NPC Over 75s TV Licence Campaign

Campaigners outside BBC Essex 21st June 2019

Today marked a national day for pensioners, where they gathered outside 21 BBC stations across the British Isles in support of the Over 75s TV Licence, these were – Belfast, Birmingham, Blackburn, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Dunstable, Glasgow, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Salford Quay ( Manchester ), Sheffield, Southampton and Stoke.

A petition with Age UK which aims to safeguard the concession, has well over 100,000 signatories to date. In the meantime, pressure is mounting to stop any cut, with the NPC’s campaign receiving support from MPs, Trade Unions and the Mirror newspaper. MPs will debate this injustice on the 15th July.

Myself as a delegate to the NPC and on behalf of CWU Eastern No5 Branch Retired Members, attended the rally at BBC Essex along with eight other delegates from the Eastern Region. The Editor of BBC Essex, Lou Birt came out and invited us onto their forecourt and offered us refreshments.

Marion Wilson Vice President of the NPC is seen being interviewed by Ian Puckey presenter of BBC Essex, Tony Garner NPC Eastern Region Secretary is seen holding the posters was also interviewed as was Maurice Austin from Chelmsford Retirement Action Group. The news bulletins from 4pm reported on the nationwide NPC Demo. The interview was played in full shortly after the news and listeners were invited to phone in over the following two hours and almost all of them were supportive of the NPC position.

Regards.

Dick Hewlett.

Retired Members Chair / NPC Delegate.

RMPFS Pay Review April 2019

RMPFS Pay Review April 2019

Dear Colleagues,

As was previously advised to Branches in LTB 332/19, negotiations regarding the 2019 Pay Claim in RMPFS have been ongoing since the beginning of the year. The negotiating team has continued to press the pay related policies carried at last year’s RMPFS Policy Forum in Birmingham along with Annual Conference policy.

Whilst previously acknowledging that discussions are being conducted against the background of the tight financial targets placed on RMPFS by Royal Mail Group, these discussions have nevertheless, and up to this point been constructive. However the Union’s negotiating team has now received a closed offer from the company which falls short of the Union’s claim and is unacceptable. This pay offer has therefore been rejected by the Postal Executive.

Whilst the pay offer is a closed one and therefore does not represent RMPFS final pay offer or final position, it is extremely disappointing that although some small progress has been made on pay, there remains a fundamental difference between the respective negotiating teams on the issue of pensions.

Joint discussions are continuing and further meetings are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Branches will be updated on progress accordingly.

Any enquires regarding this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department, reference 120.12, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Or to Ray Ellis, reference 301, email address: khawkins@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch   CWU Assistant Secretary

Carl Maden – CWU A/Assistant Secretary

LTB 383.19 – RMPFS Pay Review April 2019



Mick Goldsmith and Dick Hewlett at NPC Blackpool 2019.   RETIRED MEMBERS COMMITTEE REPORT.

                 

Mick Goldsmith and Dick Hewlett at NPC Blackpool 2019.

 

RETIRED MEMBERS COMMITTEE REPORT.

 

Following last month’s committee meeting where it was agreed to cancel our Retired Members meeting in respect of the passing of Mick Shill and Pat Friskey, our former Sectional Chair and Secretary, dates and venue for the re-arranged meeting will be decided shortly.

 

Myself and Dick Hewlett attended the recent National Pensioners Parliament held in Blackpool. Dave Ward our General Secretary attended as a guest speaker and congratulated the NPC on all the hard work they do on behalf of pensioners. We debated the recent BBC decision to defer payment of the free TV license to the over 75s unless you are in receipt of pension credit. A 59 seat coach was hastily arranged to take delegates and lobby outside the BBC studios at Salford Quays, Manchester to protest their decision.

 

Other issues raised were the still awaited Green Paper on social care which has yet to be published. The important thing to remember is the question of how we properly fund social care in both home and community, and until the Green Paper is published and properly debated, no party will be able to debate and give a definitive route they will take on this issue.

 

The recent House of Lords recommendations relating to intergeneration issues was debated not so much on the elderly having more, and the young less, therefore the old should give up more of their universal benefits to provide aide to the young. It rests more on how we can provide the same benefits to the young when they get older by way of decent workplace pensions, decent wages affordable housing and so on.

 

We shall be providing a comprehensive report to the RMs through the next newsletter and the forthcoming RMs meeting.

 

Mick Goldsmith 

Retired Members Secretary

 

NEC, Industrial Executive and Regional Secretary Elections – 2019   

NEC, Industrial Executive and Regional Secretary Elections – 2019   

The purpose of this LTB is to provide Branches with further information regarding the forthcoming NEC, Industrial Executive and Regional Secretary ballots which are scheduled to take place from 2nd July 2019 to 24th July 2019.

