Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains. Karl Marx.
Launch of NHS Test and Trace Service
I attach a communication issued by Royal Mail on the launch of the new Test and Trace scheme in England and Scotland. Similar arrangements are already in place in Northern Ireland and Wales plans to go live on 1st June.
The attachment is self-explanatory and I would particularly draw attention to the bullet pointed key messages.
Any enquiries relating to this LTB should be directed to Ray Ellis (rellis@cwu.org).
Yours sincerely
Ray Ellis
CWU National Officer
CWU Virtual Pride – Thursday 11 June 2020, 6-7 pm
COVID-19 and the ongoing lockdown has seen many Pride events being cancelled this year, however the health and safety of our members and representatives has to take priority. We have thought long and hard as to how we can enjoy and continue to celebrate Pride in 2020 and we are delighted to confirm that a first ever CWU Virtual Pride has been organised.
The Virtual Pride event will consist of a number of engaging, thought-provoking and fun elements.
These include:
To take part in Virtual Pride, you will need to register beforehand. RVSP by emailing us at: Equality&Education@cwu.org
A digital poster is attached and we would be grateful if you could share this extensively.
Any queries on this LTB should be directed to Equality&Education@cwu.org
Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development
Annex to the Joint Statement for Inflight and Redelivery Phase 1 Enhancements for Royal Mail Tracked 24 & 48 and Special Delivery Guaranteed National Deployment
Dear Colleagues,
The National Joint Statement (attached for your reference) was previously endorsed by the Postal Executive and consisted of a pilot of the above service in some selected delivery units in the South Central and Anglia divisions (which is the Royal Mail Home Counties North area) and this was communicated via department Memo to the Divisional Representatives and Area Delivery Representatives on the 12th May 2020.
As previously advised, this initiative is fairly “light touch” with no indoor operational impact and no changes to current standard operational procedures, with simple prompts to delivery staff through the PDA on the doorstep for either Deliver to Preferred Neighbour or Safeplace and in line with the current and existing Standard Operating Procedures. The actual switch over on the PDA in order to enable the prompts is done remotely from the Delivery Office.
Following the pilots, we have agreed with Royal Mail to proceed with the national roll-out and the Phase 1 enhancement to launch Safeplace and Preferred Neighbour options from the 3rd June 2020 for Royal Mail Tracked products only. This can also benefit receiving customers who are self-isolating and support maintenance of social distancing principles. Royal Mail will also offer Safeplace and Preferred Neighbour as additional options on Redeliveries for Royal Mail Tracked. This limited number of outdoor enhancements can also help to maintain social distancing when the UK moves out of lockdown with specific industries resuming operations.
In order to take the above aspects into account along with the scale size of the pilot, we have jointly agreed through the attached annex to the Joint Statement that the following activities will need to be carried out in order to continue to Nationally and jointly monitor and resolve any issues that may arise as part of the Phase 1 national rollout from June.
In terms of the overall workload impact on deliveries, this aspect needs to remain under review in relation to the introduction of this service and as above, we will continue to monitor and review this impact along with resolving any further issues.
Any enquires as to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department, reference 555, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant SecretaryLTB 279.20 – Annex to Joint Statement Inflight & Redelivery Phase 1 Enhancements for RM Tracked 24 & 48 & Special Delivery Guaranteed National Deployment
Annex to Joint Statement for Inflight & Redelivery Phase 1 Enhancements for RM Tracked 24 & 48 & Special Delivery Guaranteed National Deployment
Royal Mail & CWU National Joint Statement GPS Delivery Coordinates for Track & Trace
Dear Colleagues,
On the 21st May, the Outdoor Department was advised by Royal Mail of the development of ‘GPS Delivery Coordinates for Track & Trace’ and informed that this initiative would go-live on the 26th May.
In light of this, immediate representation was made to Royal Mail on this matter and the view of the department is that the initiative needs to be covered by a Joint Statement which has now been concluded and is attached.
GPS location recording has been a feature of the PDA from inception and records the GPS location at the point at which an item is scanned (within 3 metres square). This information is retained centrally and is used primarily by Customer Experience in relation to customer enquiries or complaints.
The ‘GPS Delivery Coordinates for Track & Trace’ development now seeks to make this information directly available to both customers and managers, with the aim of this feature being to reduce the volume of “Find My Item” and “Denial of Receipt” enquiries into Customer Experience.
This development also reflects a further commercial offering by Royal Mail to customers which is seen in the parcel market as standard practice for ‘Track & Trace’ items.
Whilst the attached Joint Statement is self-explanatory the following are key points:
For the purpose of competence, also attached is a copy of the Operational Briefing provided by Royal Mail on the 21st May.
