CWU Young Workers Conference 2022 – Online Registration

As detailed in LTB 515/21 the CWU Young Workers Conference will be held on Thursday 27^th January 2022at the Birmingham Branch Offices, 47 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3TH.

The online registration system for registering delegates and observers to the above conference is now open. The link to access the webpage is as follows or can be copied into the search browser: https://conference.cwu.org

We will be using the online registration that was used previously for conferences. We ask that only Branch Secretaries register their delegates to the above conference. Since it has been a couple of years since we used this system we will send to all Branch Secretaries details on how to register their delegates along with the password for their branch. If you experience any problems please contact conferences@cwu.org

Attached is a list of branches with numbers of young workers in the branch.  The delegation entitlement to the conference as agreed by the NEC is as follows:Number of Young MembersDelegate

entitlement1-249      1250-499      2500 and above      3

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

21LTB535 – CWU Young Workers Conference 2022 – Online Registration

30 and under count – 29th Nov

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Driver Academy – LGV Driver Apprenticeship – Application Process

Further to LTB 491/21, issued on the 22nd November 2021 on the agreed Launch of the Driver Academy Approach to Driver Training and LTB 527/21, issued on the 6th December 2021 on the Application Process for the Driver Career Path element, Royal Mail have now shared application information for the LGV Driver Apprenticeship places.

While this scheme is not currently open to existing Royal Mail Group employees, CWU members may have friends or family who would be interested in applying for places on the scheme.

Produced below are a video link to a promotional film the business has created to advertise the Apprenticeship program:

Video Link Royal Mail LGV Film

The Introductory paragraph and link to the application process:

We’re excited to launch an LGV driver apprenticeship scheme as part of our new driving academy of excellence. This is a fully paid, 13-month programme for new drivers with between 1 and 5 year’s driving experience. It will take you from a complete novice to a professional LGV driver with a mix of in-the-cab and classroom training from top Royal Mail driver coaches and external partners.

You’ll learn everything you need to know to become a first-class LGV driver – from best practice to road safety and customer service – to help you become the next generation of Royal Mail LGV driver.

Apply now and join our exciting, brand new LGV driver apprenticeship scheme

The link to the Application process via the Royal Mail Careers page:

https://jobs.royalmailgroup.com/content/Early-Careers/?locale=en_GB

These positions are now open to application and Royal Mail expect interest to be extremely high. We would therefore encourage interested parties to apply without delay.

We would ask Branches to bring the contents of the LTB to the attention of CWU members.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 216.01. 

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson 

Assistant Secretary

21LTB534

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JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND THE CWU REGARDING BANK HOLIDAY RESOURCING FOR LINEHAUL (NETWORK) PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS – CHRISTMAS 2021/22

Branches will recall that as an integral part of the 2007 Professional Drivers Agreement, Bank Holidays effectively became normal working days for Network LGV Drivers and while we have long had an understanding with the business that where possible attendance would be on a voluntary basis, in reality our members can be compelled to attend on those days where sufficient numbers fail to volunteer. In line with the PDA, all staff who attend are credited with a lieu day.

Branches and representatives will be aware that, in addition to the generic Christmas Arrangements Agreement, the department has since 2014 reached agreement with Royal Mail Distribution on specific guidelines covering the resourcing of Network LGV duties across the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.

In line with previous arrangements discussions have therefore taken place with the business and the attached Joint Statement has been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive.

As previously reported, this year has proved particularly challenging due to the uncertainty around the Ofcom consultation on the New Year Bank Holiday. Although the PDA dates back to 2007, and was in force the last time this pattern occurred in 2010/11 in reality Royal Mail was a very different organisation at that time, with no commitment to either test Kit or Sunday Delivery Operations or the parcel volumes that the company now handles.

Royal Mail have indicated that there is a substantial requirement for the business to run a service on Sunday, 26th December 2021(Boxing Day) and Saturday, 1stJanuary 2022 (New Year’s Day), neither of which are Bank Holidays this year as they fall at the weekend. As such discussions have focused on providing guidance on attendance of those days in addition to the now established commitments around mitigating the individual commitment of drivers over the Bank Holiday period. 

With regard to Sunday, December 26th 2021 (Boxing Day) and Saturday, 1st January 2022 (New Year’s Day) attendance will prioritise volunteers, supported by the full range of mixed resourcing options. Attendance will attract Overtime rates of pay. 

