THE WHOLE OF THE Q&A TONIGHT
What an amazing session. Please share it as widely as possible #WeRiseAgain
Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation – Motion 17 (2018)
Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation – Motion 17 (2018)
In recent years the safety of older tyres on heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches has become a matter of increasing concern.
In September 2012, a catastrophic failure of a 19-year-old tyre, fitted to the steered axle of a large coach, led to the loss of three lives. The accident investigator concluded that the tyre failure was as a direct result of its age.
In June 2017, the family of Michael Molloy from Liverpool, one of those killed, launched what became a widely supported campaign, the “Tyred” Campaign and campaigned unceasingly for a ban on the use of older tyres on buses and coaches. Public support has been overwhelming.
In September 2017, a truck travelling on the M5 suffered a tyre blow-out, crossed the central reservation and collided with oncoming traffic. Five lives were lost in that accident. The Coroner concluded at the inquest, held in February 2019, that the crash was a result of the tyre failure, noting that the tyre was 18 years old and had suffered structural deterioration due to its age.
In both collisions, the age of the tyres fitted to the steered axles was considered to have contributed to their failure.
Since 2013, the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has published roadworthiness guidance to advise against the use of tyres aged more than 10 years on buses, coaches and heavy good vehicles except on a rear axle as part of a twin wheel arrangement. However there was no legal requirement to comply.
In 2018, the Government commissioned research with an aim to establish the effect age has on the integrity of road vehicle tyres. As part of this research, the UK’s TRL Ltd worked with a leading laboratory in the United States to carry out testing and analysis. Collectively, this research evidence concluded that age does affect tyre performance and safety.
In February 2019, the Government, via the DfT published proposals to deal with this threat to road safety, announcing an intention to consult on the proposals to legislate against the use of tyres aged 10 years or older on heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses and would additionally consider extending the same requirements to taxis and private hire vehicles.
In June this year, the Public Consultation was launched with the Government stating that they believed the changes being consulted on would save lives with the consultation submissions closing date being on 1 September.
Attached is the response of the CWU to the Department for Transport’s consultation on banning tyres aged 10 years and older. In line with CWU Conference Policy established with the carriage of Motion 17 (2018) we have supported the “Tyred” Campaign and as such welcomed and strongly supported the Government’s proposals in general as well as suggesting that the proposals could have gone further. We have additionally called for tough enforcement and penalties for offenders, along with sufficient resources in respect of Police officers and DfT Inspectors.
The vehicles included in the proposals are heavy goods vehicles, heavy trailers, buses, coaches and minibuses. The DfT is also seeking evidence on whether to introduce a similar maximum age for tyres fitted to taxis and private hire vehicles which we support.
Attachments:
- CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation on Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older.
- Motion 17(2018).
- Images – The Shredded 19-year-old-tyre which blew out in the coach crash which killed Michael Molloy plus Michael with Mother Frances who led the “Tyred” Campaign.The CWU congratulates Frances Molloy and her family and close supporters in bringing the ‘Tyred’ campaign to this stage.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
1 Shredded Tyre – Michael Franes Molloy
DfT Consultation on Banning Tyres 10 Years and Older – CWU Response (Sep.._
ERRATA: 2019 National Young Workers’ Education Event, 18-20 October, Manchester
ERRATA: 2019 National Young Workers’ Education Event, 18-20 October, Manchester
This is to remind branches to send delegates to this year’s National Young Workers’ Education Event, which will take place over the weekend of Friday, 18th October through to Sunday, 20th October and will be held at Manchester Mechanics, Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD.
This weekend is the flagship Young Workers event of the year and it is absolutely vital that all branches send a delegation. We will be working with our Regional Secretaries to maximise attendance.
The event will start at 18:30 on Friday, 18th October and will end at midday on Sunday, 20th October. A full agenda will be issued nearer the time as we aim to produce another dynamic and fresh event.
The cost to send a delegate will be £250. This cost, will include two nights’ accommodation (at Britannia Hotel, Portland St, M1 3LA) breakfast and buffet lunches and dinners.
