Important update on Royal Mail Group pensions from DGSP Terry Pullinger.


Important update on Royal Mail Group pensions from DGSP Terry Pullinger.


POST OFFICE: PAY 2021/22 – LEGAL TRADE DISPUTE – BALLOT TIMETABLE
Further to LTB 062/22 dated 9thFebruary.
National Briefing and Communications
We held a National Briefing in Birmingham earlier today and I’m pleased to report the general feedback from Branches and Reps was very positive and all indications are that the members fully understand the reasons for the dispute and we are optimistic that a healthy Yes vote will be delivered. However, we are not taking this for granted and it is therefore important for Reps to continue to engage with the members via face to face visits and gate meetings together with our other channels. In this regard, we are working closely with our Communications Department and plans are being developed for Facebook Live events and a Zoom rally of impacted members. Further details including dates for these activities will be advised in due course.
Strike Ballot Timetable
Branches are advised the timetable below, which has previously been endorsed by the Postal Executive, was announced at the National Briefing earlier today:
It should be noted the above timetable has been influenced by the feedback from our Reps who reported that annual leave in March is quite high amongst our members due to accruing leave during Lockdowns etc. Consequently we have allowed for a slightly longer period for ballot papers to be returned.
We are taking the unusual step of publicising the timetable earlier than the legal requirements as we are keen to explain to members the sequencing of events and provide them with an explanation as to why we are not serving notice for another 12 days. In essence, as Branches will be aware, we are in the middle of a membership verification exercise which is an important activity. Branches are reminded that any changes need to be notified to Lisa Parrett – lparrett@cwu.org SDGS Department by no later than Tuesday 22nd February. Branches are encouraged to work with our Post Office Reps to ensure this activity is completed in good time.
Membership Communication
Helpfully, Post Office last Friday 11thFebruary published a “One Digest” article (attached) regarding the extreme cost of living being experienced by people today entitled “Two in five Brits forced to make impossible decisions”. Laura Joseph, Customer Experience Director, expanded upon this position when saying “…hunger and poverty in the UK is a very real issue that we all need to come together to tackle head on, especially in these unprecedented times .”
The Post Office communication, whilst laudable in its support and promotion of the Trussell Trust, simply adds insult to injury when viewed against the imposed pay freeze on our members. Crucially, Post Office has made a compelling argument for a good pay rise for our key worker members. I have therefore written to Nick Read, CEO, to challenge these double standards and have specifically called upon him to do the right thing by his employees and abandon the indefensible and unrealistic pay freeze policy.
In this regard, a home mailing is in the process of being sent to our members highlighting the irony of this situation. A copy is attached for information.
Finally, Branches are urged to bring the contents of this LTB to the attention of our Post Office members.
Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary
Attachment 1: 22LTB070 Post Office – Pay 2021-22 – Legal Trade Dispute – Ballot Timetable
Attachemnt 2: Attachment 1 to 22LTB070
RMG Coronavirus Update – Further Easing of Covid-19 Restrictions in Northern Ireland:
Further to LTBs 002/22, 031/22, 033/22, 036/22 and 43/22, the Northern Ireland Government Health Minister announced yesterday the further additional easing of Covid-19 control measures and restrictions in so far as remaining Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland will be lifted and an order would be made to that effect.
The remaining restrictions being removed include requirements to wear face coverings. There will no longer be a requirement to wear a face covering in any enclosed public areas, including shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs, public transport, driving instruction and close contact services etc. The N.I. Government will remove the regulations and instead move to a position of face coverings being ‘strongly recommended’ for enclosed indoor settings.
See attached message from Dr. Shaun Davis RMG Director of Safety that is being issued to all managers in Northern Ireland today.
The message confirms that the wearing of face coverings in all Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail and Parcelforce) buildings in Northern Ireland is no longer mandatory and instead, face coverings are now ‘strongly recommended’ at this time.
Royal Mail Group will continue to supply face masks to those members wishing to continue wearing them, both disposable and three ply cotton washable types.
There are no further changes at this time but further announcements are expected at the end of February from the UK Government and the devolved administrations.
Royal Mail Group in consultation with the CWU continues to monitor announcements across the UK and expect in a few weeks’ time to be able to update the workforce on the lifting of further coronavirus restrictions all together.
