Safe & Well – April 2019

Please see attached the April 2019 edition of the Safe and Well newsletter with contributions from our USRs and field teams. There are articles supporting keeping safe behind the wheel, a focus on a recent study about the risks low levels of hydration can cause and again, there’s a safe at work, safe out of work message as well. There are also articles on Weil’s disease (Leptospirosis), tyre checks, a new size for the harness for the Safety Belt 11 and a safe office working factsheet.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB264 Safe & Well – April 2019

Safe and Well Issue 69 April 2019

 

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – April 2019

 

Dear Colleagues,

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department continues to support the annual initiative and working with the organisers, Bowel Cancer UK to raise awareness of Bowel Cancer and the Bowel Cancer UK charity organisation.

Young, old, female or male – it affects us all. This April, Bowel Cancer UK will be shining a light on the varied and many people affected by bowel cancer. But it doesn’t just impact the person diagnosed. It affects families, friends and colleagues, doctors and nurses, scientists and researchers.

Bowel Cancer Statistics

42,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with Bowel Cancer each year.

16,000 people die from Bowel Cancer in the UK each year.

57% of adult Bowel Cancer patients diagnosed are predicted to survive ten or more years.

54% of Bowel Cancer cases each year in the UK are linked to major lifestyle and other risk factors.

Early diagnosis is the key to survival!

Bowel Cancer UK

Bowel Cancer UK has, for 29 years, been campaigning to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by Bowel Cancer. Bowel Cancer UK is determined to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by Bowel Cancer. Their headquarters are in London, England. They also currently have offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland. They are a charity with a registered charity number in England & Wales (1071038) and Scotland

(SC040914). As a charitable organisation, Bowel Cancer UK is almost completely dependent on voluntary donations. The Charity does a number of things:-

• Provide Bowel Cancer information
• Undertake Health Promotion
• Run Campaigns & develop Policy
• Fundraising
• Explain and promote why their work is so important

Early diagnosis of Bowel Cancer and UK Survival Rates

Early diagnosis of Bowel Cancer in the UK is a problem because people either find it uncomfortable to discuss the symptoms of the disease or simply do not know what they are.

Survival rates in the UK are amongst the lowest in Europe, with 15% more patients being diagnosed at a later stage of the disease compared with most other European countries. This is why Bowel Cancer UK’s work – to encourage people to recognise the symptoms of the disease and to act on their concerns so that they have the best chance of survival – is so important.

Bowel Cancer survival rates in the UK lag behind the rest of Europe, mainly because people are unaware of the symptoms of Bowel Cancer or are uncomfortable talking about them, so are diagnosed late. Each year, thousands die unnecessarily.

Bowel Cancer UK saves lives by raising awareness, campaigning for best treatment and care and providing practical support and advice.

• • Order Bowel Cancer UK’s free awareness materials: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-us/bowel-cancer-awareness-month/ and display them in the workplaces. Distribute copies to members.
• • Arrange a Bowel Cancer awareness stand or talk in your Branch Offices or at Branch or Regional Health and Safety Forum Meetings.
• • Contact Bowel Cancer UK’s Health Promotion team for details on 020 7940 1760 or Email: healthpromotion@bowelcanceruk.org.uk
• • Make sure Colleagues, family and friends know about the symptoms of Bowel Cancer.
• • Follow Bowel Cancer UK on Facebook and twitter and tweet, retweet and Facebook our messages.
• • If you know anyone who has been closely affected by Bowel Cancer, share your story with Bowel Cancer UK. Contact press@bowelcanceruk.org.uk
• • Make a difference and become part of a campaign supporters’ network
• • If you need some ideas or tips on how to organise your own fundraising event, call Bowel Cancer UK on 020 7940 1769.

What is Bowel Cancer?

