NHS & PHE – ‘Help Us, Help You’ Lung Cancer Symptoms Awareness Campaign Launched

NHS England, NHS Improvement, and Public Health England have launched a new ‘Help Us, Help You’ Lung Cancer Symptoms awareness raising campaign and have requested the support of the Union which the Health, Safety & Environment Department is happy to endorse. This campaign is part of the ‘Access’ phase of the new ‘Help Us, Help You’ theme and brand.

The campaign seeks to address the barriers that are deterring patients from accessing NHS services. This phase focuses on encouraging the public to contact their GP practice if they are worried about a cough that lasts three weeks or more, which could be a sign of lung cancer.

The NHS has introduced a range of measures to ensure the safety of patients, including COVID-Secure wards, and the ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign theme aimed at helping to reassure patients that they can receive medical care safely despite the current ongoing pandemic.

The NHS is communicating the message that they are here to see patients safely so the NHS say “Help Us, Help You”.

The ‘Help Us, Help You’ Lung Cancer Symptoms Awareness Campaign is now live, with adverts across TV, radio, and video on demand (catch-up TV).

Despite lung cancer being the third most common cancer in England, suspected lung cancer referrals remain lower than normal. As of December 2020, lung cancer referrals had reached 73% of pre-COVID levels, while referrals for all cancers were just over 100%.

That is why the NHS and PHE have launched the campaign which began last month and they want CWU Reps to get involved and spread the word to get the message out.

Last month the launch included TV and radio adverts plus an exclusive interview with cricketer Andrew Strauss, who lost his wife to lung cancer, support from TV presenter Gaby Roslin, who lost her mother to lung cancer, and activity from media medics. My own mother died of lung cancer!

The campaign highlights a cough that lasts for three weeks or more could be a sign of lung cancer and encourages anyone who has this symptom to contact their GP practice.

Branches and Health and Safety Reps can also be part of the campaign by using the key messages and a range of campaign resources now available which have been expanded as this national campaign rolls out.

Key Messages:

• If you’ve had a cough for three weeks or more, and it isn’t COVID-19, it could still be a warning sign.
• A cough for three weeks or more could be a sign of cancer. Just contact your GP practice.
• It’s probably nothing serious, but finding cancer early makes it more treatable.
• Your NHS is here to see you, safely!
• Your support spreading the messages can make a difference.

Resources available:

• Campaign Toolkit
• Posters
• Social Media Statics

Lung Cancer Symptoms ‘Help Us Help You’ Website: https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/120-help-us-help-you—lung-cancer-symptoms-/resources

Attachment:

• ‘Help Us, Help’ You Poster

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 121/21 – NHS & PHE – Help Us, Help You Lung Cancer Symptoms Awareness Campaign Launched

11773 NHS Lung Cancer

View Online

CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE MEMBERS – RETURN TO WORK

The devolved governments have announced Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) members will be allowed to return to work unless they are able to work from home starting from 1^st April 2020.

Members who have been shielding, who are able to and intend to start working from home, should ensure this is agreed with your manager before your due return date.

The Current Return dates are:

• England 1^st April 2021
• Wales 1^st April 2021
• Northern Ireland 12^th April 2021
• Scotland 26^th April 2021

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable members must adhere to the restrictions until the relevant date above and should receive a letter informing them shielding is coming to an end and any further guidance from the Government or NHS.

We have engaged with Royal Mail and the approach to supporting members back to work will be a very similar approach to last year as laid out in LTB 574/2020.

Attached to this LTB is the latest communication from Royal Mail at Appendix A.

At Appendix B is the document managers are expected to use when having the discussion with members who are returning to work.

We have also attached the agreed toolkit managers are expected to use in ensuring members return to the workplace safely at Appendix C.

Representatives will be aware the most important aspect of this approach is the meaningful dialogue between our member and their Line Manager to ensure our members are entirely comfortable in returning to the workplace, with any necessary adjustments put in place.

