Postal Department Industrial Training Update

Postal Department Industrial Training Update

Further to LTB 370/20 that was circulated on 10^th July 2020, Branches are advised that numerous meetings of the Postal Department Education and Training Sub-committee have been held in order to assess the ongoing industrial training requirements.  In particular, the continually evolving situation regarding the Covid pandemic has had to be considered and it has been important to adopt a measured approach.

Branches will also appreciate that following the endorsement of the Pathway to Change Agreement, the revised Dispute Resolution Process (DRP) has had to be factored into the CWU one day IR Framework course material.  In line with the commitments contained in Section 2.9 of the Pathway to Change national agreement and ongoing negotiations, there is also the possibility that some of the content of the attendance and conduct courses may change in the not too distant future.

As restrictions continue to be lifted around Covid, it is evident that there is a growing demand to move back to some form of face to face classroom tuition although this has to be completed in a manner where everyone feels safe. At a meeting on 9^th August 2021 the Postal Executive endorsed revised course material for the face to face Industrial Relations one-day course as well as the supplementary content of the online teaching material.  As there are also imminent changes to the PFW procedural agreement, once finalised these changes will need to be reflected into a separate one-day CWU course.

The online tuition that was introduced last year was initially well received but it appears that since the turn of the year the full roll-out has been patchy.  This is not surprising given the volume of work that has been associated with the deployment of the Pathway to Change Agreement but if required the amended supplementary video course can also still be used going forward.

The Postal Executive remains conscious of the need to take one step at a time when delivering industrial training and has agreed that the revised face to face IR Framework industrial training course will be initially piloted in the Cleveland Amal and North Wales and the Marches Branches.  This training would be socially distanced and limited in terms of attendance however it will provide an opportunity to assess the viability of the revised course content.  Following this the next steps in relation to a wider roll-out will need to be agreed.

The Executive are conscious that due to Covid the database of industrial tutors needs updating therefore this LTB is also being circulated to confirm that the current tutors are happy to continue to deliver this industrial training and to seek further volunteers. This information should be sent to pharacz@cwu.org by no later than Friday 3^rd September 2021.  Following a successful outcome to the pilot events referenced above it will then be the intention to hold a further Train the Trainer session.

In closing I would like to convey my thanks to the members of the Postal Department Education and Training Sub-Committee for their continued work.  Further updates will be provided in due course.

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

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 330/21

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