ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2020

• CWU Young Workers Committee

Further to LTB 465/20 dated 24^th September, as previously advised the NEC has now agreed the 2020 election arrangements for the National positions listed above.  Accordingly please find attached the regulations, nomination forms and candidate consent and biographical details form.

Branches are asked to print the attached forms, complete and sign them and send the forms back electronically to elections@cwu.org by the advertised deadline.

Nominations are on the basis of one member coming from the TFS Constituency and one member coming from the Postal Constituency for each of the 10 CWU regions.   Additionally all candidates must be aged 29 or under at the time of the election.

The term of office for the CWU Young Workers Committee will be from 1^st January 2021 for a two-year period.

Branches will also wish to note that:

• Each candidate needs the nomination of their own branch.
• The election is by means of a branch ballot within each respective constituency i.e. branches with members in the Postal Constituency will vote for the 10 Postal members of the committee and branches with members in the TFS Constituency will vote for the ten 10 TFS members.

The Timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open:              1 October 2020

Nominations Close:              31 October 2020

Ballot opens:                           7 November 2020

Ballot closes:                           28 November 2020

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 481/20

CWU Young Workers Regulations 2020

Nomination Form – Postal Constituency

Nomination Form – TFS Constituency

Candidate Biographical & Consent Form 2020

POST OFFICE: HORIZON SCANDAL – RETIRED HIGH COURT JUDGE LEADS INQUIRY

Further to LTB 337/20 Dated 26th June.

Branches and members will recall that on 10th June, Paul Scully MP, Small Business and Postal Affairs Minister, announced there would be an “Independent Review” into the Horizon scandal and subsequently there were numerous calls from MPs and also Darren Jones, Chair of the BEIS Select Committee, calling for this to be a judge-led statutory inquiry rather than a “review”. Also, EDM 593 which currently has 77 signatures reiterated this call.

Today the Government has announced that this “review” will now be called an “inquiry” although disappointingly it remains non-statutory, meaning it will lack the subpoena powers and ability to take evidence under oath that are afforded to statutory inquiries.

The inquiry will though be chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, a retired High Court Judge. The Terms of Reference for the inquiry has also been expanded which is a positive. The Government claims this change is following feedback from former Postmasters.

The link to the full press release from BEIS is below and the key headlines are as follows:

• Sir Wyn Williams will lead the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, which will start its work immediately
• inquiry will establish a clear account of the implementation and failings of Horizon over its lifetime
• it will also now gather available relevant evidence from this period from Post Office Ltd, Fujitsu and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/retired-high-court-judge-to-lead-post-office-horizon-it-inquiry

We obviously welcome this development and whilst the Government has in our opinion not gone far enough by failing to make this a statutory inquiry, we are pleased to see the appointment of an experienced retired High Court Judge. We would now hope this appointment will ensure the factors leading to the terrible injustices suffered by many Postmasters cannot happen again. We also intend to press Sir Wyn Williams to fully hold to account those senior Post Office Directors who have inflicted so much misery on so many.
Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

LTB 480/20 – Post Office – Horizon Scandal – Retired High Court Judge Leads Inquiry

POST OFFICE SECTION OF ROYAL MAIL PENSION PLAN (RMPP) AND ROYAL MAIL STATUTORY PENSION SCHEME (RMSPS) – COMMUNICATIONS

Further to LTB 475/20 dated 29^th September 2020, Branches are advised that there is a slightly different approach in regards to the RMPP communication for Post Office members in the Royal Mail Defined Benefit pension scheme (closed on 1^st April 2017 for Post Office members). Post Office members will receive the following:

• Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) – Newsletter and annual statement for all benefits built up before 1^st April 2012 (the date of the privatisation of Royal Mail, at which point the Government took over the scheme). The RMSPS is now administered by Capita.  A sample – “template” statement is attached for information.
• Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) – Update on Transfer of Benefits to Rothesay Life – A letter from the RMPP Trustee in relation to the benefits built up between 1^st April 2012 and 1^st April 2017 when the scheme closed for Post Office members. This letter gives further detail on the proposed transfer of benefits to Rothesay Life which will now not happen until 2021.  Within the letter, the RMPP Trustee also makes it clear they are not in a position to issue annual statements this year for the reasons referenced in the attached letter.

