Health & Safety Update

Branches and Representatives will recall that at Annual Conference confirmation was given that Dave Joyce, CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, would be leaving the CWU following his incredible service to the union over many, many years.  

Dave leaves his role and the CWU on 31^st July 2024 and in line with previous LTBs and acknowledgment of Dave’s service, I am sure all CWU Representatives and Members will wish Dave and his family the best in his retirement.  

CWU HQ are continuing to work on the future changes required in introducing the Central Services Health & Safety role. This new position is a key and important change and will be structured to provide support and advice to the General Secretary and the two Industrial Departments on all matters relating to Health & Safety. The new role will be an important link for the union as far as legislative requirements and regulations are concerned, as well as TUC directives. 

In addition, the Deputy General Secretary’s Office (Postal) is currently finalising the working arrangements linked to the integration of Health & Safety into the Postal Department, alongside the support from Area Safety Reps as part of the future working arrangements. 

Whilst the above is being finalised from 1^st August 2024, where Branches and Area Safety Reps have queries relating to legislative requirements/regulations these should be directed to the General Secretary’s Office. Where Branches and Area Safety Reps have queries relating to Postal Industry matters these should be directed to the DGS(P) Department who will ensure the correct allocation across the Postal Department takes place.

As we stated at Annual and Industrial Conferences this year, this is an incredibly important opportunity for the CWU to ensure that Health & Safety matters are fully integrated into our overall agendas and we would hope that over the direction of the coming months that the changes being introduced are successful in achieving this. 

Any queries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the appropriate department – General Secretary’s Office jdunn@cwu.org or Deputy General Secretary (Postal) hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward                       

General Secretary                                                 

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 270/24 – Health & Safety Update

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MEMBER PORTAL : UPDATED BRANCH ADMINSTRATOR TRAINING VIDEO

Branches are advised that an updated training video has been produced to cover the main areas of the member portal for branch admins.      Please view the video here: https://vimeo.com/991969493

Furthermore, if you need to add or remove branch admin permissions for yourself or a branch colleague, please contact membership@cwu.org.

If Branches have any issues or feedback about the member portal, please contact membership@cwu.org in the first instance.

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

LTB 269/24 – Member Portal Updated Branch Administrator Training Video

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BILLY MCCLORY – FORMER NCU/CWU NATIONAL OFFICER – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

Further to LTB 244/24, as promised please see below details of the funeral arrangements for Billy McClory former NCU/CWU National Officer.

The family have requested smart dress for the funeral with a dash of colour, the family have suggested red and/or green to celebrate Billy’s two great passions. 

Friday 9th August 2024 at 2.45 p.m.

Extended Service at:

West Norwood Crematorium,

Norwood High Street,

London SE27 9JU

Telephone No. 020 7926 4221

Website: www.lambeth.gov.uk

Parking is available in the grounds of the Crematorium.

In memory of Billy, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to one of Billy’s favoured charities:

• St Mungo’s – Working to end homeless and rebuild lives:

http://www.mungos.org

• Battersea Dogs & Cats Home:

https://www.battersea.org.uk/

• Celtic FC Foundation – Creating opportunities for societies most vulnerable and marginalised https://charity.celticfc.com/

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 268/24 – BILLY MCCLORY – FORMER NCU-CWU NATIONAL OFFICER – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

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The Guardian G2 Section, Today’s Edition 30 July 2024, Pages 6 & 7 – Two Full Page Article on Dog Attacks on Postal Workers, Highlighting the UK Dog Attack Epidemic and National Crisis: The Article is Headed; ‘The dog lunged at my face – then my lip came off’:

This is to notify CWU Branches, Reps and Regions that a two-page feature article on dog attacks on UK Postal Workers, has today been published in the Guardian’s G2 section on pages 6 and 7.

This well-written article by journalist Emma Beddington follows on from our RM/CWU Joint Dog Awareness Week Campaign efforts earlier this month, our press statement and releases plus the circulation and promotion of our ‘responsible dog ownership’ leaflet. All part of the CWU’s continuing efforts to raise awareness of the growing number of dog attacks on CWU member, postal workers in Royal Mail and Parcelforce which is nothing short of a ‘National Crisis’ of ‘Epidemic Proportions’ with numbers increasing 15% a year along with worsening injuries being sustained by victims.

We have called for the new UK Labour Government, UK police forces and Crown Prosecution Service to take firm action, clamping down on irresponsible, criminal dog owners by;

• Firstly, Government further strengthening the Dangerous Dogs Act,
• Secondly, Police forces enforcing the law effectively and
• Thirdly, judges and courts to hand down penalties, sentences and orders that fit the crime and act as an effective deterrent.

