Royal Mail Group – Provision of Visors as Additional/Supplementary PPE For Customer Service Point (CSP) Workers and Advanced Driver Coaches:

At the request of a number of Branch Area Health and Safety Reps, representations were made to Royal Mail for the provision of visors as an additional, supplementary Coronavirus/Covid-19 PPE item for members working in CSPs and members performing an ADC role. Royal Mail Group have now agreed to provide these items and they have been added to the list of available PPE items for offices.

Please find attached a copy picture which shows the visors that are now available for units to order to complement the facemasks.  These are for use by those in Customer Service Points and for Advance Driver Coaches undertaking driving assessments and training.  Also attached is a copy of the instructions supplied with the visors on how to use them.

LTB 373/20 reported to Branches that all open-plan Royal Mail Customer Service Points (CSPs)/Callers Offices and Reception Areas would have screens installed to support social distancing standards as a Coronavirus/Covid-19 health and safety precaution to separate staff from customers. However, CSP staff reported that they had to on occasion go to the side of the screens when completing transactions and visors would provide a solution.

For Advanced Driver Coaches undertaking driver assessments and training inside LGV cabs, visors were seen as an additional barrier protection/mitigation as ADCs were coming into contact with both employees as well as agency drivers.

Therefore, visors are now available as an alternative option to masks for those employees who work in our CSPs and an additional control for Advanced Driver Coaches. The visors can be ordered through the uniform online ordering portal, and come in packs of 12.

Wearing of face masks and visors at CSPs is a personal choice, however if wearing a visor, it is recommended that visors are worn with a mask. Any Advanced Driver Coaches undertaking assessments as a passenger can also be given access to visors, in this scenario they must be worn in conjunction with a mask.

Visors should be wiped clean with a sanitiser wipe or soap and water before and after use, all wipes should be disposed of in line with existing guidelines. The visor should be replaced if the visibility becomes obscured or steaming up increases due to wear or cleaning. Visors are personal issue, they should be named and not shared between employees.

The visors will be kept under review in order to ascertain whether additional job roles could benefit from their use.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 435/20 – Royal Mail Group – Provision of Visors as Additional Supplementary PPE

FaceMask Visor Picture

Delux Foam Visor Instructions

Royal Mail Group – Provision of Water Bottles – Staying Hydrated Campaign – Communications Posters

Representations to Royal Mail were again made during the recent heatwave on the very important issue of the provision of water bottles to the outdoor workforce and on communicating the extremely important issue of staying hydrated at all times whilst undertaking manual work. Royal Mail have now agreed to provide water bottles to CWU members.

An ‘interim’ supply of refillable water bottles are now available for offices to order. There is a limited stock of 65,000 of the ‘interim’ water bottles and Royal Mail will be prioritising the outdoor workforce.

Beyond that a permanent long term solution is being progressed with a move to the provision of a ‘durable, Royal Mail branded, refillable water bottle’. Various manufacturer options are currently being assessed and considered for final selection and approval.

Our Royal Mail members provide the best postal service in the world and after the government declared that postal workers were ‘essential workers’ at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak, postmen and women have worked tirelessly through the six-months of the pandemic without the luxury of being furloughed.

Staff shortages, one-person per van, a 50% increase in parcels, lapsing and the recent record breaking heatwave have obviously piled the pressure on postmen and women, made worse by the fact that water fountains had been shut off due to the risk of virus transmission. All in all, working conditions have been tough – but tough on the outdoor workforce in particular.

Royal Mail, having at long last agreed to our request for the provision of water bottles for the outdoor workforce, have also agreed to jointly campaign on the importance of staying hydrated at all times, developments which are welcomed. This is an important health and safety issue when carrying out a manual job, walking many miles outdoors – especially when in excessively hot, sunny weather conditions, when temperatures are high as they were recently.

We will be continuing to look to ensure that in future Severe Weather Risk Assessments are carried out in hot, heatwave weather to avoid sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion and sun stroke and so protect the outdoor delivery workforce.