As detailed in the generic Royal Mail Peak Christmas Arrangements 2021 Document, circulated in LTB 530/21 on the 6th December 2021, in order to further incentivise attendance exceptionally both parties have agreed a one off lump sum will be applicable for Drivers that make a forward commitment to volunteer and attend on Sunday, 26thDecember 2021. 

•  Attendances up to eight hours will receive an additional lump sum payment of: £38.
•  Attendances beyond eight hours will receive an additional lump sum payment of: £60.

In line with the commitments in the National Peak/Christmas Arrangements document further discussions will take place in relation to January 1st 2022. 

In addition, the attached Joint Statement reaffirms the following commitments:

 A wholly voluntary approach to any attendance on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. 

 The use of the full range of resourcing options to reduce the burden on our members. 

 A commitment to only run essential services on Bank Holidays. 

 A commitment to minimise any mandatory attendance – no driver asked to attend on both the Monday, 27th December and 3rdJanuary Bank Holidays. 

Local discussions on resourcing should be completed at the earliest possible juncture to give the maximum levels of certainty to all our drivers. Discussions should be progressed in line with the IR Framework and the Network Working Group will be available to assist should it become necessary.

This Joint Statement covers the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays only. Resourcing for all other Bank Holidays will continue to be progressed in line with the terms of the Professional Drivers Agreement.

As in previous years the department believes that the attached clarification provided in relation to the arrangements for 2020/21 will be welcomed by representatives and members.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 206A.15.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

LTB 533-21

Bank Holiday Resourcing for Linehaul (Network) Professional Drivers Christmas 2021-22 07.12.21

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Mandatory Face Masks/Coverings in Royal Mail Group (RM, PFWW, RMSS, RMP&FS, RME, RMF, RMCE etc.) – Medical Exemptions and Compliance:

This LTB follows and should be read in conjunction with LTB 517/21 entitled “Introduction of Mandatory Face Coverings in Royal Mail Group from Tuesday 30 November 2021”. 

In summary

The Royal Mail Group Executive decided last week that a number of crucially important factors were combining to increase the risk of workforce transmissions and growing infection rates of Covid-19 and as such it was imperative to put in place stricter controls to maintain, as far as is practicable, Covid-Secure and Safe workplaces, maintaining safety standards and protection for the workforce. Royal Mail Group therefore decided to re-introduce ‘Mandatory Face Masks/Coverings’ across the UK, bringing England into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from Tuesday 30 November 2021. The main reasons for this were:

• The UK Government announcement on the re-introduction of ‘Mandatory Masks’ in England in certain settings from Tuesday 30 November 2021. (Mandatory Face Masks are already in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
• The current Coronavirus/Covid-19 high transmissions and infection rate, now reaching over 50,000 new cases a day on a number of recent occasions.
• Thousands of temporary, casual and agency workers taken on by the company to support the Christmas peak workload, mixing with the permanently employed workforce and potentially increasing transmission risks if controls are not in place.
• The emerging new Covid-19 ‘Omicron 1.1.529’ variant which international experts say is ‘highly infectious’ as case numbers of this variant grow rapidly across the UK.
• The combination of the Covid-19 virus and Flu viruses co-circulating during the winter months.
• Medical experts and scientists along with the Health and Safety Executive, Department of Health and Social Care and many local authorities advising that wearing a face covering can help workers stay safe by reducing the risk of infection.
• The key benefits of face masks/face coverings in the workplace is to prevent the spread of the viral infection and defend the workforce from being pandemic victims of what is an airborne illness, protecting both the wearer and the surrounding people – giving risk reduction from aerosol transmission during exhalation.
• The introduction of mandatory face coverings in all indoor workplaces enhances existing preventative, risk control measures to protect the workforce from Coronavirus/Covid-19. This forms part of the RMG Coronavirus Risk Assessment, which is required under health and safety legislation.

CWU/HQ is supporting the initiative having considered the current and worsening Coronavirus/Covid-19 situation across the UK along with expert scientific and medical advice and recommendations.

Medical and Other Exemptions and Compliance

It has become evident that much confusion and misunderstanding of the ‘Mandatory Face Masks/Coverings’ rules exists across the UK in operational workplaces and units in respect of those employees claiming exemption from the ‘Mandatory Masks’ rule and as such some Units are experiencing non-compliance with the rule and enforcement failures. To address this problem Royal Mail Group HQ have issued a reminder WTLL on 3 December 2021 – (See Copy Attached).

