CWU ONLINE SERVICE SYSTEM (OLS): IMPORTANT CHANGES

As part of our on-going proportionality work it has both been timely and necessary to update the CWU officers and representative’s selection categories on the OLS membership database.

The new categories that have been introduced, will not only make it easier for branches to allocate activists against their elected branch role, it will also enable the CWU to identify in more detail the diverse make up of all our representatives positions (industrial and non- industrial).

For information purposes a list of the new representative categories can be found in the attached document.

To assist branches with the process of updating their OLS representative’s database, the Equality, Education and Development Department, in conjunction with the Membership department, have produced a video tutorial for branches attention. The short video gives branches and authorised OLS users step by step instructions on how to allocate members to active positions of the branch and can be accessed using the attachment below.

All branches are encouraged to update their representative’s information by the end of March 2021. Please note that category number ‘99’ entitled, ‘CWU representatives/Committee member’ will shortly be removed. For this reason, we ask all branches to relocate any representative who is enlisted in this section to one of the new categories.

Once this exercise is completed branches and the department will be able to obtain more accurate and useful information for our next proportionality data report which will be published later this year.

Thank you in advance for your help and co-operation in this matter. Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns 
Senior Deputy General Secretary

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 030/21 – CWU Online Service System OLS Important Changes

Appendix A – OLS New Branch category positions for reps and activists

Video Attachment

---

View Online

TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2021 – REGISTRATION

This year the TUC Women’s Conference will be held online. The conference is scheduled to take place from Wednesday 3^rd March to Friday 5^th March 2021 and is open to all Women trade unionists.

There will be three debates at Conference open to all attendees. The themes debated reflect the key issues emerging from the final agenda:

• The unequal impact of Covid-19 on women
• Ending gender-based violence and harassment
• Strengthening women’s rights and representation at work.

The timetable for the event is as follows:

Wednesday 3 March 2021: Unequal impact of Covid-19 on women 

Session         Conference debate

Time             10-11.30am

Title              Trade unions: Organising against unequal impact of Covid-19 on women

Speakers       Frances O’Grady, General Secretary TUC; Gail Cartmail, TUC President; Marsha de Cordova MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities

Session         Panel discussion

Time             12.15-1.30pm

Title              Working women: paying the price

Speakers       Professor Clare Wenham, LSE; Chidi King, Director of Equality ITUC; Charlotte Woodworth, Gender Director Business in the Community

Thursday 4 March 2021: Ending gender-based violence and harassment 

Session         Conference debate

Time             10-10.45am

Title              Trade unions: Ending gender-based violence

Session         Panel discussion

Time             6.30-7.45pm

Title              Workplace support for survivors of domestic abuse

Friday 5 March 2021: Strengthening women’s rights and representation at work 

Session         Conference debate

Time             10-10.45am

Title              Trade Unions: Strengthening women’s rights and representation at work

Session         Panel discussion

Time             6.30-7.45pm

Title              Our future. Our fight: Strengthening women’s rights and representation at work

Speakers       Speakers Karon Monaghan QC; Christina McAnea, General Secretary UNISON;  Shavanah Taj, General Secretary Wales TUC; Lucila Granada, Director FLEX;

The CWU will have involvement in this conference.   Those interested in attending the Women’s Conference will need to pre-register but it is open to all.  Once registered, attendees will be sent regular updates containing conference documents and links to sign up for the interactive workshops that will be running along with panel debates and fringe events.

Registration will be open until the day prior to the Conference, but attendees are encouraged to register before 22 February 2021 to ensure that they receive all communications and have enough time to secure their place at any breakout sessions.

To obtain as high attendance as possible we encourage you to circulate this information to your members.   The link to register is as follows:

www.tuc.org.uk/WomensConference2021

Any further enquiries with regards this please contact conferences@cwu.org or Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 028/21 – TUC Womens Conference 2021 – Registration

View Online

TUC LGBT+ CONFERENCE 2021 – REGISTRATION

This year the TUC LGBT+ Conference will be held as a virtual conference. The conference is scheduled to run from Thursday 25^th February to Friday 26^th February and is open to all LGBT+ trade unionists and colleagues.   The timetable for the conference is as follows:

Thursday 25 February

14:00-16:00 Committee Statement Debate: Covid-19 and LGBT+ Workers 

18:00-19:00 Panel Discussion: LGBT+ workers and Black Lives Matter movement 

19:00-20:00 Panel Discussion: International LGBT+ Rights and Solidarity

Friday 26 February

14:00-16:00 Committee Statement Debate: Trans and non-binary workers’ rights

The CWU will have involvement at the conference.  Those interested in attending the LGBT+ Conference will need to pre-register.  Once registered, attendees will be sent regular updates containing conference documents and links to sign up for the individual sessions that will be running along with panel debates and fringe events.

