QUADRANT CATERING – COVID-19 RESPONSE

Branches are informed that discussions have been taking place with Quadrant in relation to the introduction of measures for social distancing, to protect catering employees and RMG employees who use the facilities.

To enable to the continued provision of essential catering facilities and ensure adherence to Government advice in relation to social distancing, Quadrant have now introduced a revised service offering during this very difficult period. The details of the revised arrangements are attached for information (Annex A).

The department firmly believes that it is extremely important that the Quadrant facilities remain available wherever possible to support RMG employees during these unprecedented times. The introduction of the revised service will assist in reducing the risk of infection for colleagues, while also providing the continuation of a catering facility. Equally, we believe that it will be extremely beneficial for RMG employees in reducing the need for them to have extended contact/travel outside of the workplace to source external food outlets.

A message has also been circulated by Emma Best, Operations Director Quadrant, to managers and employees today to provide support and explain and the changed process that is being adopted (Annex B). Branches are advised that the department has sought additional clarification from Quadrant in relation to pay issues and the following has been confirmed:

 A commitment to ensuring that any employee who needs to self-isolate or is covered by a sick note for up to 14 days will receive full pay.

 Sick absence beyond 14 days will attract full contractual terms.

In addition to the above the following has also been confirmed:

 Should additional time off be required for any other issues, such as caring for children or other family members, individuals will be asked to take any outstanding annual leave they have, or in exceptional circumstances they will be allowed to bring forward some of next year’s annual leave to assist in remaining on full pay.

 All Managers have been provided with a copy of the key worker letter to support with child care and individuals should ask managers for a copy where required.

We would ask that all of our Quadrant and RMG members are made aware of this LTB and attachments.

The department would stress the importance to all CWU members and RMG employees of adhering to the revised catering service arrangements that have been communicated.

We would also request that individuals refrain from sitting together in communal dining areas, maintain 2m social distancing and use cashless transactions in Quadrant facilities wherever possible. We all need to work together to enable the continued provision of catering facilities, while also providing the maximum protections for RMG members and their catering colleagues.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 014.14

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson 

Assistant Secretary

20LTB153

ANNEX A

Annex B

CWU LIVE

As part of our overall communications strategy we have today launched a new blog on the CWU

website.

CWU Live can be found via the link www.cwu.org/live

In this blog we will draw together news and views from across the CWU and wider trade union

movement. You will probably have come across similar pages on BBC News and The Guardian.

We believe it will have particular relevance at this point as we look to update our reps and

members as regularly as possible on the Coronavirus crisis.

We would also welcome contributions from branches and CWU officials if you believe we should

share something of interest. If you have any ideas please email them to April O’Neill aoneill@cwu.org

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be directed to Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org

Kind regards

Chris Webb

Head of Communications, Engagement and Media

LTB 150:20 – CWU LIVE

We have today launched CWU LIVE – a section on our website where we will live blog the latest news for members on workplace issues, the wider movement and of course the coronavirus crisis

cwu.org/live

Royal Mail have sent the communication below to all managers. It is vital this is shared as widely a possible. Every single local rep must engage with local managers tomorrow morning.

We will update you tomorrow following our meeting with the company.

………

Our priorities in light of coronavirus are clear. They are:

1. Protect our people – health comes first
2. Protect our country
3. Protect our company
   In light of coronavirus we have made some temporary changes to our operational processes to increase social distancing and continue to support our ‘health comes first’ principle. Government advice is that, wherever possible, people should stay two metres apart in order to manage the risk of exposure to the virus. This builds upon a number of measures we’ve already put in place in the operation.
   
4. New ways of working in delivery
   
   Delivery office managers should ensure that the following changes are put in place:
5. One person, one van rule. There should be only one person in a Royal Mail vehicle at any one time. This could be implemented in a number of ways. For example, completing walks on foot in a starburst approach from the office, using a remote start option or changing shift patterns to allow dual use of vehicles
6. Arrange indoor and outdoor operations to adhere to the two metre social distancing guidelines
7. Cease WTLL sessions, and implement small touchpoint huddles adhering to social distancing rules
8. Everyone should wash their hands when coming in to and leaving the office, as well as at regular times during the day

Operations managers will arrange conference calls with delivery office managers first thing ‪tomorrow morning‬ to go through these changes in more detail. Different processes will be needed in different offices. Local solutions and collaborative working are key. There will not be a one size fits all solution. On these calls, we will work through any other detailed options to increase social distancing. 
 
Please discuss these with your operations manager, your CWU rep and your wider team to see what will work for your unit. The list is not prescriptive or exhaustive. If you have other ideas that are safe and can be deployed then please feed them back through your line manager.
 
Please brief your teams in small huddles, observing social distancing guidance – not WTLL sessions – at the earliest opportunity.
 

2. New ways of working in processing
    
   In processing, the following changes are being put in place:
3. Standard ways of working are being revised to ensure that, wherever possible, people stay two metres apart
4. Processes have been reviewed to minimise passing of work between colleagues
5. Cleaning of PDAs will be required when handing over between colleagues 
6. Good hand hygiene must be maintained to minimise the risk of any infection

Detailed standard operating procedures will be provided to assist best practice in work areas. Further information will be cascaded through the line tomorrow. 
 