Bowel Cancer is also referred to as colorectal, colon or rectal cancer. Nearly all Bowel Cancers develop in the large bowel – two-thirds of these are in the colon and one-third in the rectum. Most Bowel Cancers develop from polyps which are usually non-cancerous and, once detected, can be removed easily if caught early enough. The bowel is divided into the small bowel (small intestine) and the large bowel (colon and rectum). Cancer of the small bowel is rare with only just over 700 people diagnosed in the UK each year. On the Bowel Cancer UK website, “Bowel Cancer” refers to cancer of the large bowel and not small Bowel Cancer.

The bowel is divided into four sections:

• ascending
• transverse
• descending
• sigmoid

The bowel is part of our digestive system. Food passes from the stomach to the small bowel. After the small bowel takes nutrients into the body, any undigested food passes through the large bowel, where water is removed from the waste matter. This waste matter is held in the rectum (back passage) until it leaves the body as bowel motions (also known as poo, stools or faeces). Cancer occurs when cells in your bowel multiply out of control. These cells can invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

Bowel Cancer Screening

Regular Bowel Cancer screening has been shown to reduce deaths from Bowel Cancer. Some people with Bowel Cancer have the disease, or are at risk of it developing before any symptoms appear. The screening programme is designed to find those people and treat them more effectively.

All men and women aged 60-74 are invited to carry out an FOB (faecal occult blood) test at home. They’re sent the home test kit every two years through the post, until they reach the age of 74.

The test is not compulsory but Bowel Cancer UK does strongly advise that everyone who is invited takes part. The earlier Bowel Cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat.

Who is eligible for screening?

People aged:

• 60-74 in England
• 60-74 in Wales
• 60-74 in Northern Ireland
• 50-74 in Scotland

If you are registered with a GP and eligible for Bowel Cancer screening, you will receive a letter and a leaflet explaining the home testing kit prior to receiving the kit itself. These will be sent to where you live.

If you are over the screening age you may be able to opt-in and request a kit, depending on where you live in the UK. More information can be found from your relevant national Bowel Screening Programme by calling one of the freephone numbers listed below.

What does the Bowel Cancer screening test do?
The home testing kit tests for faecal occult blood (hidden blood in poo). It does not diagnose Bowel Cancer. If the home testing kit detects blood, you will be invited for a consultation with a specialist screening practitioner in your area. During this meeting, your test results and what happens next will be discussed.

Find out more:
How to take the Bowel Cancer Screening Test  – See Attached Fact Sheet.

Screening in the Nations

If you receive the screening kit, use it and return it.

England
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in England began in July 2006 and is currently screening everyone between the ages of 60 and 74, every two years. For further information, please contact the England Bowel Cancer screening on freephone helpline on 0800 707 6060, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. In some areas of England, screening has also rolled out to people up to 75 years old. To find out which areas, call the freephone helpline. Find out more about the NHS Cancer Screening Programme at:- http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/

Scotland
Scottish Bowel Screening began in June 2007 and includes everyone between the ages of 50-74, every two years. For further information, please contact the Scottish bowel screening freephone helpline on 0800 0121 833, Monday-Friday 8am -5pm. To find out more about the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme, go to:- http://www.bowelscreening.scot.nhs.uk/

Wales
Bowel Screening Wales began in October 2008 and has rolled out nationally to 60-74 year olds every two years. For further information call the Welsh bowel screening freephone helpline on 0800 294 3370, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. You can also find out more about the Welsh Bowel Screening Programme at:- http://www.bowelscreening.wales.nhs.uk/

Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening to everyone between the ages of 60-74, every two years. For further information call the Northern Ireland freephone helpline on 0800 015 2514, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Find out more about the Northern Ireland Bowel Screening Programme at:http://www.cancerscreening.hscni.net/1995.htm

Concerned?

• Anyone concerned about symptoms of Bowel Cancer should visit their GP without delay.
• Anyone over the screening age can find out about requesting a test kit by calling the relevant helpline number above.

Risk factors

Although the exact cause of Bowel Cancer is unknown, there are certain factors that may increase your risk.

Gender and age

Bowel Cancer affects both men and women. In the UK, around 95% of cases occur in people over the age of 50.

Family history

People with a first degree relative (such as mother, father, brother, sister, child) under 45 or with two or more first degree relatives with Bowel Cancer may be considered for further testing.