Registration will be open until the day prior to the Conference, but attendees are encouraged to register before 12 February 2021 to ensure that they receive all communications and have enough time to secure their place at any breakout sessions.

To obtain as high attendance as possible we encourage you to circulate this information to your members.   The link to register is as follows:

www.tuc.org.uk/TUCconferences

Any further enquiries with regards this please contact conferences@cwu.org or Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 027/21 – TUC LGBT+ Conference – Registration

View Online

Royal Mail Group Introduction of New Branded Reusable/Washable Cotton Face Masks:

Introduction

The wearing of face coverings/masks has shown to protect the wearer and those around them from Coronavirus/Covid-19 transmission and infection and against the backdrop of a rapidly increasing infection rate and the number of virus deaths.  That is why Royal Mail Group made it mandatory for all employees to wear face coverings when working indoors unless an individual has a legitimate exception. A joint statement supporting the mandatory introduction of face coverings/masks was signed by Royal Mail Group and the CWU on 9 November 2020. Since that time the Health, Safety and Environment Department has continually pressed Royal Mail Group to improve the level of compliance with the mandatory standard and to improve the quality of face masks.

Background

Government Chief Medical Officers and Scientists along with the National Health Service (NHS), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Public Health England (PHE),  Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Doctors in Unite (the UK’s oldest medical trade union representing junior doctors, general practitioners and hospital consultants) amongst many, many others strongly support and recommend the use of face masks, concluding that face masks play a valuable role in reducing transmission of Coronavirus in the UK community.

Face coverings are mandatory across the UK in the following:

• Post Offices
• Royal Mail Customer Service Points (which are classed as shops – staff and customers must wear face masks/coverings)
• public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams and buses)
• taxis and private hire vehicles
• transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
• shops and supermarkets (places which offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
• shopping centres (malls and indoor markets)
• auction houses
• premises providing hospitality (bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes), except when seated at a table to eat or drink
• post offices, banks, building societies, high-street solicitors and accountants, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses
• estate and lettings agents
• theatres
• premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo and piercing parlours)
• premises providing veterinary services
• visitor attractions and entertainment venues (museums, galleries, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, cultural and heritage sites, aquariums, indoor zoos and visitor farms, bingo halls, amusement arcades, adventure activity centres, indoor sports stadiums, funfairs, theme parks, casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor play areas including soft-play areas)
• libraries and public reading rooms
• places of worship
• funeral service providers (funeral homes, crematoria and burial ground chapels)
• community centres, youth centres and social clubs
• exhibition halls and conference centres
• public areas in hotels and hostels
• storage and distribution facilities

People are expected to wear a face covering before entering any of these settings and must keep it on until they leave unless there is a reasonable excuse for removing it.

Royal Mail staff should also wear face masks where they meet people in other indoor settings during their duty e.g., business receptions, blocks of flats etc.

The New Branded Reusable/Washable Cotton Face Masks

The new masks comply with UK’s General Products Safety Regulations 2005 and they have certification for suitability of the fabric for wearing over the nose and mouth. As they have not been supplied as medical grade masks the manufacturer has used their standard non-medical mask description on some of the documentation.

Before deciding which face coverings to purchase, Royal Mail Group considered 12 types of masks from different suppliers which were tested for comfort, fit, breathability, appearance and protection with a range of different sized users, both men and women and people with and without glasses. The Paragon face coverings were the best face covering tested, giving a good fit to a wide range of users with high levels of comfort.

The masks have 3 layers of fabric as recommended by government. Two layers are tightly knitted cotton and a further layer contains SilvaDur antimicrobial treatment. Two or three layers of tightly woven fabric have been shown in studies to be highly effective at filtering out the virus, equivalent to surgical mask standards. When wearing the masks, it is easy to feel the resistance to air flow through them when compared to many other face coverings.

A key consideration for Royal Mail in the selection of the suppliers was also their ability to provide the required level of assurance that they meet the standards expected of a supplier to Royal Mail including the Responsible Procurement Code and the Modern Slavery Act.