Note; that in the event of any unit Covid outbreaks/case clusters, Covid secure restrictions and controls may be re-introduced following the Covid Unit Risk Assessment and control process in consultation with the CWU.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
LTB 071/22 – RMG Coronavirus Update – Further Easing of Covid-19 Restrictions in Northern Ireland
Royal Mail Group Joint Health & Safety Committee Meetings – Message From Dr. Shaun Davis Director Safety, SRSC Regulations 1977, National Health and Safety Representation and Consultation National Agreements and RMG SHE Standard 2.3:
Under Regulation 9 of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977, employers are required to establish and maintain health and safety committees by law.
The National Health and Safety Representation and Consultation Agreements between all Royal Mail Group Businesses and the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department along with Royal Mail Group Safety Health and Environment (SHE) Standard 2.3 and Safety Policies set out the ‘Mandatory’ requirement for joint health and safety committees.
The primary purpose of a health and safety committee is to facilitate cooperation between the employers, departments, managers, Trade Unions and their appointed Health and Safety Representatives to identify, address, and resolve health and safety issues and concerns.
Health and safety committees have a crucial role to play in translating worker Safety Representative involvement into practice.
Where workplace health and safety management is poor, the health and safety committee provides a highly effective way in which to hold the management to account and to secure improvements and remedial actions.
Even where standards of occupational health and safety appear to be adequate, safety committees can do much to promote a climate in which safety issues are seen as inherent to the success of the organisation and not merely as a list of areas which must be checked in order to avoid legal action.
Well established safety committees will often go beyond checking passive compliance with health and safety law, by playing a pro-active role in the fostering and development of a positive health and safety ‘culture’ within the workplace.
Joint health and safety committees can empower health and safety reps’ involvement and engagement in order to play a significant role in decisions made about health and safety at work.
Independent research has shown that workplaces with union health and safety representatives and joint health and safety committees had significantly better safety records and accident records than those with no effective consultation mechanisms.
In carrying out their functions around the organisation, health and safety reps become extremely knowledgeable about the safety hazards and risks that the workforce may encounter in the course of their duties. Such expertise is invaluable and the health and safety committee is a prime conduit through which that input can flow proving that greater health and safety rep participation in workplace health and safety brings big benefits to the workforce, employers and managers.
It was brought to the attention of the CWU Health Safety and Environment Department that during the pandemic, the management in some areas and units in Royal Mail Group had taken it upon themselves to cease Health and Safety Committee meetings – which in fact they had no authority to do as it was both in breach of the law and in breach of National Agreements and company mandatory policies.
At our request the Director of Safety has issued communications to all managers across all parts of Royal Mail Group that joint Health and Safety Committee meetings MUST take place.
The communication from Shaun Davis Royal Mail Group Director of Safety is attached.
NOTE: Under the CWU/RM National Health and Safety Representation and Consultation Agreement, the ASR can attend ALL Health and Safety Committees in his/her constituency area.
ASR ACTION:
Please ensure all Joint Health and Safety Committees are functioning and meeting regularly (as per the above and attached), producing minutes and remedial action plans, operating to the model agenda as a minimum. Any areas not resolved should be escalated as per the attached process.
Attachments:
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
RMG SHE Health & Safety Committee Meetings – Message From Dr Shaun Davis Director Safety
Consultation in Day to Day Operations Guidance (SHEI 2.3) v.12 (1)
SHE Committees Structure Suggested Attendees (SHEI 2.3)(Appendix 1)(v 2.0)
SHEI 2.3 Consultation and Participation (v 1.1)
SHE Committee Meeting Agenda Template (Appendix 3) (v1.2)
SHE Dispute Resolution Record Template (SHEI 2.3)(Appendix 6) v1.1
SHE Dispute Resolution Flowchart (SHEI 2.3) (Appendix 2) (v 5.0)
SHE Dispute Resolution Record Template (SHEI 2.3)(Appendix 6) v1.1
Royal Mail Group (RMG)/CWU Agreement – Mental Health First Aid Training for Physical/Medical First Aiders and CWU Area Health and Safety Representatives (February-March 2022 Course Dates – Applications Now Invited)
LTB 481/18 and LTB696/19 reported to branches that a major Agreement on Mental Health First Aid Training had been reached by the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department with Royal Mail Group and as part of the Royal Mail Group, “Because Healthy Minds Matter”, five-year mental health strategy, Royal Mail Group has agreed to up-skill all managers, all physical/medical first aiders and all CWU ASRs with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training which will involve approximately 10,000 Managers, and 5,500 CWU members who are First Aid volunteers across the UK. In addition, all CWU Area Health and Safety Representatives in all Royal Mail Group Businesses and Business Units, approximately 150 CWU Health and Safety Reps, will be included in the programme plus 700 Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors, most of whom are CWU Reps and members will be able to attend the MHFA one-day training courses also.
