Royal Mail Customer Service Points (CSPs)/Callers Offices and Reception Areas – Coronavirus Covid-19 Health and Safety – Installation of Screens to Support Social Distancing Standards: 37

This LTB is to update Branches, Regions, Divisions and Area Health and Safety Reps on the information published in LTB No. 324/20and No. 334/20 on the installation of screens in Mail Centre and Delivery Office Customer Service Points (CSPs)/Callers Offices and Reception Areas.

Please see the attached updated spreadsheet which lists the office locations listed for a screen to be installed over a three-week programme which is now underway.

Following further discussions between the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department and Royal Mail HQ and Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions, seven additional offices have now been identified as requiring the screen and have been added to the installation programmes.

The 7 CSPs/Callers Offices Units added to the original project list are:

• West End DO
• Eastleigh DO
• Hayle DO
• Nailsea DO
• West London DO
• Grimsby DO
• Doncaster DO

The latest position on installation is within the attachment to this LTB.  118 units were initially identified as requiring screens based on a provisional list drawn up by Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions which was checked by RM Safety, Health and Environment Business Partners.

The current, total number of offices due for screen installations is 125 Units (this is with the 7 additional units above added) and 23 of the 125 are being fitted into Mail Centres/Plants. These offices have now been identified by Royal Mail where screens are required to improve safety, infection control and reduce risks in CSPs across the estate.

The remaining units not listed have been confirmed as having a security/bandit screen already in place.

With respect to a number of smaller Delivery Offices, alternative 739 item handover arrangements and areas are in place, such as stable doors, hatches, gates and some offices have no facilities in place. These offices have been subject to discussion with Royal Mail in order to ensure local site-specific Coronavirus risk assessments take place and are updated to ensure local controls are in place to maintain social distancing requirements and staff safety.

In order to obtain a level of assurance for all, it has been agreed that Royal Mail SHE Business Partners in consultation with CWU ASRs will undertake a joint review of the Risk Assessments and the controls, in the smaller delivery offices, of which 21 examples were identified and listed to Royal Mail HQ. It is agreed that Royal Mail will ensure that the local Unit Coronavirus/Covid-19 Risk Assessment contains the appropriate controls.

Would all ASRs check the position in respect of all offices in their Branch/postcode area constituencies and engage in discussions with the Royal Mail SHE Business Partners (Health and Safety Advisors).

All new screens are scheduled to be installed over a three-week period running from Monday 29 June 2020 to Friday 17 July 2020 as detailed in column ‘O’ of the attached spreadsheet.

In relation to Parcelforce offices, all depots have either fixed screens or temporary screens fitted to Customer Service Reception/Callers Office counters as well as key control lockers, where fixed screens where not already in place.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 373/20 – (CSPs) Coronavirus Covid-19 – Installation of Screens to Support Social Distancing Standards

CSP Without Screens List Final v5.03 (10.7.20)

POST OFFICE: ADMIN & SUPPLY CHAIN BONUS SCHEMES 2019/20

Despite the fact we have a Collective Agreement and the bonus scheme is part of our members’ terms & conditions, there has been speculation on social media amongst our members as they are concerned the Post Office may seek to avoid its commitments to pay a bonus as a consequence of the £100m+ Horizon costs. As a result, discussions have been held recently and the following Joint Statement has been agreed and is being published today:

Joint Statement – Admin and Supply Chain bonus schemes 19/20

Although we are currently unable to confirm the Post Office financial performance results for 2019/20, Post Office and CWU want to give some assurances to all colleagues in Supply Chain and Admin with regards to bonus payments.

As soon as Post Office’s financial results have been confirmed, we will announce via a further joint statement the bonus payments. We anticipate this will be in the first week in August.
We would like to confirm that it is the intention to pay bonus in August salaries.

Lee Kelly                                                                                          Andy Furey
Employee Relations &                                                                Assistant Secretary
Policy Director                                                                             CWU

Hopefully the above JS will bring some degree of reassurance to our members.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

LTB 372/20 – Post Office – Admin & Supply Chain Bonus Schemes 2019-20

Royal Mail Review of Future Catering Provision Tender Activity (Quadrant Joint Venture)

Branches and representatives will recall that in August 2019 the department issued LTB 475/19 advising that the Royal Mail Board had taken the decision that the existing contract with Quadrant would not be automatically extended and that they intended to undertake a commercial tender process.

