RM Group/CWU Dog Awareness Week 2020 – Monday 6 July to Saturday 11 July:

Introduction

Royal Mail and the CWU will jointly launch the eighth annual Dog Awareness Week on Monday 6 July, which runs until Saturday 11 July.

With the current Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in place it is obviously difficult to be specific about the role and involvement of Area Health and Safety Reps and Workplace/Shift Health and Safety Reps this year. Over the previous seven years of Dog Awareness Week campaigns, CWU ASRs and WSRs have always played a key part in the annual joint campaigns. ASRs and WSRs are therefore asked to support the campaign and be as fully involved as best they can under the circumstances across the units in their branch, postcode area constituencies, ensuring full support for the campaign through local rep communication channels within Royal Mail Delivery Offices and Parcelforce Depots, checking compliance and working within current government Coronavirus Covid-19 guidance and Royal Mail Group risk control measures.

Attached are the key campaign materials to be used in the Royal Mail Group internal and external communication plan for your information, use and reference.  This includes:

• Dog Awareness Week Communications Concurrence
• Dog Awareness Week SHE WTLL Huddle/Staff Briefing
• Dog Awareness Week RMTV “A.V.O.I.D” Screen Shots
• Dog Awareness Week Internal Campaign Poster (England, Scotland, Wales)
• Dog Awareness Week External Campaign Poster (England, Scotland, Wales)

Note: Hard copies of posters have been sent to all offices as appropriate.

The Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team have created a SharePoint site where the Dog Awareness Week Materials will go live on RMG internal viewing. The link is:

https://intranet.royalmailgroup.com/HealthSafety/Pages/DogAwareness2020.aspx

Aims of Dog Awareness Week

The week aims to raise awareness of the issue of dog attacks on postmen and women and encourage responsible dog ownership. Royal Mail Group and the CWU are once again working jointly on the campaign.

Royal Mail Campaign Activities

Internal Communications:

• Plasma Screens – Internal plasma TV screens will be used to display key campaign messages particularly the ‘AVOID’ Message.
• Courier – Will carry an article on Dog Awareness Week as a feature in the June and July/August editions.
• RMTV – Will be featuring Dr Shaun Davis Global SHE Director talking about responsible dog ownership plus interviews with frontline employees.
• RM Radio – Will feature an interview with Dr Shaun Davis Global SHE Director on responsible dog ownership and RM Solicitor Michael Munn from the Legal team will be talking about the work they do to support prosecution. Freddie Warnock UK Operations Safety Health & Environment Strategic Business Partner will be interviewed on his experience in the business dealing with dog attacks and where RMG has come from as a business.
• Intranet Articles/Workplace/My Royal Mail – One story to feature each day on the intranet, stories will cover employees who have been bitten, the dog attack reporting process, interviews with dog behaviour specialists, police liaison officers, Dr Shaun Davis and Paddy O’Hara the Police Chiefs’ Liaison Officer.
• Posters – Internal and External Posters to be made available on the SHE SharePoint and hard copies sent to units in time for display week beginning the 6^th
• Payslips – Friday 3^rd July will carry a Message to refer RMG staff to the campaign.
• Staff Briefings/Update – Managers will brief a message each day of the campaign.
• Internal SharePoint Site – All the information used in the campaign located in one place.

External Communications:

• Social Media – RMG will utilise Twitter and Facebook to send out messages advising dog owners what they can do to help reduce the risk of dog attacks on postal staff.
• Newspapers/TV/Radio – Press and Media interest in coverage has already begun to build and it is expected that there will be local, regional and national coverage in the press and on radio and TV with Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety and Environment Officer involved.
• Postage Mark on Letters – Referring customers to the RMG external website where there is guidance on what they can do as dog owners to help us carry out deliveries safely.

2,500 Dog Attacks on Postmen and Women A Year

There are still around 2,500 dog attacks on postmen and women every year. Reported dog attacks have increased by 7% over the last two years. The CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department estimates that many minor incidents and attacks of approximately 1000 go unreported and another part of the ongoing campaign is to encourage outdoor delivery members and Parcelforce members to report ALL incidents with dogs because the next time it may not be a minor incident or near thing and could be serious. It is discovered too often following serious attacks, resulting in life changing injuries that several minor incidents and near misses with the same animal or at the same address were not properly reported and had they been, the serious attack may have been avoided. Dog Attacks remain a major problem for the Royal Mail and Parcelforce Outdoor Workforce CWU members!

