BT Group – National Industrial Action Ballot Result

Please find attached a copy of the declaration of the result for the recent industrial action ballot of CWU members employed by BT plc, EE Ltd and Openreach Ltd.

The current legislation requires the union to provide all persons entitled to vote in the ballot and the relevant employers “as soon as is reasonably practicable” after receiving the declaration of the result for the ballot with the following information:

1. The number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot.
2. The number of votes cast in the ballot.
3. The number of individuals answering “Yes” to the question.
4. The number of individuals answering “No” to the question.
5. The number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned.
6. Whether or not the number of votes cast in the ballot is at least 50% of the number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot. 

Therefore, the ballot results for BT plc and Openreach Ltd meet the required threshold. Unfortunately, in EE Ltd the threshold was not met.

Accordingly, you must now take immediate steps to publicise the result to all relevant members, however it is essential that any communications regarding the result must be as a minimum contain the information as detailed at items a) to f) inclusively above.

Branches are also reminded that only the National Executive Committee have the authority to instruct members to take industrial action.

Further information regarding the next steps of the dispute will be circulated by the DGS (T&FS) in due course.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the  Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General SecretaryAndy Kerr

Deputy General Secretary (T&FS)

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 291.2022 – BT Group – National Industrial Action Ballot Result (00000003)

BT Ballot Results

View Online

CAPITA TVL: PAY 2022 – ACAS MEETING MONDAY 4^THJULY

Branches are advised that the further meeting at Acas in relation to the Capita TVL pay dispute scheduled for Tuesday 28^th June unfortunately had to be postponed due to illness (Senior Capita manager) and will now take place on Monday 4^thJuly.  With the ongoing Cost of Living crisis, it is hoped progress can be made at this meeting.

Capita Group Trading Update – Wednesday 29^th June 2022

Capita Group released a Market Update earlier today (attached) on the Group’s first half performance, which was “in line with expectations and on track for the full year”.  The report included the following upbeat statement regarding the recent (February 2022) BBC TVL Contract win worth £456m for the next five years.

“We have won a number of significant contracts in the first half, including the renewal of the BBC TV licencing contract (£456m), an extension of our PCSE contract (£94m) and further work for the Northern Ireland Education Authority (£51m)”

We will be drawing upon this in the Acas talks to demonstrate a much better offer should be forthcoming, especially as the contract renewal was secured due to the high quality performance of our members.

Reps Briefing – Tuesday 5^thJuly

Finally, we have arranged a face to face meeting with our Capita Reps on Tuesday 5^th July during which I will elaborate on the Acas discussions the previous day.  I will of course be reporting back to the Postal Executive, who will determine next steps.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

22LTB290 Capita TVL – Pay 2022 – Acas Meeting Monday 4th July

Attachment 1 to 22LTB290

View Online

POL/CWU – Driving Safely in Bright Sunlight and Sun Glare Conditions – Driver and Road Safety Campaign:

Sun Glare:

The UK’s major motoring organisations, the AA and RAC along with a number of road safety analysts have urged drivers to take care in the present bright sunny conditions and to be very aware of the effects of ‘sun glare’.

The experts warn that it’s important for drivers to be on guard for the adverse effects of ‘sun glare’ while driving, whether this is through wearing sunglasses with UV protection which can protect drivers from extreme brightness whilst driving on bright sunny days or by removing any shiny objects from the dashboard or lowering the sun visors.

According to the AA, sun glare was one of the main causes of road traffic accidents and they advise that “the right pair of sunglasses can help prevent the risk of accidents by allowing drivers to focus on the road better as they get to their destination.” They advise that drivers have a responsibility to drive with care and attention, and need to be on alert for anything that can affect their ability to do that.

The RAC advise that drivers who don’t wear suitable sunglasses to protect against the dazzling effects of the sun may be inadvertently putting the safety of all roads users at risk.

As the UK summer heats up, it’s now even more important that drivers should wear appropriate eyewear to protect themselves against glare and keep themselves and other road users safe.