We ask all reps to ensure they familiarise themselves with the toolkit and return to work document and give this LTB maximum circulation.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 420. Email address: khawkins@cwu.org

Yours Sincerely,

Carl Maden

Assistant Secretary (Acting)

Attachment 1: LTB 128/21 – Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Members Return to Work

Attachment 2: Appendix A

Attachment 3: Appendix B

Attachment 4: Appendix C

View Online

Virtual Special Rules Revision Conference 2021– Registration Reminder

Further to LTB 086/21 branches are reminded to register for and submit the names of the three delegates that will be attending the Virtual Special Rules Conference taking place on Saturday 24^th April 2021 by emailing eventsregistration@cwu.org before the deadline Thursday 1^stApril 2021.

The information required by CWU Headquarters to deal with the registration for the conference is as follows:

• Full Name
• Full Branch Name
• Position Held
• Email Address

Observers do not have to register but details of how they can watch the conference live on the day will be published at a future date.

We are also mindful that branches may want to familiarise themselves with the voting system that will be used on the day and to understand how the conference will be run. Taking that into account we will be running a “mock conference” prior to the event on the 24th. This will take place on Monday 19^th April at 10.30am. We will contact Branches nearer the time with details of how to attend on the 19^th but it is important that branches register for the 24^th as requested.

Any enquiries on this LTB should be directed to Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 or email eventsregistration@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 129/21 – Virtual Special Rules Revision Conference 2021 – Registration Reminder

View Online

ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS

• CWU Young Workers Committee Vacancies

Further to LTB 525/20 dated 5^th November 2020 which advised of the nominations received for the Young Workers Committee, branches will be aware that there were a number of vacancies:

Postal Constituency

Midland, North West, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales and London Regions.

Telecoms and Financial Services Constituency

Eastern, Midland and South West Region.

Please refer to LTB 465/20 dated 24^th September 2020 for the nomination process guiding principles.

Accordingly we are re-advertising the vacant positions in line with the following timetable and regulations:

Nominations Open:                     30 March 2021                

Nominations Close:                     20 April 2021    

Ballot opens:                                 27 April 2021

Ballot closes:                                 18 May 2021

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

21LTB125

Young Workers Regulations 2021

Nomination Form – Postal Constituency

Nomination Form – TFS Constituency

Candidate Biographical & Consent Form 2021

CWU ‘FACTS – Coronavirus Has Not Gone Away’ Poster:

The CWU/HQ Health Safety & Environment Department is issuing a new CWU Poster – ‘FACTS – Coronavirus Has Not Gone Away’ in order to remind CWU members to maintain the current ‘COVID – SECURE’ safety precautions which remain in place and have not been withdrawn by either the Government or the employers at this stage.

Earlier this month the Government announced a ‘Roadmap out of Lockdown’ which will see restrictions lifted in 4 steps on a route back to a more normal life. The programme of relaxing restrictions will depend on a number of things such as the success of the vaccination programme, the public obeying the law, people getting tested when needed, isolating when required, and continuing to follow the ‘hands, face, space, ventilation, cleaning’ guidance.

The Government stresses that we must all remain vigilant – in particular against the threat from new Covid-19 variants and continue to protect the NHS. We must also be cognisant of the fact that most of Europe remains in ‘hard lockdown’ because of high and climbing numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths.

In implementing this roadmap plan the Government will be guided by data, not dates, so that there is no risk of a surge in infections that would put unsustainable pressure back on the NHS and another wave of infections and deaths as is currently being seen in France, Italy, Germany, Poland and several other European countries. For that reason, all the dates in the roadmap are indicative and subject to change. There will be a minimum of five weeks between each step; four weeks for the scientific data to reflect the changes in restrictions to be analysed; followed by one week’s advance notice of the restrictions that will be eased.

Only when the Government is sure that it is safe to move from one step to the next will the final decision be made. The decisions will be based on the vaccine deployment programme, evidence showing the vaccines are effective, infection rates do not surge, whether hospitalisations and deaths are increasing and the impact of new virus variants.

