Cartwright (95 York) Double Deck Trailers (DDTs) with Aerodynamic Wind Deflectors: – 130 Trailers Withdrawn From Service As A Safety Precaution:

Following two incidents of wind deflectors becoming detached from Cartwright (95 York Container) Double Deck Trailers whilst in use, safety concerns were raised with Royal Mail Logistics and Fleet which prompted an urgent investigation followed by discussions between RM Fleet Engineering Managers and the CWU/HQ Health Safety & Environment Department. Royal Mail has taken prompt action by withdrawing 130 Trailers for immediate attention and we commend their prompt attention to the matter‎.

As a consequence of a suspected manufacturing defect on a range of Cartwright Double Deck Trailers (DDTs) and as a precaution until this can be investigated further, a number of trailers are being isolated and parked off (130 in total withdrawn from service).

The trailers involved are easily identified – see the photo attached. All of the trailers are double deck trailers fitted with an aerodynamic body kit on the front of the trailer and the relevant trailer serial numbers are 8316052 to 8316181 inclusive.

The wind deflectors are in 2 pieces and the issue is with the lower white coloured deflector and so as a precaution this deflector is being removed from the trailers. The upper or top deflector painted red is unaffected and will remain in place.

A solution to repair and replace these deflectors on the trailers will be deployed when the appropriate rework has been tested and agreed.  However in order to avoid unnecessary delay in returning trailers to service the current temporary, interim solution is to remove the deflector as a safety precaution.

Further updates will be reported in due course.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB072 Cartwright (95 York) Double Deck Trailers (DDTs) with Aerodynamic Wind Deflectors

Double Deck Trailer with aerodynamic deflectors

Adverse Weather 

 Colleagues will recall that following the disruption caused by the adverse weather system “the Beast from the East” in early 2018, Conference adopted Emergency Motion 2 at Annual Conference, the terms of which are reproduced below for ease of reference.

 This Conference notes with concern the severe weather front known as ‘the beast from the east’ that occurred within the UK between 24 February and 4 March, and its effects on CWU members whilst travelling to and from work, and also on their health and safety whilst at work.

 Conference also notes with concern the various contradictory versions of Royal Mail Group’s policies on severe weather, together with their inconsistent application by the employer, that resulted in members being asked to make lost time good; take annual leave; or lose pay altogether during this period.

Conference further notes the inconsistency between CWU policy and Royal Mail policy on this issue, and therefore instructs the PEC to seek agreement with Royal Mail Group on a jointly agreed severe weather policy and guidelines.

 Any agreement shall include reference and guidance on the following issues prior to any potential loss of pay/making time good/taking annual leave:-

•  Any relevant red/amber/yellow weather warnings in place at the time, and their geography
• Decision making levels on attendance to and from work, and also the outdoor area in which each individual works
• The underlying principle that each case is taken on its own merits
• This agreement would also cover the recent issues with Royal Mail which has seen members being penalised

 This list is not exhaustive.

 Since Conference the Postal Executive have continued to pursue the terms of the Motion and to this end Bobby Weatherall, Postal Executive member has been leading on this on behalf of the DGS(P) Department.

The initial activity undertaken was to carry out a review in Scotland and Northern Ireland in order to identify where inconsistencies in the application of Royal Mail’s Adverse Weather Policy had been encountered by our members.  The joint review with the business involved holding meetings with workplace Representatives in affected locations as well as a jointly agreed CWU/RM questionnaire being distributed to Representatives and units who were affected by the severe weather encountered last year.

The information derived from the joint review exercise was reported to the Postal Executive.  The report also contained 7 jointly agreed recommendations that are listed below which will now be used to address where the application (or misapplication) of Royal Mail’s Adverse Weather Policy has been identified:

1. Should the occasion of this type of extreme weather occur again, Royal Mail, as a matter of priority, should issue guidance on how to apply the adverse             weather policy to all managers so that it is applied consistently. This      should           also include advice on, or reissue of, the Other Time Off policy.

 

2. If employees are unable to attend for reasons relating to school closures/care issues it is important that managers consider the employee’s circumstances     in line with the Other Time Off policy.

 

3. Ensure that no pay is deducted without the employee’s consent, preferably in writing.

 

4. For anyone who is not able to attend the workplace, a one to one conversation should be held on their return to explain the policy and agree       the appropriate solution dependent on the circumstances of the non-    attendance in line with the Adverse Weather Policy. The employee should be     entitled to accompaniment by a union rep if they wish at the one to ones.

 

5. Due to the specific information received about Edinburgh Mail Centre and their application of the policy, it is recommended that a review is undertaken        by the local People Business Partner to ensure that any misapplication is corrected.

 

6. If anyone believes that either the Adverse Weather Policy or Other Time Off policy has not been followed appropriately for their personal circumstances,    the normal process should be followed, i.e. they should raise their concern             informally with their line manager and if not satisfied with the response,        should follow the formal grievance policy.

 

7. Royal Mail and CWU should review the Adverse Weather Policy against the Government/Met Office/Police’s use of weather warnings (and in particular    ‘Red   Weather Warnings’), to ensure that it contains sufficient advice for            managers on how to manage the operation when the warnings are issued,       using the SHE team for advice.