The attached Joint Statement reflects wider National agreements between the CWU and Royal Mail on growing the parcel market and customer demands around extra features and greater information on how those items are handled. However, it does this against clear safeguards in place in terms of this increased level of visibility and ensures that this data cannot be used for disciplinary purposes.
Any enquires as to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department, reference 230.03, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary
LTB 278.20 – RM_CWU National Joint Statement GPS Delivery Coordinates for Track & Trace
RM_CWU National Joint Statement GPS Delivery Coordinates for Track & Trace
Pay Increases and Pension Contributions for the Defined Benefit Scheme in Royal Mail Group
A number of enquiries have been received in the DGS(P) department regarding information published on an individual’s pay slip which confirmed that their particular pension contribution had increased to a greater degree than that of their actual pay. Whilst the department has dealt with these individual enquiries, after discussions with the CWU Pensions Working Group it was considered appropriate to publish an LTB to remind Branches of the agreed process for calculating pensionable pay contributions.
Branches may recall that under the terms of the pension agreement that formed part of the 2013 Agenda for Growth national agreement, actual pay and pensionable basic pay were decoupled, meaning that in future they would increase independently of each other. For ease of reference the relevant section of the 2013 pension agreement is reproduced below:
THE RMPP: AGREED CHANGES.
2. Both parties note that the rules of the RMPP have been amended to the effect that from 1 April 2014:
2.1 Members’ basic pensionable pay (after the deduction of the LED for Section C members) will increase by the higher of RPI (up to 5%) each year, or any promotion or increment that is a greater amount within members’ current pay grade group as at 31 March 2014.
2.2 The current pay grades of CWU represented members will be combined into two groups for pension purposes as follows:
Group 1: Postal, Administration and Fleet
Group 2: Engineering
Following the endorsement of this agreement pensionable pay for RMPP members would increase by the RPI inflation figure as of 30th September each year and the revised contribution rate implemented the following April.
To clarify, this recalculation only applies to RMPP members which means that it now only applies to those in the interim Cash Balance scheme that was introduced in April 2018 as part of the Four Pillars agreement. The RPI increase will not apply to any members of the RMDC Plan.
As a result of this calculation, pensionable pay contributions for RMPP members went up by 3.3% in April 2020 as this was the inflation figure as of 30thSeptember 2019. However colleagues will recall that basic pay increased by 2% in April 2019, although this figure is still part of the current dispute on the funding formula for the second hour off the working week.
Therefore for members of the RMPP scheme their pension contributions for this year did increase more than their April 2019 pay award. However, colleagues are further reminded that the union has submitted a pay claim for a one year deal to be applied for April 2020 and further updates on this claim will be circulated 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)
20LTB276 Pay Increases and Pension Contributions for the Defined Benefit Scheme in Royal Mail Group
Coronavirus Controls In The Workplace: Joint Statement
Attached is a tripartite Joint Statement from Royal Mail, CWU and Unite/CMA reaffirming commitment to a collaborative approach to ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of employees during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
In particular, the Statement references 2m social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal hygiene standards as being of key importance. All parties reaffirm their commitment to these standards.
Throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic, the work done by Royal Mail members has been widely recognised as playing a crucial role in helping to keep the social fabric intact. As the Government begins the process of relaxing lockdown, it is particularly important that the standards adopted in Royal Mail are maintained.
A crucial element of this is the maintenance of social distancing in the workplace. This may not always be popular, but it is essential for protecting the health and safety of employees until a vaccine becomes available. The suspension of van sharing is a key component of this. Whilst this can cause inconvenience it remains vitally important in containing possible exposure to the virus.
Reports are still being received of units where social distancing measures are not being followed. It is important that this is challenged and if not resolved, escalated swiftly.
If we are to keep members safe through this unprecedented public health crisis, now is not the time to relax.
Any enquiries relating to this LTB should be directed to Ray Ellis (rellis@cwu.org).
Yours sincerely
Ray Ellis
CWU National Officer
LTB 275/20 – Coronavirus Controls in the Workplace Joint Statement
POST OFFICE: COVID 19 – VULNERABLE PEOPLE POLICY
I wish to update Branches regarding the Post Office’s early decision in conjunction with CWU and Unite that anyone self-isolating and/or shielding who were in the vulnerable category would be afforded up to 12 weeks full pay whilst off work. This approach was designated as “Special Paid Leave”. We obviously welcomed this policy decision which we believed was responsible and compassionate in the circumstances.
Recently we have been in discussions with the Post Office regarding what should happen to those members who continue to be unable to work following the expiry of the 12 weeks which comes to an end on 14th June.