The WTLL states quote; “Royal Mail Group fully accept that some employees will have exemptions to wearing a face covering and some conditions will not be visible. However, to support our duty of care and ensure we are managing risk appropriately as the country faces a new virus strain and significantly higher transmission and infection rates, managers can now request evidence of an exemption without needing to know the medical/other reason. This is required to ensure robust and consistent application of the mandatory wearing of face coverings. Managers can also keep records that employees have met the criteria for the exemption but should not record the specific reason if the employee shares this with the manager. Once confirmed, employees with genuine exemption will be supported and will not be ‘routinely’ asked to provide written evidence.” 

Would all Branches, Area Safety Reps, Area IR Reps and Local Unit Reps who have made enquiries regarding this matter please accept this LTB as a response.

Importantly and to reiterate the point; Once confirmed, employees with a legitimate, genuine exemption will be supported and will not be ‘routinely’ asked to provide written evidence.”

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce – National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary Processing, Logistics, Parcelforce, International, Quadrant 

Mick Kavanagh – Acting Assistant Secretary Outdoor 

21LTB532 Mandatory Face Masks Coverings in Royal Mail Group – Medical Exemptions and Compliance

Coronavirus WTLL November 21

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ROYAL MAIL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT/COLLISION AGREEMENT – BALLOT RESULT

The Branch ballot for the above agreement closed on Friday 3^rd of December 2021 with the following result:Total votes possible111,882Total votes cast82,715For the agreement64,924Against the agreement17,791 

Royal Mail have been informed of the result and discussions will now take place on a suitable date for implementation.

Branches should also be aware we have a commitment on joint training for the new agreement and we will be discussing with the Business how best to implement this.

Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to Kerry Hay khay@cwu.org for the PTCS department quoting reference number 402, Nickie Jones njones@cwu.org for the Outdoor department quoting reference number 300 and Sue Hayman shayman@cwu.org for the Logistics/Distribution department quoting reference number 202.11.

Yours sincerely,

Carl Maden – Assistant Secretary                             

Davie Robertson  – Assistant Secretary                  

Mick Kavanagh – A/Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 21LTB531 Royal Mail Road Traffic Accident-Collision Agreement – Ballot Result

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Royal Mail – Peak/Christmas Arrangements 2021

Further to the update provided in LTB 512/21 circulated on the 26^thNovember 2021, Branches will be aware that the Christmas Arrangements document has been delayed due to the uncertainty over the arrangements for the New Year Bank Holiday(s).

Despite the fact that the precedent for the granting of non USO days by the Regulator was set in 2010/11, the last time that Christmas and New Year’s Day fell on Saturdays, Royal Mail’s application to Ofcom to seek the dispensation not to run a service on New Year’s Day 2022, which is not a Bank Holiday was unnecessarily late and has created a great deal of uncertainty.

While Ofcom has published an intention to grant the additional Non USO day for the 1^st January 2022, the matter is currently the subject of a public consultation which will not close until the 13^th December 2021with a decision announced by the 16^th December 2021.

Given the ongoing enquiries on Christmas Arrangements, while there is no way to speed up the Ofcom consultation process further meetings have taken place with the business which have resulted in an agreed Peak/ Christmas Arrangements Document which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive.

This agreement covers the period until the resumptions following the Christmas Bank Holidays. A commitment has been received from Royal Mail to further talks to look at contingency arrangements for the New Year’s Bank Holiday weekend should the expected outcome of the Ofcom consultation not be realised.  The CWU position in these talks remains as described in LTB 521/21.   Additional Guidelines will be issued in relation to the New Year Bank Holiday following the closure of the Ofcom consultation.

Branches will recall that in 2020, following release of the Christmas Arrangements document, additional lump sum payments were agreed for voluntary attendance on Saturday 26^th December 2020 in addition to the Scheduled Attendance hourly rate. It has been agreed that these arrangements will flow through to Sunday 26^th December 2021. The scope and value of the lump sum payments will mirror the 2020 agreement which was circulated in LTB 597/20.

You will note that the attached document broadly mirrors prior agreements and retains all of the elements and safeguards achieved in previous years and includes an enhanced section on Sunday Delivery activity during the Peak Period which has become a new and growing element of workload during peak.

