Union Learning Representative’s Networking Event 2022 – 16^th & 17^thNovember 2022. The purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches that this year’s Union Learning Representative’s (ULR) networking event will take place on the 16^th & 17^th November 2022 at:

Jury’s Inn Glasgow Hotel, 80 Jamaica St, Glasgow G1 4QG

Branches will be aware that ULR legislation provides for networking with other ULRs and organisations that deliver education and training opportunities to our members and representatives.

The event is being held over two days.  Registration will commence at 11.30am on 16^th November. The event will close at 1.00pm on 17^th November

A final agenda will be issued in due course but will include:

• Keynote speakers
• Practical workshops to encourage and support learning in the workplace and beyond
• Hearing about latest CWU learning developments
• And a celebration of your collective achievements!

Application Process

Applications should be made by Branch Secretaries via courseadmin@cwu.orgwith the name and membership number of the ULR who MUST be registered on the OLS as a Role holder.

The closing date for applications is Friday 14^th October 2022.

 Depending on the number of applicants Branches may be able to send more than one ULR.

Please note that Branches are responsible for delegates travel and authorised expenditure for this event.  However, we will be providing lunch on both days.

Accommodation

It is important that Branches book places early at the Jury’s Inn Glasgow Hotel, as they will be holding a number of rooms on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

Booking arrangements are as follows:

Bookings can be made by calling the hotel on 0141 314 4800, quoting ref. JIUALL161122.  Alternatively, you will also be able to book via the hotel website by adding the reference number into the promotional/block code section. Please note that a credit card is required to reserve the room – no charge will be made at time of booking. 

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for night of Wednesday 16^th only)

Rooms are charged @ £103 single occupancy & £113 double occupancy, bed and breakfast.  {Rooms will be held at this rate until 9^th November 2022, after which time they will be released and the preferential rate will not be available}.

Release

This event should attract paid release for accredited ULRs working for employers where the CWU is recognised.  The event is specifically designed to meet the aims of ULR legislation and is fully supported through the Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.  The ACAS Code of Practice applies.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Equality, Education & Development Department by email to equality&education@cwu.org.

#CWULearn22 

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

22LTB 349 – ULR Networking Event – 16th 17th November 2022

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Picket Lines

Following the successful industrial action we took on Friday 26^thAugust, we are preparing for our next strike action previously noticed as taking place between the period at or after 04:00 on Wednesday 31^st August 2022 and before 04:00 on Thursday 1^stSeptember 2022.

We have received correspondence from Royal Mail that contains allegations of an extremely small number of instances that, in their opinion, breach the guidelines on picketing. We are responding to Royal Mail on these points and the Branches concerned will be contacted by the Postal Department for a response.

The purpose of this LTB is to remind all Branches of the information we have previously provided on this subject (the picketing guidelines that were circulated on 1^st August 2022).

We emphasise that we are allowed to undertake picketing activity and it is essential that we remain disciplined and constantly refer to all the guidance material that the union has sent out, including the guidance on picketing, the use of picket and supervisors’ armbands and any demonstrations. Pickets should continue to ensure that they engage in peaceful communication and persuasion.

To be clear there can only be six people on the picket line at any one time and they should not stand on the business’s premises. Other members can attend at any peaceful demonstration as long as they are not on the picket line and otherwise do not trespass or cause a nuisance.

Can all Branches please put in place measures to ensure we follow these guidelines strictly and bring the picketing guidelines to the attention of all picket line supervisors.

Yours sincerely,Terry PullingerDeputy General Secretary Postal

LTB 350/22 – Picket Lines

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Politics Joe interview on strike that’s worth sharing https://youtu.be/-rb_K9wzZmQ

A fraction of the media coverage we have received today. Some great stuff to share here.