Diet and lifestyle

An inactive lifestyle and a poor diet that is low in fresh fruit and vegetables may increase the risk of Bowel Cancer. A high intake of red and processed meat, smoking and excess alcohol may increase the risk.

Other conditions

People with diabetes, a history of Crohn’s disease in the large bowel, or ulcerative colitis, or who have had previous polyps removed, may also be at an increased risk.

Minimising The Risk – Diet & Exercise

Taking some simple steps to improve your diet and taking regular exercise can help reduce your risk of Bowel Cancer. So it is important to:

• consider what you are eating
• eat plenty of fibre
• eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• avoid processed meats and have no more than 500g of red meat per week
• keep active with regular exercise
• keep hydrated and avoid drinks containing caffeine
• know your alcohol limits and don’t smoke
• know the symptoms of Bowel Cancer and act on them if you have any concerns
• take part in the Bowel Cancer ScreeningProgramme in your area when you are invited. This involves completing a simple test which can help identify whether further investigation is necessary

See attached CWU/Bowel Cancer UK ‘Diet & Exercise ‘Fact Sheet’.

Further Information and Contact Details:

Bowel Cancer UK Head Office
Willcox House,
140-148 Borough High Street
London SE1 1LB
Tel: 020 7940 1760
Fax: 020 7940 1761
Email: admin@bowelcanceruk.org.uk
Website: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/

Bowel Cancer UK in Scotland
20 Queen Street
Edinburgh EH2 1JX
Tel: 0131 225 5333
Fax: 0131 225 2206
Email: scotadmin@bowelcanceruk.org.uk

Bowel Cancer UK in Northern Ireland
Contact Bernadette McGarry
Tel: 07798 523668
Email: bernadette.mcgarry@bowelcanceruk.org.uk

Individual support

If you know someone requiring individual support and wishing to speak to a nurse, they can contact the Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 00 00 between 9am – 8pm Monday – Friday, or Cancer Research UK on 0808 800 4040 between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Attachments

• Bowel Cancer – Understanding Bowel Cancer Factsheet
• Bowel Cancer – Spotlight on Men
• Bowel Cancer – Symptoms & Risk Factors Factsheet
• Bowel Cancer – Screening Factsheet.
• Bowel Cancer – Diagnosing, Factsheet
• Bowel Cancer – Genetic Conditions & Risk Factors Factsheet
• Bowel Cancer – Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Bowel Cancer Risks Factsheet
• Bowel Cancer – Keeping a Bowel Cancer symptoms diary
• Bowel Cancer – Talking to your doctor about symptoms Factsheet.

                                        Let’s beat cancer sooner

The CWU Thanks Bowel Cancer UK, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support for working with us in producing this LTB, Advice and Information.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB263 Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – April 2019

Bowel Cancer – diagnosing_bowel_cancer_factsheet

Bowel Cancer – genetic_conditions_and_bowel_cancer_risk factsheet

Bowel Cancer – Inflammatory Bowel Disease Bowel Cancer Risk Factsheet

Bowel Cancer – keeping_a_bowel_symptom_diary

Bowel Cancer – Spotlight On Men – Bowel Cancer UK

Bowel Cancer – Symptoms_and_risk_factors_factsheet

Bowel Cancer – talking_to_your_doctor_about_bowel_symptoms_factsheet

Bowel Cancer – understanding_bowel_cancer_factsheet

Bowel_Cancer_screening_factsheet

JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE DEPLOYMENT OF MO25 WITH DEMOUNTABLE BODY IN THE MAIL CENTRE & REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE NETWORK

Branches and representatives are advised that trial activity has been taking place in line with the Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the CWU Covering the Trial of a Six York Mover (MO25) with Demountable Body at South Midlands Mail Centre.

The equipment trialled was a MO25 York Mover with Demountable Body for moving full, empty and nested York’s within Mail Centres and RDC’s.

