Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains. Karl Marx.
A crucial live reaction video from Terry Pullinger. Get it out in every whatsapp group in the UK and played in every office.
We will also bring you a full interview with Terry on the situation this Friday.
Facebook https://fb.watch/dFrgslRTWC/
YouTube https://youtu.be/GV_jMVLV15Q
Twitter https://twitter.com/cwunews/status/1537016477903364097?s=21&t=CTSGXLFA2_ef1p7INUpQDw
Royal Mail – Change Proposals
Further to my Facebook update provided to Postal Branches, Representatives and members yesterday afternoon (14th June 2022). In this update reference was made to the Royal Mail Group briefing material that was in general circulation: The Face to Face Briefing Programme — Communicating the Bigger Picture and the Change Proposals the company had tabled which the Union will be discussing with Royal Mail under the terms of the Pathway to Change Agreement.
In light of today’s decision by Royal Mail Group to impose an unagreed pay increase and in order to ensure that colleagues and members have to hand the most up to date information relating to both the managers briefing material and the actual proposals the company have tabled, please find attached to this LTB the following documents:
Branches and Senior Field Officials should ensure that this LTB and associated Annexes should be circulated to all Area and Local Representatives.
Further updates will be provided to Branches, Representatives and CWU Postal Members on a regular basis
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)
Annex A to LTB 268-22 Face to Face Briefing Programme slide deck v3
National Clean Air Day – Thursday 16 June 2022: Theme “Air Pollution Dirties Every Organ In Your Body”
Introduction:
In the UK, air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health. Clean Air Day is a global, annual, air pollution campaign in the month of June. It encourages everyone to think about what they can do to help improve air quality. Clean Air Day is in its sixth year, and the central aim is to help drive a positive shift in public knowledge and action. Clean Air Day is a chance to find out more about air pollution, share information, and make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.
Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, engaging thousands of people at hundreds of events across the nation, and reaching millions more through the media. This takes place on the third Thursday in June and ‘Global Action Plan’ is re-launching it in its normal format, following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 when activities were restricted to a more virtual approach.
Led in the UK by the charity ‘Global Action Plan’, the sustainability charity that co-ordinates Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution, Clean Air Day brings together communities, businesses, schools, groups and organisations plus the health sector to:
In 2019 more than 3,700 organisations and hundreds of thousands of individuals took part in 614 events across the UK. The campaign generated more than 2000 media items, and 45,000 social media posts. During the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 there were still hundreds of events and thousands of news and broadcast items and 95% of people surveyed in 2020 and 2021 supported the view that air pollution should be a priority for the UK.
“Air Pollution Dirties Every Organ In Your Body”
‘Global Action Plan’, have confirmed the 2022 ‘Clean Air Day’ campaign theme as “Air Pollution Dirties Every Organ In Your Body”highlighting how air pollution moves from your lungs into your blood and can cause lung disease, heart disease, dementia and strokes, but the charity states that it’s solvable and together everyone can do something to cut pollution to benefit our health and planet.
Air pollution harms the health of millions, but there are lots of simple things people and organisations can do to improve air quality and reduce our exposure to air pollution. Clean Air Day is a chance to raise awareness and find out more about air pollution (both indoor and outdoor), share information with friends, family, union members and work colleagues, and help to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.
According to official UK Government statistics, every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK. The annual mortality of human-made air pollution in the UK is roughly equivalent to between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year. It is estimated that between 2017 and 2025 the total cost to the NHS and social care system of air pollutants (fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide), will be £1.6 billion.
The World Health Organisation and the UK Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental health risk we face today. Poor air quality causes heart and lung diseases, is linked to low birth weight and children’s lung development and may even contribute to mental health issues.
The World Health Organisation states that breathing cleaner air reduces the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases such as asthma.
Air pollution can harm every organ in the body and shorten lives, contribute towards chronic illness and put people more at risk from infections when polluted air is breathed in as it can inflame the lining of the lungs and move into the bloodstream, affecting every organ in the body. This can lead to lung disease, heart disease, dementia and strokes.
2022 Campaign Primary Objectives:
The primary objectives for the 2022 ‘Clean Air Day’ campaign include:
Global Action Plan is communicating the primary action of walking short trips instead of driving which is a great way to reconnect with the local community, breathe cleaner air, get some exercise and improve personal health. The charity is also promoting many other clean air actions this year. The prioritisation of walking enables focus on an action that can have major impact.