We’re obviously pleased to have secured a sizeable two-page feature in a National Daily Newspaper which includes an interview with the National Health and Safety Officer along with two members, who were dog attack victims, recounting their terrifying and painful experiences, one of whom could have been killed.

Let’s hope the article helps assist us in raising awareness of all involved and in opening the eyes of the public, dog owners, politicians, police offices, lawyers, judges and magistrates.

Yours sincerely                                 

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 267 /24 – The Guardian G2 Section Article Today 30 July 2024 – Dog Attacks on Postal Workers

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL PANEL

The Legal Services Department is refreshing the list for Employment Tribunal Panel members.

Applicants are invited to submit their details to attend a training course.
The course is designed to provide applicants with a basic introduction to our panel system. The objective is to give applicants an overview of the type of work involved, as well as allowing us to assess the applicant’s requirements for further training, in order to represent our members at all stages including future employment tribunals.

Therefore, could Branches please submit applications to jcolbert@cwu.orgas soon as possible.

If you have any enquiries address them to Ray Ellis, Acting Head of Legal Services, Communication Workers Union, 150 The Broadway, London, SW19 1RX.

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis
Acting Head of Legal Services

LTB 266/24 – Employment Tribunal Panel

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CWU and TUC Welcomes Head of the United Nations (UN) Call for Protecting Workers from Extreme Heat

In a report published on Thursday, the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) called for greater protections for workers from extreme heat. Antonio Guterres stated that “A new rights-based approach is needed to safeguard workers from excessive temperatures.” The report states that workers should have the right to refuse to work in sweltering heat conditions if their health is being placed at risk.

The UN Secretary General issued the ‘urgent call to action’ after the world experienced its three hottest days on record. He stated that “the fact is that extreme temperatures are no longer a one-day, one-week or one-month phenomenon. If there is one thing that unites our divided world, it’s that we’re all increasingly feeling the heat. Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.” He added that “heat is estimated to kill almost half a million people a year” and attributes fossil-fuel-charged, human-induced climate change to rising temperatures. Guterres said that “a growing number of workers face exposure to heat stress” and he called for urgent action and international cooperation to address the extreme heat in a number of critical areas. These include caring for populations that are vulnerable to climate change, protecting exposed workers and ensuring their safety and health, boosting the resilience of economies and societies by using data and science, and limiting the temperature rise to 1.5°C by phasing out fossil fuels and increasing investment in renewable energy. He stated that “We need measures to protect workers, enshrined in human rights and we must ensure that laws and regulations reflect the reality of extreme heat today – and are enforced”. He concluded that “heat is estimated to kill almost half a million people a year.”

The World Meteorological Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and others have reported that extreme heat events are increasing in scale, intensity, frequency and duration.  Last month was not only the hottest on record, it also marked the 13th consecutive month to break global temperature records.

The CWU has joined the TUC and other UK Unions in welcoming the UN Secretary General’s call for urgent action on excessive working temperatures – and for workers to be given extra rights and protections. Extreme heat, hot summers and intense sunlight is becoming the norm around the world, and we agree for the need to strengthen UK laws to stop workers from being put at risk. Nobody should be forced to work in unbearable and dangerous conditions. TUC Congress policy is to call for a maximum indoor workplace temperature of 30 degrees. and if the work is of a heavy nature, it should be 27 degrees. The CWU also wants better, consistent health and safety controls to consistently protect outdoor workers which is the workplace for the majority of CWU members. Two years ago, the health, safety and environment department pressed Royal Mail Group for action and it was agreed that outdoor work should cease on UK ‘Red Warning’ days when outdoor temperatures hit a UK record of 35C.

Attachments:

• UN Press Release
• UN Report
• UN Secretary General Flyer

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 265/24 – CWU and TUC Welcomes United Nations Call for Protecting Workers from Extreme Heat

Att: UN Secretary-General issues call to action on extreme heat – Press Release

Att: UN Temperature Report July 2024

Att: Un Secretary General Extreme Heat Flyer July 2024

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World Hepatitis Day 2024 – “It’s Time for Action”

World Hepatitis Day and Week takes place each year W/C 28 July, to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to highlight the importance of testing, treatment and vaccination. This year’s theme is, “It’s Time For Action” highlighting the urgent need for swift and decisive measures to tackle hepatitis on a global scale. This call to action is reinforced by the alarming statistic that someone dies from a hepatitis-related illness every 30 seconds.

