General Conference 2022 – Submission of Motions

Further to LTB 547/21 issued on 14^thDecember 2021, Branches/Regional Committees/Regional Health and Safety Sub-Committees are reminded that the closing date for submission of motions to General Conference is midnight on Sunday 30^th January 2022.

Attached with this Letter to Branches are motion forms for General Conference 2022.  Branches should note that the motion guide for submitting motions to General Conference 2022 has been attached. Submitting bodies are advised to read the guidance notes carefully prior to submitting motions to ensure your motions meet the criteria for submission.

At this stage it is expected that the Equality Day will be Monday 25^thApril 2022. Whilst it is hoped that the content of motions submitted by the Regions on behalf of the Regional Equality Sub-Committee will be such that it is appropriate to be placed in the Equal Opportunities section of the agenda and heard on the Equality Day, motions will not automatically be placed there unless the content of the motion allows.

Entitlements In relation to the General Conference 2022:

• All Branches are entitled to submit three motions to General Conference.
• Regional Committees are entitled to submit three motions to the General Conference – however one of the motions must be from the Regional Equality Sub-Committee.
• Regional Health and Safety Sub-Committees are entitled to submit three motions on Health, Safety and Environmental matters to the Health Safety and Environment section of the agenda.
• Branches and Regions are entitled to submit one Rule Proposal to the rules section.

Motions submitted by email and any other email correspondence must be sent to generalmotions@cwu.org and no other personal email address.

Submitting bodies ***Please note the new email address***

If sending Motions by post, Branches must ensure they use a signed for service which guarantees delivery by the closing date and time.

Motions received, will be acknowledged within 72 hours. If you do not receive notification of the receipt of your motions, contact generalmotions@cwu.org or call Angela Niven at head office on 020 8971 7256 to confirm receipt.

Branches/Regions/Health and Safety Sub-Committees/Minority Conferences and the NEC are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 or by email to generalmotions@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

22LTB029 – General Conference 22 – Submission of Motions

General Motion Guide 2022

General Conference Motion Form 2022

Rule Proposal Form 2022

HS Motion form GC 2022

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Election of:

• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives -2022
• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives (Substitute) – 2022
• Royal Mail Divisional Chair – 2022

Royal Mail Divisional Representatives & Royal Mail Divisional Representative (Sub)  

Nominations are invited from Branches within the relevant divisions for the position of Royal Mail Divisional Representative (2 per division) and Royal Mail Divisional Representative (Substitute – 1 per Division) for the following divisions:

Anglia

London

Midland

North East

North Wales/North West

Scotland/Northern Ireland

South Central

South East

South West/South Wales

The term of office for these positions is two years and the successful candidates will take up office at the conclusion of the election period, however candidates should be aware that the above positions and divisions are currently under review by the CWU & Royal Mail and therefore the term of office may be subject to change prior to the conclusion of the 2 year term.

Nomination forms are attached to this LTB and completed forms must be signed by the Branch Secretary and Branch Chair or accredited deputies and the nominee and should be returned by email to elections@cwu.org to be received by 7^th February 2022 (14:00).   

The timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open:                                       24 January 2022

Nominations Close:                                        7 February 2022 (14:00)

Ballot Papers dispatched:                            14 February 2022

Ballot Close:                                                      28 February 2022 (first post)

If ballots are required for the positions of RM Divisional Representative and RM Divisional Representative (Substitute) they will be conducted on an individual member ballot basis and the ballots will be run in accordance with the CWU guidelines for Senior Regional/Field Official elections, which are attached for your information.

Royal Mail Divisional Chair

Nominations are invited from Branches within the relevant divisions for the position of Divisional Chair:

Anglia

London

Midland

North East

North Wales/North West

Scotland/Northern Ireland

South Central

South East

South West/South Wales

The term of office for these positions is two years and the successful candidates will take up office at the conclusion of the election period, however candidates should be aware that the above positions and divisions are currently under review by the CWU & Royal Mail and therefore the term of office may be subject to change prior to the conclusion of the 2 year term.