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62672783.amp

CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/08/26/royal-mail-postal-workers-latest-to-strike-as-uk-cost-chaos-continues.html

Guardian https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/26/why-the-strike-at-royal-mail-is-no-cookie-cutter-pay-row

ITV https://www.itv.com/news/2022-08-25/at-least-100000-royal-mail-workers-to-stage-summers-biggest-strike-on-friday

Independent https://uk.news.yahoo.com/royal-mail-strike-gonna-fight-112643528.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAH_eX6ZVhQ4HFfsDtLfWaTYR3q3vFf0vqJce3TH6wPpu1ZeT9NCVodXwdchbpgLCSclTBSO2eWRmFayGzC9nyhHKuBpO0E4rIqAot0WQv1x4Wd_IQEks3X4yt1Njz7lUz9Ob8Er_sTTLuhADu9fVsCxTEhrdkQAz9aPNfqXk0iod

Jacobin https://jacobin.com/2022/08/british-postal-workers-cwu-strike-royal-mail

Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11148493/Postal-workers-walk-biggest-strike-summer-Royal-Mail-warns-delays.html

Novara https://novaramedia.com/2022/08/26/postal-workers-have-no-choice-but-to-strike/

Novara video https://youtu.be/YWyCsImj0Cc

Tribune https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/08/royal-mail-strike-cwu-dave-ward-enough-is-enough?mc_cid=5e2499b1fe

Aljazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/26/thousands-of-postal-workers-launch-strike-in-uk-over-pay-dispute

Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-26/royal-mail-sees-four-day-delivery-delay-as-115-000-staff-strike

Dave Ward C5 https://fb.watch/f8NwyJbgBW/

Dave Ward C5 (different) https://fb.watch/f8Ny2Y2PqF/

Dave Ward Sky https://fb.watch/f8NAOAepiY/

Dave Ward Sky (different) https://fb.watch/f8NCIZ4uLc/

Thompson exposed on takeover https://fb.watch/f8NFGIbtzr/

Dave Ward LBC https://fb.watch/f8NGUH6X-y/

Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/royal-mail-strike-115000-postal-27837519.amp

Independent (different) https://www.indy100.com/amp/royal-mail-strike-postman-pat-2657947798

Sky News https://www.indy100.com/amp/royal-mail-strike-postman-pat-2657947798

RMG DISPUTE – CWU OFFERS FOR FRESH TALKS

The purpose of this LTB is to explain the offers the union has made to the company for talks at the highest level.

We initially wrote to the Chair and CEO of the company on the 18^thAugust, saying it was time to escalate talks and that CWU were willing to explore all possibilities to find solutions to our pay and change disputes, in the interests of our members, the customers and the company.  This offer was made a full week before the strike action that will take place tomorrow, Friday 26^thAugust.

The CEO wrote to the union on the 19^th August and rejected our offer.  He made it clear that the only basis for a meeting would be for him to tell us what the financial situation was within the company. 

The CEO subsequently posted on RM Workplace that the union had refused to meet for talks.  This was never the case and is just another example of the lack of honesty, transparency and integrity in the way that Royal Mail have conducted themselves over the last six months.

The union has now reiterated our offer for fresh talks in a further letter to the Chair and CEO, a copy of which is attached.  The union’s position is set out clearly in the letter and should be conveyed to all our members in all workplaces.

You will see from the letter that the union is also now seeking assurances from the Board on their position over the future of the USO, whether or not they are involved in discussions on a takeover bid and/or plan to sell off GLS, which in our view makes no commercial sense.

These are important points to raise with the Board because as Royal Mail’s position becomes increasingly hostile – it appears to us that their real motives may well be about to be exposed. 

We will keep you informed of developments and in the meantime it is crucial we now prepare for tomorrow’s strike action, which we know will be solidly supported across the UK. 

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                 

General Secretary     

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 348/22 – RMG DISPUTE – CWU OFFERS FOR FRESH TALKS

Attachment 

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Project Worker – Learning for Wales

With the support of the Wales Union Learning Fund we are seeking to appoint a new member to our team, whose role will be to support CWU Branches in Wales with the development of workplace based essential skills learning opportunities for members.

Project Worker – Learning for Wales  Fixed – term contract to end no later than 31 March 2023 Salary: £40,483 pa (£39,683 pensionable)

Closing date – 12 noon, Monday 12^th September 2022: Interviews to be held over Zoom on Tuesday 27^thSeptember

The successful candidate will have:

• Well developed communication skills, both written and presentational
• A demonstrable commitment to the principles and aims of the trade union movement
• An understanding of the main issues and needs for workers with essential skills needs
• An NVQ 3 standard level of education or equivalent work experience of at least 2 years
• Knowledge of Welsh Government and TUC policy on lifelong learning
• Knowledge of lifelong learning funding sources
• Proven project management skills
• Excellent IT Skills

Applications for a secondment to this position will also be considered.