As a consequence of the RMPP Trustee’s Rothesay Life update, a Joint Statement with the Post Office and Unite has been issued (attached) that is essentially a “signposting” document which gives full details as to what the members can expect to receive from the RMPP. If members have any questions regarding their pension, Branches are encouraged to direct them to the following:RMPP (Administered by Royal Mail)

Email   pensions.helpline@royalmail.com

Phone  0345 603 0043RMSPS (Administered by Capita)

Email   enquiries@rmsps.co.uk

Phone  0333 222 0078

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 479/20 – POST OFFICE SECTION OF ROYAL MAIL PENSION PLAN (RMPP) AND ROYAL MAIL STATUTORY PENSION SCHEME (RMSPS) – COMMUNICATIONS

LTB 479.20 ATTACHMENT 1

LTB 479.20 ATTACHMENT 2

LTB 479.20 ATTACHMENT 3

Update – Royal Mail Group – 2020 Free Flu Voucher Offer

Further to LTB 437/20 issued on 7^thSeptember 2020, the Royal Mail Group Flu Voucher Scheme launches this week and vouchers will start to be delivered to employees’ home addresses from Wednesday 30^th September and can be redeemed from Thursday 1^st October.

See attached ‘Flu 2020 Intranet Go Live Article w/c 28th September 2020’ and ‘RMG Free Flu Jab poster for further information’.

Yours sincerelyDave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment OfficerCarl Maden

CWU Assistant Secretary (Acting) PTCS Department

20LTB478 Update – Royal Mail Group – 2020 Free Flu Voucher Offer

Flu 2020 Intranet Go Live Article wc 28th Sept 20 FINAL

620355_RM_Free Flu Jab_A4 POSTER_v3

TUCAN (Trade Union Clean Air Network) Newsletter No 2, Spring 2020:

LTBs No. 035/2019 and 436/19 reported on the launch of the Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN), launched as part of the ‘Hazards Campaign’ and linked to the ‘Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA)’, working to generate worker/trade union awareness and a for the trade union voice to be prominent in the public debate on the issue of air pollution, waste, the environment and climate change. TUCAN has joined the fight against air pollution and occupational health damage as concerns continue to grow. Much air pollution is caused by industry and work-related activities. Climate change and damage to the environment are direct consequences. There is rightly a public outcry about air pollution as a public health emergency. 36,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, according to a government report. Outdoor workers have been ignored for too long as the pollution crisis deepens. Government strategy however has been essentially to ‘kick the can down the road’ by delaying vital measures or passing it over to local authorities to sort out.

‘TUCAN developed a ‘Charter’ providing a set of demands for unions to prioritise in campaigns at local, regional, national and international level. TUCAN also developed – ‘Guidance on Air Pollution for Union Reps’, a pollution checklist for health, safety and environment reps and the ‘TUCAN Charter’ promoting best practice and to raise awareness.

The ‘TUCAN Charter’:

• Introduce a new Clean Air Act that enshrines the right to breathe clean air.
• Update Health and Safety Law (such as COSHH).
• Ensure effective enforcement.
• Involve the workforce.
• Protect jobs.
• Rapidly expand clean and inexpensive public transport systems alongside investment in active transport to increase levels of cycling and walking.

Please find attached a copy of the TUCAN Newsletter No.2, Spring 2020 edition, which covers the following subjects:

• TUCAN to help investigate air pollution problems at the workplace
• Union action on toxic tube dust
• Brake dust possibly as harmful as diesel fumes to immune cells
• BFAWU calls for action on drive through worker exposure
• New environment bill
• Outdoor worker exposure in London
• Airborne nanoparticles risk greater than thought
• Air pollution shortens lifespan by three years
• GJA sets priorities for 2020
• NASA shows China slow down reduced NO2 pollution
• Do you want a TUCAN speaker?

Further Information

If you would like further information about TUCAN then please contact Janet at Hazards (email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk) or Graham at the Greener Jobs Alliance (email: gjacoms@gmail.com).

Attachment: 

TUCAN Newsletter No 2, Spring 2020

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 477/20 – TUCAN (Trade Union Clean Air Network) Newsletter No 2, Spring 2020

TUCAN-NEWSLETTER-2

Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 28 – September-October 2020

The Greener Jobs Alliance was launched to promote skills training and job creation to meet the needs of Britain’s rapidly growing low carbon sectors and to green the whole economy.  The transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy can drive sustainable economic recovery and job creation in every part of the country as well as making existing jobs more secure. But this requires a more strategic national and local approach to deliver the workforce skills needed and to stimulate demand for clean energy and energy efficiency services.