The ‘Clean Air Hub’ – Clean Air Day Information & Resources
A collection of everything you need to know about air pollution in one place from the organising charity ‘Global Action Plan’. The basic facts on air pollution and health and the organiser’s ‘Clean Air Calculator’ plus suggestions on what you can do are all available plus the range of ‘Clean Air Day’ free resources are available here on these three links:
Workplace/Business Resources:
Also available to use on the organising charity ’Global Action Plan’ website is a collection of workplace resources to inspire workplaces to create cleaner air on and beyond Clean Air Day. Posters, leaflets, letters, texts, e-mail footer, pledge cards, ‘No-Idling’ leaflet, clean air travel, clean air travel choices, e-mail and intranet message, video conferencing background, press release, social media resources etc. These can be accessed at:
The Clean Air & Pollution Calculator
The Air Pollution Calculator, brought to you by Global Action Plan. This tool enables you to calculate how your activity contributes to pollution levels and learn how you can make a difference for Clean Air Day 2021 and beyond:
http://calculator.cleanairhub.org.uk/quiz
Air Pollution and Health Inequalities
Although air pollution can be harmful to everyone, some people are more affected because they live in a polluted area and are exposed to higher levels of air pollution. Big cities and towns experience greater pollution levels (particularly nitrogen dioxide). There’s more about air pollution & health inequalities on the ‘Clean Air Hub’:
Air Pollution Monitoring Equipment – Offer to CWU Health and Safety Reps
The Greener Jobs Alliance (GJC) and Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) jointly took a share in the procurement of air pollution monitoring equipment with Global Action Plan (GAP). The Personal Aerosol Monitor is a miniature battery-operated laser photometer that measures airborne particle mass concentration in units of milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). The equipment can measure to particulate matter of pm 2.5. TUCAN/GJA/GAP will loan the kit out to workplaces to support Trade Union Health and Safety Reps with workplace air pollution monitoring. Any CWU Health and Safety Rep interested in a loan of the equipment for a couple of weeks can email Janet Newsham (Chair Hazards Campaign & TUCAN) and Janet will schedule a time for you to use the equipment and from there hopefully produce some reliable, quotable, statistical evidence.
Contact details: Janet Newsham Chair Hazards Campaign/TUCAN
Email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk
Mob: 07734317158
Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) and Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) Newsletters.
The latest editions of the GJA and TUCAN Newsletters have been circulated attached via Letters To Branches 231/22 and 262/22.
Wales TUC – Greener Workplaces Toolkit For Union Reps (Written BY Graham Petersen)
The aim of this toolkit is to provide information to help union officers and reps who want to take action on the climate emergency and negotiate for greener and fairer workplaces. It is designed to support the voice of workers and their unions. It provides information, tools and ideas to help union reps to campaign, organise and raise awareness. It also includes negotiating and bargaining checklists on different areas of workplace sustainability. It aims to ensure that workers, through their unions, have a central voice in the changes that will be needed in every workplace to ensure a just transition to a greener and fairer workplace can be achieved. The resources in this booklet are designed to be used on TUC and union training courses, as well as to support green action (a copy is attached).
‘Air Pollution’ (Asthma and Lung UK) – Take Action Environment Bill Campaign
Asthma and Lung UK (formerly Asthma UK the British Lung Foundation) are appealing for personal and organisational help in promoting their campaign. They say “Air pollution is a health emergency. Across the UK it is at lethal levels and too little is being done to tackle it.”
