Disputes with Royal Mail Group – Centrally Driven Suspensions and Conduct Cases against CWU Representatives and Members

During the course of the disputes there has been an unprecedented and vicious attack on a number of CWU Representatives and members (including picket line supervisors) who have been suspended or are being taken through the conduct code.

The suspensions and conduct proceedings in the main relate to allegations regarding picket line activity and conversations with either agency workers crossing picket lines or in the workplace.  To date, in excess of 120 individuals from both Royal Mail and Parcelforce have been suspended, five of whom have since been dismissed.

Following the Joint Statement to establish talks at ACAS and particularly the de-escalating of tensions in the workplace, there were limited examples where a common sense approach resulted in suspensions being lifted and conduct being withdrawn although this proved to be the exception.

Clearly there is a national pattern to these suspensions and conduct cases as most Divisions and Parcelforce Regions feature.  There is robust evidence to suggest there is a coordinated drive by RMG on a national basis to target representatives and members for merely partaking in their legal right to strike and speak to agency workers.  This is yet another aspect of the Union busting activity aimed at promoting intimidation where those on strike are being scrutinised constantly.

There may be a small minority of cases where suspension and the use of the conduct code could be applicable however in the vast majority of instances we are certain the allegations are scurrilous and fabricated.  We have reports of standard letters and question sets being used in cases and the continued breach of procedures taking place in the conduct process for CWU representatives.  Local managers are openly referring to the central conduct team as either the ‘Gold Room’ or ‘Gold Command Centre’.

There are cases being reported where local managers are being instructed to instigate conduct cases despite them being reluctant due to a lack of evidence.  There are other cases of representatives and members being reinstated following suspension and the conduct then being reopened as a consequence of an intervention via a higher manager arising from a central directive.

The Postal Executive has endorsed the creation of a working group designed to provide a solid support structure for those representatives and members being targeted.  Postal Executive members as follows will provide full backing and assistance to all of those going through this appalling experience:

• Katrina Quirke will be responsible for compiling the information for all PFW cases.
• Tony Bouch and Rob Wotherspoon will be responsible for the South Wales/South West, Midlands and South Central Divisions.
• Steve Halliwell and Bobby Weatherall will be responsible for the North Wales/North West, Scotland, Northern Ireland and North East Divisions.
• Shelley Banbury and Luke Elgar will be responsible for the South East, Anglia and London Division.
• Mick Kavanagh, Vice Chair of the Postal Executive will Chair the meetings of the working group.

Additionally, the attached correspondence has been sent to Zareena Brown, Chief People Officer to express our deep concern in regard to the continued suspensions and conduct code cases.  We have also urged RMG to seriously consider our proposal for all cases involving the criteria of gross misconduct to be the subject of an immediate joint review undertaken by the appropriate regional managers and CWU Senior Field Officials.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)     

LTB 515/22

Attachment to LTB 515/22

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Royal Mail Group – Workforce Health and Wellbeing Support:

Fiona McAslan the newly appointed Royal Mail Group Head of Health and Wellbeing has informed the CWU/HQ Health, Safety and Environment Department of the launch of their ‘Health and Wellbeing Campaign’ with the aim of the campaign being to support employees by ‘dialling up’ the Health and Wellbeing resources RMG already have available, as well as launching a new ‘Health Hub’ and ‘Help@Hand.’ Each element of the campaign will be promoted in more detail through RMG Comms channels.

The RMG ‘Employee Assistance Programme’ offers 24/7, 365 days a year free, independent and confidential support for the workforce, for employees in need of support.  This includes the launch of ‘Help@hand’ which gives everyone (and subject to criteria, family members too) access to Remote GP, Digital Physiotherapy and Mental Health Support Sessions.

All managers have been briefed on the support package available, and all individual employees will receive further information early in the New Year 2023.

The Head of Health and Wellbeing wishes to make sure that the workforce is aware of the Occupational Health Support Programme and that employees know where to go for wellbeing support during this difficult time which is of the utmost importance. All employees can access support through the ‘My Royal Mail/Health and Wellbeing tab’ or the ‘People App (Health and Wellbeing tile).’

These are summarised as follows:

Health Hub – Your Health and Wellbeing ‘one stop shop’ 

RMG state that accessing support early is really important – many people who do seek support often say they wish they had done so sooner. Whether it’s for your mind, body or something going on in your life, the Health Hub directs employees straight to information, guidance and support services that can start to help right away. Employees can access the Health Hub via the ‘RM People App’ using the ‘My Health & Wellbeing’ tile, or by visiting “myroyalmail.com/yourhealthhub”.