The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises at a national and local level to build the broadest possible support for the policies, investment, partnerships and commitments needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.

The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises with training bodies, colleges, universities, employers, local and national government, trade unions, housing associations, campaign and community groups – to build the policies, investment and partnerships needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.

The GJA runs a number of ‘free’ courses on the environment for Trade Union Reps in different parts of the UK which have been attended by a number of CWU Reps.

The GJA came into existence as a result of funding from Battersea and Wandsworth TUC.

The GJA Newsletter editor is Graham Petersen, also the GJA Secretary. Graham is well known to the CWU and has a long standing working relationship with the Union. He is a former TUC Tutor and Course Designer who created Safety Reps training courses. He was the head of the Trade Union Studies Centre at South Thames College before retirement from the post.

Newsletter 28 looks at the new calls from both the TUC and the CBI, urging the government to invest now to create over a million new green jobs in response to rising unemployment and the COVID-19 crisis. As the Tories’ ‘furlough scheme’ comes to an end, the TUC is calling for a new Job Protection and Upskilling Plan. New support for businesses must come with strings attached, Trade Unions say, to promote decent work, protect jobs and give union rights. Meanwhile, the CBI, the employers’ organisation, says we face “two seemingly separate yet fundamental problems: Covid-19 – the biggest health crisis in living memory – and climate change, the defining challenge of the modern era.”  Manufacturing and retail employers have made massive redundancies – 9,000 at Rolls Royce, 7,000 at M&S. The GJA reports that Germany, France and Italy have already invested billions in green jobs and skills – but not the ‘bumbling’ UK Johnson-led Tory Government!

The Newsletter also reports on the first UK-wide ‘citizens’ assembly on climate change’which has published its final report on 10 September. It set out a clear, internally consistent and timely path for how the UK can reach its legally binding target of ‘net zero emissions by 2050.’

GJA Newsletter No 28 Attached – Contents:

1. Editorial: When will this government see the green light?
2. TUC’s virtual Congress backs green new deal
3. Voice and Place: TUC plan for net zero
4. Global Day of Climate Action: September 25th
5. Fight rising Air Pollution
6. GJA backs local climate campaigning
7. CBI calls for ‘green recovery roadmap’
8. Training lessons from Canada
9. £3 billion of lucrative wind turbine contract go overseas

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 476/20 – Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 28 – September-October 2020

GJA-Newsletter-28-SeptemberOctober-2020

ROYAL MAIL: RMPP AND RMSPS ANNUAL PENSION STATEMENTS

Branches and Representatives are advised that the annual pension statements (as at 31^stMarch 2020) for members in the Defined Benefit (DB) pension scheme (closed on 1^stApril 2018 for Royal Mail members) are due to arrive in the coming days as follows:

• Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) – Newsletter and statement from the RMPP Trustee for benefits built up between 1^stApril 2012 and 1^st April 2018 when the scheme closed for Royal Mail members. This statement is consistent with previous publications.
• Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) – Newsletter and statement for all benefits built up before 1^st April 2012 (the date of the privatisation of Royal Mail, at which point the Government took over the scheme). The RMSPS is now administered by Capita.

A sample – “template” statement for each of the above is attached to this LTB for your information.  We are sharing these statements to alert you to this development. It should be noted this is the first time former DB scheme members will receive two separate statements since the Government awarded the contract to administer the RMSPS to Capita.  Both statements give a clear definition as to which areas of members’ pensions are covered.  In addition, the RMPP Trustee has taken the positive initiative to launch a revamped website which includes some short video animation “explainers”.  One of these will be focusing on “understanding your benefit statement” and is intended to help guide members through the new documents and help them understand the separation and distinction between RMPP and RMSPS.  The link is as follows:

https://www.royalmailpensionplan.co.uk/section-ab/media-library

If members have any questions regarding their pension statements, please direct them to the following:RMPP (Administered by Royal Mail)

Email   pensions.helpline@royalmail.com

Phone  0345 603 0043RMSPS (Administered by Capita)

Email   enquiries@rmsps.co.uk

Phone  0333 222 0078

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

20LTB475 – ROYAL MAIL – RMPP AND RMSPS ANNUAL PENSION STATEMENTS

LTB 475.20 ATTACHMENT 1

LTB 475.20 ATTACHMENT 2

Average Pay on Annual Leave (Holiday Pay) Royal Mail Group

Further to LTB 289/20 circulated on 4^th June 2020, Branches will recall that in conjunction with Unionline the Department sought to identify a number of lead claimants in England and Wales whose cases could then be considered ahead of a case management hearing on 30^th September 2020.

