profile of the Campaign in line with the RMG/CWU Joint Statement. Thanks for your support.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

WTLL Slow Manoeuvring Parking and Reversing

Guidance for Completing a Slow Manouevre SMAT

Joint Statement RS Campaign Jan18

Slow Manouevre Poster

Managers Update Letter – Slow Man – Mgrs Resp- Jan 2018

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MALCOLM CRAPPER – Former NEC Member and CWU Policy Advisor

It is with great sadness that we inform Branches of the untimely death of Malcolm Crapper who passed away suddenly on Saturday 23rd December 2017.

Malcolm became a member of the Post Office Engineering Union in 1980 and became active almost immediately. He held a number of Branch positions before becoming a member of the NEC of the National Communications Union in 1993 and in 2000 a CWU Policy Advisor to the then Deputy General Secretary Jeannie Drake. Following retirement Malcolm was awarded both National Honorary membership and the Gold Badge. He continued to be active on behalf of the members of the South Yorkshire Branch and will be sorely missed by members, colleagues and friends within the union and wider labour movement.

The funeral arrangements are as follows:

Date: Monday 29th January 2018

Time: 12.30pm

Venue: The North Chapel, Grenoside Crematorium, Skew Hill Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield, S35 8RZ.

The funeral will be followed by a wake at Thorncliffe Cricket Club, 89 Lound Side, Chapeltown, Sheffield , S35 2US.

The family has requested that no flowers be sent but if you wish to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society on the day please do so.

For those unable to attend donations can be made via the Alzheimer’s Society website or alternatively to John Fairest Funeral Directors, 10/56 Penistone Road North, Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield, S6 1LQ.

All our thoughts are with Malcolm’s wife Jen, family, close friends and colleagues at this very sad time.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB please forward to gsoffice@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

18LTB006 MALCOLM CRAPPER

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General Conference 2018 – Obituary List

It is the practice to include in the General Conference Agenda a reference to those members who have served the Union in many different capacities and who have sadly died since the previous Conference. Please let us know the names of those members of your Branch whom you wish to have included in the Obituary List.

Following the decision of the National Executive Council, the Obituary list to be published in the General Conference Agenda shall include the names of all members who have died in the previous twelve months, as notified by branches.

To enable the list to be prepared for inclusion in the Agenda all names must be received no later than Tuesday 6th February 2018. Unfortunately, any names received after this date will not be able to be included. Notification should be either by letter addressed to Angela Niven at Headquarters or by email to conferences@cwu.org Information supplied should include initials, surname and branch.

Any queries on this paragraph should be addressed to Angela Niven, CWU Headquarters.

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB003 – Obituary List

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