Help@Hand  

RMG are also launching ‘Help@Hand’, giving employees direct and immediate access to health and wellbeing support. Employees can get started by downloading the ‘Help@Hand App’.  Select ‘Register via PIN’ and enter the Royal Mail code 164003.  Employees can then easily access:

• Remote GP – unlimited 24/7 access to a digital private GP service for employees, their partner and family (*Children are eligible up to their 18th birthday or 24th birthday if in full-time education)
• Physiotherapy – up to 8 consultations per year shared between you and your partner
• Mental Health Support – up to 8 consultation sessions per year shared between you and your partner
• Life, money and wellbeing support
• Second medical opinion service
• A wellbeing calendar which includes access to webinars and support

Note: registration will take around 10 minutes.  Due to the nature of the medical service, certain personal information will be required.

Under the Remote GP service, if employees require medication, a referral letter or a private fit note, they will need to pay for these. Employees will also need to pay a delivery charge if they opt to have the medication sent to them. The remote GP will go through the options and next steps with individuals during the consultation.  These charges apply to everyone, regardless of any NHS exemption status i.e., due to age, medical condition, pre-payment, country of residence etc.

First Class Support – RMG Employee Assistance Programme 

‘First Class Support’, the RMG Employee Assistance Programme, is available 24/7 (0345 266 5060 or ‘live chat’ on the website/app). This support service is free, confidential and completely independent.  Whether employees need to speak to someone in the moment, access counselling support, or something else, instant support across all areas of wellbeing including physical health, mental health, financial wellbeing as well as practical home and work issues are available.  *registration is RMG-pay number i.e., RMG-12345678.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB513 Royal Mail Group – Workforce Health and Wellbeing Support

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POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE 2021/22 & 2022/23 – NOTICE SERVED FOR STRIKE ACTION – SUPPLY CHAIN

Further to LTB 501/22 dated 15th December.  Branches are advised we have now served the two-week legal notification to Post Office for the following action for our Supply Chain members:

England, Northern Ireland & Wales (excluding Scotland due to bank holiday)

• The strike will cover all duties (for the entire duration of the scheduled duty) commencing at or after 00.00 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023 and before 23.59 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.

Scotland

• The strike will cover all duties (for the entire duration of the scheduled duty) commencing at or after 00.00 on Wednesday 4th January 2023 and before 23.59 on Wednesday 4th January 2023.

We met with Post Office management via Acas on Tuesday 20^th December.  Unfortunately, no agreement was reached and talks have now paused to allow both CWU and Post Office time to reflect on the situation.  The following strikes will therefore go ahead as planned:

• Crowns – Saturday 24th December
• All members across Admin, Crowns and Supply Chain – Wednesday 28th December.

In closing, I wish to thank our Post Office Reps and members for their support.  Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

22LTB512 Post Office – Pay Dispute 2021-22 & 2022-23 – Notice Served for Strike Action – Supply Chain

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Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY22 024 – RM Articulated Tractor Unit and Trailer ‘Drive Off’ From Loading Dock:

Background and Description 

Royal Mail Group’s Safety Team have issued RMG SHE Safety Flash FY22 024 following a dangerous incident which occurred at the Parcelforce North Essex Depot in which an agency driver was collecting a trailer to take to the Parcelforce Coventry Hub.

The agency driver coupled up the tractor unit and trailer, connected the trailer suzzie air lines and electrical cable, then wound the trailer legs up to the ready to go position and released the trailer brake.

However, the driver then drove off the loading bay without performing pre-use safety checks, checking the load space, checking the load, checking the rear shutter door or if the number plate was attached.

Having left the North Essex Depot for Coventry, he began to hear a banging sound coming from the trailer. About 1 mile into the journey, he remembered the trailer number plate wasn’t on the trailer so he pulled into a bus stop to attach the number plate. As he got out of the tractor unit cab, checking the underneath of the trailer to see where the banging was coming from, he then discovered the shutter door was still fully open and a Parcelforce employee was still inside the trailer. The employee in the trailer had climbed over York containers in order to bang on the trailer bulkhead to alert the driver.

Impact/Injuries 

• A dangerous incident in which an employee loading the trailer could have been injured and the load could have been lost on the road.
• Fortunately no injuries were sustained.
• The incident could have resulted in serious crush injuries from the York containers or a fall from the open trailer.
• York containers could have fallen from the trailer whilst the vehicle was in motion causing a road traffic collision and injury to third parties.