In advance of this activity the Department met with Unionline and CWU Legal Services on 23^rd September 2020 and steps were taken to refine the number of potential lead claimants that had put their names forward, whilst also taking into account both geography and workplace.

A preliminary hearing will now be held at the Bristol Tribunal on 5^th October 2020 at which the Judge will approve the final list of lead claimants and then set a date for a full hearing. This is now likely to be in 2021.

Branches should also note the previous advice issued regarding the submission of Employment Tribunals:

• For existing claims new periods of holiday leave are added without the need to submit further individual applications to amend, or further claims. The Tribunal has however noted that this is still happening and members are therefore urged not to make further holiday claims.

• For new claimants (i.e. those who are not already part of the case) once lodged in the normal way future periods of leave can be added without the need for individual amendment BUT these new claims must be lodged with the Bristol Employment Tribunal. 

The Union appreciates that this matter has been ongoing for some time and the frustration that this may have caused. Events have however been complicated by COVID-19 and this in turn has had a major impact upon the legal process. Colleagues are reminded that progressing this as one case with one hearing of lead claimants is better than having thousands of separate hearings across the country with various Judges making different decisions. Presenting one case will bring about a final resolution to this matter for all members.

For those members who have registered cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland the situation remains the same as outlined in the aforementioned LTB and is reproduced below for ease of reference.SCOTLAND 

Branches will recall that all employment tribunal claims in Scotland were originally sisted until 20^th April 2020. This was then extended by just over a week to 28^thApril 2020.

Following an update from Unionline in Scotland, unfortunately the position is that all Tribunal hearings scheduled to take place from the middle of March until 30^th June 2020 have now been cancelled.  These claims will be prioritised when the Tribunal list in person hearings again.

In the telephone case management discussions involving the respective parties, in order to reschedule cancelled hearings, the Tribunal has advised that these Employment Tribunal cases will now be listed for a final hearing through Jan 2021 until March 2021.

The cases are of course safely in the system and it is possible that the timeframe for final hearings will be reduced. However, rather than raise expectations, at the time of writing we have to work on the assumption that there is likely to be a significant delay in arranging a final hearing.  Unionline will be writing to the Tribunal this week to request that a telephone case management be arranged so that cases can start to be progressed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

The situation in Northern Ireland remains unchanged at present, with all cases awaiting the outcome of the case involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The Union will continue to press Royal Mail Group to reach an acceptable agreement but their financial situation has undoubtedly had a bearing on how management view this matter.

Colleagues will be provided with a further update after the preliminary hearing on 5^thOctober 2020.

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 474/20 – Average Pay on Annual Leave (Holiday Pay) Royal Mail Group

Coronavirus – ‘Covid-19 Test Kits’ and ‘Antibody Test Kits’ – Mailings, Collections, Processing and Delivery – Updated/New Royal Mail Operations Risk Assessments (SAC1) & SSOWs:

This update Letter to Branches is being issued further to LTB 379/20 dated 16 July 2020 which should be read in conjunction with this.

Royal Mail Group and the CWU are proud to be playing a key role in the delivery and return of Covid-19 test kits which is an integral part of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This is a vital part of the national effort to combat the Coronavirus and CWU members are doing a great job in collecting, processing and delivering the test kits safely to the laboratories.

In April 2020 the Government selected Royal Mail Group and its unparalleled nationwide network to lead as the prime supplier on a number of products. To date Royal Mail and the CWU have worked together to adapt to the changing demands from Government as the pandemic unfolds. In a very short period Royal Mail Group and the CWU have established a network comprised of:

• Regional/Local Test Centres: Royal Mail Relay are collecting test kits from circa. 115 test sites up to 4 times daily.
• Home Collection Service: The Royal Mail core network has 394 delivery offices undertaking doorstep collections seven days a week.
• 30,000 plus Priority Postboxes: Have been labelled with collection times after 4pm.
• Nursing/Care Homes/Schools/GP Surgeries: Royal Mail are delivering circa. 2,700 boxes of test kits to important parts of our communities.

Both parties continue to work together to ensure that standard operating procedures are in place. In addition, Royal Mail and the CWU continue to work with the Chief Medical Officer to ensure that the operational processes put in place are effective and safe for all members and are supported by the necessary health & safety documentation and Safe Systems of Work (SSOW).