In conclusion, the Government stresses that as the country moves through each of these phases in the roadmap, we must all remember that Coronavirus/Covid-19 has not gone away and remains a part of our lives. To keep ourselves and others safe, we must carry on with ‘hands, face, space’ plus cleanliness and good hygiene, avoiding crowded places, ventilation and fresh air and compliance with the ‘Covid-Secure’ measures in the workplace that remain in place. Get tested when needed. Get vaccinated when offered. If we all continue to play our part, we will be that bit closer to a future that is more familiar.

PLEASE KEEP ADVISING MEMBERS TO FOLLOW THE ADVICE IN THE POSTER (pdf copy attached).

Hard copies of the poster are being distributed to Branches and Regions.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

21LTB126 CWU ‘Facts – Coronavirus Has Not Gone away’ Poster

06546 HS Covid Poster

View Online

ELECTION OF NATIONAL DELEGATIONS – LABOUR PARTY WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2021

The Labour Party will be holding a stand-alone Women’s Conference which will take place on 26^th-27^th June. The conference will be held online owing to current Covid-19 restrictions and concerns about large gatherings indoors post the 21^st June. The conference enables women members to better participate in policy making and will offer the delegates the chance to meet with others and share ideas with delegates from across the movement.

The NEC has agreed the 2021 election arrangements for the National delegations listed above. Accordingly please find attached the Election Regulations, Nomination Forms, Candidates Consent and Biographical Detail Form, and Labour Party Affiliate Delegate Application Form.

Due to the current Covid 19 pandemic there are a number of areas Branches will need to consider:

Nomination Process

In respect of seeking nominations branches will need to put in place a robust system and use all reasonable methods at their disposal to publish suitable notification throughout the branch area giving members the opportunity to submit their name for nomination to the position should they choose to do so.  Following this the branch would need to put in place arrangements to hold a membership meeting to decide which candidate(s) will receive the branch nomination.

On the basis that no face to face member meetings are currently allowed then this would need to be conducted via a suitable video conference platform such as Zoom or Skype, etc. that provides the opportunity for large numbers of members to take part if required.

Additionally branches will need to allow for members who do not have video conference capability to join the meeting by phone again if they choose to do so.

The timeline for the meeting would need to be agreed in advance and notification provided to members at least 7 days prior to the meeting taking place.

Dispatch and Return of Nomination Forms to CWU HQ

Nomination forms will be sent to branches electronically via an LTB. A dedicated election email address has been set up elections@cwu.orgto which branches should return all completed nomination forms.

Nomination Forms will need to be returned by the advertised closing date to be included in the list of candidates. 

Candidates that are putting themselves forward for this conference must also complete the Labour Party Affiliate Delegate Application form attached.  Sections B, C, E, and F must be completed and the form should then be returned to CWU HQ at elections@cwu.org.

The revised system will avoid the necessity to return forms in the post system which of course may be subject to delay during the current Covid-19 crisis.

Dispatch and Return of Voting Papers

The respective constituency based voting papers will be sent by email direct to branches at the email address which we hold on file.  Branches should return the completed voting papers by email to the advertised CWU election email address.  Notification will be sent to branches confirming receipt of the voting paper, however it will the responsibility of the branch to ensure that voting papers are returned to the correct email address.

To be included in the ballot voting papers will need to have been returned by the advertised closing date and time.  

Branch Voting Recommendations

Clearly we are in unique and challenging times and whilst branches would normally arrange mandating meetings to decide which candidates to vote for in the respective elections we do not believe that this is either practical or necessary during the current crisis.  Therefore, on this occasion this decision can be made by the Branch Committee and the decision subsequently notified to members of their branch accordingly.