As in previous years, in anticipation of the expected traffic levels the agreement covers, temporary workplan changes, early and late supplementary parcel deliveries, night opening for DO’s, and Sunday operational arrangements and provides clarity on Customer Service Point (CSP) opening times.

The overall situation remains far from ideal, however both departments believe that the arrangements will be welcomed by our Branches and Representatives and will provide guidance on ensuring that resourcing for the Peak/Christmas Pressure period is conducted in line with Nationally agreed standards.  On that basis representatives are now encouraged to engage with managers in relation to agreeing arrangements.

Further updates will be provided on the arrangements for the New Year’s Weekend when the talks have concluded and the outcome of the Ofcom consultation is known.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Processing/Distribution: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference 706A.14

Deliveries/Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email: njones@cwu.org quoting reference 170.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson                                       Mick Kavanagh                     

Assistant Secretary                                          Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 530-21 Peak Christmas Arrangements 2021 – 06.12.21

Peak Christmas Arrangements 2021 – 06.12.21 – final

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Election of National Representative Positions – 2021

• Postal Standing Orders Committee – Vacancy

Further to LTB 498/21 dated 17^thNovember 2021, please find detailed below the result of the ballot that closed on 3^rd December 2021.

Postal SOC (1 Woman Member)                           Kath KellyNewcastle Amal67,119*ElectedEsther RobertsonEastern No 410,636 

Please find attached a copy of the branch breakdown for these ballots.

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

21LTB529

SOC Ballot Returns

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Labour for a Green New Deal – Worker-Climate Conference – Sheffield Sat/Sun 19/20 February 2022

Introduction

Labour for a Green New Deal (LGND) aims to contribute to the necessary development of a worker movement which can address climate change by hosting a national ‘Worker-Climate Conference’, in the aftermath of Labour Party Conference and COP26. To achieve this, LGND’s Trade Union team will bring together the range of organisers engaged in this work, to build relationships; discuss experience; and plan future strategy.

Logistics and Sessions

• The conference will take place in Sheffield, on the weekend of February 19/20th
• Hosted by the community venue Foodhall, who will provide lunch for both days
• Sessions will run from 11-6pm on Saturday (19th); 9.30-2pm Sunday (20th)
• The sessions will include:

• Propositional worker-climate demands in the 21st century: Exploring propositional demands, giving participants a chance to think ambitiously about the kind of movement which can be built, and the wins it can achieve.
• Evaluation of worker-climate organising in 2020/21: A chance to share and reflect upon participants’ organising in the last two years. Includes group discussions and opportunity for participants to talk one to one with each other about the overlap/differences in their organising approaches.
• Just transition: Divided by sectors: public, private, and high-carbon industry, this will be an opportunity to examine the specific dynamics of organising towards socialist decarbonisation in different industries and legal frameworks.
• Local organising: Examine how worker-climate efforts should work constructively with local union and climate organising, using the LGND local transport campaigns as an example.
• Models of organising in UK unions: Considering how organising for climate in UK unions can effectively take place based on specific dynamics and opportunities of different unions.

Participants

• The LGND are aiming for 100 participants and are inviting individuals from across the labour movement who have had significant involvement in worker-climate organising, allowing the conference to be a chance for participants to learn from each other’s practical efforts.
• LGND aim for these participants to come from across a range of UK unions, as well as cross-union organisations such as TUC/STUC.

Outcomes

• Develop key aims and demands for UK worker-climate organising, such as: developing a cohesive cross-union climate bargaining agenda, building and utilising a set of methods for workers to legally take industrial action on climate related issues in workplaces.
• Create network of worker-climate organisers to continue planning and collaborating, and understand which activities require cross-union coordination, utilising existing organisations which can support this e.g. TUC/STUC, and proposing new forms of network where needed.
• Identify immediate next steps for organising: spreading political and practical education for workplaces, branches and regions around methods for useful worker-climate action; support worker groups in developing their own ‘Lucas Plan’ style propositions for decarbonisation of their industry/workplace.
• Understand the role for LGND TU team in future efforts, this could be: organising follow-up conferences on more specific tactics/methods; facilitating knowledge-sharing between worker-climate networks being developed.

For those wishing to attend and participate; registration is here:

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/wcc-expression-of-interest-form/

Further information:- tradeunions@labourgnd.uk 

Labour For a Green New Deal Website:-https://www.labourgnd.uk/

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

21LTB528 Labour for a Green New Deal – Worker-Climate Conference – Sheffield Sat Sun 19-20 February 2022

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