To meet the demand for Coronavirus infection testing into the autumn and winter the Government has asked Royal Mail Group to prepare for the expected significant increase in the number of test kits returned via Priority Post Boxes along with the newly introduced Coronavirus Antibody Test Kits. These Antibody tests are used to detect antibodies to the COVID-19 virus to see if it’s likely that those tested have had the virus before. The test works by testing for the presence of antibodies to see if the person tested has had the virus and has developed an immune response to the virus. Antibody tests differ to Coronavirus ‘Swab Tests’ which test to see if the person being tested currently has the virus. An antibody test doesn’t test if the person tested currently has the virus. There is no definitive evidence as yet with regards to whether those who have had the virus develop long-lasting immunity that would prevent them from getting the virus again. However, the tests answer the question of whether someone has had the virus before and importantly provides data for research and a greater understanding on the spread of the virus.

A joint Royal Mail/CWU review has been undertaken of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Test Kits Risk Assessment and Safe System of Work (SSoW). From this amendments and improvements have been made to the safe working process in readiness for increasing numbers of test kits coming through the system as the Government ‘ramps-up’ the testing programme and additionally rolls out the Antibody Testing Programme alongside it. The amended collection and segregation SSoW process has been designed to deal with clearing large quantities of test kits from ‘Designated Post Boxes’ in a simpler, safer way.

As detailed in LTB 379/20, as the Coronavirus/Covid-19 test kit collection operation moves on and test kit numbers increase, the issue of maintaining compliance with the agreed high safety standards becomes crucial.

This matter has been raised by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment department and been subject to discussions at both the weekly RM/CWU National Joint Operations Skype meetings and on the RM/CWU National Joint Strategic Covid-19 Testing Kits Skype meetings.

It continues to be the agreed approach by Royal Mail HQ and CWU/HQ that we need to work collectively to improve safety compliance. Area Health and Safety Reps (ASRs) and Workplace Health and Safety Reps (WSRs) are asked (by both Royal Mail and CWU) to keep a close eye on this and carry out regular safety spot-checks, reporting any non-compliance to operational management and SHE Advisors/Business Partners.

Pre-Collection List Poster

Royal Mail and CWU/HQ have agreed that we must jointly ensure that all collection drivers, including collections on delivery, have the list of items necessary with them at all times when collecting from any post-box – see attached ‘Pre-Collection List’ Poster.

The ‘Collect – Before You Leave The Office’ Poster – lists the 8 items required before leaving the Unit – these are:

• Self-Seal Polythene Bags
• Green Mail Sacks
• PDA and Spare Battery
• Hand Sanitiser
• Gloves
• Waste Bag
• Suitable Face Covering Where Required
• Van Wipes (for touch points in the vehicle)

This poster has been issued to all offices via a ‘SharePoint’ link, and was supported by WTLL briefing material.  The local ‘Deployment Leads’ were tasked to follow up with each collection and delivery office to provide concurrence to the following question “Have the Pre-Collection List Posters been printed and displayed in my site?”. Unit Managers have to confirm that this is the case.

ASRs and WSRs are requested to ensure the poster is on display and brought to the attention of collections staff.

Collections staff should then follow the 3 key principles:

1. SPOT IT: UN3373 packaging and T24 label
2. BAG IT: SSOW must be followed (bag all kits) 
3. MOVE IT: Keep items separate from other streams and hand it over to a designated contact

DOM Safety Concurrence Check List

Each DOM is asked to complete and sign-off the below concurrence check-list questions to ensure they understand what is required to deliver on the Standard Operating Procedure and Safe Systems Of Work. You will see the question related to ‘Pre Collection list posters have been printed and displayed in my site’ listed which aligns to the safety standard Royal Mail has set out. 