In line with our previous policy we are taking this opportunity to provide some additional guidance on the number of candidates that members will be entitled to vote for in each of the respective ballots.

We hope this will assist those Branches who wish to advise their members of any recommendations that the branch may wish to make.

Branches will find the full list of nominations for the above elections in the following LTBs: 353/19, 356/19, 366/19,369/19 and 374/19.

Listed below are the ballots scheduled to take place in the 2019 series of elections.  Also listed is the relevant member voting entitlement for each ballot.

 

POSTAL CONSTITUENCY

 

National Executive Council Representatives

 

Postal Constituency Chair – No ballot required.

Postal Constituency Vice Chair – No ballot required.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 1

  • All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 17 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than nine. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to nine candidates to their members.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 2 – No ballot required.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 3 (Young Worker) 

  • All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidate to their members.

 

Postal Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Disability) 

  • All members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot is one. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidate to their members.

 

Postal Constituency – Section 4 (NEC LGBT) – No ballot required.

 

Postal Executive Representatives – Postal Grades

  • All Postal Grade members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.

Please note that members of the Postal Constituency who are Postal & Technical Services grades will not be eligible to vote in this ballot. 

  • There are 17 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than thirteen.  
  • Accordingly Branches with Postal Grade members will be entitled to recommend up to thirteen candidates to their members.

 

Postal Executive Representatives – Postal & Technical Services Grades

  • All Postal & Technical Services Grade members of the Postal Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.

Please note that members of the Postal Constituency who are Postal grades will not be eligible to vote in this ballot. 

  • There are 3 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than two.  
  • Accordingly Branches with Postal & Technical Services members will be entitled to recommend up to two candidates to their members.

 

TELECOMS & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY

 

National Executive Council Representatives

 

T&FS Constituency Chair – No ballot required.

T&FS Constituency Vice Chair – No ballot required.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 1

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 11 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than six. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to six candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 2

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 4 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than two. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend up to two candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 3 (Young Worker)

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (Women)

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members.

 

T&FS Constituency – NEC Section 4 (BAME)

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members

 

T&FS Executive Representatives

 

TFSE – TFSE Young Worker 

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members

 

TFSE – Santander Group and related companies (Santander UK, Santander UK Operations Ltd, Santander UK Technology Ltd, Santander Global and RR Donnelley)

No Ballot Required.

 

TFSE – Telefonica O2 UK, Connect 44 and ISS Eaton

No Ballot Required.

 

TFSE – Capita in the T&FS Sector and 14Forty (Capita contract)

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency working in Capita in the TFS Sector and 14Forty are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 2 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than one. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend one candidates to their members.

 

TFSE – All Other Members in the T&FS Constituency 

  • All members of the T&FS Constituency (Excluding members working in Santander Group and related companies, Santander UK, Santander UK Operations Ltd, Santander UK Technology Ltd, Santander Global and RR Donnelley. Telefonica O2 UK, Connect 44 and ISS Eaton. Capita in the T&FS Sector and 14Forty (Capita contract)) are entitled to vote in this ballot.
  • There are 7 candidates listed on the voting paper.
  • The number of candidates to be voted for in this ballot can be less, but not more than four. 
  • Accordingly Branches will be entitled to recommend four candidates to their members

 

Regional Secretary Elections 

Ballots are required in the following CWU Regions:

Northern Ireland – 3 candidates
Scotland – 2 candidates
South East Region – 2 candidates
London – 2 candidates

All members in each of the respective regions are entitled to vote in the above elections including retired members.

Branches can recommend one candidate in these elections.

 

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

19LTB382



Royal Mail Group Environment Awareness Week 24 – 29 June 2019

Royal Mail Group Environment Awareness Week 24 – 29 June 2019

Following on from National Clean Air Day on Thursday 20 June reported in LTB 351/19, Royal Mail has announced that they will run an Environment Awareness Week 24 – 29 June to promote what we can all do to help reduce air pollution. CWU is happy to support the initiative. The following outlines the messages which will be promoted during the coming campaign week.

This month (June) sees the United Nations’ World Environment Day, with a theme of Air Pollution. Royal Mail Group is carrying that theme through into their own environment awareness week.

9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air across the world, with multiple sources of air pollution ranging from; agriculture, domestic households, industry, transport and waste.

Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), bronchitis and emphysema, asthma and in some cases dementia and premature death.

By changing behaviours, we can look to limit both Royal Mail Group’s and our own impact, helping to improve air quality in our local communities and the wider world; enhancing the quality of life for all of us.