To put this into context, the scope for these discussions included those:
In closing I wish to thank Lynn Simpson, PE member, who has engaged with Post Office management almost on a daily basis on this matter and other Covid-19 related issues.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary
LTB 273-20 Post Office – Covid 19 – Vulnerable People Policy
RM/CWU Joint Statement – Phase 2 & 3 National Operational Requirements for the Covid-19 Doorstep Self-Test Kit Home Collection Service
Dear Colleagues,
Branches will be aware via previous LTB’s and communications in regards to the above service and that the initiative was originally set up using eCourier to exclusively perform this task. However, as volumes have increased, the Government have been responding to pressure from the media, and have been increasing the numbers of NHS & Key workers who can access this service, as well as others options such as test centres and pillar box posting services.
Accordingly, as the Home Collection service has expanded and the numbers of those individuals who have requested tests via this avenue has grown, there is the need to bring this fully ‘in- house’ and provide a Royal Mail Home Collection and return to the laboratory service. Following a short pilot in the TR area and subsequent Phase 1 rollout to c162 units, there is now the need to expand this to a further c248 units commencing on the 27th May, whilst also considering and reviewing a further Phase 3 rollout to extend to the remaining c130 units across the UK.
Therefore, we have updated the attached Joint Statement to take account of the further Phase 2 roll-out, the resolution of any further issues resulting from this increased service, whilst also detailing the continuation of National discussions for further Phase 3 rollout as above. This is providing that this service is expanded by Government and the numbers of those being tested grows and the quality of service for Home Collection service meets the required standards as this is a vital priority commitment.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:
Delivery & Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference: 600.
Or
Processing, Area & Distribution: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 014.14.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Cleaning of Royal Mail Buildings
This LTB is to provide further information on the cleaning approach that is undertaken by Property Facilities Solutions (PFS) Ltd of Royal Mail buildings.
Early on in the COVID-19 outbreak, the Royal Mail Property Facilities Solutions Safety, Health & Environmental & Soft Services teams carefully reviewed the cleaning regime recommended by Public Health England (PHE) to ensure that the standards for cleaning in a non-healthcare setting meet or exceed this standard. The standards issued by PHE are as follows:-
“cleaning an area with normal household disinfectant after someone with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) has left will reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people
using a disposable cloth, first clean hard surfaces with warm soapy water. Then disinfect these surfaces with the cleaning products you normally use. Pay particular attention to frequently touched areas and surfaces, such as bathrooms, grab-rails in corridors and stairwells and door handles
Public areas where a symptomatic individual has passed through and spent minimal time, such as corridors, but which are not visibly contaminated with body fluids can be cleaned thoroughly as normal. All surfaces that the symptomatic person has come into contact with must be cleaned and disinfected, including:
Use disposable cloths or paper roll and disposable mop heads, to clean all hard surfaces, floors, chairs, door handles and sanitary fittings, following one of the options below:
or
or
PFS Ltd. Cleaners are using disposable cloths and a virucidal chemical which has both disinfecting and cleaning properties. All high touchpoint areas in a building are cleaned at least once a day in a delivery office setting or up to three times a day for a larger, 24-hour site. This exceeds the PHE standard of cleaning surfaces using warm soapy water and following up with a household disinfectant as described above and is more effective for eradicating the virus from surfaces.
Where a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 is notified to the business, then a risk assessment is undertaken by Central Postal Control (CPC) and a choice of two additional cleans that can be instigated – these are termed “precautionary clean” and “intense clean”. The cleans will be triggered as follows:
Intense cleans – symptomatic individual(s) has been on site within the last 2 days
Precautionary – symptomatic individual(s) has been on site between 3-5 days.
These cleans will be instigated by CPC through the Property Helpdesk.
A precautionary clean is where the building will receive a targeted clean in addition to the “Business as usual” clean. The cleaning team will discuss where the individual has been and the areas that that need to be cleaned with the person in control, using the virucidal cleaning chemical described above. Cleaners will wear disposable aprons or overalls and disposable gloves, which will be disposed of safely following the clean. This approach is in line with the PHE recommendations.
An intense clean is where a specialised, targeted clean will take place. The Cleaning team will attend site and discuss the areas where the affected individual has worked or spent time with the unit manager, ensuring that all areas are fully disinfected. Cleaners will be wearing a higher level of PPE for this clean (gloves, face shield and disposable overalls) which will be disposed of safely following the clean. As with the other types of clean, the virucidal cleaner described above will be used, and then an additional application of a diluted bleach solution will be added to provide an additional layer of protection.
It is important to note that this approach has been reviewed against guidance issued by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Public Health England (PHE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is confirmed as meeting or exceeding these requirements.
Any enquiries relating to this LTB should be directed to Ray Ellis (rellis@cwu.org).
Yours sincerely
Ray Ellis
Acting National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
20LTB272 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cleaning of Royal Mail Buildings
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