Would ASRs and WSRs spot-check compliance with this requirement:·       I know who my ops project lead is and have their contact information.·       My site has a supply of CV19 labels and York cards (Contact Addressograph duty at Plant for stock).·       My site has a supply of green bags to relay the test kits to the plant  (1-2 required daily and are sourced from Plant).·       My site has a supply of polythene bags and I know how to order further stock.·       All collection drivers know to scan test kits as ‘Accepted at CSP’ before dispatch to Mail Centre.·       All collections drivers in my site have been trained and understand what they need to do (SSOW etc.).·       All collections drivers in my postcode sectors have a copy of the handout – Test Kit Handout: Collection and Delivery Colleagues.·       Pre Collection list posters have been printed and displayed in my site.·       All collection drivers know that green bags must be used for test kits once they have been identified.·       All collection drivers know that green bags must be kept separate from other mail streams.·       All collection drivers have been briefed on the handover process at the Mail Centre.·       All my collection roles in my area are aware of the location of their Priority Boxes.·       I am aware that all items will be collected Mon – Sat in accordance to current plate times.·       I know that my Priority Boxes will be labelled.·       I have resource in place to ensure collection from Priority Boxes is in place Mon – Sat.·       All of my collectors know that all Priority Boxes will still receive a Collected scan as usual.

The collection from designated post-boxes SSoW is for each Covid-19 test kit to be over-bagged in a secondary polythene bag to minimise risk of contamination. This is done by turning the bag inside out and pulling it over the test kit without contacting it with the hands. Gloves, which are supplied to collection staff, can be worn for this but they are not required. Sanitiser gel, disinfectant wipes and waste bags are also supplied to all collection staff performing this role and it’s important to ensure they do not leave the office without the full range of collection and protective kit and equipment.

Collecting Coronavirus COVID-19 Sample Test Kits from a Post Box – Revised Process

• Collection staff will open the post box as per normal process and scan the barcode.
• Firstly, they’ll look to identify any COVID-19 sample kits in the box from either the purple address label or purple Covid 19 test kit label and the UN3373 mark on the back.
• When emptying post boxes they’ll visually check for any leaking packages and if any are found they’ll follow the specific instructions in the SSoW.
• Each test kit is to be bagged in a secondary polythene bag to minimise any risk of contamination. This is done by turning the polythene bag inside out and pulling it over the test kit without contacting it with the hands. The SSoW has illustrations on this.  If staff find it easier they can wear gloves for this, but they are not essential or required.
• The test kits are then placed in a T24 tray or in a mail bag and labelled ‘kits’. The tray/bag is then placed in the van so that they can be segregated and bagged easily when they reach the collection hub or mail centre/plant.
• If the post box is in a busy area for pedestrians or traffic or poorly lit and it would be safer etc., the collection staff, wearing gloves, can separate the test kits into a T24 tray, then take the tray to the van and over-bag them at the van.
• In cases where the post box is filled with significant volumes of test kits and where it’s not safe or practical, the collections staff can empty the post box into a separate mail bag as per a normal collection from a post box, label and isolate the bag and the test kits can then be segregated, re-bagged and labelled upon return to the collection hub or mail centre/plant, ready for the dedicated, onward despatch to the destination lab.
• The kits must be over-bagged before handing over to the next part of the pipeline and under no circumstances should a kit travel un-bagged to the tracked work area in a mail centre.
• All kits should be bagged at the earliest opportunity.
• Gloves should be disposed of in the rubbish bag and hands washed or cleaned with sanitising gel or disinfectant wipes.

Collecting COVID-19 Sample Kits from Home Collections 

• The customer will have taken their swab sample and assembled the packaging and wiped the outside of the outer packaging ready for collection.
• The collections staff member will knock on the door and move back at least 2 metres
• Ask the customer to place the parcel outside the door, check with them that they have cleaned the outer packaging.
• When the door has closed collect the parcel.
• If the outer packaging is not correctly sealed or is damaged the sample should not be collected and the customer/owner advised to order a new test kit.
• The test kit will be over-bagged as described for pillar box collections.
• The item is scanned and placed in a tray or bag.
• Hand over the COVID-19 sample kits separately on arrival at the mail centre.

If at any stage the collections members feel threatened or unsafe or in danger, they can walk away from the doorstep, leaving the test kit parcel. The Police (if required) can then be informed and the Security Helpdesk notified via the manager.

Dealing with Damaged Packages 

• If there is minor damage to the outer packaging with no obvious leakage to the COVID-19 kit, it can be over bagged as usual and placed with undamaged kits.
• If a sample container is found after the collection box has been cleared, and there is no leakage, it can be over bagged and placed with other COVID-19 test kits.
• If there is significant damage and a COVID-19 kit is found to be leaking, the process is to close the post box and immediately notify the line manager.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Antibody Tests

After successful trials in June/July, these new finger-prick blood tests were found to be 98.6% accurate.  The Government is rolling out the new test this month and are hopeful that the test will be available for use in a mass screening program by the end of the year. The UK Government announced that the finger-prick tests can tell within 20 minutes if a person has ever been exposed to the Coronavirus. The Department of Health and Social Care has stated that the tests will help Government scientists and doctors to better understand how Coronavirus is spreading across the country and to determine whether or not antibodies indicate immunity from reinfection or transmission.  Royal Mail is contracted to provide the delivery and returns service for these tests kits as per the Coronavirus COVID-19 infection test kits. The new antibody kits are sent to people who are not showing signs of infection from COVID-19.