Royal Mail informed us that the tender process would commence in August – September 2019 and would follow three key stages:

1. August 19 – September 19 – Pre-Qualification Stage
2. September 19 – January 20 – Request for, and evaluation of, outline solutions stage 3. February 20 – April 20 – Request for Detailed Solutions

These phases were concluded and the company entered into detailed discussions in relation to the potential solutions submitted at Stage 3 and LTB 135/20 on Quadrant Pay issued on the 17th March 2020 confirmed that Compass Group/Quadrant had advanced to the latter stages of the tender process.

Clearly at that point the Covid-19 crisis had the potential to affect the timelines outlined and the department requested that the process be suspended due to the events, a request which Royal Mail rejected

Of course the pandemic has raised general concerns around job security and the department has been receiving a number of enquiries concerning the status of the tender activity, as our members are aware that the current Quadrant contract is due for renewal on the 1st October 2020.

Throughout the process the department’s priority has been to ensure that our Quadrant member’s long term job and standard of living security is protected and that they are fully supported. The issue of communication has been a constant issue with Royal Mail who have insisted on strict commercial confidentiality, even to the point where the Union were asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement restricting our ability to consult or communicate with our members. We declined to sign the NDA and as a result detailed information around the tender has been withheld, though we have been updated periodically on the process.

Given the increasing levels of concern however the department have taken the decision to issue this communication, even though the current situation continues to restrict our ability to fully share information

and we have been unable to convince Royal Mail to release an update. At the time of preparing this LTB we understand that RM are in final contractual negotiations with the preferred bidder and that it is anticipated that the contract will be signed before the end of July 2020, at which point a formal announcement will be made.

Following the confirmation of the contract, any necessary discussions will take place between the department and the successful bidder in respect of any changes that are required going forward and Colleagues will of course be updated as to progress in this regard at the appropriate time.

However, to provide some assurance we anticipate that the new contract will be based on the current Catering Estate and provision of service to our Royal Mail Group members, notwithstanding the current Covid restrictions. While the nature of the service offering has been evolving over many years we do not anticipate that the continuity of employment of any Quadrant employee will be directly affected by any contract change.

Branches will be aware that Quadrant is currently the subject of a Joint Venture between Royal Mail and Compass Group, where Royal Mail are the senior partner. The department has sought ongoing commitments from Royal Mail in relation to this aspect and the implications should any new contract change the status of the Joint Venture. We have requested a meeting as a matter of urgency to progress these discussions.

In the meantime, we understand that the tender process has been a very unsettling time for our Quadrant members, who are understandably worried about their future employment. The restrictions on our ability to communicate have been extremely frustrating but it has been necessary to balance our wish to be open with the need to not undermine commercial discussions, which could prolong the period of uncertainty. The department are however hopeful that by the end of July 2020 there will be clearer understanding available, which will enable Quadrant members to make informed decisions going forward.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 311.02

Yours sincerely,

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 371/20

Postal Department Industrial Training Update

Branches will be aware that prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 the Postal Department had embarked on Train the Trainer events in relation to the various one-day industrial training courses.  The aim of this initiative was to ensure that this training was delivered at pace by tutors/trainers who have live work experience in the relevant functions and business units.  In addition and through the Divisional Training Leads liaising with Branches, any knowledge or skills gaps would be identified so that as many existing and newly elected representatives as possible in Royal Mail Group including Parcelforce could then attend the various courses.

Branches will however appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had a significant impact on both the demand for and deployment of the postal industrial training program.  Feedback that has been received from Postal Executive members through meetings held under the revised Divisional structure has however highlighted the need for postal industrial training to recommence in a format that takes account of the current restrictions.

This is of course a welcome development and illustrates that Field Officials and Branches are already setting out their priorities for the training and development of local representatives across the board.  There is likely to be ongoing limitations with regards to residential training given the current Government guidance on social distancing and it is difficult to predict the associated timescales.  There is therefore a need to develop a training plan utilising video technology that can be implemented both in the short-term and, if necessary, from the beginning of 2021.