Road Traffic Accidents:

The Department for Transport report that bright, dazzling sunlight is as a contributory factor in around 3,000 road accidents a year, some fatal.

Driving Without Due Care and Attention Consequences:

The consequences of not driving safely due to being blinded by the sun – whether that’s as a result of not wearing sunglasses, not using a vehicle’s sun visor or not slowing down or pulling over – are severe.  If a police officer deems that a driver is driving without due care and attention they can be faced with an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three penalty points on their driving licence. In particularly serious cases, police have the power to take the matter to court, where a fine could rise to £5,000.

Highway Code:

The advice, according to Rule 237 of the Highway Code, is for drivers to slow down or pull over if they become “dazzled by bright sunlight.” This means that, although it’s not a legal requirement to drive wearing sunglasses in bright conditions, a driver could be breaking the law if they don’t slow down or stop if they have become temporarily blinded by the sun.

Choosing The Right Sunglasses:

When it comes to choosing sunglasses it’s essential the right pair are chosen, as some are too dark and can severely hamper driving. For example, category four sunglasses are illegal to wear when driving as they let less than 8% of light through the lenses, while variable tint lenses should also be avoided behind the wheel. UK sunglasses should be labelled with a category, so avoid category four glasses that should also be marked as ‘not suitable for driving and road use.’

Additional Eye Health Advice:

Additionally, eye specialists advise that exposing the eyes to bright sunlight for too long, risks developing sun-related eye diseases. Cataracts, pterygium, glaucoma, and macular degeneration can start inflicting damage in the eyes if a person is not wearing the right sunglasses. Skin cancer can also develop because the skin around your eyes gets exposed to the hot sun as well. Clinical evidence shows that about 10 percent of diagnosed skin cancers occur next to the eyes.

RAC and AA Top Tips:

• Have a thorough eye examination every two years.
• Discuss the options for sun and glare protection with an optician.
• Consider a specialist driving lens or tint.
• Be aware that everyday sunglasses might not be suitable for driving.
• Always keep a spare pair of driving sunglasses in the vehicle.
• Keep the vehicle windscreen clean – including the inside.
• Remove reflective or shinny items and materials from the dashboard.
• If blinded by the sun, slow down immediately.
• If driving at sunset, anticipate the effects of glare on you and other drivers.

Joint POL/CWU Driver Safety Awareness Campaign:  

A joint POL/CWU Driver Safety Awareness Campaign has today been launched through the attached communication to all POL CVIT Supply Chain Depots for cascading to fleet drivers and will be circulated to all other drivers as part of the awareness raising initiative so as to highlight the ‘Sun Glare Dazzle Danger’.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB289 POL CWU – Driving Safely in Bright Sunlight and Sun Glare Conditions – Driver and Road Safety Campaign

AA highlights sun dazzle danger

View Online

Bowel Cancer: Be Aware of the Common Symptoms:

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of Cancer diagnosed in the UK.

It’s also called colorectal cancer, and it affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum.

Most people affected by bowel cancer are over the age of 50, but it can affect younger people also.

Bowel Cancer UK reported last year that half the population were unaware of bowel cancer symptoms.

But being aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer is important, as it can help people get diagnosed early, allowing them to access treatment sooner.

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

The NHS says that more than 90% of people with bowel cancer have one of the following combinations of symptoms:

• A persistent change in bowel habit—going to the toilet more and more often, with loose, diarrhea.
• Blood in the stools without other symptoms of piles (haemorrhoids).
• Tummy, abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating.

The NHS says that constipation is rarely caused by a serious bowel condition.

In some cases, bowel cancer can cause bowel obstruction, which is when digestive waste can’t pass through the bowel. Symptoms of bowel obstruction include the following:

• Intermittent, and occasionally severe, abdominal pain always brought on by eating.
• Unintentional weight loss with persistent abdominal pain.
• Constant swelling of the tummy with abdominal pain.
• Being sick with constant abdominal swelling.