The problem of adequate water provision for members recently has been made worse by the fact that water fountains had been shut off due to the risk of virus transmission, therefore Royal Mail have issued internal communications to all Office Managers/PICs, informing them of the new provision of water bottles, consisting of:-

• An ‘Opps Update’ entitled ‘Staying Hydrated’
• A Safety Health and Environment (SHE) staff briefing/huddle document and
• A joint poster to be displayed on ‘Refilling Water Bottles Safely and Sanitising the Water Dispenser’

All managers have been requested to:-

• Brief all staff on staying hydrated
• Display the poster
• Ensure a good supply of sanitising wipes are provided at the water dispensers
• Ensure water dispensers are used but water fountains remain out of use (see attachments)

Attachments:-

• RM Opps Update ‘Staying Hydrated’
• SHE Huddle F20 005 ‘Staying Hydrated’
• Water Refill Poster
• Sun Safety and Avoid Dehydration Poster.

The Importance and Health Benefits of Good Hydration

Good Hydration means getting the right amount of water before, during, and after work. Water regulates your body temperature and lubricates your joints and helps muscles and joints work better. It promotes better cardiovascular health and helps transport nutrients to give you energy and keep you healthy. If you’re not hydrated, your body can’t perform at its highest level. Water keeps organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood.

Dehydration Dangers

Dehydration can cause heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heatstroke and can reduce the amount of blood in the body, which can put strain on the heart and cause shock – a dangerous decrease in blood pressure, which can have serious health consequences.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 434/20 – Royal Mail Group – Provision of Water Bottles – Staying Hydrated Campaign – Communications Posters

RM Opps Update – Staying Hydrated 26.8.20

SHE Huddle FY20 005 Staying Hydrated

Sun Safety AUG17

Water Refill Poster

CWU/Royal Mail National Terms of Reference – Uniform ‘Mini’ Proof of Concept Trial on a revised Stormproof Jacket

Branches may recall that as part of last year’s Royal Mail Uniform tendering process, the company advised that it was seeking to improve and update their current range and products, noting that a number of the existing standard uniform items have been in place for some 10 years or more.

As such, talks have been ongoing with Royal Mail on a new uniform range and the necessary trial/pilot activity which would take place before any wider national rollout. Whilst these talks remain ongoing and full scale trials/pilots are not planned to take place on the new uniform range until February/March next year, it has however been agreed to undertake a ‘mini’ proof of concept trial of the revised stormproof jacket in advance of this in order to evaluate the initial design improvements.

Attached to this LTB is a copy of the agreed Terms of Reference for this ‘mini’ trial of the revised stormproof jacket which will be limited to 6 Delivery Offices and 30 individuals.

The enhancements made to the stormproof jacket include storm cuffs, a peak on the hood and a drawstring on the hood which have all been designed to improve the fit and reduce the ingress of water when worn. This follows direct frontline employee feedback received at previous Uniform Roadshow workplace visits and the feedback also received at last year’s CWU Annual Conference.

Whilst ultimately any final decision on a revised stormproof jacket will need to be taken as part of the wider national trials/pilots on a new uniform range, this ‘mini’ proof of concept trial will clearly assist in terms of understanding if these initial enhancements have improved the overall jacket design.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of the above should be directed to the Outdoor Department reference 500, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch                                        

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 433/20 – CWU Royal Mail National Terms of Reference Uniform ‘Mini’ Proof of Concept Trial on a revised Stormproof Jacket

LTB 433.20 Attachment 1 – TOR – Uniform ‘Mini’ Proof of Concept Trial on a revised Stormproof Jacket

DGSP Terry Pullinger gives an update for all Royal Mail Group members. Please share as widely as possible

DO NOT REPLY 🛑

Rare Tick-borne infections diagnosed in UK (Warning)

What you need to know about ‘Tick-borne’ diseases (TBDs):

• Several diseases are carried by UK Ticks.
• Lyme disease is by far the most common.
• Cases of other Tick-borne diseases have now been officially reported in the UK.
• Symptoms of these diseases overlap those of Lyme disease.
• Most are treated with the same antibiotics as for Lyme disease.
• Early diagnosis is very important!

For a summary of the latest news on TBDs see below.

Public Health England (PHE) has called for people to be ‘Tick-Aware’ as the first case of Babesiosis is diagnosed in the UK.

Public Health England has confirmed the diagnosis of a case of Babesiosis and a case of Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE) in UK. This is the first record of a UK-acquired case of Babesiosis and the second case of TBE being acquired in the UK.

Babesiosis is caused by a parasite which infects red blood cells whilst TBE is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system. Both are rare infections spread by the bite from an infected Tick.