We may not be able to solve the problem alone, but a lot of sources of air pollution are in our control. Here are some examples of what can be done to help, at home or at work:

  • Use public transport, car share, cycle or walk
  • Turn off your vehicle engine when stationary
  • Reuse/repair items where possible
  • Recycle clean recyclable waste, this may differ between home and work
  • Switch to high-efficiency home heating systems and equipment/ensure boilers are regularly serviced
  • Save energy: turn off lights and electronics when not in use
  • Don’t open windows in air-conditioned offices, unless the air conditioning is switched off.
  • Report lights or heating left on at work, when they are not needed, e.g., yard lighting which is on during daylight hours.

By making a few small changes during the week and realising the differences they can make, could lead to longer term adoption and others following that lead. The campaign is calling on everyone to lead by example and improve our air quality.

See attached set of 8 Slides or Screen Shots which will appear on RMTV Screens in all Royal Mail Group Workplaces during Environmental Awareness Week.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB381 Royal Mail Group Environment Awareness Week 24 – 29 June 2019

556228_RM_34_Screens_AirQuality_1360x768_V5



BT Pension Scheme: Updated Contact Details

BT Pension Scheme: Updated Contact Details

The BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) has advised that it will be centralising the member support team in one location which will be Chesterfield. This is in order to improve service and reflects feedback from Scheme members.

As a result, the BTPS contact centre will be moving from India to Chesterfield. Calls will be answered in both India and Chesterfield over the next few months, while the transition takes place.

This welcome development follows on from the BTPS decision last year to take the pension administration in-house.

As a result the contact email address for the BTPS is changing, though the phone numbers have remained unchanged.

The full contact details for the BTPS are now as follows.

Email: member@btps.co.uk

Phone:
Calling from within the UK: 0800 731 1919
Calling from outside the UK: +44 (0)203 0233420
Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

Portal: www.btpensionsportal.com

Web: www.btpensions.net

Post:
BT Pension Scheme
Sunderland
SR43 4AD

If there are any issues arising from the content of this LTB please contact HQ.

Yours sincerely

 

Nigel Cotgrove

Assistant Secretary 

LTB 378.2019



Election of National Representative Positions – 2019 CWU Retired Members Committee

Election of National Representative Positions – 2019

  • CWU Retired Members Committee

Further to LTB 329/19 dated 31st May 2019 at the close of nominations today, the following

 

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

19LTB377

Pensioners to march on BBC offices across Britain in protest against plan to axe licences for over-75s.

Pensioners to march on BBC offices across Britain in protest against plan to axe licences for over-75s.

 

Pensioners are to march on local BBC offices to protest against

the corporation’s plans to axe free TV licences for over-75s.   

 

 

 

Pensioners are to march on local BBC offices to protest against the corporation’s plans to axe free TV licences for over-75s.

The nationwide demonstration, organised by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), is thought to be one of the biggest protests against the move so far.

It will take place at midday on Friday June 21 at a number of sites across the country and follows a protest at the corporation’s Media City offices at Salford Quays on Thursday.

The NPC, which claims to have one million members through affiliated groups, said it is organising several marches, including demonstrations at Broadcasting House in London and BBC offices in Salford, Sheffield, and Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 

The BBC has said free licences will be means-tested under a new scheme which aims to protect programming while dealing with the extra funding burden.

Free licences will be restricted to over-75s who claim Pension Credit from June 1 2020.

But NPC general secretary Jan Shortt described the move as “callous and cruel”.

She said: “The amount of anger we are seeing at the BBC’s decision, not just from pensioners but younger people as well, is absolutely amazing.

 

“This really is uniting the generations, because we all know that if the Government and the BBC collude to take the free TV licence away from today’s older people, it won’t be there for the pensioners of tomorrow.

“We have growing rates of poverty and loneliness among our older generation – and this decision is callous and cruel.

“What’s clear is that the BBC knew that if they means-tested the TV licence, only 11% of the poorest 10th of households currently receiving it would actually get to keep it.

“The truth is, it shouldn’t be the job of the broadcaster to administer or fund part of our wider welfare policy and the Government must take back responsibility for it.”

Strictly Come Dancing’s former head judge Len Goodman and Ben Fogle yesterday became the latest figures to criticise the move.

Goodman branded the decision “rotten”, saying it will “impact on the most vulnerable”.

Fogle said the Government should be held accountable for its “poor decision” and made to reverse it.

In a joint statement released on Monday, the BBC’s chairman, Sir David Clementi, and director-general Tony Hall said continuing the Government’s scheme would have had a “severe impact” on services and that the new model “represents the fairest possible outcome”.

Only around 1.5 million households will be eligible for a free TV licence under the new scheme. It is thought that around 3.7 million pensioners will lose out.

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