The MHFA training is evidence based and is aimed at increasing people’s mental health awareness, skills and confidence, enabling them to step in to situations where they notice signs of poor mental health and help someone in distress and to give first aid support, talk, and help prevent them from hurting themselves and signpost them to the right professional, expert support.
The training will be provided by in-house, accredited, licensed MHFA instructors. The Royal Mail Group trainers have completed the MHFA England Trainer’s Course. They undertake 6 days of training, then have to run 2 x 2 days MHFA courses on which they are assessed by MHFA England assessors and are then licensed to deliver the training. A MHFA England specially designed 1-day-plus course will be provided and is a condensed version of the standard 2-day MHFA (England) training course. The trainers complete some additional training in order to deliver this ‘condensed’ one-day-plus course which is what RMG is delivering.
2,100 Royal Mail Group employees have so far attended the RMG delivered MHFA courses – mainly managers. Approximately 25% are front line CWU grades, CWU Reps and Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors.
The organisation and delivery of courses were disrupted and ceased during the pandemic but are now re-starting with a determined effort to organise as many courses as possible.
Course dates for the first quarter period February – March 2022 have now been released and applications are invited from Physical/Medical First Aiders and CWU Area Health and Safety Reps to attend the 1-day Mental Health First Aid Courses at the venues and at the times in the table listed below. CWU Members who are Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors can also apply to attend.
Enrolment on a course can be made (with line management approval) via PSP/Success Factors on the Royal Mail Group Intranet site or by calling the HR Service Centre on 0345 6060603.
To book a Course:
If there are no spaces for a local course, a waiting list is available and more courses are being added regularly. Alternatively the Unit can contact hrsclearningservices@royalmail.comwith a request to run a course if there are a number of colleagues who would like to attend.
Training will usually be 09:00-17:00unless designed specifically for a late/night shift.Training locationDateExeter MC16/02/2022Jubilee MC16/02/2022Jubilee MC17/02/2022Bristol MC17/02/2022Glasgow MC23/02/2022North West Midlands MC24/02/2022Farringdon Road24/02/2022Bristol MC25/02/2022NDC01/03/2022NDC02/03/2022Northampton Central DO02/03/2022Nottingham MC03/03/2022Preston MC04/03/2022Birmingham MC04/03/2022Leicester MPU07/03/2022Tyneside MC08/03/2022Sheffield MC09/03/2022Dartford MC14/03/2022Warrington MC08/03/2022Gatwick MC14/03/2022Leicester MPU21/03/2022
Any management enquiries should be directed to: hrsclearningservices@royalmail.com.
Attachments:
Alongside the Mental Health First Aid Awareness classroom training, RMG provides the following which is also available via PSP/Success Factors on the RMG Intranet site:-
Mental Health Support Available
First Class Support helpline – completely confidential, independent and available 24/7 – Call 0345 266 5060.
First Class Support digital services– www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk or download the ‘Lifeworks’ app.
Call the helpline or use the online chat facility via the website/app if you would like to talk to someone about any physical or mental health-related matter, for lifestyle advice, or for direct access to counselling treatments. Digital services include support resources, toolkits, health and wellbeing assessments and personal care programmes.
New users of the website or app can sign up using a unique invitation code, which is ‘RMG-‘and your payroll number, e.g. RMG-12345678.
Stress Toolkit: including the managing and preventing workplace stress guide; individual stress risk assessment; and the group stress risk assessment.
Shout Mental Health Text Service: Text Shout to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer.