Bobby has now written to the business to ensure the recommendations are acted upon and is currently seeking meeting dates to move this forward.  Once this process has been deployed and applied in the Scotland/Northern Ireland Division, it will then be extended to other parts of the UK who were affected by the severe weather encountered in early 2018.  Further updates on this aspect will be provided to the Committee in due course.

It would be remiss of the Department not to place on record on behalf of the Postal Executive our thanks for the assistance and support provided to Bobby by the Divisional Representatives, Branches and CWU Representatives from the Scotland and Northern Ireland Division.

As part of the continuing activity in relation to adverse weather situations, the Postal Executive remain convinced that the best way forward is for there to be a joint agreement or statement in place, particularly in light of the pattern of extreme weather that has affected various parts of the UK over the past 12 months.  As well as the “Beast from the East”, we have encountered extreme heatwaves, near hurricane force winds, severe rainfall and flooding, all of which bring with them not only physical dangers to postal workers but also present members and their families with their own challenges.  Whether the spate of extreme weather in 2018 is a result of climate change or other atmospheric activity, the fact is these situations are on the increase and look likely to continue.

To this end the Union has exchanged correspondence with the business in an attempt to reach a joint agreement or statement that can help members, Representatives and local managers address the impact of adverse weather conditions in a more collaborative manner based on the facts of the situation within their locality.

Royal Mail’s initial response has unfortunately been somewhat negative stating that as their policy has been worked up with the CWU’s Health and Safety Department a joint statement is therefore not required.  Irrespective of this, it is the Union’s intention to continue to pursue an agreed position on adverse weather as the Postal Executive believe it is good business practice to have an agreement in place (rather than just a unilateral policy) which reflects the spirit and intent of the Four Pillars Agreement especially Section 4 “Royal Mail Group’s Commitment to its People”.

In the intervening period, while we continue with the activity in Scotland and Northern Ireland to pursue an agreed position with the company, the business will apply their current policy (copy attached), likewise the CWU will endure to ensure our members are fairly treated when this is applied and where necessary utilise the full terms of the IR Framework Agreement to make sure this is the case.

The business are fully aware of the Union’s position and have confirmed they have reissued the current Adverse Weather Policy to all Operational Managers so they can familiarise themselves with its content and process.  We do however want to assure colleagues that we are continuing to pursue a new and fully representative policy to cover all severe weather events our members may encounter including when ‘Red Alert’ warnings and advice are issued by the relevant authorities.

Further updates will be provided to Branches in due course.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

 

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

19LTB07119LTB071 Attachment 1 – Adverse Weather

Panel Session – CWU Women’s and LGBT Conferences 2019

 

Last week at the CWU Black Workers and Disability Conferences we held two very successful panel sessions, which allowed questions to be put to a panel including the General Secretary, the National Officer, NEC members and Advisory Committee members on Redesign and the Future of Equality in the CWU. As well as questions from the delegates present, the panel also encouraged Branches to submit questions in writing before the conferences.

We will be repeating the panel sessions at the Women’s and LGBT Conferences to be held in Liverpool next week. Should you have any questions for the panel please email them to the following email address fhussein@cwu.org or if you are in attendance please feel free to raise your question on the day.

We will also be taking the opportunity to explain in more detail how the new equality structures will work and how Regions will be responsible for setting up new Women’s, LGBT, BAME and Disability networks that are closer to Branches and workplaces, with the aim of maximising engagement on our Equality Agenda.

Any enquires on the above LTB should be addressed to Trish Lavelle tlavelle@cwu.org.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Trish Lavelle                                                                            Dave Ward

Assistant Secretary                                                              General Secretary

 

19LTB068

CWU Redesign Education, Learning and Training Strategy

In line with the relevant enabling motion passed by the Special Conference in November 2018 please find attached the CWU Redesign Strategy for Education, Learning and Training endorsed by the NEC at their meeting on 31  January 2019. 

In line with Special Conference policy the NEC will be submitting a motion to General Conference 2019 calling for the CWU to adopt this new comprehensive strategy to cover all aspects of our education, learning and training work going forward.

Any enquiries relating to this LTB should be relayed to lwakeman@cwu.org in the first instance.

Yours sincerely,

Trish Lavelle
Assistant Secretary
Education and Equal Opportunities

19LTB 067 – CWU Redesign Education Learning and Training Strategy

Attachment 2 – Redesign ELT Strategy

Attachment 3 – Appendix 1

Attachment 4 – Appendix 2

Attachment 5 – Appendix 3

Royal Mail Property Facilities and Solution: Changes to Senior Leadership Team

We attach for the information of Branches a communication issued by Martin Gafsen Group Director of Property and Facilities Solutions concerning changes to the senior leadership team, issued last week.

The changes to the senior management team have no immediate effect on CWU represented grades. It is understood that the integration of management of Hard FM (engineering) and Soft FM (cleaning) will be extended to regional level as part of these changes but there will be no immediate changes to the direct management of CWU represented grades.

Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference number 320: email khawkins@cwu.org or to the Outdoor Department quoting reference 120: email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours Sincerely,

 

Ray Ellis – Assistant Secretary                                    

Mark Baulch – Assistant Secretary          

Attachment 1 – 19LTB059 – Royal Mail Property Facilities and Solution – Changes to Senior Leadership Team

Attachment 2 – Royal Mail Comms

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