Both patients have been transferred to hospital, where they are receiving appropriate treatment and supportive care.

PHE regularly undertakes work to understand the potential risks of Tick-borne infections in England. This year, PHE has been undertaking surveys of various sites in Devon close to where the person with Babesiosis lives, collecting and testing hundreds of Ticks.

PHE has tested deer blood samples from Hampshire in areas near to where the person with probable TBE lives and they have shown evidence of likely TBE virus infection, which matches similar results found in 2019 surveys.

The risk of Babesiosis or TBE for the general public is remains low. However, a number of infections can develop following a Tick bite, including Lyme disease, and there are things people can all do to reduce the risk of being bitten by Ticks while either working or enjoying the outdoors during the summer.

It is important to be ‘Tick Aware’ and take precautions to reduce the risk of being bitten by Ticks when in green spaces this summer including:

• Keeping to footpaths and avoiding long grass.
• Wearing appropriate clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, and trousers tucked into socks/boots making it less likely that a Tick will bite and attach itself.
• Considering the use of repellents containing DEET.
• Making it a habit to carry out a Tick check regularly when outdoors and after returning home.
• If bitten by a Tick, it should be removed as soon as possible using fine, pointed, tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool which is sold by many outdoor stores, vets and pharmacies. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards slowly and firmly. Once removed, the skin should be washed with water and soap, and an antiseptic cream applied to the skin around the bite.
• Tick bite victims should contact their GP promptly if they begin to feel unwell, remembering to tell the GP about being bitten by a Tick and having recently spent time outdoors.

PHE state that presently cases of Babesiosis and TBE in England are rare and the risk of being infected remains low. However, Lyme disease remains the most common Tick-borne infection in England.

Ticks are most active between spring and autumn, so it is sensible to take some precautions to avoid being bitten when working or enjoying leisure time outdoors.

Individuals should always seek medical advice if starting to feel unwell after a Tick bite.

Babesiosis

Most people with Babesiosis will have either no symptoms or mild symptoms of infection; people with weakened immune systems can become very ill and present with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle ache, fatigue, and jaundice.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE)

Around two-thirds of people with TBE infections will have no symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, there are often two phases. The first is associated with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and fatigue. This can then progress to a more serious second phase that involves the central nervous system, which can lead to Meningitis, Encephalitis and paralysis.

Individuals developing flu-like symptoms after being bitten by a tick should visit their GP or go to hospital if they:-

• get a stiff neck and a severe headache
• get pain when looking at bright lights
• have a seizure (fit)
• have a change in behaviour – such as sudden confusion
• develop weakness or loss of movement in part of the body

Lyme Disease 

Several diseases are carried by UK Ticks. Lyme disease is by far the most common.

Many people with early symptoms of Lyme disease develop a circular red skin rash around a tick bite.

Some people also have flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as:

• a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
• headaches
• muscle and joint pain
• tiredness and loss of energy

See a GP if:

• you have been bitten by a Tick or visited an area in the past month where infected Ticks are found and you get:-
• flu-like symptoms – such as feeling hot and shivery, headaches, aching muscles or feeling sick, or
• a circular red rash
• tell them if you have been in forests or grassy areas

What you need to know about tick-borne diseases (TBDs):

• Several diseases are carried by UK Ticks.
• Lyme disease is by far the most common.
• Very few cases of other TBDs have been officially reported in the UK.
• Symptoms of these diseases overlap those of Lyme disease.
• Most are treated with the same antibiotics as for Lyme disease.
• Other TBDs not mentioned above are Rickettsiosis: It can cause a spotty rash, fevers and sometimes a black ‘eschar’, or scab, at the site of the Tick bite. Positive blood tests have been recorded in UK patients. Rickettsia infections respond to the same treatment as for Lyme disease. Borrelia Miyamotoi causes a Lyme-like illness but without an EM rash and with more fever (sometimes coming and going) and headache. In some cases Meningitis develops. There have been no reported UK cases yet. Louping Ill Virus is endemic to UK upland areas and causes a severe infection of the central nervous system. It is common in sheep, grouse and other animals. Human cases are rare. All these except Louping Ill are more common in mainland Europe. North America has a different spectrum of Tick-borne diseases as well as different Ticks so American information cannot be extrapolated to the UK.