The timetable for the elections is:

Nominations open                             26 March 2021                                

Nominations close                             9 April 2021 (14:00)     

Dispatch ballot papers                     16 April 2021                    

Ballot closes                                         30 April 2021 (14:00)    

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

21LTB124

Election Regulations 2021

LP Women’s Nomination Forms 2021

Labour Party Affiliate Delegate Application Form

Candidate Consent & Biographical Details

Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 005) – Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Accidents involving Royal Mail Group Vehicles:

Overview and Background:

Royal Mail Group Safety Health and Environment Group have issued ‘Safety Flash’, number FY21 005, (copy attached), which gives a summary report of 10 tragic, Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Accidents which have occurred over the last 12 months which is to form the basis of a Unit Briefing for ALL ROYAL MAIL DRIVERS in order to raise awareness of the potential ‘Road Risk’ of serious RTCs and the important need to always drive with utmost care at all times.

Description of the Incidents

There have been 10 serious RTCs in the last 12 months involving RMG vehicles resulting in life-changing injuries or fatalities:

• Two incidents in which a third-party pedestrian in the road was hit by a RMG vehicle;
• Two incidents in which a RMG vehicle impacted with a third-party vehicle from the rear;
• Three incidents in which a RMG vehicle and a third-party vehicle impacted in a head-on collision;
• One incident in which a third-party pedestrian was hit by a reversing RMG vehicle;
• One incident in which a RMG vehicle left the road and exited down an embankment;
• One incident where bricks were thrown from a bridge on to a RMG vehicle.

Key Learning Points, Management Activities and Messages to Staff

• Communicate and display this SHE Flash on the SHE Noticeboard.
• Brief all drivers on this SHE Flash, alerting them to the listed RTC incidents.
• Fatal and Serious RTC incidents can and do happen to RMG drivers resulting in fatalities or life-changing injuries.
• These incidents can happen and do happen on any type of road and at any time.
• Fatal and serious incidents, regardless of blame, can be life changing for all involved.
• These incidents often involve vulnerable persons – such as motorcyclists or pedestrians.
• The impact of a fatality or life-changing injury will be devastating for all those involved and can result in a long period of uncertainty and stress for drivers dealing with the police and enforcement authorities.
• Ensure driver training is completed when possible.
• Ensure the Driver SSoWs and the Highway Code is adhered to.
• Consider vulnerable persons as a particular risk.

Attachment:

• Copy of RMG SHE Safety Flash FY21 005 – Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Accidents involving Royal Mail Group Vehicles

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

21LTB123 Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 005) – Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Accidents involving Royal Mail Group Vehicles

SHE Flash FY21 005 Serious and Fatal RTC Summary

View Online

Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 004) – Electric Tug & Trailer (Workplace Transport) Safe Operations in Mail Centres: (Serious Incident – Injury Accident When Moving Tug and Trailers was In Collision With a Pedestrian Worker)

Introduction and Background:

An urgent ‘Safety Flash’, number FY21 004, has been issued by the Royal Mail Group Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Team (copy attached), following a recent accident in a Mail Centre when a moving tug and trailers was in collision with a pedestrian member of staff who was working in an area too close to the designated tug route. The collision caused injury to the pedestrian.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report that every year, there are over 5000 accidents involving transport in the workplace. About 50 of these result in people being killed. The main causes of injury are people being struck or crushed by vehicles inside the workplace or falling off vehicles. Managers, operators and their safety representatives all have a role to play in avoiding and reducing accident risks. Employers have a legal duty to ensure that the health and safety of their employees are not put at risk as a result of workplace transport operations and workers also have a duty to look after their own health and safety and that of anyone who might be affected by the work they do.

Description of the Incident and Key Issues: 

A Mail Centre member of staff was working in an area of the Mail Centre, too close to the established and marked out tug route and an accident occurred when the individual inadvertently walked into the designated tug route and was hit by a moving electric tug and trailers.

The Issue, Impact, Effect:

• Lack of segregation between employees and workplace transport, mechanical handling equipment (tugs).
• Walkway obstructed.
• Unattended York Container left in the tug route.
• Employee entered into a tug route.
• Serious injury to employee.