The WHO and partners mark World Hepatitis Day to increase awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes. This date honours the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus.

There are 5 types of hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D and E. All hepatitis viruses can cause acute infection and inflammation of the liver, but infection with hepatitis B, C and D viruses can also result in chronic hepatitis that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Viral hepatitis B and C are major health challenges and root causes of liver cancer. In the WHO European Region, 15 million people are estimated to live with chronic hepatitis B and 14 million with hepatitis C. Most of these people are unaware of their infection and continue to carry the virus. They are therefore at high risk of developing severe chronic liver disease and can unknowingly transmit the virus to other people.

Every year, more than a million lives are lost to hepatitis. 

Through this campaign, efforts to fight viral hepatitis focus on raising awareness of the disease; improving prevention by promoting vaccination, safe sex and safe injection practices; and ensuring equitable access to testing and treatment to all who need it. The earlier people find out whether they are infected, the better the chance of a long and healthy life, and no further onward transmission.

World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, to encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public, and to highlight the need for a greater global response.

Useful Links and further information:

• World Hepatitis Alliance: https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/
• The Hepatitis Trust: https://www.hepctrust.org.uk/
• The British Liver Trust: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/liver-conditions/autoimmune-hepatitis/

Hepatitis Trust Helpline: 

• 020 7089 6221 (Mon-Fri 10:30am– 4:30pm)

Attachment:

• NHS Hepatitis Fact Sheet with links to further detailed information.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 264/24 – World Hepatitis Day 2024 – It’s Time for Action

Hepatitis – NHS Fact Sheet

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UPDATE ON IDS (RMG) TAKEOVER BID

The purpose of this LTB is to provide branches with a full update on developments with the IDS (RMG) takeover bid.

Conference Policy

All branches will be aware of our Conference policy to achieve the best outcome for our members in this takeover process.  We do not believe it is right for an overseas equity investor to own Royal Mail in its entirety, equally, we have no confidence in the current IDS Board to secure the future of the company.  This is why, in our discussions with EP Group and the government, we are calling for a new business/ownership model to give employees and customers a greater say over the future direction of the Royal Mail Group.

As we set out in our recent members communication, our ultimate aim is to see Royal Mail renationalised.  However, we must deal with the immediate situation facing Royal Mail and ensure the company is able to grow and secure postal workers jobs for the future.  Therefore, regardless of who owns Royal Mail, we must continue to play a vital role in influencing all current developments.

Meeting with Daniel Kretinsky

On the 23^rd July, we had an introductory meeting with Daniel Kretinsky (EP Group) where we were able to express our major concerns about his proposed takeover of Royal Mail and also ask relevant questions about his future plans.

The outcome of the meeting is that we have agreed to hold further talks in the coming weeks with the objective of reaching a comprehensive agreement on the future of our members’ jobs and the company.  In these discussions, the union will be seeking to achieve the following:

• Job security guarantees alongside a set of our own legal protections that expand on the contractual obligations contained in the offer document.
• The need to immediately implement measures to solve the ongoing quality of service/USO compliance issues, imposed revision failures and the major resourcing crisis created by the previous senior leaders and the current RMG Board.
• The need to end the managerially imposed two-tier workforce and harmonise pay, terms and conditions for new entrants.
• The need for a full agreement on the approach to maintain the USO.
• A way of giving employees a serious stake in the future of the business.
• A radical change in the governance structure of Royal Mail at all levels, including the urgent need to end the oppressive “it’s our business to run”managerial culture that remains deeply entrenched.
• Agreement for a new business plan with a serious strategy to secure our future by growing our share in the next day parcels market, exploring new services, a better role for our members and leveraging the advantage of Royal Mail’s current infrastructure.

Meeting with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on 11^th July 2024

All Branches will be aware of the Labour Party 2024 Manifesto commitment set out again below for ease of reference:

Royal Mail remains a key part of the UK’s infrastructure. Labour will ensure that any proposed takeover is robustly scrutinised and that appropriate guarantees are forthcoming that protect the interests of the workforce, customers and the United Kingdom, including the need to maintain a comprehensive universal service obligation.

Labour will also explore new business and governance models for Royal Mail so that workers and customers who rely on Royal Mail services can have a stronger voice in the governance and strategic direction of the company.

In light of this commitment, the union was invited to a meeting with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the 11^th July to discuss our concerns on the takeover bid and the future of Royal Mail.  It was a constructive meeting and we made it clear that we expect a Labour Government to fulfil the commitments made in their Manifesto in full, particularly the need to robustly scrutinise all elements of the takeover bid.