Samaritans: Call 116 123 – available 24/7.
Footnote
We the CWU want equality between physical health and mental health. Better mental health is good for everyone and we want to see a transformation in workplaces on how they think about mental health. This is key because members spend a third of their time at work.
Further updates will be issued as appropriate.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
18LTB481 Royal Mail Group(RMG) CWU Agreement – Mental Health First Aid Training
MHFA Training Joint Statement Final
Post Office Ltd Supply Chain (CVIT) – POL/CWU Joint Driver/Road Safety ‘Seat Belts’ Campaign W/C 14 February 2022:
Further to LTBs 554/21 and 57/22, Post Office Ltd jointly with CWU have launched a Driver Safety “Seat Belts” Campaign in the POL Supply Chain (CVIT – Cash and Valuables in Transit) Fleet depots.
It’s compulsory to wear a seat belt at all times when driving a Post Office Ltd vehicle. The law and Post Office Ltd Policy applies to drivers and passengers who must wear their seat belts.
Seatbelts can help to save lives. They are important safety features that, like air bags, help to protect a driver or passenger in a collision and minimise injuries.
According to all motoring and medical experts seat belts reduce one’s risk of suffering injuries or death by about half. In fact thousands of lives are saved every year by seat belts in the UK.
Those who do not wear their seatbelts while in a vehicle put themselves at greater risk of severe injury or even death. It is also a legal requirement and has been since 1983. POL Vehicle Drivers are NOT exempt!
Seat belts are designed to retain people in their seats, and so prevent or reduce injuries suffered in a crash. They ensure that as little contact is made between the occupant and vehicle interior as possible and significantly reduce the risk of being thrown around inside a vehicle or thrown from a vehicle in the event of a collision.
Seat belts are designed to work as the key part of wider injury prevention measures and safety systems, such as airbags and head restraints, which will not be as effective in reducing the risk of injury if an occupant is not wearing a seat belt.
Seatbelts are reported to save over 2,000 lives per year. In the event of a serious collision, you are twice as likely to die if you are not wearing a seatbelt.
Wearing a seat belt has been compulsory in the UK for drivers and front seat passengers since 1983 and for rear seat passengers since 1991 (1989 for under-14s). Despite the law being in place for 30 years, thousands of drivers continue to flout the rules and government figures show that almost a quarter of all people killed in crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
Drivers must wear a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles. Adults, and children aged 14 years and over, must use a seat belt, where fitted, when seated in minibuses, buses and coaches.
Worryingly, some Post Office Ltd as with Royal Mail and Parcelforce drivers and passengers are being found to not be wearing a seatbelt and are in breach of the law. During spot check observations a number of drivers and passengers were observed not wearing a seatbelt.
Facts:
Wearing a seat belt correctly:
In order to wear a seat belt safely, the following points should be adhered to:
Why wearing a seat belt is important:
Damaged seat belts:
Seat belts should be regularly checked for damage, this forms part of the driver’s vehicle checks. Common forms of damage to the seat belt that will reduce its effectiveness in an accident:
Carl’s Story
Attached is a copy of the Joint CWU/POL Poster and CWU/POL Joint Communication to all POL Supply Chain drivers “The Important Of Seatbelts”. This features some dramatic photographs from a CWU article entitled “Seat Belts Save Lives –Mine Saved Me”. Parcelforce Driver and CWU member Carl Prendergast was involved in a very serious, terrifying, recent road accident in which his 7.5-tonne Parcelforce lorry smashed through the barriers on an elevated flyover in Reading and cart-wheeled over before dropping upside down some 30 feet before landing on its roof, on the road below. In his own words Carl said: “If I hadn’t been wearing my seat belt, I’d have been catapulted out of the front windscreen and crushed to death on the road.” He appealed to all his fellow CWU member colleagues and drivers; “Please never forget your seat belt, it can save your life – it certainly saved mine.” Carl’s story is an important example of the absolute necessity of wearing a seatbelt at all times while driving. Without a seatbelt, Carl would not be with us today – that’s the honest truth of the matter. Please everyone, it only takes a second for another driver perhaps to make a small mistake and as we can see from the Reading incident, the consequences are potentially catastrophic. Seatbelts save lives and in this case it certainly did. Those who don’t wear their seatbelts whilst behind the wheel put themselves in mortal danger. We’re all extremely relieved that Carl survived this horrific accident and walked away with minor injuries. Carl’s story and the photographs of his accident has and will continue to help raise awareness of the vital importance of seat belts. During this POL/CWU Road Safety – Seat Belts Campaign, working together to raise awareness and promote the importance to CWU members who drive as part of their job, the importance of wearing their seat belts, through the poster and communication. Our thanks to Carl for volunteering to tell his story in order to help get this important message across.