Nomination forms are attached to this LTB and completed forms must be signed by the Branch Secretary and Branch Chair or accredited deputies and the nominee, and should be returned by email to elections@cwu.org to be received by 7^th February 2022 (14:00).   

The timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open:                                       24 January 2022

Nominations Close:                                        07 February 2022 (14:00)

Ballot Papers dispatched:                            14 February 2022

Ballot Close:                                                      28 February 2022 (first post)

If ballots are required for the position of RM Divisional Chair they will be conducted on a branch ballot basis and therefore paragraphs 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the attached Guidelines are not applicable on this occasion.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 0208 971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

22LTB028 – Election of Royal Mail Divisional Representatives

Regulations 2022

Div Rep – 2022- Nomination Form

Div Rep Sub – 2022 – Nomination Form

Div Chair – 2022- Nomination Form

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Royal Mail Engineering – CWU Territorial Representatives Election – Result

Further to LTB 003/22 dated 5th January 2022, at the close of the ballot on the 20th January 2022 the following results were received:

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Stephen Haggerty
South Yorkshire Branch  * Elected

Mark Hobin
Lancs & Cumbria Branch    * Elected

David Underhill
Midlands No 1 Branch  * Elected

SOUTHERN TERRITORY

Peter Hoare
Great Western Branch  * Elected

Ian McMullon
Midland Counties Branch  * Elected

John Humphries
London Postal Engineering Branch  * Elected

Congratulations to all who have been elected.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the PTS Department quoting Ref. 120 at e-mail address: khay@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Carl Maden
Assistant Secretary

22LTB027

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Next National Hazard Campaign Meeting – 28th January 2022 – A Zoom On-Line Meeting:

‎Janet Newsham, the Secretary of the National Hazards Campaign which is supported and sponsored by the CWU/HQ Health Safety and Environment Department, has notified us of the next ‘open’ meeting of the Hazards Campaign along with the agenda. This will be an on-line virtual meeting via zoom. All Safety Reps are welcome.

Details:

Hazards Campaign Meeting
Friday 28th January
10.30 – 12.30am
Via Zoom on-line

Agenda:

1. Brief relevant reports from people/groups on current work, issues
2. Scottish Hazards
3. GMHC/Hazards Campaign Secretariat Report – including: Priorities, Suicide, Supporting Safety Reps, Zero Covid
4. Hazards Magazine
5. FACK
6. Covid pandemic update
7. International Workers Memorial Day 28th April
8. Covid remembrance Day 11th March
9. Hazards 2022 Conference – July 29th-31^st
10. Toxic Use Reduction Conference – 25th Feb
11. Conference: Invisible Killers: what can and must be done?
12. AOB

Zoom Location link details as follows:-

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3630106422?pwd=WUx1RWt4MXJsellDay9ocGFsM1VXQT09

(https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3630106422?pwd%3DWUx1RWt4MXJsellDay9ocGFsM1VXQT09&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0aa12FhmO0gvTZmx6nqiYp)

Meeting ID: 363 010 6422 Passcode: 389508

Further Information:

Janet Newsham Tel: 07734317158 Email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB026 Next National Hazard Campaign Meeting – 28th January 2022 – A Zoom On-Line Meeting

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Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 15)

(Plus Updated RMG Coronavirus Close Contact Alert/Self-Isolation Flow Chart V14 Updated on 17 January 2022).

I attach for your information a copy of the Royal Mail Group, Managers’ Coronavirus/Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance document, Version 15, issued by the business on 10 January 2022. As of today 19 January 2022 this is the latest Version.

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 in turn cascaded throughout the business.

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 on the RMG Coronavirus portal.