The trial activity has now been successfully concluded and has confirmed that the Master Mover MO25 with Demountable Body is suitable for use in Mail Centres and RDC’s, subject to a full risk assessment being undertaken locally and the agreed Safe Systems of Work being in place.

Discussions have therefore taken place with the business in relation to concluding a Joint Statement to allow for the solution to be deployed which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive. A copy of the Joint Statement is attached for your consideration.

Colleagues will note that in line with previous agreements the Joint Statement provides for continued full CWU involvement in the deployment activity.

The new Royal Mail designed multiple York mover, allows compatibility of approved demountable bodies with any MO25 Tug. The equipment will enable, at strategic points around the Mail Centre/RDC, empty demountable bodies to be exchanged for loaded ones, which can carry up to 6 full York’s or 15 nested York’s. The loaded Demountable Body is then transported to the distribution warehouse to be unloaded and the cycle is then repeated.

Further to the trial activity SMMC will retain their existing MO25 with Demountable Body system, with initial deployment activity focussing on whether the equipment is suitable for use in the following Mail Centres, instead of the existing Tug with G21 trailer configuration:

• Gatwick
• Jubilee
• HCN
• Bristol
• Belfast
• Birmingham

The opportunity also exists for all other plants to review their requirements and consider if, subject to the Risk Assessment and SSoW criteria being met, the new equipment would be of benefit to their operation.

The associated safety documentation is attached to the LTB which has been uploaded to the CWU Website.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.orgquoting reference number: 231.07.

 

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

19LTB262

Attachment 1 – JS MO25 with Demountable Body in MC’s and RDC’s – 26.04.19

Attachment 2 – SMMC Master Documents Tug

Organ Donation Law Change Update (NHSBT)

Further to our series of previous LTBs and CWU Conference decision to support the promotion of Organ and Blood donation, this is to let Branches and Regions know and to remind you all once again that the law around organ donation in England is changing. It’s hoped by NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) that the change will lead to more lives being saved through organ donation.

In short; From spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they had recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

NHSBT 12 month public information campaign

NHSBT have now launched a 12 month public information campaign to tell people that the law is changing and to explain that from spring 2020 everybody over 18 will be considered as a potential donor unless they ‘opt out’ or are in an excluded group. NHSBT will be encouraging people to choose whether they want to donate their organs when they die, to record their decision and share it with their family. If they decide they don’t want to donate, they will need to register their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

What is organ and tissue donation? 

Organ and tissue donation is giving your organs and/or tissues to help save or improve the lives of others when you die. One organ donor can save or transform the lives of up to nine people. Tissue transplants can also significantly improve a person’s quality of life. This might be a cornea to help someone see again, a replacement heart valve to treat a heart defect, or skin to treat severe burns.

Why is the law around organ donation changing? 

Around three people die each day across the UK in need of an organ, because not enough organs are available for transplant. But only 1% of people die in circumstances that would allow them to donate.

Most people support organ donation in principle and would be willing to donate their organs after their death. However, many people do not make this decision clear either by signing on to the NHS Organ Donor Register or telling their family.

The change in law better reflects what most people want to happen and will help save and improve more lives.

Further information and campaign materials 

You can obtain further information and download campaign materials via this link. https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/pass-it-on/

Also Visit:  www.nhsbt.nhs.uk

NHSBT Animation Video link: https://nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/15840/opt-out-animation-2019.mp4

Attachments:

• NHSBT Campaign Poster
• NHSBT Fact Sheet

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB269 Organ Donation Law Change Update (NHSBT)

organ-donation-law-in-england-factsheet

pass-it-on-digital-poster-heart-1-long-dwell

2019 TUC Health and Safety Rep Award

The TUC wants to demonstrate and acknowledge the range of work currently undertaken by lay union representatives on behalf of their members and the community. They will be making an award to the trade unionist who represents the best aspects of being a health and safety representative. This is not intended to be a competitive award, and the TUC is keen to develop this award over the coming years. The award will be made at the 2019 Congress, which takes place in Brighton from 8-11 September.

The award is for lay members who have shown outstanding effectiveness in their role as a health and safety representative. Nominations will be judged against their contribution as a health and safety representative in their workplace and not any other roles.