Important

Although these test kits involve the collection of blood, the very small volume of blood involved (0.5ml – about a ¼ of a teaspoon) goes into a very small sample, tube, container where it mixes with a chemical clotting agent and quickly solidifies before being posted and therefore reduces and avoids the risk of spillage and contamination.

Collecting COVID-19 Antibody Sample Kits from a Post Box: 

• The post box is opened as per normal process and barcode scanned.
• When emptying post boxes the collection member will visually check for any leaking or contaminated packages and if found follow the instructions in the SSoW.
• The Coronavirus COVID-19 antibody sample kits will have the UN3373 mark on the outside of the ‘polylope’ and should be treated in the same way as other normal biological specimens.
• These antibody test kits do not require over-bagging unless the outer packaging has visible contamination. If there are signs of contamination, (i.e., blood on the outside of the packaging), then each kit is to be over-bagged in a secondary polythene bag to minimise any risk of contamination. This is done by turning the bag inside out and pulling it over the test kit without contacting it with the hands. Gloves can be worn if preferred and if found to be easier but they are not necessary or mandatory.
• Used gloves are disposed of in the provided rubbish bag without touching the outside with bare hands and then the hands are cleaned with sanitising gel or disinfectant wipe which are supplied by Royal Mail.
• The lancets (sharps) being used are retractable, protected and are single use and do not present a risk of stick injuries. In any case they are not to be returned with test kits by the customer.

See Attachments for your attention and assistance:

• Pre-Collection List Poster ‘Have You Got What You Need’
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Test Kit Mailings Delivery and Collections (Royal Mail Operations SSOW)
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Test Kit Mailings Delivery and Collections (Royal Mail Operations SAC1/Risk Assessment)
• Delivery, Collection and Processing of Coronavirus COVID-19 Antibody Testing (Royal Mail Operations SSOW)
• Delivery, Collection and Processing of Coronavirus COVID-19 Antibody Testing (Royal Mail Operations SAC1/Risk Assessment)

ASR/WSR Involvement

It is agreed between Royal Mail HQ and CWU/HQ that ASRs and WSRs will be fully involved and consulted in ensuring compliance with the Safe Systems of Work and any additional required local risk assessment arrangements additional to these generic standards. Safety spot checks and inspections to check compliance with the SSoW should take place and are both encouraged and welcomed by Royal Mail HQ.

Any non-compliant offices or management queries can be reported directly to:- 

Francis Williams Royal Mail Head of Commercial and Field Programmes. Email:-  francis.williams@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 469/20 – Coronavirus – Test Kits and Antibody Test Kits – Updated New Royal Mail Operations Risk Assessments (SAC1) & SSOWs

Att 1 Coronavirus Antibody Testing Kits SAC1 v1.1

Att 2 Coronavirus Testing Kits SAC1 v1.3

Att 3 COVID 19 Antibody Test Kit SSOW v1.1

Att 4 COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Deliveries and Collections v1.4

Att 5 POSTBOX Collections drivers – pre collection list poster V4

Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 58)

I attach for your information Version 58 of the Royal Mail Group, Managers’ Coronavirus/Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance document, issued by the business on 23 September2020.

At the commencement of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, Royal Mail Group established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all national heads of department and this team meets regularly to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and to issue update Questions and Answers information communications to all managers, which is cascaded throughout the business.

Attached is a copy of the version 58 Q&A document which has been shared with the Union. It is hereby circulated for information and reference purposes for CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps.

The Q&A documents are circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link on the Royal Mail Group ‘Intranet’, in the ‘Managers Update Messages’ section.

Please note that changes and additions from the last versions 56 and 57 are highlighted in ‘Yellow’.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues in dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team to raise additions and amendments to the Q&A document.

Any enquiries to this LTB or feedback on the RMG Q&A document should be directed to Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

Attachment:

Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers V58

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 473/20 – Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 58)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v58