The Coronavirus Guidance, Version 15 Q&A document has been shared with the Union’s Health, Safety & Environment Department. It is not a document agreed with the Union but is circulated for useful information and reference purposes for CWU Regions, Health and Safety Reps, Branch Reps, Divisional IR Reps and members.

Changes made since the previous version have been highlighted in yellow. However, for ease of reference and to update and remind Branches and Reps of the important changes made in the latest version (copy attached), the changes are listed below:

Version 15 Changes:

• Page 7 – RMG Coronavirus Close Contact Alert/Self-Isolation Flow Chart – Note: Version 14 Updated on 17 January 2022 is attached.
• Page 8 – Can managers request evidence of a positive LFD or PCR test? – The manager can request evidence from the colleague (e.g. a screen shot of a text or email). Managers should direct any questions or concerns to the People Case Advice Team (0345 604 2787 or support@royalmail.com).
• Page 10 – Guidance on ceasing self-isolation after 10 days if still testing positive.
• Page 10 – Requesting ‘Deep Cleans’ via PFS following confirmed Covid-19 cases in a Unit? – Yes, we continue with the existing protocols. All tests for Coronavirus are treated the same. A confirmed case of Coronavirus can be via a lateral flow or PCR test. In the event of this happening contact the PFS helpdesk to arrange for a van or office clean.
• Page 14 – Vehicle Cleaning where a confirmed case of Coronavirus has been identified – Vehicle Cleans to continue to be requested via RM Fleet central booking helpline and Vehicle cleans will usually be actioned within 24 hours. Vehicles should be quarantined until they have been cleaned, up to 72 hours from the time the individual last used the vehicle. If a vehicle has been quarantined for 72 hours the vehicle can be brought into service without the requirement to complete a clean.

Version 15 Contents List: 

1. Shared Vans
2. Social Distancing
3. Face Coverings
4. Self-Isolation, Testing, Vulnerable Colleagues and Enforcement Visits
5. Cleaning, Facilities & CSP Cash Handling
6. Operations

Any enquiries regarding this LTB or feedback on the RMG Q&A document should be directed to Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer. Issues received in connection with the attached which are appropriate to other CWU/HQ Departments will be passed on the appropriate National Officer.

Attachment:

• RMG Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers V15
• RMG Coronavirus Close Contact Alert/Self-Isolation Flow Chart V14 Updated on 17 January 2022.

Please Note: Changes are being announced regularly by the Central Government for England and by the devolved administration of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and if so further updates will follow.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB025 Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 15)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions v15

Close contact alert_v14

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Telecoms and Financial Services Conference 2022 – Submission of Motions

Attached with this Letter to Branches is the Motion form to be used for Telecoms and Financial Services conference 2022.   The purpose of this Letter to Branches is to remind those who do not have access to an e-mail facility that they must contact head office direct to request hard copies of the form to be dispatched to them.  They should contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

We would also remind Branches that the closing date for the submission of motions to this conference is midnight Sunday 27th February 2022, by post, or by email to tfsmotions@cwu.orgPLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS which was communicated in LTB 700/19 issued on 10^th December 2019.  If by email only motions emailed to the above email address will be accepted.

If sending Motions by post, Branches must ensure they use a signed for service which guarantees delivery by the closing date and time.

General guidance on the submission of motions to the Telecoms and Financial Services Conference 2022 is attached to this LTB.

Branches are urged to note their entitlement to submit motions which is detailed in the guidance notes (also attached). Branches who exceed this entitlement risk all their submitted motions being ruled out of order.

Branches and the TFSE are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven at Head Office.

Yours sincerely,

A J Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

22LTB024 – Telecom and Financial Services – Submission of Motions

Guidance Notes TFS 2022

Motion-Form-TFS-2022

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TUC & STAND UP TO RACISM TRADE UNION CONFERENCE AND UN ANTI-RACISM DAY

We are writing to confirm that the TUC & Stand Up to Racism Trade Union Conference is scheduled to take place online with various plenaries and workshops on Saturday 5^th February, commencing at 11am and running through to 4pm. 