In line with the practice for other TUC awards there will be one overall winner of the award, however, unions may submit as many nominations for this award as they wish, but each nomination must be signed by the union’s General Secretary. Please complete this form and submit it to the TUC by the deadline of Friday, 7th June 2019 (the address is at the end). Please complete the form in typescript or black ink so that it can be photocopied.

The judging panel will rely on the information given on the form so please make sure that enough detail is given for the judges to assess the entry. Supporting materials can also be attached.

Please obtain the consent of the person being nominated before submitting this form. The TUC’s decision about any aspect of this award is final.

The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Committee has always supported the award and as a union we are proud to have won the award on a number of occasions previously.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB268 2019 TUC Health and Safety Rep Award

Health and Safety Rep Award Form 2019

Additional Deployment of Parcel Sorting Machines (PSM’s) in Mail Centres

Branches and representatives will be aware that LTB 355/2018 (copy attached for ease of reference) conveyed deployment arrangements in relation to the planned 16 Parcel Automation Machines (PSM’s). Currently 10 PSM’s are operational, with the remaining 6 at various stages of build and installation.

For the information of Branches, the business had previously indicated that consideration was also being given to the deployment of an additional 5 PSM’s across the Mail Centre estate but a final decision in this regard had been put on hold at Board level.

The business have now informed the department that following the submission of a revised comprehensive Business Case, authorisation has been given by the RM Investment Committee for an additional 4 PSM’s to be deployed at some of the existing PSM sites with the largest parcel volumes.

The business position is that the additional PSM’s, together with improvements and upgrades to the current PSM’s to reduce the present level of rejects also funded within the latest Business Case, will enhance revenue protection and support parcel volume growth.

The business has therefore advised the department that this additional phase will involve the deployment of a second PSM at the following Mail Centres:

 SMMC 

 HCN 

 Bristol 

 Jubilee 

As with the previous phases of the PSM deployment program the final decision on where to deploy PSM’s has sat solely with the business. On the basis of that decision at the end of this phase of the project, 16 plants would be equipped with automation to process parcels with 4 having 2 machines, equating to a total of 20 machines.

Given that the decision for the first time involved the deployment of multiple machines at some sites, the department had sought clarity in relation to the rationale and business case behind the deployment of the additional machines at existing PSM sites, prior to communicating with Branches. However, we have been made aware that CWU representatives at the four sites have now been approached and advised of the decision. Of great concern is that it appears that there may have been suggestions to representatives at some sites, that the business case includes proposals to concentrate parcel workload at the four sites in receipt of a second machine.

Representations have therefore been made at National level and assurances have been received from the Royal Mail Project Team that the business case for the deployment of the additional machines does not include or rely on proposals on the movement of parcel workload from other Mail Centres. The department will be seeking formal confirmation of this as a matter of urgency.

The Parcel Automation Joint Working Group is due to meet following Annual Conference and the department will seek full clarification on the rationale, time line and operational impacts of this additional deployment phase. Any issues that cannot be resolved at the Joint Working Group level will be escalated to the National Processing Group (NPG).

The department is aware that various rumours have been circulating on the location of any additional machines and that the business was considering a number of options. This news may therefore be disappointing to those Mail Centres who had hoped to be the recipient of a PSM in the current phase.

In addition the business has confirmed that they will continue to review and develop solutions to enable the deployment of Parcel Automation at all Mail Centre sites. The policy of the department on all future Parcel Automation is to secure solutions which enhance the ability to grow parcel volumes while protecting all of our current processing sites.

The Group will continue to monitor and review the ongoing PSM deployment activity to ensure that it is fully in line with the agreed framework (attached).

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 732.01.