The NHS recommends seeing a GP if you have any of the symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more. If you have any symptoms of bowel obstruction, you should go to A&E.

What are the risks and causes of bowel cancer?

The risk of developing bowel cancer depends on a number of factors, including age, genetics, and lifestyle.

Cancer Research UK says eating too much red and processed meat or eating too little fibre can increase your risk of bowel cancer. Being overweight or obese, smoking, and drinking alcohol are also risk factors.

Family history can also impact your risk of bowel cancer. Cancer Research UK advise that a person’s risk of bowel cancer is increased if they have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Some medical conditions, including bowel conditions, can also increase the risk of bowel cancer.

Most bowel cancers develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. But not all polyps develop into cancer. If your doctor finds any polyps, they can be removed to prevent them becoming cancerous – but early treatment is essential – it can be life-saving!

Cancer cells may stay in the bowel or they might spread to other parts of the body, like the liver or lungs. Again early diagnosis and treatment can cure the problem – if left untreated, it can be too late and become terminal!

Facts and figures about bowel cancer – How common is bowel cancer?

• Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer.
• Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.
• Around 268,000 people living in the UK today have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
• More than nine out of ten new cases (94%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50, and nearly six out of ten cases (59%) are diagnosed in people aged 70 or over. But bowel cancer can affect anyone of any age. More than 2,600 new cases are diagnosed each year in people under the age of 50.
• 1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.

How many people survive bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early.  Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage. However, this drops significantly if it is left untreated and the disease develops. Early diagnosis really does save lives 

More than 16,500 people die from bowel cancer in the UK every year. It is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK.

Early diagnosis and treatment is vital.

Attachments:

• What is Bowel Cancer Leaflet
• Knowing The Symptoms of Bowel Cancer Poster

For more information, visit:

• Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/risks-causes
• Bowel Cancer UK: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/
• NHS Bowel Cancer Webpages: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/

Footnote: Dame Deborah James:

Dame Deborah James – Inspirational podcast host and mother-of-two, yesterday died aged 40 after a battle with Bowel cancer. In 2016, she was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer and went on to co-host the ‘You, Me and the Big C’ podcast on BBC Radio 5 about her struggles with her illness. The UK wide well known campaigner touched the nation and raised over £6 million for cancer research. Deborah passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Deborah had recently completed her second book, titled “How To Live When You Could Be Dead” which is due to be published on August 18.The CWU wishes to add its name to those expressing their condolences and paying tribute to Deborah James.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB288 Bowel Cancer Be Aware of the Common Symptoms

What-Is-Bowel-Cancer-Leaflet-Bowel-Cancer-UK

Knowing-Symptoms-of-Bowel-Cancer-Poster-Bowel-Cancer-UK

View Online

Warning to All Drivers as New Cycle Lane Law Comes Into Force This Week With £160 Fixed Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Fines:

Drivers in London who are caught in a cycle lane will from this week face a £160 fine under a new law change. New powers given to the Transport for London Authority and other London boroughs mean that they will be able to fine drivers who cross the solid white lines marking cycle lanes and tracks instead of just the police, from Monday 27 June. Previously, only the police enforced cycle lane offences.

The Government has provided the new powers to local authorities, which allows them to fine motorists who infringe on cycle lanes and cycle tracks, in the same way that they currently do with bus lanes and yellow box junctions.

In a statement TfL said “The aim of the new rules is to ensure cyclists and permitted e-scooter users are kept safe and that it will make the capital more green.  Cycle lanes play a vital role in keeping people cycling separated from most motor traffic, reducing the risk of collisions, which can cause death and serious injury. Protecting designated space for cyclists is essential in keeping them safe and improving confidence to cycle. TfL wants to ensure a green and sustainable future for London, and to do this the authority aims to continue to make walking and cycling round the city safe and accessible to all Londoners. It is hoped that by protecting users of greener travel, it will encourage more people to take up more sustainable modes of transport.” TfL added that it would be enforcing the new rules as part of its ‘Cycling Action Plan and Vision Zero’ goal, which aims to eliminate death and serious injury on London’s roads.

