CWU Disability Conference – Date and Venue to be Confirmed

The CWU Disability Conference is planned to be held in January/early February 2019. In order for the Standing Orders Committee to meet the commitment of preparing an agenda for a planned conference we have taken the unusual step of issuing this LTB with the date and venue of the conference still to be confirmed.

Creche Facilities/Prayer Rooms/Seating

In order that we can cater for any delegate(s) with special needs such as seating, it is

important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Tuesday 10th December 2018.

Crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise the SDGS Department in writing, by return, but no later than Tuesday 10^th December 2018 if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children, together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities to those delegates who have not informed us in advance.

Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the template attached. Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Chris Tapper on 020 8971 7331.

The Disability Advisory Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the conference standing in their name.

Each Regional Equality Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Disability Conference.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 10^thDecember 2018.   All sections of the form must be completed.

Branches and the Advisory Committee 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.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be two sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that with the carriage of Composite Rule Amendment 126 at General Conference 2013, the Disability Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit two motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference and one motion to the Postal Group and Telecoms Industry Conferences. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be considered for General Conference they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the motions for submission to the General Conference, Postal Group and Telecoms Industry agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the motions will be held at the Conference and further information will be contained within the conference standing orders.

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

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Chris Tapper either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB625 – CWU Disability Conference

Disability Guidance 2019

Disability Motion 19

CWU Black Workers Conference – Date and Venue to be Confirmed

The CWU Black Workers Conference is planned to be held in January/early February. In order for the Standing Orders Committee to meet the commitment of preparing an agenda for a planned conference we have taken the unusual step of issuing this LTB with the date and venue of the conference still to be confirmed.

Creche Facilities/Prayer Rooms/Seating

In order that we can cater for any delegate(s) with special needs such as seating, it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Tuesday 10th December 2018.

Crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise the SDGS Department in writing, by return, but no later than Tuesday 10^th December 2018 if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children, together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities to those delegates who have not informed us in advance.

Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the template attached. Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Chris Tapper on 020 8971 7331.

The Race Advisory Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the conference standing in their name.

Each Regional Equality Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Black Workers Conference.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 10^thDecember 2018.   All sections of the form must be completed.

Branches and the Advisory Committee 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.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be two sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that with the carriage of Composite Rule Amendment 126 at General Conference 2013, the Black Workers Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit two motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference and one motion to the Postal Group and Telecoms Industry Conferences. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be considered for General Conference they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the motions for submission to the General Conference, Postal Group and Telecoms Industry agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the motions will be held at the Conference and further information will be contained within the conference standing orders.

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

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven either by post to head office or by email toconferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB624 – Black Workers Conference

Black Worker’s Guidance 2019

Black Workers Motion 19

CWU Women’s Conference – Date and Venue to be Confirmed

The CWU Women’s Conference is planned to be held in January/early February 2019. In order for the Standing Orders Committee to meet the commitment of preparing an agenda for a planned conference we have taken the unusual step of issuing this LTB with the date and venue of the conference still to be confirmed.

Creche Facilities/Prayer Rooms/Seating

In order that we can cater for any delegate(s) with special needs such as seating, it is

important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Tuesday 10th December 2018.

Crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise the SDGS Department in writing, by return, but no later than Tuesday 10^th December 2018 if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children, together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities to those delegates who have not informed us in advance.

Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the template attached. Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Chris Tapper on 020 8971 7331.

The Women’s Advisory Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the conference standing in their name.

Each Regional Women’s Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Women’s Conference.

Each Regional Equality Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Women’s Conference.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 10^thDecember 2018.   All sections of the form must be completed.

Branches and the Advisory Committee 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.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be two sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that with the carriage of Composite Rule Amendment 126 at General Conference 2013, the Women’s Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit two motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference and one motion to the Postal Group and Telecoms Industry Conferences. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be considered for General Conference they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the motions for submission to the General Conference, Postal Group and Telecoms Industry agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the motions will be held at the Conference and further information will be contained within the conference standing orders.

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

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Chris Tapper either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB623 – CWU Womens Conference

Womens Guidance 2019

Women’s Motion Form 2019

Special General Conference 2018 – Decisions and Card Votes

Please find attached copies of the decisions taken during the Special General Conference on Redesign and the results of the two card votes that took place.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Chris Tapper or sent to ctapper@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB622

1. Special General Conference – Saturday 3.11.18

2. Special General Conference – Sunday 4.11.18

Copy of Card Vote 1 – Motion 43

Copy of Card Vote 2 – Motion 44

CWU Young Workers Conference – Tuesday 22nd January 2019

The CWU Young Workers Conference will be held on Tuesday 22nd January 2019 at the offices of the Birmingham District Amal Branch, 47 Summer Lane, Hockley, Birmingham B19 3TH.

a) Motions

Each Regional Young Workers Committee will be entitled to submitONE motion to the Conference Agenda.

Each Branch will be entitled to submit ONE motion to the Conference Agenda.

The Young Workers Committee will be entitled to submit THREEmotions to the Conference Agenda.

Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.orgusing the template attached. Branches or Regions who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Chris Tapper on 020 8971 7331.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 10^thDecember 2018. Anything received after this date will not be accepted. All sections of the form must be completed.