The two campaigning charities point out the following:
Asthma and Lung UK have launched a new strategy, committing to transform the nation’s lung health by challenging misconceptions about lung conditions, driving greater investment in respiratory research, and campaigning for cleaner air and better care for people with lung conditions such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The charity, which supports the 12 million people in the UK who will have a lung condition in their lifetime through its helpline, support groups, tailored website health advice and campaigning and research work, now has a new name and logo. The two former lung charities have come together to create one organisation fighting for people’s right to breathe. Asthma and Lung UK says its new strategy and brand is urgently needed to shine a spotlight on the ‘shameful’ state of the UK’s lung health,
There are a number of resources which can be used to raise awareness about the campaign on their excellent website at the following link:
NHS/Health Education England E-Learning on Air Pollution
On this excellent website is a bite-sized session to give health and care professionals an overview of air pollution – including key evidence, data and signposting to trusted resources to help prevent illness, protect health and promote wellbeing:
About The Charity ‘Global Action Plan’ – The Clean Air Day Organisers and Further Information:
‘Global Action Plan’ is an environmental charity working towards a green and thriving planet where everyone can enjoy happy and healthy lives within the Earth’s limits without ruining the Earth we depend on. They aim to help people live more sustainable lifestyles, make connections between what’s good for people and good for the planet, work with young people on reducing consumerism and increasing wellbeing, bring business and people together to work on a sustainable future and help young people develop the skills and knowledge to tackle environmental issues which is good for the planet and for everyone’s future too. They tackle the root causes of our climate and nature crises through research, campaigns and collective action that reconnect human and planetary health. GAP focuses on issues where the connection between the health of people and the planet is most tangible. This allows GAP to show the deep interrelationship and drive solutions that prioritise wellbeing for all. The Charity’s key focus issue is air pollution. ‘Global Action Plan’ are a UK Charity registered in England and Wales number 1026148, and in Scotland number SC041260.
Further information:
Global Action Plan
201 Borough High Street
London SE1 1JA
Tel: 020 3817 7636
Email: team@globalactionplan.org.uk
Website: https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/campaigns/clean-air-day
Attachments:
Note: The information and resources in this LTB and attachments are to raise awareness and for ongoing reference, information and support beyond the Clean Air Day focal point which is organised to help build widespread, long term support for environmental clean air initiatives. It’s not just for one day!
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Multi posters pdf versions 2022
TUCAN-Air-Polution-Guidance-for-Trade-Union-Reps
The National Young Workers Forum will be held on Thursday 30th Juneand Friday 1st July at the offices of CWU Birmingham District Amal Branch, 47 Summer Lane, Hockley, Birmingham, B19 3TH.
This is set to be an exciting and dynamic few days with presentations and guest speakers. For this reason branches are encouraged to send their young workers as delegates to this event. A timetable for the event is attached.
In order that we know the numbers of those in attendance and also for catering purposes, branches are asked to register their delegates that will be attending by emailing eventsregistration@cwu.org providing name, branch, position held and membership number by Friday 24thJune 2022.
Accommodation for delegates will need to be booked directly with hotels but the nearest hotels to Summer Lane are as follows:
Holiday Inn Express Snow Hill, 1 Snow Hill Plaza, B4 6HY
Hampton By Hilton,
Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward
General Secretary
22LTB266 – 2022 National Young Workers Forum, 30th June-1st July, Birmingham
National Ballot – Getting the Vote Out – New Text Messaging Service
LTB 261/2022
Tuesday 14th June 2022
Dear Colleagues,
This is just a short note to let you all know that the Communications Department will be running a new text messaging service from Friday to hopefully aid the turnout in the forthcoming industrial Action ballots.
The personalised, peer to peer service will be used by volunteers from our Executive and National Teams, as well as CWU staff.
The purpose of this LTB is to make Branches aware of this activity so, if you are asked questions on it by members, you can confirm it’s legitimacy.
This link can provide further information if you need it: https://www.cwu.org/sms
Yours Sincerely,
Andy Kerr
Chris Webb
LRD New Booklet Published – Stress and Mental Health at Work – A Guide for Trade Unions and Working People:
The Labour Research Department (LRD) have notified the CWU Health Safety & Environment Department that they have published and launched a new ‘essential booklet’ entitled ‘Stress and Mental Health at Work – A Guide For Trade Unions and Working People’, containing important information that will help Union Reps protect members in the workplace.
“Work-related stress and poor mental health risk becoming a health and safety crisis for Great Britain’s workplaces,” the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) has warned. LRD say that their new booklet aims to provide Union Reps with information, advice and practical examples of how unions and reps have dealt with work-related stress across a range of industrial and service sectors and in a variety of workplaces. As well as how the Covid pandemic has exacerbated an existing mental health crisis in Britain’s workplaces, and among homeworkers, and union demands to “build back better” mental health at work.
Stress can have a devastating impact on workers’ mental health. This booklet aims to provide practical advice for Union Reps, activists and workers.
This LRD booklet:
In the booklets’ introduction section on page 3, reference is made to the TUC Safety Reps survey, in which 2,100 Safety Reps from various Unions contributed. The survey found that:
The booklet’s introduction on pages 3 and 4 also makes reference to the HSE’s new campaign “Working Minds”, launched in November 2021 which aims to help employers recognise the signs of work-related stress and make tackling it routine. The HSE is calling for a culture change across UK workplaces to ensure that psychosocial risks are treated the same as physical risks in health and safety risk management. (See LTB 495/21).