 

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

19LTB267

Attachment 1 – 18LTB355

Report on the CWU Annual Conference 2019 – Health, Safety & Environment Department & Equalities & Education Department Joint Fringe Meeting – Monday 29th April 2019: “MENTAL HEALTH: TIME TO CHANGE” – Guest Speaker Jonathan Ashworth MP Labour Shadow secretary of State for Health

Over two hundred (249 in total) Communication Workers Union Conference delegates packed into the Tregonwall Hall for the Health, Safety and Environment department and Equalities & Education department Joint Fringe Meeting at the CWU’s Annual Conference in Bournemouth on Monday 29th April 2019. This was the largest attendance recorded at a CWU Conference Fringe meeting.

Opening the meeting, CWU NEC Health, Safety and Environment Committee Chair Shelley Banbury introduced CWU Health Safety and Environment National Officer Dave Joyce and Jon Ashworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health.

Jon Ashworth MP is a Labour and Co-operative Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Leicester South since 2011, and is the current Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Jon recently said “This NHS crisis also extends to mental health provision, which for too long has remained the Cinderella service of the NHS – undervalued and underfunded.  That’s why Labour will substantially increase spending on mental health and deliver a world-class mental health service.”

Shelley also introduced Steve Jones who is chair of the CWU Mental Health Strategy Group. Steve said he had met Jon at Labour Party conference after he spoke in the mental health debate and was impressed when Jon said he will “not just talk about this, we will do it”. Steve then showed the new CWU video detailing personal experiences and accounts of CWU members of their own mental ill-health, called “It’s time to talk”. This was well-received.

Dave Joyce then spoke about the CWU and the Union’s Mental Health Strategy and he referred to the Government commissioned Stephenson/Farmer report which stated that 300,000 people with mental health issues had lost their jobs. Dave said it was a good report with positive recommendations which the Tory Government accepted but had done nothing to implement since it was published 18 Months ago.

Jon Ashworth thanked the CWU for the kind invitation who he said are one of the great trade unions affiliated to the Labour Party and he praised the work of Steve Jones on Mental Health and General Secretary Dave Ward for his leadership. Jon congratulated CWU members for their propositions, campaigning and for speaking out on the Mental Health issue.

Jon said that we have to make mental health a priority for a Labour Government and he also mentioned the relevance of Workers Memorial Day to Mental Health. He spoke about his personal experiences in his family with alcohol dependence and how he had run the London marathon on Sunday 28 April (the day before the fringe meeting) to raise £5,000 for a charity dealing with this issue.

Jon went on to talk about the crisis in the NHS caused by austerity policies of the Tory Government. “We’ve lost thousands of Mental Health nurses and hospital beds and have the lowest number of child psychiatrists in Europe. A quarter of children with Mental Health conditions are turned away because of austerity imposed on the NHS and children are sent hundreds of miles to receive treatment.”

Jon said “there were 16 million people living in poverty, 5,000 sleeping on the streets so it was no surprise that Mental Health problems are increasing.”

Jon added “Labour would end Tory privatisation of the NHS and would bring outsourced contracts back in-house.”

He went on to add “we need a proper NHS in line with Nye Bevan’s vision when he set it up.  The creation of the NHS was about equality and his commitment was to tackle inequalities. He said that Mental Health will be a priority issue for the next Labour Government and spoke about the level of mental health issues affecting young people that needs to be tackled as well as Mental Health at Work.”

The CWU General Secretary Dave ward then spoke and praised Jon’s contributions and he asked delegates to watch Jon’s podcasts where he relates personal experiences. The GS said that “we need Labour in power to improve the life chances of working people and a radical approach was never more needed than now. The rise in inequality needs challenging and we need to get Labour elected.”

Shelley then opened the meeting up to questions.

Question 1: A motion at Conference called for a joined up strategy on Mental Health but no mention of “Time to Talk” and Royal Mail managers lacked knowledge about the Royal Mail strategy.