Branches, Regions and the Advisory Committee 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.

If motions are being sent electronically they will only be accepted if sent to the above email address.

As with previous Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be 2 sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee are of an industrial nature which are eligible for submission to the Industrial Conferences.

Branches will be aware that the Young Workers Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit two motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference. The Young Workers Conference may also submit one motion for either the Postal Industry or Telecoms Industry conference from Section 1.

The motions selected for General Conference must contain policy that lies within the responsibility of the NEC, likewise Industrial motions must be able to be carried out by the relevant Industry Executive (Motions for the Telecoms Conference must also refer to a specific business-see attached motion guide).

As with previous Conferences, the motions for submission to the General Conference agenda and the Industrial motions for the Industry Conferences will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. Ballot(s) to select the motions will be held at the Conference.

b) Delegates

Details for registering delegates and observers will be issued in a further LTB. Any queries regarding the registration process should be directed to conferences@cwu.org

Regional Young Workers Committee Secretaries shall attend Young Workers Annual Conference in an ex-officio capacity with the right to speak and move motions on behalf of their Regional Young Workers Committee but not to vote. Funding for Regional Young Workers Committee Secretaries to attend Young Workers Annual Conference shall be from the General Fund.

Branch delegate entitlement to this Conference as agreed by the NEC is as follows:

Branches are urged to make every effort to ensure that their delegation comprises members who are either 30 and under as of October or who are serving Branch Young Workers. The expectation is that voting delegates aged over 30 will be present on an exceptional basis.

In order that we can cater for any delegate with special needs such as seating, etc., it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Tuesday 10^th December 2018

c) Election of Delegates to General Conference

As you will know, the Young Workers Conference will select two delegates to represent the Young Workers Members to attend General Conference 2019.

The Standing Orders for the Young Workers Conference will advise a ballot to select these two delegates and it will be conducted during Conference itself. Nominees must be members of the Union and have the support of their branch and/or Regional Young Workers Committee.

Additionally, individuals must be willing to accept nomination.

The exception to this are members of the Young Workers Committee themselves who may be proposed for these positions but need to have the nomination of the Young Workers Committee and/or any Regional Young Workers Committee.

Branches and Regional Young Workers Committees should forward any nominees on the attached form for this ballot toconferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB621 – CWU Young Workers Conference 2019

Young Workers Guidance 19

Young Workers Motion Form

Election of Member-Nominated Trustee Director – Royal Mail Pension Plan

Further to LTB 579/18 dated 12^th October 2018.

Please find enclosed the result of the ballot for the above position.

Please can you ensure that the above information is brought to the attention of the relevant members of your Branch.

Any enquiries regarding the ballot should be addressed to the SDGS Department, CWU HQ for the attention of Peter Metcalfe on 0208 971 7258 or pmetcalfe@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB619

RMPP Ballot Results

Royal Mail Group (RMG) Safety Health and Environment (SHE) Team Re-Organisation Announcement

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The Health Safety and Environment Department was notified yesterday by Dr. Shaun Davis Royal Mail Group Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing and Sustainability of his decision to announce a re-organisation of the RMG SHE Team.

Dr. Davis said that as an organisation he and RMG are continually reviewing ways of working and how well they serve Royal Mail Group’s internal and external customers, and the impact this has on the RMG SHE team.

In April 2018, the previous re-organisation of the RMG SHE team aligned the team according to the functional set up in Post and Parcels, with Parcelforce and International being supported alongside it. However it has been decided that this is no longer fit for purpose and is leading to duplication of support and increased travel across the Field team.

Dr. Davis added that a smarter, more efficient way of working is required, reducing duplication of coverage and the need for travel, which is better for the business and better for the workforce.

In addition, the RMG SHE Team under Dr. Davis has recently taken the Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions Risk, Compliance and Assurance team into the SHE Team function from RM Group Compliance, resulting in the RMG SHE Team being able to exploit the synergies between the combined teams to provide combined Safety, Health and Environment expertise on behalf of the entire Royal Mail Group (RMG).

A review of the activities undertaken by the Royal Mail Group Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Team has been undertaken and in summary the revised structure will have:

• UK Parcels, International and Letters (UKPIL) Field operations, headed by Andy Pearson, leading a team of SHE business partners and SHE advisors which will work in a more structured and geographical way with four new SHE cross-functional Regions to support the whole business. 
• A new RM Group Head of Safety, Health and Environment Centre of Excellence, with the head appointment to be made, providing expert guidance and advice to the business in technical areas such as property and facilities management, road safety and environment and sustainability. 
• A Standards and Reporting team, with head appointment to be made, that will own the SHE Management System, risk profiling, data, reporting, engagement and continuous improvement.
• A Group Head of Health and Wellbeing, with the head appointment to be made.
• There is a proposed net reduction of 13 SHE Advisor roles (Unite/CMA Grades) in the Field team and a proposed change in the structure of the SHE Business Partners roles in order to better support the business.
• There is a proposed reduction of a number of specific roles in the wider team, mostly as a result of maximising on the synergies of the previous RM Property and Facilities Solutions (RMPFS) Risk Compliance and Assurance team and the wider SHE team. 
• There is a small flow through of some specialist roles.
• There is no proposal to reduce roles or posts at CWU grades level.