Managers’ responsibilities:
Managers must carry out driving and yard checks to reinforce positive safe behaviours through coaching. During this campaign they should concentrate on checking that drivers are wearing their seat belts and reminding them to do so.
If the vehicle is moving, belt up!
All drivers must wear their seatbelt at all times whenever driving or travelling for Post Office Ltd. There are no exceptions regardless of whether they are in the yard, on private and public roads/property, or travelling only short distances. If the vehicle is moving, belt up!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This Campaign is not tied to just one week and we want the focus on the campaign to be sustainable so CWU Reps, POL Safety Team and POL Operational Managers can focus on the issue and programme and keep it in focus regularly thereafter.
Post Office Ltd and the CWU agree that the safety of the workforce is paramount. Vehicle and driver safety, road risk, avoiding accidents and injuries are top priorities for us all.
Please support this Road Safety Campaign – Would all CWU Reps pro-actively work with the POL Safety Team and engage Operational Managers and drivers to get involved and lift the profile of the Campaign in line with the POL/CWU Joint Road/Driver Safety Campaign. Thanks for your support.
Any management enquiries should be directed to Andrew Steadman POL National Fleet Audit Manager: Mobile: 07526985257 Email: andrew.c.steadman@posttoffice.co.uk
Attachments:
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
CWU – POL – Poster Seat Belts FEB 22
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2022 – PROGRAMME OF BUSINESS
At the NEC held on the 26th/27thJanuary 2022 the following programme of business
was agreed for CWU Annual Conference 2022:
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by email to conferences@cwu.org or telephoning CWU HQ on 020 8971 7256.
Yours sincerely,
A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
22LTB065 – ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2022 – PROGRAMME OF BUSINESS.doc
CWU Valentine’s Day Advert – #HeartUnions week
As part of the annual TUC #HeartUnions week, our Communications Department have produced a Valentine’s Day advert which has been shared across our social media channels.
The advert, which follows on from our successful Christmas videos, targets recruitment in the wider postal sector. We have plans to produce further adverts in the coming months covering areas such as Call Centre and Openreach workers – as well as a wider cross union one.
The links to the Valentine’s video across our channels are below. We ask that branches do everything possible to share the advert through both your work and friends and family networks. We are hopeful this will be another opportunity to raise the profile of the union and increase our presence in the wider postal sector.
Facebook https://fb.watch/b9XZTLJ8Qk/
Twitter https://twitter.com/CWUnews/status/1493178204164694018?s=20&t=BG_QsB2cuDlQR8g2DT9Bhg
YouTube https://youtu.be/m_F8MoErHqw
Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward
General Secretary
064LTB22 – CWU Valentine’s Day Advert – #HeartUnions week.docx
As part of TUC #HeartUnions week the CWU have produced a Valentine’s Day advert. We would massively appreciate any shares.
Facebook https://fb.watch/b9XZTLJ8Qk/
Twitter https://twitter.com/CWUnews/status/1493178204164694018?s=20&t=BG_QsB2cuDlQR8g2DT9Bhg
YouTube https://youtu.be/m_F8MoErHqw

Election of:
Further to LTB 055/22 dated 7thFebruary 2022.
Please note that we have been advised by the appointed Independent Scrutineer Popularis, who are conducting the ballots for the above positions, that due to unforeseen administrative problems it will now be necessary to delay the despatch of ballot papers for the elections by 2 days.
Therefore Branches should note that the ballot papers for these elections will now be despatched fromWednesday 16th February 2022 and additionally the closing date for the return of ballot papers will now be Wednesday 2nd March 2022.
Please can Branches ensure that the above information is brought to the attention of the relevant members of your branch as a matter of urgency.
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