Against this backdrop, the Postal Executive have met to consider the existing training challenges and to develop and deploy a hybrid modular training package that our existing trainers can present.  The details of this programme of work are summarised below:

• A presentation-based training package is being developed to cover each of the main areas that currently make up the postal industrial training programme with the exception of resourcing.
• Each session will be a maximum of 90 minutes duration and will be presented via video through the various packages at our disposal.
• A training package will be set up on the use of a video conferencing system for the tutors/trainers prior to the launch of the video training programme.
• A pilot of the video training package will be carried out in the North East Division and where possible members of the Postal Training Sub-Committee and Postal Executive will be able to observe the pilot programme in real time.
• A full evaluation of the pilot will be undertaken by the Postal Education and Training Sub-Committee and a full presentation of the video training programme will be provided to the Postal Executive for their endorsement.
• Once agreed, each Division will establish a training programme to be completed within a reasonable timeframe.

Additionally and in order to ensure that once this work is completed the training can be delivered at pace, the following measures will now be progressed by the current allocated Postal Executive member in line with their respective Divisional Training Lead:

• Compile an up-to-date list of tutors/trainers identifying what areas they cover i.e. IR Framework, Conduct Code, Network etc. and if they are willing to continue to be part of the training team and undertake video training.  This activity should be completed by the 24^th July.
• Where it is recognised that gaps exist in the divisional training capability, additional tutors/trainers should be scoped and identified.  These colleagues will then receive support via a hybrid train the trainer package currently under development.

The video training package will be kept under review on an ongoing basis and amended accordingly in light of live working experience.

This training is in addition to the current residential Postal Procedures courses provided by the Education and Training Department and members of the Postal Department Sub-Committee are currently working with the E&T Department in order to review this material.

In closing, it cannot be disputed that recent events have resulted in a need for our industrial training packages to be redefined and modified.  The proposed course of action outlined above will however allow the Postal Department with the help of Divisions to ensure that high-quality industrial training continues to be delivered throughout the remainder of this year and possibly into 2021.  This will undoubtedly be a major support to new Representatives and I therefore hope that as this initiative develops, Branches will make the most of this opportunity to ensure as many unit Representatives as possible benefit from this training programme.

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)                           

LTB 370/20

POST OFFICE: COVID 19 – ENHANCED CLEANING: ZOONO FOGGING

I wish to inform Branches of a cleaning system called Fogging which is to be introduced into all workplaces (including CViT vans) where the Post Office provider Servest currently performs a clean. It will be conducted on a monthly basis and in addition to the regular cleaning schedule.

Fogging works by sanitising surface areas within buildings and vehicles by creating an invisible shield on surfaces. It gets to work immediately and, once the treatment is complete, the space is free of any pathogens. It is safe to access a treated area approximately 15 minutes afterwards.

Fogging is a safe, non-hazardous, water-based product that has a toxicity rating similar to Vitamin C. It is colourless and odourless and provides antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-algal protection without causing fumes.

Attached are two identical Joint Statements (one for Crowns and one for Supply Chain) which explain the benefits of Fogging and the process. The benefits include:

• It eradicates any airborne pathogens and surface bacteria
• It is odourless, non-leaching, non-corrosive and completely safe for humans and animals
• The treatment lasts for up to 30 days
• It is environmentally friendly

This additional safety measure will give our members added reassurance and confidence that all parties are working hard to ensure their workplace is as safe as it can be in these difficult times. Reassuringly this product has been tried and tested in the NHS and in Transport for London.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

LTB 369/20 – Post Office – Covid 19 – Enhanced Cleaning – Zoono Fogging

Attachment 1 to 20LTB369 – Joint Statement DMBs

Attachment 2 to 20LTB369 – Joint Statement – Supply Chain

Latest Face Mask/Coverings Rules in the UK – [Face Mask/Covering Mandatory Rule Changes on 10 July – Shops in Scotland]

Government rules and guidelines are rapidly changing as the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic evolves. As lockdown rules continue to be eased slightly in the UK, new safety measures are being introduced. One of these measures is wearing a face mask or covering which has become mandatory in some situations.

This LTB is to update Branches on the latest rules to be introduced on face masks and coverings in each of the four nations of the UK.

Scotland:

From Friday 10^th July it will be mandatory to wear face coverings when entering shops throughout Scotland. This includes when going into Post Offices.  Royal Mail managers in Scotland have received a communication from the RMG Head of Health advising them to ensure their workforce are briefed and aware of the new ‘mandatory guidance’ and how to obtain a facemask/covering. This will include drivers, collections and delivery staff visiting these businesses. CSP’s (Customer Service Points) are classified as shops for the purposes of this guidance and therefore all customers using these facilities in Scotland will need to wear a face covering.  Posters will be made available to display this requirement. Employees who work in Customer Service Points will be provided with facemasks/coverings from their manager. The penalty for not wearing a face covering in shops in Scotland is a £60 on the spot Fixed Penalty Notice.