Covid-19/Coronavirus v Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a tiny risk compared with Covid-19 – on average only about 10% of UK Ticks carry it, and it gives rise to perhaps 10,000 cases per year in the UK, though precise numbers are not known. Unlike the Covid-19 (Virus), Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and when recognised early it can be treated with antibiotics.

Footnote:

The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department has continued to work with and support UK charities striving to raise awareness about Tick-bite risks and for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease and associated Tick-borne diseases after a small number of CWU members fell victim to Tick bites and Tick-borne diseases some years ago and those members requested our support.  Awareness of Ticks is the key and will help CWU members, their families, friends and colleagues avoid these nasty illnesses, pain and suffering plus not adding to the NHS burden.

Attachments:

• LDA Leaflet on Ticks in Britain
• LDA Leaflet on Tick-Borne Diseases

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 431/20 – Rare Tick-borne infections diagnosed in UK (Warning)

Tick-borne Diseases in Britain – LDA Leaflet

Ticks In Britain – LDA Leaflet

Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash – Loading Bay Traffic Lights

Introduction:

A Safety Flash has been issued by the Royal Mail Group Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Team (Copy Attached), following several recent ‘near-miss’ instances where drivers/shunters have driven off a loading dock when the traffic light was on ‘RED’, resulting in indoor staff, equipment and mail/parcels falling from height into the yard.

SSoW Failures:

The ‘Mandatory’ Safe System of Work was not being followed when the ‘near-miss’ incidents occurred. The LGV drivers and shunter drivers involved in these incidents were not adhering to the loading dock traffic light control system and pulled away from the loading bay dock against a ‘Red Light Signal’. There were also ‘Key Control’ failures which enabled the incidents to happen.

Impact and Effect of the Incidents: 

Risk of serious injury to loading/unloading bay staff, falling from height whilst loading/unloading containers, mail and parcels.

Key Message set out in the Safety Flash are:-

Where loading/unloading bay dock traffic lights are in use:-

·       Green lights = vehicles can move on or off the loading dock.

·       Red Lights = no vehicle movements on or off the loading dock.

·       Drivers to ensure they check the traffic lights and are looking at the correct set of lights for the loading dock in question.

·       If no lights are showing – the driver should report this to management.

Key Learning Point set out in the Safety Flash is:-

• All drivers must adhere to the loading dock traffic light systems.
• Vehicles must not drive off from a loading dock when a red light is displayed.
• Drivers must complete the appropriate checks of trailers/rear of vehicles and ensure the dock leveller and loading dock doors are retracted and closed prior to departing.

Key Managers Activities to be completed:-

All Unit Managers (PICs) are to:-

• Unit PIC to review current vehicle key control procedures to ensure they are robust.
• Unit PIC to ensure that vehicle keys are not handed back to drivers unless dock levellers have been retracted and the bay doors closed.
• Unit PIC to ensure Yard Rules have been cascaded/shared with all employees and are clearly displayed in key locations.
• Unit PIC to deploy targeted SMATs to confirm the compliance to standards and procedures.

Area Health and Safety Reps 

Would all CWU Area Health and Safety Reps please note and communicate the content of the Safety Flash, supporting the key messages and learning points, reminding members of the importance of looking after their own safety as well as the safety of work colleagues when

departing from loading bay docks. Additionally, carry out inspections focusing on compliance with the SSoWs, loading dock and yard rules and the key PIC/management action on vehicle key control.

A copy of RMG SHE Safety Flash ‘FY20 014-Loading Bay Traffic Lights’ is attached.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 430/20 – Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash – Loading Bay Traffic Lights

SHE Flash FY20 014 -Loading BayTraffic Lights

Terms of Reference for Phase 2 of Inflight & Redelivery Enhancements Training & Pilot

As Branches are aware the highly competitive parcels market continues to grow with customers
demanding more from Royal Mail in terms of extra features on the parcels that are carried. Royal
Mail is introducing new product features available on Royal Mail Tracked 24 & 48 and Special
Delivery Guaranteed to support receiving customers who want more control over delivery of
their items.

As part of the Inflight & Redelivery Project, Branches will recall that receiving customers will be
able to request a change to the date or location of their expected parcel delivery before the first
delivery attempt. Redelivery services will also be enhanced to allow receiving customers to
request a redelivery before the first delivery attempt.