The masks are being delivered to the managers of each operational Unit based on the staff in post numbers and will be distributed on the basis of 5 masks per employee. Additional supplies are available which Unit managers can order. See image of the new mask attached.

The new branded, reusable, face coverings will also reduce the impact on the environment.

Putting on and Removing The Mask

The mask is put on and removed by holding it by the elastic from behind, ensuring that hands are clean before touching the mask.  When not being worn the mask should be stored in personal possessions or in a polythene bag and not left on surfaces where it could be contaminated.  Wearers should avoid touching the mask whilst wearing it.

Changing The Mask

It is important to change the mask and wear a clean mask each day. Members should also change the mask during the day if it becomes wet.

Washing The Masks

The washing requirements for the reusable face coverings are as follows; The face coverings can be hand washed or washed in a washing machine at 60 degrees (not 30 degrees as per packaging) for up to 30 washes. They should not be dry cleaned. Fabric conditioner should not be used when washing the masks as this can leave residue on the materials which should not be breathed in.

Ordering Extra Royal Mail Reusable Face Masks

Units can order extra face coverings from the web site: https://store.paragon-cc.co.uk/rm-stationery. There is a limited supply of additional face coverings available and they will be prioritised to operational units.  Any non-operational employees can request a face covering via the above link (subject to availability) or at the unit they are attending if they are unable to work from home.

Disposable Masks

The original ‘disposable’ masks will still be available to order for those employees who prefer to wear them and for Agency/Casual employees.

“Wash Hands-Cover Face-Make Space”

It’s important to remember – face coverings alone will not completely stop people from contracting the virus. They can be an effective tool in preventing the spread of the virus in the workplace and help reduce the risk of infection. Face Masks must not lead to a relaxed attitude to hand washing/sanitising, social distancing, keeping the workplace clean and ventilation. Face coverings play a valuable role in reducing transmission of Coronavirus.

Exemptions

Royal Mail Group fully recognises that some employees are unable to wear face coverings for medical or psychological reasons which covers a wide range of illnesses, impairments or disabilities. Managers must be mindful and respectful of such circumstances and will work jointly with Union Representatives to ensure these employees are not penalised or otherwise discriminated against based on exemption. Only those employees with a legitimate reason for exemption will not need to wear a face covering whilst working indoors. Due to the high infection rate a new revised process of verifying exemption has been put in place following RMG discussions with the CWU which protects the interests, safety and wellbeing of the workforce as a whole. The new process and an agreed joint communication will be reported in a separate LTB.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

21LTB025 Royal Mail Group Introduction of New Branded Reusable Washable Cotton Face Masks

Royal Mail Group New Branded Reusable-Washable Cotton Face Masks

Show Racism the Red Card – Short duration workshop programme

Building on the close links with SRtRC, and in response to Branches positive feedback relating to other joint engagement events, we have arranged an exciting new, hard hitting, and fast-track
training programme.

A schedule of 14 workshops will be delivered by SRtRC facilitators.

Workshops will be broken down and delivered in two parts, each of 90 – 120 minutes duration and applicants will be expected to commit to attend both parts:

Part 1

Barriers to Prejudice, and the Role of Unconscious Bias
The initial session explores barriers to tackling prejudice in the workplace and throughout society.

This workshop considers the causes and consequences of prejudice and discrimination, the impact of unconscious bias and privilege on our thought processes, and why it is important to utilise critical thinking skills to counteract the influence of media, rumours, and myths. The workshop will also allay fears, created by the media, around correct use of language and terminology. This session is also designed to ask participants to reflect on their own prejudices in a safe, nonjudgmental
environment.

Recognising & Responding to racism and prejudice
Consideration then moves to discriminatory attitudes, helping to define a racist/prejudice related incident and proceeds to an activity looking at best practice in responding to prejudice in the workplace and when dealing with members issues. It concludes by looking at the consequences of not challenging discriminatory attitudes/practice, followed by tips on how to effectively challenge prejudice.

Part 2

Embedding Equality in the Workplace and Ally-ship
The workshop builds on the knowledge gained from Part 1 and explores good practice, techniques and strategies that can be utilised to support members in holistically promoting equality throughout the workplace. Ally-ship provides the opportunity to better support colleagues who may be from marginalised groups. This workshop will help people recognise the power and influence they may have, and how this can be best utilised in order to take effective action to build a more inclusive
workplace.

The Language of Equality
This session asks delegates to reflect on the powerful nature of language in the workplace when engaging with members and employers. A follow up activity considers appropriate use of
terminology relating to identity. Those taking part will be able to ask, in safety, questions about any words they are unsure about when describing people and groups.