Note:
Reference is made to the Royal Mail Group/CWU Stress Risk Assessment Agreement on pages 47 and 48 of the booklet.
This LRD book is an excellent resource for developing workplace policies, negotiating and representing trade union members, workplace and trade union courses and dealing with personal anxiety, stress and mental health problems at work.
Copies of this new LRD booklet can be ordered at a reduced price for LRD affiliates and a bulk discount rate is also available. Full details are in the attached order form. Orders can be made by post/cheque or on line, by e-mail or over the telephone. For further information about buying ‘Stress and mental health at work – a guide for trade unions and working people’ – contact Shenaz at LRD on 020 7902 9803 or email at shenaz@lrd.org.uk
Note:
The Health, Safety and Environment Department would also draw Branches attention to LTB 247/18 ‘UK National Work Stress Network – New Work Stress Guide Handbook’ which is sponsored and recommended to CWU Reps by the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
An important update for Royal Mail Group members from DGSP Terry Pullinger
Facebook https://fb.watch/dEhAfrR6j2/
Twitter https://twitter.com/cwunews/status/1536691925067173890?s=21&t=pgDLy_5yE7ggWnx7JbPaog
YouTube https://youtu.be/5H7XUYTkVng
TUCAN (Trade Union Clean Air Network) Newsletter, Issue 4, May 2022 – “Get Active on Clean Air Day 2022”
The Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) was set up in 2019 by the Hazards Campaign, Greener Jobs Alliance (GLA) with a coalition of trade unions and occupational health and safety activists.
LTB Numbers 035/19 and 436/19 reported on the launch of the TUCAN, working with (GJA) to generate worker/trade union awareness and for the trade union voice to be prominent in the public debate on the issue of air pollution, waste, the environment and climate change.
TUCAN joined the fight against air pollution and occupational health damage as concerns continue to grow. Much air pollution is caused by industry and work-related activities. Climate change and damage to the environment are direct consequences. There is rightly a growing public concern about air pollution which some see as a public health emergency. 36,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, according to a government report. Outdoor workers have been ignored for too long as the pollution crisis deepens. Government strategy has however failed to prioritise the vital measures required to effectively address the problem.
Emerging from the Covid pandemic, TUCAN is ready for a relaunch of activities and campaigning and are keen to involve trade unionists in the discussion about their strategy and priorities. TUCAN’s primary concern is for workers and how they are impacted by air pollution and how workplaces are contributing to pollution and the climate crisis.
‘TUCAN developed a ‘Charter’ providing a set of demands for unions to prioritise in campaigns at local, regional, national and international level. TUCAN also developed – ‘Guidance on Air Pollution for Union Reps’, a pollution checklist for health, safety and environment reps and the ‘TUCAN Charter’ promoting best practice and to raise awareness. Full details of the Charter are contained in the attached TUCAN Newsletter. In summary the Charter is as follows;
The ‘TUCAN Charter’:
Please find attached a copy of the TUCAN Newsletter, Issue 4, May 2022 – which has the headline “Get Active on Clean Air Day 16 June 2022”. This latest edition of the TUCAN Newsletter covers the following subjects and articles and the headline focus is on the forthcoming ‘Clean Air Day 2022.
Contents:
Further Information:
If you would like further information about TUCAN then please contact Janet at Hazards (email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk) or Graham at the Greener Jobs Alliance (email: gjacoms@gmail.com).
Attachment:
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
People Case Support Managers – PCSM’s
We have received a number of enquiries into the department about Royal Mail using People Case Support Manager’s (PCSM’s) in the delivery function within Royal Mail. The PCSM position has come about due to the restructure of the delivery function.
When we were made aware of the positions and their potential role we met with Royal Mail’s Policy Team.
We have a number of concerns about the role Royal Mail wish the PCSM’s to perform. This ranges from supporting the Operational Performance Leader (OPL) by preparing letters etc. to actually doing investigations and hearing appeals.
We do not believe the PCSM’s are of a dismissal grade, in line with our current agreements.
Whilst Royal Mail implemented their new structure in Delivery from 23rd May 2022, we have not agreed the position of People Case Support Manager and therefore have informed Royal Mail, in line with our agreements, we want the second line manager to perform the actual role, not a PCSM.