The original plan from Royal Mail was to launch in full a suite of Inflight and Redelivery
enhancements in May 2020 i.e.: –
• Deliver Different Day
• Post Office Local Collect
• CSP Local Collect
• Deliver to Preferred Neighbour *
• Deliver to Safeplace*
• Next Day Redelivery
*denotes not available of Special Delivery Guaranteed.

However, due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on operational resources and the need
to maintain social distancing, in late March 2020 the operational training programme for
Workplace Coaches and frontline delivery staff to deliver the full suite of Inflight and Redelivery
enhancements was put on hold.

The Joint Statement and subsequent Annex issued in May 2020 enabled the successful launch
of Phase 1 – ‘Deliver to Preferred Neighbour’ and ‘Deliver to Safeplace’ in June 2020, capitalising
on the outdoor elements of the inflight functionality as a rapid response. This was part of several
measures in addition to those already introduced, in order to keep frontline delivery members
and customers safe during lockdown whilst also helping to minimise social contact.

Phase 2 of the project looks to deploy the indoor elements of Inflight functionalities – ‘Post Office
Local Collect’, ‘CSP Local Collect’, ‘Deliver on Another Day’ and ‘Next Day Redelivery’ in October
2020. As the country comes out of lockdown with more people starting to return to their
workplace, these features will provide additional flexibility to customers on how and when they
receive their parcels, further supporting the first time delivery rate and improving the positive
delivery experience for customers.

Phase 2 Pilot and National Deployment Plan

At this stage we have agreed with Royal Mail to the pilot deployment only and the National
training approach in line with the timescales as outlined below.

Pre-lock down over 90% of work place coaches were trained. For the majority, this is a refresher
session and for the 10% that have never received this training, the Project Team will take them
through the full training pack in detail.

Workplace coach training is currently being organised and started (via Skype) on the 24th August
and is due to be completed by the 25th September. The training of frontline colleagues will take
place between 31st August and 9th October.
Royal Mail and the CWU via the Local Joint Working Group will jointly conduct a pilot in the South
Yorks & Lincolnshire Area over a 4-week period as follows:-

• Pilot in the North Lincolnshire OM area – 14th September to 25th September
• Expand pilot to the remaining units in the South Yorks & Linc Service Delivery Leader
area – 28th September to 9th October.
• National launch to be determined and agreed following a full Joint National Review of the
Pilot.

The ‘Ready for Delivery’ scan start time, no earlier than 04:00 remains unchanged, however,
the RFD scan time will move to 02:00 temporarily in recognition of the current and various
challenges and difficulties faced in the operation due to Covid -19 and the measures necessary
and in place within units. It is recognised that the 04:00 RFD Scan standard is a starting point
and the future aspiration is to provide customers with Inflight Choice up to the point of delivery
in line with what competitors offer, however, this will be dependent on the provision of a delivery
manifest and will be subject to further National discussion.

During the pilot there will be monitoring of volume, process compliance, along with monitoring
and capturing any additional task times and frequency of these due to the increased activity,
such as nominated day, deliver to POL outlets along with any customer contact/complaints etc.
The Pilot will also include the involvement of IE study work for any new tasks the service
generates. The Pilot will also take fully into account the current pandemic and its impacts
including USO performance and traffic volumes etc. before National joint confirmation and
agreement to the National Launch. Weekly calls will be set up between the project team and
CWU representatives to review information, monitor progress and resolve any issues arising
from the field.

Health & Safety and Safe Systems of Work

It is reaffirmed that Health & Safety and SSOW are of paramount importance to both Royal Mail
and the CWU, accordingly there will be full involvement in order to ensure that the necessary
SSOW are in place and that all issues arising in this respect will be proper to the relevant RM
safety experts and the CWU National Health & Safety Department.

Review/ Summary

Royal Mail and the CWU will jointly review progress against set criteria during the pilot phase.
The pilot will be subject to National joint review in order to resolve any issues highlighted arising
from it and in order to jointly confirm and agree the roll out timescales for the National
deployment.
Royal Mail and the CWU both understand the importance of being able to offer the additional
Inflight delivery options to customers as it offers them convenience and leads to a positive
shopping experience.