Key Messages and Learning Points 

• Agency staff need to be briefed on the site rules, particularly when collecting trailers and any lock out procedure, i.e., keys hooked onto the roller door until the trailer is safe to depart.
• Only people on site must instruct drivers on specific trailer collections – not people from another site.
• Drivers and agency drivers must complete the appropriate checks of trailers/rear of vehicles/trailers and ensure the dock leveller and loading dock doors/trailer doors/shutters are retracted and closed prior to departing.
• Visiting drivers and agency drivers must be directed to the local manager before connecting trailers.

Actions/Pic

• PICs to review current vehicle key control procedures to ensure they are robust.
• PiCs to ensure the site has clearly understood rules governing the safe movement of trailers to prevent loading dock/bay drive-offs.
• PICs to ensure site and yard rules are communicated to all users including visiting drivers and agency drivers on arrival. Rules should also be clearly displayed in key locations

CWU ASR/WSR Action:

• Please ensure that this Safety Flash is communicated and brought to the attention of all appropriate members and that actions above are deployed.

Attachment: 

• Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY22 024 – RM Articulated Tractor Unit and Trailer ‘Drive Off’ From Loading Dock:

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB511 Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash FY22 024 – RM Articulated Tractor Unit and Trailer ‘Drive Off’ From Loading Dock

SHE Flash FY22 024 – Vehicle Drive Off

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTES UPDATE

Further to LTB  503/22, the Postal Executive agreed yesterday to make Royal Mail a fresh offer to suspend this week’s planned strikes and implement a period of calm until the 16^th of January 2023, subject to the company signing up to an agreed Joint Statement, the content of which would confirm significant progress in resolving our disputes.

We have attached to this LTB a copy of the letter sent to CEO Simon Thompson this morning, alongside the proposed Joint Statement.

It is important that Branches, reps and members recognise that the union continues to take a responsible position through new initiatives aimed at resolving our disputes in the interests of members, customers and the company.

The proposed Joint Statement incorporates the company’s latest no compulsory redundancy position, alongside other job security commitments and a range of concessions the union would immediately require to suspend strike action. You will see we have given the company until 12 noon on Thursday 22^nd December to finalise an agreed Joint Statement.

In the meantime, it’s crucial that the whole of the union continues to plan for this week’s strike action because we all know that despite the Christmas narrative RMG are playing out, it’s clear from the company’s actions that they are currently obsessed with continuing their worker and union busting tactics, rather than engaging in meaningful negotiations.

Finally, you will also see that the union has called upon the CEO to stop boasting about a £1.7 billion war chest to take the union on in the New Year; and instead use this money to invest in our members pay, terms and conditions and a future strategy for growth.

We will keep you updated on developments.

Please ensure the content of this LTB is circulated to all workplaces.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                    Andy Furey
General Secretary                                     Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)    

22LTB510 ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTES UPDATE

20.12.22 Simon Thompson RMG

RMG CWU Joint Statement – 20.12.22

BT Business – Merging of BT Enterprise and Global

On the 16th December, BT announced that they were bringing together the Enterprise and Global Customer Facing Units to form a new CFU called BT Business.

While this move has been the subject of speculation for many years, the timing of the announcement was not anticipated and is likely to have been caused by a leak from within the company that lead to an article in the Daily Telegraph, which had anticipated this move.

The new CFU will be led by Bas Burger, the current CEO of Global.

The plan is to begin integrating the two CFUs from 1st January and then report as a single CFU from 1st April.

It has been reported that synergies are anticipated that will result in £100m or annualised savings. These savings are part of the £500m savings by 2025, already announced by the company. While it has long-been the case that both of these CFUs have appeared to be top-heavy, we do not anticipate this announcement being without challenges for this union and its Enterprise and Global membership.

A copy of the BT Group announcement is attached.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Eldred
Assistant Secretary

LTB 509/22

Attachment: This email contains information from the BT Group

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CWU Young Workers Conference 2023 – Online Registration

As detailed in LTB 489/22 the CWU Young Workers Conference will be held on Tuesday 31^st January 2023 at CWU Headquarters, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX.