We have been told the full complement of PCSM’s is not fully operational as some are in the process of being recruited and others are in training.
Where individual members believe a PCSM is or has been involved in a case around one of our agreements, we advise you to put in a grievance on a breach of our National Agreement and request the 2nd line manager deals with your case in line with our agreement.
Where representatives believe a PCSM is or has been involved in a case, we advise you to put the issue into the framework on a breach of our National Agreement and request the 2nd line manager deals with cases in line with our agreement(s).
We are continuing to raise our concerns with Royal Mail, which include confidentiality,
breach of our current national agreements and the potential of executive action should
these positions become part of their structure in Delivery without agreement.
The people case support manager position is covered under our Emergency Motion
which was carried at Annual Conference earlier this year and is reproduced below.
EMERGENCY MOTION – FACE TO FACE APPEALS – E6
This conference notes as a result of the Coronavirus COVID – 19 Pandemic, Royal
Mail, taking national and local government advice, introduced appeals to be conducted
virtually. This was due to be a short term measure for the duration of the Pandemic.
As the lockdown restrictions were eased, we entered into negotiations around restoring
face to face appeals for our members.
Royal Mail have continued to arrange and conduct appeals virtually, despite the
lockdown restrictions being lifted within all 4 devolved nations.
The CWU invoked the Disputes Resolution Procedure (DRP) and further negotiations
took place.
On 22nd April 2022, Royal Mail wrote to the Assistant Secretary, Postal Technical and
Central Services (PTCS) Department, stating Executive Action was being taken
whereby Royal Mail were imposing face to face appeals to be heard in only 16 locations
around the United Kingdom and this was to start from 9th May 2022. Further to an
intervention by the DGSP the Executive Action date has been paused and the talks
have been escalated.
This conference agrees that RMG’s position on this issue is deliberately designed to
drive people to virtual appeals.
Conference further agrees that this RMG policy threatens the spirit and intent of our
current agreements, natural justice, and is discriminatory to those who would choose
a face to face interview.
This conference instructs the Postal Executive to oppose this approach with all means
necessary and ensure that our agreements and protections are maintained both in
respect of this issue and indeed the implementation of any new management structure.
There will be a report back to branches on progress in respect of this policy.
The Postal Executive are instructed accordingly.
We will keep you updated on any progress.
Any enquiries to this LTB please contact: The PTCS Department reference 420, email
address: khay@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Carl Maden.
Assistant Secretary
RM/CWU National Joint Statement – Secure Locker Star 2 Postal Digital Assistant (PDA) Replacement Pilot
Dear Colleagues,
Branches will be aware of the business desire to upgrade its technology platforms to keep pace with changing markets and its customers’ evolving needs as part of the commitment to invest and enhance Royal Mail Group’s (RMG) mobility solution. The next strand of the PDA Renewal programme is the migration of all RMGTT Star 2 (Strategic Tracked Asset Replacement) scanning processes to the new PDA TC57x device recently deployed across the business.
This will provide Secure Locker members in Royal Mail with the best PDA in the market and remove the need for them to swap devices between scanning processes. It will also enable Royal Mail to lead the industry in service to the customer and provide the ability to continue to develop and deploy enhancements to the current service, introduce new services to grow market share and stay ahead of competition.
As such both departments have been in discussions with Royal Mail regarding an agreed Joint Statement to pilot the switch from the RMGTT Star 2 to using the PDA TC57x device to ensure that the technical capability and usability is in place. The pilot activity will be undertaken in two phases one for Delivery Offices and one for Mail Centres as outlined below:
Pilots will take place as follows:
Subject to the pilot being jointly considered as successful it is anticipated that National deployment across the Royal Mail Core Delivery Office sites will commence on the 27th June 2022 and completed by August 2022.
Subject to the pilot being jointly considered as successful it is anticipated that National deployment across the Mail Centre sites will commence on the 5th September 2022 and completed by early October 2022.
As per previous Joint Statements we have ensured that all training packages will be agreed and deployed via WPCs and subject to reviews between both parties. In addition, the full outputs of the pilot activity relating to the technical processes, software applications and any future national deployment will be subject to reviews nationally, with both departments represented.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number
Any queries to the content of the above, please contact the Outdoor Department, reference, email address: njones@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch Davie Robertson
CWU Assistant Secretary CWU Assistant Secretary
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 