The CWU is committed to inclusivity and equal opportunities in employment.

Additional information on the CWU can be obtained from our public website http://www.cwu.org.

If you require the application pack in another format or have any specific requirements that would support you in completing an application for the position, you are asked to highlight this when requesting an application pack. 

For further information and to receive an application pack, please email hr@cwu.org ‘quoting – Project Worker – Learning for Wales and / or call 020 8971 7482 .

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 347/22 – Project Worker – Learning for Wales

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Royal Mail’s Notification To Progress with the Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in Deliveries

Branches and Representatives will recall Letter To Branches 110/22, dated the 9^th of March regarding the Royal Mail & CWU National Joint Statement – Scan In/Scan Out (SISO) in the Delivery Function – Evaluation of PDA Solutions.

The LTB set out an agreed and limited activity which was designed to gather feedback on whether the PDA solution was fit for purpose and was believed to be a user-friendly application in relation to the deployment of SISO within the Delivery Function.  Mail Centres and Regional Distribution Centres have already deployed Consoles as the equipment which are the preferred option, however the Consoles are viewed upon as unsuitable in Delivery Units due to a number of factors not least of which is space constraints.

The limited evaluation process to explore a possible mainly static PDA based solution within the Delivery operation did not highlight any direct issues within the six listed trial sites. The Specific Joint Statement covering the activity set out the following direct commitment: ‘Royal Mail and the CWU will review the feedback nationally from this evaluation exercise, which will determine any future equipment and deployment programme. Additionally, the evaluation will also determine the next steps and jointly agreed activities necessary, which may include future trials or pilots before consideration of any further or wider National roll out of SI/SO within delivery units.’

Against that agreed background as outlined within the Joint Statement, talks have remained ongoing with Royal Mail in relation to SISO in delivery with the recent tenor of our discussion focused on seeking to reach a joint agreed set of words around the undertaking of joint local level site surveys in each delivery unit, for the siting of the equipment only with the actual deployment and rollout of the concept being proper to further National Agreement.

However, alongside these recent talks and the wider commitments contained within the ‘Key Principles Framework (Pathway to Change) Agreement’ paragraph 2.5 Technology, which deals with the introduction of Scan In/Scan Out, this is to replace the manual signing in and out process, along with the commitment that SISO data will not be used for the automatic reduction of contractual pay or reduce overtime pay where a (verbal) contract has been agreed with the manager, prior to commencement. We have become increasingly aware and concerned that Royal Mail is now seeking to move beyond what is jointly set out in the National Agreement and use SISO technology as part of Royal Mail’s wider change demands around ‘yearly flexi hours/flexi time’ hours banking system arrangements.

On 12^th of August, the Outdoor Department then received correspondence from Royal Mail which formally confirmed that the Company intend to progress with the deployment of SISO in the delivery Function. In summary, the notice of intention from Royal Mail confirms that SISO will be first deployed in a number of Sheffield Delivery units on 2^nd of October, moving to a national rollout on 30^th of October. Attached, as Appendix 1, is a Royal Mail document entitled the ‘Deployment of Scan In/Scan Out in the Delivery’. A response from the CWU Outdoor department was sent to Royal Mail on 22^nd August which is also attached as Appendix 2.

The details of the attached response from the department are clear and we have requested that Royal Mail does not move ahead with the deployment of SISO within the delivery function at this time for the reasons stated. This move by Royal Mail should be seen as a further aggressive act in clear breach of our agreements. Moreover, it would further suggest that Royal Mail is seeking to adapt SISO to be a key component and facilitator of their ‘yearly flexi hours/flexi time’ change demands, despite claims to the contrary.

We have been very clear that from a CWU position we remain committed to the Pathway to Change and it is Royal Mail’s current unacceptable approach and change demands which are directly outside of the National Agreement, which is the issue and not the concept of a move to a technology based signing in/out system.

Whilst we will keep Branches and Representatives advised of developments, any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 540, email address: njones@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 346/22 – Royal Mails Notification To Progress with the Deployment of Scan In Scan Out in Deliveries

Appendix 1

Appendix 2 

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