The Eventbrite link to register is attached below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sutr-trade-union-conference-fighting-for-anti-racist-workplaces-tickets-217534169557

We are encouraging our CWU activists to participate in this event to support CWU speakers on the day, who will be highlighting the work we are developing around our anti-racism strategy.

Additionally, the UN Anti-Racism Day is scheduled to take place on Saturday 19^th March.  We would ask you to note the dates in your diaries and further information will follow in due course. There will be support marches also taking place in Cardiff and Glasgow this same weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development                       

LTB 023/22 – TUC & STAND UP TO RACISM TRADE UNION CONFERENCE AND UN ANTI-RACISM DAY                                                 

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Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 36 – January/February 2022 and GJA AGM:

Introduction

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. See details below.

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

The founder GJA Secretary and Newsletter editor was Graham Petersen who 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 and the successful TUC Occupational Health & Safety Diploma Course. He was the head of the Trade Union Studies Centre at South Thames College before retirement from the post and has been a visitor and guest speaker at CWU events and meetings. After 30 editions, Graham stood down at the GJA AGM last year and has handed over to Paul Atkin as newsletter editor and Tahir Latif as GJA Secretary. Graham remains a GJA Steering Group member and is now working part time for the Wales TUC having recently written a publication for them ‘Greener workplaces for a just transition – a Wales TUC toolkit for trade unionists’.

See attached copy of the GJA Newsletter No.36 for January/February 2022.

In this Newsletter the GJA editor Paul Atkin writes a piece entitled “Between The COPS” and says that until we solve this crisis, or it overwhelms us before we can, we are now permanently between COPs. Targets now have to be ratcheted up at every COP. The editorial looks forward to the next COP in Egypt, in November 2022 with carbon emissions still increasing, intense weather patterns wreaking havoc and four crucial worldwide pending events; US President Biden’s infrastructure plan is blocked in the Senate, and the autumn midterm elections look set to restore Republican majorities in Congress; pushing the USA back towards ‘Trumpish’ denialism and rogue state territory. The Brazilian Presidential election in May, should give positive environmental momentum with the probable election of Lula da Silva of the Workers Party and removal of incumbent Bolsonaro. The IEA report that China will meet its renewables target for 2030 by 2026. The stuttering “recovery” from a pandemic that is still very much with us, has meant increasing demand for energy and huge gas price rises. This will hit households hard after April when the price cap is raised; with the average household bill reaching £2000 a year. This requires a campaign for faster insulation to reduce energy demand (and bills) and quicker transition to renewable sources.

Contents GJA Newsletter 36:

1. Editorial
2. GJA AGM
3. GJA New web site
4. Trade Union summary of the COP 2021.
5. ITUC Strategy
6. ITUC COP debriefing
7. Towards COP27
8. Are you listening DFE?
9. Teach the Future crowd funder
10. London Green Jobs Report
11. Leeds/Bradford Green Jobs Report
12. Just transition in the North of Ireland
13. Calendar of events
14. Stats of the month

Greener Jobs Alliance AGM 2022

The GJA Annual General Meeting will be held online again this year, on Tuesday 8th February, from 12.00 to 14.00 and the guest speakers are:

Olivia Blake MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Climate Change who will present the Labour Party’s proposals for meeting the climate challenge and for a just transition for workers.

Des Quinn (Unite National Officer for the Automotive Sector) and Frank Duffy (Unite Senior Steward at GKN Driveline, Birmingham) will talk about the lessons of the GKN dispute last year, the development of a worker led green transition plan to prevent redundancies; and the potential of similar plans currently being developed by workers in Rolls Royce plants today.

The AGM will also include a round-up of the year gone by, looking ahead to GJA activities in 2022, discussion, and Q&A to the speakers. GJA welcomes all supporters.