3. New ways of working in distribution
    
   In distribution, the following changes are being put in place:
4. Social distancing protocols will be put in place in the traffic offices for handover of keys and instructions to drivers
5. PPE must not be shared between individuals
6. Ensure all tools, such as PDAs, are cleaned after use
7. Face to face handovers need to be completed two metres apart, wherever possible

Detailed standard operating procedures will be provided to assist best practice in work areas. Further information will be cascaded through the line tomorrow.

Keep up to date with wider changes

The situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus is fast-moving. The safety, health and wellbeing of our employees, members of the public and the communities in which we operate is paramount.

COVID 19 (CORONAVIRUS) TEMPORARY RELAXATION OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE EU AND GB DRIVERS’ HOURS RULES / SUSPENSION OF TRAILER MOT’S

Branches may be aware that as a response to growing Supply Chain disruption resulting from the Coronavirus crisis, the Government has announced a temporary relaxation of the EU and GB Drivers’ hours rules.

The advice on the Department of Transport Website states that these two temporary relaxations apply from 00:01 on Monday 23rd March 2020 and will run until 23:59 on Tuesday 21st April 2020. The DofT reserves the right to withdraw the relaxations earlier or extend the relaxations if circumstances change. In addition, the continuation of the relaxations past Sunday 5th April 2020 is subject to a specific review.

The specific measures include:

Relaxation of EU Drivers Hours Rules 

The EU Drivers’ Hours rules can be temporarily relaxed as follows: 

a) Replacement of the EU daily driving limit of 9 hours with one of 11 hours 

b) Reduction of the daily rest requirements from 11 to 9 hours 

c) Lifting the weekly (56 hours) and fortnightly driving limits (90 hours) to 60 and 96 hours respectively 

d) Postponement of the requirement to start a weekly rest period after six-24 hours periods, for after seven 24 hours period; although two regular weekly rest periods or a regular and a reduced weekly rest period will still be required within a fortnight 

e) The requirements for daily breaks of 45 minutes after 4.5 hours driving replaced with replaced with a break of 45 minutes after 5.5 hours of driving 

Drivers must not use relaxation ‘a’ and ‘d’ at the same time. This is to ensure drivers are able to get adequate rest. 

Relaxation of GB Drivers’ Hours Rules 

The GB Drivers’ Hours rules can be temporarily relaxed as follows: 

a) Replacement of the GB duty time limit of 11 hours with 12 hours 

b) Replacement of the GB daily driving time limit of 10 hours with 11 hours 

Drivers can only take advantage of this temporary relaxation 5 days in any 7 day period, and must take a rest period of 24 hours within the same 7 day period when taking advantage of this relaxation. 

Discussions have taken place with Royal Mail this morning to ensure that there is a shared understanding of the intentions of the business to adapt to the relaxation of the rules and any implications.

Following that discussion Branches are advised of the following clarifications that have been provided.

• Royal Mail do not intend to re-plan current workload on the basis of the relaxation of the rules and have issued advice to their managers to that effect.
• That should an increase in absence as a result of COVID 19 require a rethink on this policy, that National discussions will take place with the department before any revised advice is issued by the business.
• That no individual driver will be required to work beyond the current limits should they not wish to do so.

Separately the union has also been advised that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have approved a 3 month suspension on all Trailer MOT’s scheduled for March and April 2020 to allow for the absence of testers at their stations. All trailers that have been prepared for test will be released back into service and recalled at the appropriate time. All outstanding tests or re-tests for February 2020 will continue as normal.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Drivers: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference 014.14

or

Fleet: Carl Maden, Acting Assistant Secretary, PTCS Department; email: khay@cwu.org quoting reference 220.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary

Carl Maden – Assistant Secretary (Acting)

20LTB149

Coronavirus Covid-19 Issues – CWU Courses

Due to the spread of the Coronavirus throughout the UK and the current Government advice, serious consideration has been given regarding the delivery of our Education and Training Programme both Residentially and Regionally due to be held for the remainder of the Academic Year (July 31^st)

Therefore, the decision has made to cancel all courses that are currently scheduled until the end of the Academic Year.

This decision, which has not been taken lightly, will help to alleviate the pressures that we will face when we eventually come through the other side of this Coronavirus crisis.

We are exploring with Ruskin College the possibility of enabling those students who have commenced and are still to conclude their studies within a specific timeframe to remotely complete courses and will be in touch with them in due course.

We will of course continue to review the situation as developments progress.

Branches are reminded that CWU Left-Click, our online learning platform continues to be available for representatives and members at https://leftclick.cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

20LTB 148 – Coronavirus Covid-19 Issues – CWU Courses

We have put our proposal on the coronavirus crisis to Royal Mail.

They have agreed to respond by 10am tomorrow. We anticipate this being positive news.

To be clear: if we aren’t 100% assured by them that the safety of our members is secured then we will not wait any longer and we will immediately issue our own instructions to CWU members.

Please listen and share this podcast with GS Dave Ward and DGSP Terry Pullinger. We need this played to every colleague.