Subsequent to this meeting, the Secretary of State has confirmed in the media that the Government will call in the takeover bid under the National Security and Investigation Act.

The union also took the opportunity at a TULO meeting with the Prime Minister on 23^rd July, to again raise our overall concerns about the future of Royal Mail.

We will continue to discuss these matters with the Labour Government and ensure that the proposed takeover of IDS remains crucially important for all politicians and the country.

Meeting between CWU Lawyers and EP Group Lawyers

We can also advise Branches that the union has engaged a firm of lawyers, who specialise in company acquisition law and they have provided the union with a detailed and very helpful report on the EP Group offer document that was published to shareholders on 26^thJune.  The report explains the way the takeover bid is being financed.

Following the report being provided to the union, a meeting was held on 18^th July between CWU and EP Group, including our respective legal advisors.  The meeting was helpful in raising our significant concerns over the contractual obligations and the financial structuring of the proposed takeover.  The union will continue to engage our lawyers to fully investigate this proposed takeover and any consequences that it may have for our members.

Next Steps in the Takeover Bid Process

Now that EP Group has formally launched their offer for IDS, there are a number of steps to complete before any takeover is both approved and accepted by shareholders.  As the takeover is a ‘contractual takeover offer’, the shareholders will need to respond as to whether they accept and if a majority accept the offer, EP Group will be able to take control of the business, provided it also passes any regulatory clearances.

However, we expect that the deadline for this time period for shareholders to accept will be extended so that the takeover can be subject to regulatory clearance.

As we have communicated to members previously, the takeover must be approved by the UK Government under the National Security and Investment Act, the Competition and Markets Authority and by EU and international regulators.  It is likely that the major institutional shareholders will want to withhold any approval until most of these regulatory hurdles are cleared and we expect this to take several months, if they are approved.

Summary

You will see from the above that the union is pursuing all available avenues to achieve the best outcome for our members.  Throughout this process, we will be engaging further with our members, businesses, politicians and the public to ensure the widest possible debate on the future of the UK’s postal service. Further developments will be reported in due course.

Finally, please ensure the content of this LTB is distributed to all representatives and all workplaces.

Any enquiries should be addressed to the General Secretary at jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward – General Secretary                                                             

Martin Walsh – Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

24LTB263 Update on IDS Takeover Bid

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2024

• CWU Young Workers Committee – Ballot Results

Further to LTB 221/24 dated 24^th June 2024, please see below the results of the branch ballots that closed today:

CWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – POSTAL CONSTITUENCY

South West RegionElliott BoothWestern Counties Branch8343*ElectedBenjamin SpencerWessex South Central1639 

CWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – TFS CONSTITUENCYShannon ConnorScotland No 13890*ElectedLouis O’ConnorGlasgow & Motherwell Branch875 

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

LTB 262.24 – Election of National Representative Positions 2024 – CWU Young Workers Committee – Ballot Results

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Better Backs Campaign” – “Move York Containers Safely – One at a Time” (Reminder)

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues to receive enquiries from individual members and Workplace Safety Reps from various workplaces regarding LTB 163/24.

Disappointingly, the messages being received indicate that the CWU “Better Backs” Campaign has not been deployed in all workplaces and that the new posters and leaflets have not been circulated to all Units.

Members and WSRs also indicate the ongoing problem of other members and agency staff moving two York containers at a time in breach of the SSoW and secondly that managers are advising the workforce that “it’s their choice whether they move more than one York container at a time”, which is not correct and is in breach of the York Container Safe System of Work (V3.3).

However, there is a clear pattern developing across the UK that managers are conveying the same message ‘covertly’ and so encouraging the workforce to move two York containers at a time. This has been raised with the RMG Safety Director Liz Lloyd.

It’s important therefore that the CWU proactively gets the correct message across, countering some operational managers’ misinformation and deceitful activities by using the new campaign materials. Copies are attached.

You can either print the posters and leaflets locally in the Branch, Region or local printers or if that’s not possible, contact CWU HQ and we’ll get some printed for you.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

24LTB261 Better Backs Campaign – Move York Containers Safely – One at a Time (Reminder)

Better-backs-campaign-animated-version-Poster-Leaflet

Better-backs-campaign-photographic-version-Poster-Leaflet

LTB163-24-Better-Backs-Campaign-–-Move-York-Containers-Safety-One-at-a-Time

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