Royal Mail Group state that they have a good stock of masks, gloves and wipes (Protective Equipment) and there should be no problem with compliance by Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail, Parcelforce and RMSS staff) in Scotland.

Public Transport:

Face coverings are mandatory across the UK (England, Scotland and Northern Ireland) when using public transport (bus, trams, train, ferry or plane) except in Wales where it is recommended.

England

In England it is now compulsory to wear a face covering on public transport and in hospitals – staff, outpatients and visitors must wear them. This has been in place since 15 June. You don’t need to wear a face covering whilst waiting for public transport but train stations are asking people to wear them as they enter the station. You may be refused travel if you do not wear a face covering on board public transport. As a last resort, you may be fined up to £100 for not wearing a covering.

Some people are exempt from the new rules on face coverings including:

• Children under 11 years old.
• People unable to put on, wear or take off a mask due to a disability.
• People with breathing difficulties.
• Those travelling with someone who relies on lip reading.

In circumstances where it is really necessary to eat or drink on public transport, you will be able to lower your mask to do so.

The rules may not apply to some types of public transport including cruise ships, school transport, taxis and private hire vehicles. We all have a responsibility to check the latest rules and guidance with whichever company you are travelling with as some, such as Uber, are enforcing their own rules on face coverings.

The government expects that the number of people travelling on public transport will continue to increase in the coming weeks and months as more workplaces and shops start to reopen. However, they still encourage people to avoid the use of public transport as much as possible and only use it for essential journeys, to make it easier to socially distance and stay safe on board. Those who can continue to work from home should do so in line with the government’s advice.

Wales

The guidance in Wales is in line with the latest advice from the World Health Organisation. People in Wales are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask/covering on public transport and in other settings where social distancing is difficult such as crowded shops. As with all face mask advice, the Welsh Government clearly states that wearing a face mask should not be seen as a replacement or alternative to social distancing and hand washing.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has similar rules which have not changed since the beginning of May. Wearing face coverings has not yet been made mandatory but it is recommended for short periods in places where social distancing is impossible, including public transport and retail environments.

World Health Organisation (WHO) advice

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the use of a mask can be helpful to limit the spread of potentially infectious droplets in some public settings where physical distancing is not possible. As such, it recommends the use of non-medical fabric masks for people in the general public where at least a one metre distance cannot be maintained, such as on public transport, in shops, or other confined or crowded environments. The WHO advises you should clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub, or soap and water, before putting a face covering on, and it should cover your nose and mouth, with no gaps between the mask and your face. You should avoid touching the mask while you are using it – and if you do, thoroughly wash your hands after. Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp, and do not reuse single use masks.

Face Masks General

The clear advice from the WHO is that social distancing and hygiene measures are by far the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The evidence remains clear that the most effective way to protect yourself and others from infection is to follow social distancing rules, avoid touching surfaces and your face, and wash your hands regularly. Use sanitiser gel or disinfectant wipes where washing facilities are not available. Face coverings/masks are not a substitute for these measures, but in some circumstances where it might be difficult to stay 2m away from others, they may serve a useful protective purpose.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 368/20 – Latest Face Mask Coverings Rules in the UK – [Face Mask Covering Mandatory Rule Changes on 10 July – Shops in Scotland]

CWU Family

The National Executive Committee has agreed to introduce CWU Family, which extends some of the benefits available to CWU members to other members of their household at no additional cost.
CWU Family will make available a range of benefits to spouse, civil partner, co-habiting partner and dependent children of CWU members. Enrolment will be by notification by the paid-up member.
Benefits will include:

• Regular updates from the union on news and industrial developments
• Access to an online portal giving updated advice on industrial, employment and benefit matters (including government support relating to the Covid-19 pandemic)
• Full access to the benefits package as available to the existing members as part of our agreement with Parliament Hill Ltd
• Access to Unionline for advice on employment and non-employment matters
• Assistance and representation for personal injuries claims, where appropriate
• Will writing service – free of charge for simple wills, significantly reduced for more complex wills
• Power of attorney at a reduced fee
• Conveyancing service at a reduced fee

Activity is now underway with the aim of launching CWU Family in the autumn. Branches and members will be kept advised.Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Head of Recruitment & Organising by email torellis@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

RAY ELLIS
Head of Recruitment & Organising

LTB 367/20 CWU Family

New Deal for Workers update: TUC Organise festival, organising pledge and live session with Frances O’Grady 6pm, 9th July

The purpose of this LTB is to provide a short update to branches on our work on a New Deal for Workers and events taking place over the next few days.