Register here: https://www.greenerjobsalliance.co.uk/annual-general-meeting/

Further GJA details at: www.greenerjobsalliance.co.uk

Attachments: 

• GJA-Newsletter-36-January/February 2022

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB022 Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 36 – January February 2022 and GJA AGM

GJA-Newsletter-36-JanFeb-2022

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Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Unit Risk Assessments Update Version 9:

See attached copy of the above and accompanying communication from RMG Director of Safety Dr. Shaun Davis. This updates LTB 524/21 issued on 2 December 2021 and RMG Coronavirus Unit Risk Assessments Update V8.

In line with the ongoing commitment from Royal Mail Group to keep the CWU informed of any changes or updates made to the Coronavirus Unit Risk Assessments, CWU/HQ has been advised of the RMG Unit Risk Assessment approach which amalgamates the previously issued Functional Risk Assessments into one Risk Assessment that applies to all RMG sites.

This Risk Assessment incorporates the changes communicated in October and December 2021.

The Unit Risk Assessment Version 9 attached is based on the current key Government Covid-Secure controls (hand hygiene, ventilation, face coverings – mandatory or strongly recommended in England, and cleaning – touch points, vehicles, shared equipment etc.).

The Risk Assessment also refers to other controls such as testing and revised operational procedures which have been introduced e.g., contactless delivery.

Subjects covered:

• Touch Points
• Contacts
• Handling Test Kits
• First Aid
• Mental Health, Stress and Anxiety
• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Cleaning & Waste Disposal
• Hand Hygiene
• Signage
• Face Coverings
• Operational Procedures
• Ventilation
• Self-Isolation
• Testing
• Monitoring

The Unit Risk Assessment V9 has been circulated to all Royal Mail Group Unit Managers/PiCs this month.

An example copy is attached for ASR information and reference. The full working version is accessible on the RMG Intranet/Share Point site.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB021 Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Unit Risk Assessments Update Version 9

Message From S.Davis RMG 13.01.22 -Updated RMG Unit Covid-19 Risk Assess…

Copy of Coronavirus Unit Risk Assessment v9.0

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RMG Coronavirus/Covid-19 Update Following New UK Government Guidance for Households with Possible or Confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection – Self-Isolation Time Can Reduce To Five Full Days in England:

The self-isolation advice for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed.

Please find attached revised Self-Isolation Guidance issued by Dr. Shaun Davis RMG Director of Safety which has been updated due to Government advice applicable in England from Monday 17^th January 2022.

Please also find attached a copy of the updated RMG ‘Close Contact’ Alert Flow Chart V14 which represents the current position for close contacts alerts.

From Monday 17 January, people with Coronavirus/Covid-19 in England can end their self-isolation after five full days, as long as they complete a negative lateral flow (LFD) test on day five and day six.

If an individual tests negative on day six (24 hours after day five), then they can resume work that day.

Individuals must self-isolate immediately for 10 days if they get a positive Covid-19 test result. However, they can end self-isolation after five full days if they do not have a temperature and receive two negative LFD test results, 24 hours apart, on days five and six.

Examples of when to end self-isolation if you have had symptoms or have received a positive Coronavirus test result (in England) are available in the attached RMG Flow Chart and close contact advice is available.

Guidance for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is currently unchanged (see attached Flow Chart) but bear in mind that changes are being announced regularly by the devolved administrations and if so further updates will follow.

Attachments:

• RMG message from Dr. Shaun Davis – confirmed case isolation time reduces to five full days in England from 17.01.22
• RMG Self-Isolation Flow Charts England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 17.01.22
• UK Press Release – Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after 5 full days following 2 negative LFD tests

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB020 COVID-19 Infection – Self-Isolation Time Can Reduce To Five Full Days in England

Message From S.Davis RMG 14.01.22 -Confirmed Covid Case Isolation Time R…

Close contact alert_v14

GOV.UK Press release – COVID-19 Self-isolation can end after 5 days foll…

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