The online registration system for registering delegates and observers to the above conference is now open.   The link to access the webpage is as follows or can be copied into the search browser:   https://conference.cwu.org

We will be using the online registration that has previously been used for conferences.   We ask that only Branch Secretaries register their delegates to the above conference.   If you experience any problems please contact conferences@cwu.org

Attached is a list of branches with numbers of young workers in the branch.  The delegation entitlement to the conference as agreed by the NEC is as follows:Number of Young MembersDelegate entitlement1-2491250-4992500 and above3

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

22LTB508 – CWU Young Workers Conference 2023 – Online Registration.doc

Copy of Under 30s Count – 30th Nov 2022

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CWU OBITUARY LIST 2023

It is normal practice to include in the General Conference Agenda pad a reference to those members who have served the Union in many different capacities who have sadly passed away since the previous conference.

We are calling on Branches to supply the names of those they believe should be contained in the obituary list  to be included in the General Conference Agenda pad for the 2023 conference.

All names that are to be included must be received by us no later than Friday 17^thFebruary 2023.   Unfortunately, any names received after this date will not be included.

Notification of names should be forwarded by email addressed to Angela Niven at CWU Headquarters to conferences@cwu.org    Information supplied should include initials, surname and Branch.

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven on conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

22LTB507 – CWU Obituary List 2023

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Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 43 – December 2022:

Introduction

The Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) came into existence as a result of funding from Battersea and Wandsworth TUC. The GJA was launched to promote skills training and job creation to meet the needs of Britain’s rapidly growing low carbon sectors and to green the whole economy. The transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy can drive sustainable economic recovery and job creation in every part of the country as well as making existing jobs more secure. But this requires a more strategic national and local approach to deliver the workforce skills needed and to stimulate demand for clean energy and energy efficiency services.

The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises at a national and local level to build the broadest possible support for the policies, investment, partnerships and commitments needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.

The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises with training bodies, colleges, universities, employers, local and national Government, trade unions, housing associations, campaign and community groups – to build the policies, investment and partnerships needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.

GJA ‘Free’ Courses:

The GJA runs a number of ‘free’ courses on the environment for Trade Union Reps in different parts of the UK which have been attended by a number of CWU Reps with details published in the newsletter.

The GJA now offer three ‘on-line’ courses as follows:

1. Climate Change Awareness

This short introductory course is aimed at trade unionists and anyone wishing to develop their understanding of the issues around climate change.  The course is divided into 4 modules.  The modules contain background information, short videos, graphs and illustrations.

• Module 1: Climate Change Explained
• Module 2: International Responses
• Module 3: Trade Union Responses
• Module 4: Getting Involved

At the end of each section, there are references and links to additional materials if you want to go further. There are no formal tests and you can work through the materials at your own pace but there are optional quizzes to check your understanding at the end of modules 1, 2 and 3.

2. A Trade Union Guide to Just Transition

Social justice must be at the heart of the development of a net-zero carbon economy. The course covers:

• The meaning and history of the term just transition
• Why it should be a priority issue
• UK and international policies and case studies
• Ideas for developing an action plan

It is aimed at trade unionists and anyone wishing to improve their understanding of why just transition should be central to climate change policy.

3. Air Quality – a trade union issue

The following issues will be explored in this free online course. It is made up of 3 modules,

• Module 1: The Causes and Health Impacts of Air Pollution
• Module 2: The Law and Government Policy
• Module 3:  Trade Union Responses and Campaigns

Link to GJA on-line Courses:https://greenerjobsalliance.co.uk/courses/

GJA Founder Graham Petersen:

The founder GJA Secretary and Newsletter editor was Graham Petersen who is well known to the CWU and has a long standing working relationship with the Union. He is a former TUC tutor and course designer who created safety reps training courses and the successful TUC Occupational Health & Safety Diploma Course. He was the head of the Trade Union Studies Centre at South Thames College before retirement from the post and has been a visitor and guest speaker at CWU events and meetings. After 30 editions, Graham stood down at the GJA AGM and handed over to Paul Atkin as newsletter editor and Tahir Latif as GJA Secretary. Graham remains a GJA Steering Group member and is now working part time for the Wales TUC having recently written a publication for them ‘Greener workplaces for a just transition – a Wales TUC toolkit for trade unionists’ which was circulated by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department.

Paul Atkin Editorial GJA Newsletter Issue 43 – ‘After the COP, now what?’