For more information and to secure places for the weekend branches should email delegate names to Lauren Townsendltownsend@cwu.org as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward
General Secretary
19LTB528a – National Young Workers Education Event Manchester
National Mental Health Event – Postponed
National Mental Health Event – Postponed
This is to notify all branches that the National Mental Health Event, scheduled for October 17th in Manchester has been postponed.
This is due to workload issues surrounding our dispute with Royal Mail Group and a potential General Election.
We will shortly communicate more information on our mental health strategy, which has developed significantly in recent months.
We will also set a new date for a national event and share this with branches at the earliest opportunity.
We thank you for your understanding.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Fire Brigades Union: We have no choice but to protest #RescueSuffolkFire
Dear Friends,
We’re writing to say a huge thank you for all your support in our fight to #RescueSuffolkFire.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service know that the cuts they’ve enforced are putting firefighters’ and residents’ lives at risk. They’ve allowed dangerous practices like riding only three firefighters on a fire engine to go ahead – not enough to make rescues. Suffolk has seen the largest percentage cut of firefighters and residents have the longest waiting times for a fire engine in the Eastern region.
We’ve warned Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service that firefighters are already struggling to protect the public. We’ve told them that the cuts have gone too far. Yet they still aren’t listening to us.
We won’t stand idly by while Suffolk firefighters’ and residents’ lives are put at risk. So we have no choice but to protest.
Will you join us and stand up to the people who are willing to gamble firefighters’ and residents’ lives?
When: Thursday 12 September, 1pm
Where: Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2BX
RSVP: Let us know you’re attending via Eventbrite
This issue means a lot to us and we really appreciate your support. Can you go one step further and share this event with your friends and family?
https://rescue-suffolk-fire-rally.eventbrite.co.uk
Posting something on Facebook and Twitter will only take a second, but will mean hundreds of people see the protest and can join our fight.
Thank you for standing with us and we hope to see you at the protest.
Fire Brigades Union
Today’s Dispute Daily featuring DGSP Terry Pullinger Day 10
Today’s Dispute Daily featuring DGSP Terry Pullinger
LESE/SERTUC PENSIONERS SEMINAR HELD AT THE TUC CONGRESS HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY THE 3RD SEPTEMBER 2019.
LESE/SERTUC PENSIONERS SEMINAR HELD AT THE TUC CONGRESS HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY THE 3RD SEPTEMBER 2019.
This seminar was organised some time ago with the four main themes being Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Pensions Scheme.
Report on Barriers to Belonging.
Campaign to End Loneliness.
Save the free TV license for older people.
Terry Pullinger the CWU Deputy General Secretary gave a very interesting and detailed presentation on the reasons and the need for Unions to be involved more and more with employee/employer pension schemes if our younger generations are not to be left poorer when they retire than many of trade union members of an older generation. He quoted our schemes and the success the CWU have been having taking into account the historical problem otherpension funds have experienced over the years.
The contribution on Barriers to Belonging was a co-partnership between the Red Cross and the Co-Op surveying and exploring loneliness among people from BAME backgrounds. It was a very lengthy presentation covering the research concluding in their recommendations. In order to gain a better insight to this, I would suggest the enclosed presentation paper be given to our BAME representative where I hope they would enjoy it and also make useful reading for them.
The next presentation was made by delegates from Campaign to End Loneliness, Independent Age and AGE UK. All gave insights to loneliness and how each organisation went about looking at loneliness in subjective and objective ways.
For example the AGE UK delegate said they spent time out and about speaking to older people in pubs, parks, bookmakers and asking them directly about loneliness, are they lonely, do they feel lonely. Other speakers spoke on how they see the campaign to end loneliness going forward, how the older and younger generations interact with each other on this issue.
We then turned to the on going issue with the proposed loss of the free TV licences next June to the over 75s, unless you are on pension credit benefits. It is now becoming such an important because the arguments are moving in the direction of, ‘lose this fight and we will lose the fight to defend all our hard fought for pensioner benefits’. This, should there be another general election coming soon be the benchmark for pensioners to make their voices heard.
As well as all the noted guest speakers, there was a great deal of input from the delegates on the floor, all of which the guest speakers did their best to respond to. All in all, the seminar was a great success, and the LESE/SERTUC pensioners committee should be congratulated on organising the event.