Under the new rules only cyclists and rental e-scooters within a trial area will be legally permitted to use the lanes, with motorbikes, scooters and other e-scooters not allowed.

The new rules and offences will be implemented and policed by existing CCTV cameras in key locations to deter drivers contravening the road safety rules.

The fines will be handed out to vehicles that drive within, or cross, cycle lanes marked by a solid white line.

Local authorities in England outside the capital have also been given the right to apply for the same powers to issue fines for traffic offences, such as stopping in a yellow box junction and making illegal U-turns etc. Some councils across England have already adopted similar rules for safety reasons.

London authorities, along with Cardiff council, can already issue fines for other traffic offences, such as driving down a “no entry” road.

However, for the first six months of operation, cycle lane offenders will only receive a warning before the ‘Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)’ fines start being issued.

TfL will issue fines at the same level as other red route penalty charge notices, meaning the £160 fine will be halved to £80 if paid within two weeks.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB287 Warning to All Drivers as New Cycle Lane Law Comes Into Force This Week With £160 Fixed Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Fines

View Online

A message for our Parcelforce members from national officer, Davie Robertson – Please share

Facebook https://fb.watch/dXN7Oa4JMo/

A message for our Royal Mail Fleet and Royal Mail Engineering members from national officer Carl Maden – Please share

Facebook https://fb.watch/dXL-kkASuS/

Twitter https://twitter.com/cwunews/status/1541751718991519744?s=21&t=WPTijySVjvSzokI7hZSl3g

POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE 2021/22 – OFFICIAL STRIKE MONDAY 11^TH JULY(CROWNS) – PRESS & MEDIA COVERAGE

Further to LTB285/22 dated 27^thJune 2022.  Following the two weeks’ legal notice served to Post Office yesterday for strike action on 11^th July for Crown Offices, we received a significant amount of media attention, which led to a number of radio interviews (including BBC Radio 5 Live) as well as press articles.  The following links refer to some of the key stories:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61957004

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/27/post-office-workers-strike-crown-branches-11-july

https://www.thenational.scot/news/20239705.post-office-workers-vote-strike-pay-affecting-114-uk-branches/

Post Office Signals Potential Move Towards an Agreement

22LTB286 Post Office – Pay Dispute 2021-22 – Official Strike Monday 11th July (Crowns) – Press & Media Coverage

The response from Post Office in the media to the Union serving notice for further strike action was revealing assuming they weren’t being disingenuous.  Specifically Post Office stated they “remain hopeful that we can reach a pay agreement soon”.  This appears to signal that management are now prepared to negotiate in a meaningful way and we have written to them seeking confirmation of this.  For these words to become a reality it will require them to move away from the pay freeze position for 2021/22 and to make a markedly improved offer for 2022/23.

We hope Post Office means what it says and that good progress will be made when we meet on Thursday 30^th June.  Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

View Online

Ahead of the dispatch of ballot papers tomorrow, here’s a message for our Processing, Distribution, International & RMSS members from national officer, Davie Robertson – Please share

https://fb.watch/dVyOepM6EU/

Ahead of the dispatch of ballot papers tomorrow, here’s a message for our Processing, Distribution, International & RMSS members from national officer, Davie Robertson – Please share pic.twitter.com/VcbciGREet

— The CWU (@CWUnews) June 27, 2022

National Officer Mark Baulch with a message to all Delivery members ahead of ballot papers being dispatched tomorrow.

https://fb.watch/dVljyJ6VlZ/

Ahead of the dispatch of ballot papers tomorrow, here’s a message for our delivery members from national officer, March Baulch – Please share pic.twitter.com/9NE9PU8vVO

— The CWU (@CWUnews) June 27, 2022

Please share as widely as possible.