In this month’s editorial Paul Atkin is critical of the COP process where the fossil fuel companies have their roots and interests embedded in government delegations as demonstrated at last year’s COP when the Saudi Foreign Minister, said “we don’t see this as a discussion about fossil fuels’’ and a proposal from India to extend the policy of reducing coal use to cover all fossil fuels was blocked and, ‘natural gas’ was affirmed as a “transition fuel” which allowed a “dash for gas” and for the exploitation of Africa’s resources, with many gas deals sealed at the conference. Paul adds that next year’s COP28 will be held in the oil rich producing United Arab Emirates(UEA), which is like holding an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in a pub. Progress on cutting pollution now depends on the most polluting countries upping or exceeding their emission reduction targets. The EU has upped its 2030 target for renewable energy generation from 22% to 45%. China has already gone beyond its 2025 target for EVs and looks set to hit its 2030 renewables target by 2025 or 6. Australia now has better targets following the fall of its climate change denying government in the spring. Paul adds that Oxfam have exposed the fact that the rich and wealthy are increasing emissions whilst the working class are reducing emissions. He rightly adds that the current wave of strikes is about workers all having enough to live on with dignity and self-respect whilst the media attack the workers calling the pay claims as ‘unaffordable’ whilst saying nothing about the rich and powerful who share out massive profits and share dividends! Part of the struggle for a sustainable society is to turn that framing inside out and put it the right way. (GJA Editor Paul Atkin).

Contents Newsletter 43

• Editorial – After COP now What?
• Supporters Meeting
• COP roundup
• View from the Green Zone
• The ITUC view
• Climate protesters jailed & reporters arrested
• 2022 Dorje Khatri award
• Cities and Just Transition
• Magic retrofit ingredients
• National Homes
• Retrofitting Taskforce
• The Cost of Living
• Warm homes and insulation campaigning
• Union Green Rep Networks
• Former Coalfields Education Project
• DEBATE: A Just Transition beyond Growth?
• Films Notebook
• Review: The Atom: A Love Affair
• Film Premiere: The Loud Spring
• Green Bites

Note: COP28 is the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference is formally known as the ‘United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties’ and this is its 28th iteration. Given that the official title is a mouthful, it is shortened to COP28 which is short for the 28th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC. It’s will be held from 30 November until 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

GJA Supporters Meeting Tuesday 13 December 2022 12.00-13.30 – Greener Work: the work of the Green Bargaining Officer

Speakers include:

• Jenny Patient (Yorks and Humber TUC)
• Ryan Morrison (FOE Scotland)
• Lara Skinner (Climate Jobs National Resource Centre, New York)
• Wales TUC speaker.

Plus COP27 Report back – Jenny Cooper (NEU Executive and ITUC delegate)

And Retrofit workshop report – Linda Clarke (UCU/GJA)

This is an Online event: Contact tahirlatif51@icloud.com to register.

Film Premiere “The Loud Spring” (62 mins – labournet.tv)

Venue: The Brady Arts and Community Centre, 192-196 Hanbury St, London E1 5HU on Saturday 17 December 7:45 pm

Starring Julia Steinberger, Andreas Malm, and the Angry Workers collective, labournet.tv’s new hybrid documentary/fiction The Loud Spring, explores what change is needed to avert a climate catastrophe and why we need a powerful workers’ movement. With COP 27’s ‘failure’ and the cost of living crisis, in a situation where public awareness of the drastic consequences of climate change is growing, the film draws attention to the elephant in the room: where does the political power to change things come from? Is it direct action by a dedicated few? Is it the angry masses in Chile, the so-called Arab Spring, and the Yellow Vests in France? These movements have had significant victories, but they still have not managed to change society in any fundamental way. The Loud Spring, by using animation to imagine a possible social revolution in 2024, makes a bold step forward in helping us visualise the end of capitalism rather than the end of the world. Interviewing academics, workers, and activists, from Mexico to Sweden, the film does not present us with a blueprint or a utopia, but the basis upon which we can discuss the challenges of emancipation in the 21st century. The film screening will be followed by an open discussion with the filmmaker, the Angry Workers Collective, and Andreas Malm (Author of ‘The Progress of this Storm’ and of ‘Fossil Capital’, which won the Isaac and Tamara Deutscher Memorial Prize).

Tickets can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-loud-spring-uk-premiere-tickets-465692628187

You can watch a short Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAWekV0Bvoo

Quote of the Month:

“We were the ones whose blood, sweat and tears financed the industrial revolution. Are we now to face double jeopardy by having to pay the cost as a result of those greenhouse gases from the industrial revolution? That is fundamentally unfair.”

(Mia Mottlet PM of Barbados)

Attachment:

• GJA Newsletter 43 for December 2022.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB505 Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 43 – December 2022

GJA-Newsletter-43-Dec-2022

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