Firstly, as branches will be aware, the TUC is currently running Organise 2020, an online festival on recruitment, organising and digital innovation for unions from 9-11th July. In part, this initiative is a response to the CWU’s call for a New Deal for Workers and the motions we have taken to TUC Congress in recent years to push for greater focus on growing the movement and for unions to work together to recruit new members and root out insecure employment.

A full list of sessions is at the following link and we would encourage branches to attend online sessions where possible: https://www.tuc.org.uk/sign-organise-2020-events

Secondly, the TUC has today published a joint pledge that all affiliates have signed, committing to growing membership particularly among young workers, for greater co-operation to end inter-union competition and to push common bargaining agendas within sectors to address insecure working practices. A copy of this is attached to this LTB. Again, this pledge has arisen in response to motions we have taken to TUC Congress and it has been produced by a Working Group on a New Deal for Workers that the TUC set up following Congress last year.

Importantly, unions have agreed that the TUC will put resources into supporting this work, that it will co-ordinate activity between unions within individual sectors and that the General Council will review progress and the work that has been done each year and publish the results. The CWU has been pushing for a step-change in unions working together to grow the movement and we need to use the pledge and these commitments to ensure this happens.

Finally, as branches will be aware, we will be holding a live session at 6pm tonight with Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, on the movement’s response to covid-19, a new deal for workers and how we grow trade union membership. This will be streamed on the CWU’s Facebook page, Twitter and Youtube and we will be putting your questions to her. We would ask branches to share details of this with members and to engage with the session tonight.

We will keep branches updated on this work and any questions on the contents of this LTB should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 366/20 – New Deal for Workers update TUC Organise festival, organising pledge and live session with Frances O’Grady 6pm, 9th July

TUC Organising Pledge

Scale Payment Delivery Offices (SPDO) Relocations – CWU Proposed Closures/Relocations

You will be aware that the Outdoor Department has been in dialogue with Royal Mail for some time now regarding the SPDO estate and potential SPDO closures/relocations.

Due to the recent funding and IR issues that existed both as a consequence of the previous CEOs stance and the Covid-19 implications, additional proposed SPDO closures/relocations have not been pursued during this period, apart from the SPDOs where notice of Royal Mail withdrawal has been served on the Postmaster.

However, as funding for Postmaster’s compensation packages has now been secured for further relocations this financial year and as the Covid-19 restrictions are slowly being relaxed, Royal Mail are now looking to re-engage discussions at local level, which had previously been raised. Additionally, the Outdoor Department has now been supplied a further list of SPDOs that the business is looking at, to commence local discussions regarding closures and relocations of indoor operations.

Due to the commercial sensitivity of some of these discussions, we are unable to replicate the individually named SPDOs. As a consequence of this, Mike Newport who is dealing with SPDO matters on behalf of the Outdoor department, will be, or already has contacted the respective Area Delivery Rep or Branch where SPDOs appear on this new list of potential closures / relocations.

Royal Mail has also indicated that where the CWU may want management to consider additional proposed SPDO relocations, that the names of these SPDOs should be brought forward in order for this dialogue to commence accordingly and in line with the Nationally agreed process.

Given the above, we are advising Branches that if you want Royal Mail to consider additional SPDO relocations / closures proposed by the Branch, that names of these SPDOs should be forwarded to Mike Newport, who will then supply the information to Royal Mail. Mike can be contacted on 07884 454547or mike.newport@cwuessex.org;

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 535.17, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 365/20 – SPDO Relocations 09.07.20

Legal Services Department – Post

The Legal Services Department now has a limited number of staff working back at CWU HQ, as well as working from home. 

Branches can now commence posting documents and correspondence direct to the Legal Services Department.

We will continue to use the following email addresses but branches should now post large bundles of documents direct to CWU HQ. 

personalinjury@cwu.org

employmentlaw@cwu.org

Branches should note that the department is still operating a limited service, with reduced resources during this period.  Your patience is appreciated.

If you have any further enquiries regarding the above then please contact Tony Rupa, Head of Legal Services, via email trupa@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Rupa

HEAD OF LEGAL SERVICES

LTB 364/20 Legal Services Department – Post

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