By the end of the workshops, participants should:

· Understand the need to critically reflect on their personal prejudices  and professional practice
· Have a greater understanding of appropriate terminology relating to ethnicity
· Have an increased understanding of how to recognise racism
· Be better equipped to respond to incidents of racism
· Be more aware for the need for a strong organisational culture which clearly demonstrates an inclusive & anti-racism stance

Dates including cut-off:
Due to the fairly short notice and with numbers limited, a closing date to apply for any of the dates of 4th February 2021 has been set and will be strictly adhered to.

Part 1
1. 10th Feb 10am – 12pm
2. 10th Feb 2pm – 4pm
3. 17th Feb 10am – 12pm
4. 17th Feb 4pm – 6pm
5. 24th Feb 10am – 12pm
6. 24th Feb 4pm – 6pm
7. 3rd March 10am – 12pm

Part 2
1. 3rd March 2pm – 4pm
2. 10th March 10am – 12pm
3. 10th March 4pm – 6pm
4. 17th March 10am – 12pm
5. 17th March 4pm – 6pm
6. 24th March 10am – 12pm
7. 24th March 2pm – 4pm

All participants completing both days will receive a certificate from Show Racism the Red Card.

Application Process
Authorised applications must be received by the cut-off date.
Branches must send an email to equality&education@cwu.org via the Branch Secretary or authorised deputy only with the following information:

· Two dates only that are being applied for (Part 1 & Part 2)
· Name of applicant
· Branch
· Membership number of applicant
· Contact email address for the applicant
· Contact mobile number
· Any adjustments that require consideration

When applications have been received applicants MUST be registered as CWU Reps/Officers on the OLS system for applications to be processed.

IT, Infrastructure and learning differences
Having tested online delivery of samples of both accredited and unaccredited courses, it is crucial that the student is set up appropriately and in good time before the training commences.

The learner must preferably have access to a good PC / laptop. Tablets can be used but have some limitation in our experience. Attending training courses using a mobile phone is not acceptable.

There must be a stable internet connection from where the learning is taking place.

We would appreciate Branches assistance in ensuring any applicants are prepared in line with the above points. If any reps encounter difficulties getting set up with IT equipment in preparation for
attendance, please advise their Branch Secretary, Union Learning Rep or the Equality, Education & Development as soon as possible.

Additionally, upon application; please ensure that we are aware in good time of any adjustments that may need to be arranged such as issues relating to dyslexia or sight / hearing differences.

Release
Paid release from the employer does NOT apply.

Please forward any enquiries relating to this LTB to equality&education@cwu.org in the first instance.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 024/21 – Show Racism the Red Card – Short duration workshop programme

· Back to My Union

ROYAL MAIL CONSULTATIVE BALLOT – RMG AND CWU KEY PRINCIPLES FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT (THE PATHWAY TO CHANGE) – DUPLICATE BALLOT PAPER REQUEST

Branches will be aware that ballot papers for the above Royal Mail Consultative ballot were dispatched to members on the 18^th January 2021.  Please note that the process for members requesting duplicate ballot papers due to non- receipt is as follows:

In all duplicate ballot paper requests, members should send an email to membersballot2021@cwu.org

The email must contain the following information:

• Members name
• CWU membership number
• Correct home address
• CWU Branch
• Reason for request

Every effort will be made so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure that each member receives a ballot paper through the post in time for them to cast their vote.

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 023/21

View Online

Change In Tyre Legislation For Vehicles Over 3.5 Tonnes

Branches will recall Motion 17 to General Conference 2018 submitted in the name of the Mersey Branch on the Tyred Campaign (Appendix A), which highlighted a tragic accident involving a 52 seat coach on the A3 in Surrey. A tyre expert confirmed that the accident was due to a blow out of the front nearside tyre that made the coach veer to the left and mount the embankment resulting in the fatalities of the driver and two passengers and leaving others with life threatening injuries. It was subsequently discovered that the tyre involved was actually older than the 19 year old coach.

In moving Motion 17 the speaker referred to the Tyred Campaign, which sought to introduce legislation that prevented the use of tyres that were old and thereby dangerous to the passengers as well as other road users. During debate we also heard that recommendations from manufacturers had previously advised the Government that tyres which are 6 years or older should not be fitted on cars and should be replaced if found to be over 10 years old. Unfortunately for the passengers of that coach the recommendations were never a legal requirement.