Key Learning Points, Management Activities and Messages to Staff:

• Communicate and display this SHE Flash on the SHE noticeboard.
• Brief all employees of the dangers of entering a tug route.
• Remove any obstructions that may be blocking a tug route.
• Always keep designated walkways and tug routes free from any obstruction and clear at all times.
• Brief tug drivers on stopping and removing obstacles on their route rather than driving around them.
• A suitable and safe area must be available for all maintenance works associated with any Materials Handling Equipment.
• Always ensure there is a safe space between the stored containers and the tug route
• Ensure that equipment alongside MHE routes is not a collision risk, consider installing barriers at points of such risk along routes.
• Review tug routes and work areas, remove and relocate any equipment that may cause potential interaction between mechanical equipment and employees.
• Show the MHE film available on Content On Demand, this will be an April 21 SHE Calendar task.

Attachment:

• Copy of RMG SHE Safety Flash FY21 004 – All Mail Centres With Tug Operations

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

21LTB122 Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 004) – Electric Tug & Trailer (Workplace Transport) Safe Operations in Mail Centres

SHE Flash FY21 004 Tug Operations

View Online

BT REPAYMENT PROJECT ENGINEERS DISPUTE – CWU SOLIDARITY FUND

All Branches will be aware that our RPE members have been taking significant levels of strike action in a very bitter dispute with BT over jobs, grading, terms and conditions. 

The members involved in this dispute amount to around 170 workers who perform specialist roles within BT.  These members delivered a resounding yes vote and have now completed 10 days of strike action that has been solidly supported. 

Given the seriousness of the situation, we have pledged that we will not leave this small group of members isolated.  Therefore, the purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches that we have set up a Solidarity Fund that will enable the whole of the CWU to get behind our RPE members.  CWU Headquarters will launch the fund with a £15k contribution and we are asking all Branches (T&FS and Postal) to now make their own contribution.  

Branches wishing to donate can do so by either informing CWU HQ’s (sdgs@cwu.org) of how much they wish to donate and we can arrange for this to be deducted from your Branch rebate, or alternatively donations can be made by bank transfer to the CWU General Fund (CWU General Fund. A/C No. 33019822. Sort Code 60-83-01) quoting reference RPE Strike.

In the best traditions of the CWU and in keeping with our recent approach to actively encourage and promote solidarity in disputes across the whole movement, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate how the CWU stands together with our own members.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be sent to the General Secretary at jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 119/21 – BT REPAYMENT PROJECT ENGINEERS DISPUTE – CWU SOLIDARITY FUND

View Online

RM Property & Facilities Solutions Limited (PFSL) & CWU Joint Statement – Cleaners Pay

Further to the 2019 joint agreement between PFSL and the CWU regarding pay for CWU represented grades in RM Property & Facilities Solutions Limited (PFSL), we are now pleased to confirm the arrangements for payment of the remaining elements of the pay agreement and to provide advice of the pay increases due from 1^st April 2021. Please see the following for a further breakdown:

Implementation from 1^st April 2021 to be paid in April 2021 Salaries

Cleaners

• A 3.2% consolidated base salary increase effective from 1^st April 2021, flowing through to pensionable cash allowances.
• Those Static and Multi site cleaners on starter rates, will not receive the 3.2% increase, however they will receive the government National Living Wage increase from 1^st April 2021.
• As part of the Agreement there is a joint commitment to move cleaners to the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) pay rate. To support this, we are jointly tracking progress towards this commitment.  The intention is to move cleaners to the LWF rate in 2022 (if this has not been achieved during the 3-year period of the pay agreement). Further joint review meetings will take place in advance of April 2022 in order to ensure that the above commitment is met.

As Branches will appreciate the Joint Statement and the pay agreement is a positive achievement and we are committed to continue to ensure that our cleaning members pay, terms and conditions are improved in line with the Unions policies.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 120.02, email address: njones@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch                                                                                       

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 118/21 RMPFSL – J.S. – Pay

PFSL CWU Cleaners Pay Joint Statement 2021 Final