Following the deployment of Inflight Phase 2 both parties will, after 1 month, conduct a touch
point National review in order to ensure any upfront issues identified are quickly resolved. A
further Joint National Review will take place 3 months from launch in order to review what the
effect and impact is on the operation, in terms of additional workload and time, associated with
the new process and that this will then be taken into consideration within the agreed planning
and resourcing tools. This will also be underpinned by a study involving Industrial Engineers in
order to determine and establish the correct time identified for the tasks involved.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 535,
email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 429-20 TOR for Phase 2 of Inflight Redelivery Enhancements Training Pilot

TOR for Phase 2 of Inflight Redelivery Enhancements Training Pilot

RECRUITMENT – MEMBERSHIP RECORDS DEPARTMENT

Branches will be aware that due to the decisions made around access to 150 The Broadway that the Membership Records Department was not able to function to its full capacity.  A number of Membership Records Department staff have been working from home and have continued to support Branches and members, however for several weeks now some staff have returned to work, on a limited basis, into our HQ building.

Having reviewed our operation in this particular work area the purpose of this this LTB is to advise Branches that as from Tuesday 1^st September 2020 the Membership Records Department will be in a position to start accepting and processing paper application forms.

Where possible Branches are still asked to join new members via the Join Union link as this is the quickest way to ensure new members are placed onto the database.  Alternatively and if possible new members can join up themselves via the website: https://www.cwu.org/join-us/join-online/

Any other changes to existing member’s records can be done via the OLS system or by emailing membership@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

20LTB428

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

Branches and representatives are advised that further to LTB 371/20 the department has now been informed by Royal Mail that the Review of Catering Services has been concluded and that the commercial contract for the provision of catering services to RMG has been awarded to Compass Group.

We understand that both Royal Mail and Compass Group and Quadrant will be issuing communications today to announce the outcome of the tender activity.

The new 5-year contract will commence from 1st October 2020 until October 2025 and will maintain the current operational model and service offering to our Royal Mail members. Existing Quadrant facilities and services will be unaffected by the transfer of contract and all Quadrant members will continue in their current roles under the terms of the new contract. Royal Mail has indicated that in 2021 the new contract will include a revised look and feel with new menus across all catered sites.

Branches will be aware that since 1998 catering provision has been the subject of a Joint Venture (JV) between Royal Mail and Compass Group, with the catering operation and our members solely managed by Quadrant Catering, a trading entity of Compass Group.

We have been informed that as part of the contractual negotiations a decision has been taken by the parties to dissolve the Quadrant Joint Venture and that Compass Group have won the new contract on a more traditional commercial basis. The CWU did not support the dissolution of the JV, however the decision to do so was taken between RMG and Compass Group and the CWU was not party to those discussions.

While effectively our Quadrant members have been employed by Compass Group as part of the Joint Venture, the dissolution of that Joint Venture will mean that Quadrant will cease to trade and employees will move to sole employment with Compass Group. This will necessitate formal discussions in line with the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) Regulations.

The department has had an initial meeting with Compass Group/Quadrant in advance of formal TUPE discussions commencing. Those initial discussions have been extremely positive and the department has received assurances on the following issues:

• That all Quadrant Employees will be eligible to automatically transfer to employment in Compass Group.
• That all current roles and attendance patterns will be unaltered and that there will be no headcount reduction as a result of the contractual change.
• That all current Terms and Conditions and continuity of service will automatically flow through to employment with Compass Group.
• That the CWU will remain the recognised trade union and that all National agreements will remain in place.
• All of the above points will be confirmed as part of the formal TUPE process.

In addition to the formal TUPE consultation activity with Compass Group the department has also commenced discussions with Royal Mail Group to agree arrangements to ensure that the decision to dissolve the Joint Venture does not have any material adverse effect on our Quadrant members.

Where necessary it has been agreed that those discussions will be tripartite involving the CWU, Royal Mail and Compass Group. This will also include discussions on Pension entitlements, which are not considered “in scope” with regard to TUPE Regulations.

Clearly today’s announcements will bring some clarity around the new contract and reassure our Quadrant members in terms of their employment security. However, we fully understand that even with the assurances already given our members will want to understand the implications of the TUPE process. These discussions are not bound by commercial confidentiality and will now move at pace ahead of the Service Transfer date. Regular updates will be provided to our Quadrant members as further details are confirmed.

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

20LTB427