As a result of the Tyred Campaign, Government have since introduced new legislation which comes into effect from the 1st February 2021 banning the use of tyres over 10 years old that are fitted to steer axles on all vehicles above 3.5 tonnes, including all axles on minibuses when fitted in single configuration (9 to 16 seat minibuses).

The ban follows an extensive investigation including research commissioned by the Department of Transport which indicates that ageing tyres suffer corrosion which could cause them to fail. Drivers, owners and operators are responsible for the safety of their vehicles. The Government will also be asking the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to continue checking tyre age as part of their routine roadside enforcement activities and adding an additional assessment to the annual test scheme (MOT test).

Effectively, any vehicle above 3.5t that has tyres fitted which are found to be 10 years or older in England, Scotland or Wales stopped at roadside will lead to MOT failure and receive an immediate S marked prohibition notice. This is given when the examiner believes a severe defect is due to significant breakdown in the vehicle’s maintenance procedures.

Much of this will of course be resolved by the Fleet workshop staff across the in-house garage network through the issue of a Red Technical Service Bulletin (Safety Instruction). Members should however be mindful of the high reliance of Fleet on the use of contractors for HGV’s and trailers, so it is prudent to ensure that all members are aware of the change in legislation.

With regard to the Drivers responsibility there is of course a requirement to complete a roadworthiness or pre-use check. If a Driver is stopped as part of the roadside enforcement activities and the vehicle is in breach of the new legislation, the DVSA will issue an immediate prohibition notice and follow this up with a request to RMG to present their process which ensures the adequate management of their tyres.

The requirement to inspect age data on tyres will clearly become a driver responsibility which would need to be factored into the Vehicle Checks process. Both departments will of course ensure that RM agree to immediate activity that provides for sufficient times and processes to be put in place to ensure for adequate completion of these new checks on the relevant vehicles involved. All drivers (OMVs and personal vehicles) should ensure they understand this new legislation and familiarise themselves on how to identify the age of each tyre fitted to their OMV or indeed their own personal vehicle.

The information required can be located on the sidewall alongside the letters DOT which is then followed by a number code:

• These four numbers denote the fabrication date of the tyre to the nearest week with the first pair of these four numbers indentifying the date of manufacture down to the nearest WEEK ranging from 01 to 53.
• The last pair of numbers specifies the YEAR of manufacture.
• So for example a tyre with XXXXXXX2714 after the DOT lettering has a manufacture date in the 27th week of 2014.

Legislation will only affect those vehicles mentioned above but both departments feel it important for Drivers to be made aware of these changes and remain vigilant to the markings as indicated on the sidewalls of tyres.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the relevant department:
Network & Distribution: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.orgquoting reference: 014.01
Deliveries & Collections: Mark Baulch, email: njones@cwu.org quoting reference: 300
Fleet: Carl Maden, email khay@cwu.orgquoting reference: 220

Yours sincerely,

Davie Robertson 
Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Carl Maden
Assistant Secretary (Acting)

LTB 022/21 – Change In Tyre Legislation For Vehicles Over 3.5 Tonnes

---

Appendix A
On Monday 10 September 2012 a coach bound for Liverpool carrying 53 people from the Bestival music festival on the Isle of Wight, left the road and crashed into a tree instantly killing Michael Molloy (18), Kerry Ogden (23) and the coach driver, Colin Daulby (63), and left others with life changing injuries. The inquest into the crash found that the front nearside tyre which was actually older than the coach itself, at 19 years, was responsible for the crash. In 2014, Liverpool City Council unanimously agreed a motion in support of Michael’s mother Frances, calling for a change in the law requiring a ban on tyres older than six years on commercial vehicles. Despite the wide spread public and political support for this campaign, no change in the law has been made, shamefully leaving others at risk from faulty and dangerous tyres. Conference notes that Frances Molloy has launched “Tyred” – the official campaign to pressure Government – to change the law to ban the use of tyres older than ten years on commercial vehicles. Conference wholeheartedly supports “Tyred” and instructs the NEC to write to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition to call together cross-party support for a change in the law. Conference further instructs the NEC to support the “Tyred” campaign until such a change in the law is achieved.

Mersey

Please watch and share this vital message from Terry Pullinger DGSP.

Terry gives a thank you to our brilliant reps but also, crucially, asks all members (apart from those with medical exemptions) to please wear face masks indoors. This is to protect you and your colleagues.

https://fb.watch/3aHCqtTAel/