Answer:  Dave Joyce said “There was an agreed 5-year strategy in Royal Mail, CWU was responsible for pressing the employer to bring that about and instrumental in influencing the direction of it and the Union continues to work with Royal Mail on this Mental Health Strategy. He referred to the agreement reached with Royal Mail to train 5,500 physical First Aiders (CWU Members) in Mental Health First Aid plus agreement to train 130 CWU Area Health and Safety Reps on Mental Health First Aid, plus the setting up of 100 plus Mental Health Trained Ambassadors (most being CWU Reps and Members) and he added that 9,000 managers had so far been trained as part of a ‘Mandatory’ Training Programme. Dave then went on to give an update progress report on the CWU Mental Health Strategy which included  a planned national event in Manchester later this year, discussions with leading Mental Health Charities to establish working support partnerships with Mental Health experts, developing a CWU Reps National Mental Health First Aid Training Programme, Training CWU/HQ staff, setting up a programme to train CWU MHFA trainers, working with CWU Communications to set up a dedicated CWU Mental Health web page with information, help, assistance and resources, developing a communications strategy to maximise penetration of the campaign and reach out to CWU Reps and Members nationwide, and there would shortly be a first ever training course for employees of the CWU at HQ, training the people who take calls from members and Reps seeking help.

Question 2:  Labour need to invest on a joint strategy with education which needs to be in the Labour Party manifesto.

Answer:  Jon said there would be more investment in schools on this.

Question 3:  Is anything in place to thwart Trump’s state visit to the UK.

Answer: Jon said we shouldn’t be rolling out the red carpet for Trump and the NHS must not be put up for sale to the USA.

Question 4: Jon must not just make promises and speak fine words but must do something when Labour gets into power. These are real issues and affect our own families and colleagues.

Question 5: A personal friend was found hanged in his garage; there were no funds available for people who have Mental Health conditions who use sign language. Need to look at disabilities that contribute to Mental Health.

Answer to 4 and 5:

These contributions bring home the issues we face on Mental Health, the status quo is not an option and the NHS is Health and Wellbeing.

Jon’s parting message was that he “Will do his very best and Labour will invest. We have seen what Mental Health problems do to a person and we are going to make Mental Health a priority and we will do all we can to turn this around”.

Shelley Banbury thanked Jon Ashworth for attending and for his inspiring and informative talk to the CWU Health and Safety and Equal Opportunity Joint Fringe meeting.

Jon Ashworth received a standing ovation for his speech from the delegates in attendance.

The Chair closed the meeting by thanking everyone for attending.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB265 Report on the CWU Annual Conference 2019 – HS&E & Equalities & Education Department Joint Fringe Meeting

Election of National Representative Positions – 2019

• Postal Standing Orders Committee
• Telecoms & Financial Services Standing Orders Committee

The NEC has agreed the election arrangements for the National positions listed above.   Accordingly please find enclosed the regulations and nomination forms.

The Timetable is as follows:

Nominations open                      8 May 2019
Nominations close                      22 May 2019 (14:00)
Despatch ballot papers              29 May 2019
Ballot closes                                 12 June 2019 (14:00)

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

19LTB276

SOC Regulations 2019

Nomination Forms SOC 2019

Candidates Biograhical & Consent Form

Election of CWU Nominee for Election to the Labour Party NEC – 2019

Please find below the timetable for the 2019 election of the CWU nominee for election to the Labour Party NEC:

Nominations open:                         8 May 2019
Nominations close:                         22 May 2019 (14:00)
Despatch ballot papers:                 29 May 2019
Ballot closes:                                    12 June 2019 (14:00)

Accordingly please find attached the election regulations, nomination form and candidates consent and biographical detail form.

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

19LTB274

LP NEC Regulations 2019

LP NEC Nomination Form 2019

LP NEC Consent & Bio Form 2019

Annual Conference 2019 – Decisions

Please find attached copies of the decisions taken during Annual Conference 2019.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven or sent to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

 

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

19LTB273 – Annual Conference 2019 – Decisions

1. General Conference – Sunday 28.4.19

2. Rules Revision Conference – Monday 29.4.19

3. TFS Conference – Tuesday 30.4.19

5. TFS Conference – Wednesday 1.5.19

7. TFS Conference – Thursday 2.5.19

4. Postal Conference – Tuesday 30.4.19

6. Postal Conference – Wednesday 1.5.19

8 Postal Conference – Thursday 2 5 19