This will result in:-

• A smaller central team focused on setting standards, policy and guidance across all of Royal Mail Group, bringing into the Group SHE Team the critical work of supporting Property and Facilities Solutions.
• A field team proactively targeting and prioritising their time on the units that most require support.
• Team realigned by geography, reducing the geographic burden and travel on individuals in the SHE team as at present.

Dr. Davis stated that he is determined to keep talent and skills within the organisation through the resourcing process to fill the roles. All affected managers will have the opportunity of a preference exercise during November, in order to give managers the maximum opportunity to consider their options. The SHE team members will be fully briefed on the new SHE structure and model to understand what it means for them.

Dr. Davis has once again expressed his thanks and appreciation of the work undertaken by CWU Area and Workplace Health and Safety Representatives which he sees as an important component of the Royal Mail Group Health, Safety and Welfare community going forward into the new structure.

The Health, Safety and Environment Department’s response to the new structure has been to express our concern at the reduction in SHE Advisor posts which is the third reduction since 2012. However we understand the reasons behind it, which is linked to a Board level decision on cost savings following the recent trading update profit warning. We will however continue to work closely with Dr. Davis and the RMG SHE Team within the new structure, in our joint efforts to improve safety and health and to drive down accidents and occupational ill health, both physical and mental.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety and Environment Officer

18LTB620 Royal Mail Group (RMG) Safety Health & Environment (SHE) Team Re-Organisation Announcement

HSE Publish Annual Health and Safety At Work Statistics Report 2017/18

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB 413/18 dated 23 July 2018 (HSE Workplace Fatal Injury Statistics Report 2017/18 – provisional data), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now published its full annual statistics report covering work-related ill health, work-related stress, depression or anxiety, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, occupational lung disease, workplace injury, costs to GB, industries breakdown, European comparisons and enforcement statistics including prosecutions, enforcement notices and fines.

The fatal statistics released earlier this year and confirmed in this latest report show an annual increase in the number of fatal accidents at work and also a rise in the number of reported cases of worker injuries and ill-health.

The HSE annual statistics show 1.4 million workers were suffering from work-related ill health and around 555,000 from non-fatal injuries in 2017/18. This is up from 1.3 million reported cases in 2016/17.

The number of working days lost due to work-related illness and injury was 30.7 million working days. A slight decrease from 31.2 million last year.

The total number of workplace fatal injuries however has risen from 137 to 144.

Workplace injury and new cases of ill health cost Britain £15.0 billion a year.

Despite repeated government and HSE claims that the UK is the safest place to work in the EU, the key figures for Great Britain show that in 2017/18 there were:

• 144 fatal accidents at work. 
• 1.4 million working people suffering from a work-related illness. 
• 595,000 workers suffering work-related stress, depression or anxiety. 
• 2,595 Mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures. 
• 12,000 work-related lung disease deaths. 
• 144 workers killed at work. 
• 555,000 non-fatal injuries to workers. 
• 469,000 workers suffering from work-related musculo-skeletal disorders. 
• 71,062 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR. 
• 13,000 deaths linked to chemical or dust exposure at work. 
• 30.7 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury. 
• 493 cases prosecuted by HSE. 
• 11,522 Enforcement Notices served. 
• £72.6 million health and safety fines paid by offenders. 
• £15 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2016/17).

The statistics confirm the scale of the challenge the HSE faces in making the nation a healthier and safer place to work and shows that a huge improvement is required to prevent deaths, injury and ill health in the workplace. The statistics serve as a reminder to employers of the importance to manage risk and undertake good health and safety working practices in the work place in order to ensure that every worker goes home at the end of their working day safe and healthy. These incidents still affect too many lives every year.

These statistics could look far worse as a more accurate and inclusive set of figures would include 50 workers killed at sea and in the air, 600 workers killed in road traffic accidents whilst working, 300 members of the public killed by work activities.

Heavy year on year cuts to Government funding of the HSE has undoubtedly, in the Trade Unions’ view, made workplaces less safe and influenced the rise in deaths at work reported for the year. The increase in workplace deaths may be the first sign of the effect of years of budget cuts and reductions in inspections, Enforcement Notices issued and prosecutions, filtering through. The Government cuts to health and safety funding will gradually, increasingly impact on workers. The latest increase in reported workplace deaths reported by the HSE undermines the complacent and ever-repeated statement rolled out ‘parrot-fashion’ by Government Ministers and HSE ‘top brass’ that “The UK has the best safety record in the world and one that is the envy of the world.’ The reductions in the HSE’s and Local Authorities’ ability to inspect workplaces are now being widely brought into question. In every aspect of life, you get what you pay for and the UK Government is paying less money and therefore there’s less attention being paid to workplace safety year on year.

A copy of the HSE Official Health and Safety At Work Summary Statistics for GB 2017/18 is attached.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB618 HSE Publish Annual Health and Safety At Work Statistics Report 2017-18

HSE HS At Work Summary Statistics For GB 2018