Mick Goldsmith
REGIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE NUJ CENTER LONDON ON THE 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019.
REGIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE NUJ CENTER LONDON ON THE 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019.
I attended the meeting in my capacity as the Regional Chair.
I opened the meeting by dedicating the meeting to the memory of Graham Potter a long standing member of the committee who recently passed away.
I also recorded my thanks to Baz Price of the Central Counties and Thames Valley Branch who attended Pat Friskey’s funeral on behalf of the Regional Committee in the absence of Steve Taylor and Mick Goldsmith who were attending the NPC Parliament in Blackpool.
Steve Taylor reported on the upcoming Regional Meeting to be held on the 6th of September where more information on re-design on the new structure for the Eastern Region would be put forward, this would include the Selection/Election of the lead RMs Secretary. Steve indicated he had put hisname forward for this position, he would report back via email to the delegates on this and other issues relating to the new structure.
When asked about the new National Retired Members Committee, which replaced the old RMAC, Tom Cooper our delegated NEC representative informed us that they were yet to meet.
With regard to Branch reports, these were made via any contributions made by delegates on the agenda items we debated.
On the NPC, the Secretary reported on the recent NPC Parliament in Blackpool where Dave Ward our GC was a guest speaker. The main theme of the Parliament was the campaign to retain free TV licences for the over 75’s, which included parliamentary campaigns in London, and a rally at the BBC Media Center in Manchester which took place at the conclusion of the NPC Parliament.
Steve Taylor reported on the latest developments with LESE/SERTUC pensioners section, with the Loneliness/Pensions/TV License seminar taking place on the 3rd of September at Congress House, with one of the guest speakers being Terry Pullinger who would be speaking on defined and defined pensions.
Eastern No6, being their first meeting were keen to gather information on the new constitution with regard to placing motions to the RMs Annual Conference, either through the Regional Committee or via Branches.
Steve Taylor confirmed that the Retired Members Annual Conference will be held in Birmingham on the 23rd of October 2019.
I closed the meeting by thanking Tom Cooper for his attendance, also the members of Eastern No6 making their first attendance at our meetings.
The final meeting of the committee will be held on Monday the 2nd of December 2019.
Mick Goldsmith
Welcome to the August newsletter for Eastern 5 Branch Retired members,
Dear Colleague,
Welcome to the August newsletter for Eastern 5 Branch Retired members,
Retired Members Secretary
Mick Goldsmith has decided to step down as Retired Members Secretary, I would like to place on record mine and the Branch Committee’s thanks to Mick for the excellent work he has carried out on behalf of themembership within the branch and the Eastern Region.
The branch committee has agreed that as branch secretary I will cover the role as Retired Members Secretary alongside Dick Hewlett who will continue as Retired Members Chair, until the branch AGM whennominations will open for the posts of Retired Members Secretary and Chair, I can be contacted on the details at the top of this page.
Retired Members Meetings
It is our intention to continue sending out regular newsletters and to hold regular meetings and invitingquest speakers, these are your meetings if you wish to have a speaker on a particular subject please contact me and I will try and arrange it, the next Retired Members meeting will take place on Wednesday 4th September 2019 at the Post Office Club, Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 2AU starting at 12 noon and finishing at 1430, I have arranged for a speaker from Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service, to give a presentation on fire safety in the home, refreshments will be provided.
New Branch Model Constitution, Special Branch Meeting
Inline with CWU National Rule, the branch has to ratify the new Branch Constitution to do this we need to hold a Special Branch Meeting this will be held on Sunday 8thSeptember 2019 at Peterborough & District Indoors Bowls Club, 19 Burton Street, Peterborough, PE1 5HA, Tea and Coffee will be served from 10am with the meeting starting at 1030 prompt.
Once the new constitution has been adopted it will allow Retired Members to stand for election as Branch Treasurer and Branch Political Officer, I have enclosed the relevant page concerning Retired Members to this letter, a full copy of the document will be available at the meeting, or upon request prior to the meeting.
Yours Sincerely
Andy Beeby
Branch secretary
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 