7 Postmen and Women Attacked by Dogs Every Day – over 47 a week

Based on the officially reported figures, seven postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK. This figure rises during the school holidays and in the summer months when parents and children are at home and family pets are allowed to roam properties and gardens without constraint or control, with front, back and side doors plus windows and side garden gates left open. We are now entering that time of the year when we see a spike in the number of dog attacks, hence the timing of Dog Awareness Week. The events of the last 6 months however have changed the whole way in which UK society functions with lockdown.

Research

Research released in 2017 as part of Royal Mail’s Dog Awareness Week found that nearly a third of UK parents who own a dog confessed that their canine had been loose in the house when an exterior door or windows were left open.

83% of Dog Attacks occur between the garden gate and front door

83% of Dog Attacks in total occur between the garden gate and front door. At these times, in the summer as well, dogs are more likely to be unrestrained or unsupervised in or around the property being delivered to.

Dog and Animal Charities and Organisations Supporting Dog Awareness Week

Royal Mail Group’s Dog Awareness Week is supported by the Communications Workers Union and a wide range of organisations and animal charities including PDSA, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Dog Wardens Association.

Police Support

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is fully supporting the RMG/CWU Dog Awareness week again this year. The NPPC have been working in partnership with Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union to use the new Dangerous Dogs Legislation (which the CWU achieved through the ‘Bite-Back’ Campaign). The NPCC is continuing to encourage Police forces nationally to utilise the tools available to them to tackle irresponsible dog ownership; by educating where possible and prosecuting where appropriate. Working together, Royal Mail Group, the Communication Workers Union and the National Police Chiefs’ Council wish to ensure Dog Attack incidents are dealt with consistently across all fifty Police forces.

The CWU is continuing its efforts through two national dangerous dogs inquiries by the UK Government and the Scottish Government as well as discussions with the Welsh Assembly to press for further strengthening of Dog Control Laws and enforcement of those laws.

Territorial Aggression

Dogs can be quite protective of their owners and homes. They believe they are merely defending their territory, home and family, but it’s important to recognise that this behaviour can sometimes escalate to dog bite incidents with anyone coming to a home, including postmen and women. No one should feel unsafe in the workplace and it’s important dog owners realise this and act responsibly and comply with the law, that requires them to do just that. Owners must take the necessary steps to give postmen and women respect and safety from dog attacks. Owners should encourage good behaviour when postal workers come to make deliveries. Dog owners should be spending time getting their pets familiar with visitors coming to the house and so create a safer environment for all. The overwhelming majority of dogs that CWU members come into contact with do not present any problem at all but dogs are territorial and will defend themselves, their family and their territory if they feel it is being threatened.

Postmen and women deliver to over 30 million addresses across the country, six days a week and we want them to be vigilant, assess the situation, exercise caution and certainly take no risks when delivering the mail and parcels. This dog awareness week is also a campaign during summer time when we appeal to dog owners and their families to help reduce the numbers of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden by securing and keeping control of their dogs and acting responsibly by taking a few simple precautions.

New Dog Control Laws

As Branches will be aware following the successful CWU Bite Back Campaign, the UK’s Dangerous Dogs laws were extended and strengthened in Northern Ireland in 2010, Scotland in 2011 and England and Wales in 2014. The new law provides us with a great opportunity to hold those responsible to account, tackle irresponsible dog ownership and ultimately improve the safety and confidence of postal workers and all members of our communities. The new dog control laws now identify and penalise chronically irresponsible dog owners. One owner from Romford, Essex paid fines and costs of £9,000 after his dog injured a postwoman’s fingers as she put letters through the door. Another owner from Oxford was handed a 16-month suspended prison sentence and banned from owning dogs for life after his dog badly injured a postman’s hand. A third owner from Sheffield was jailed for four and a half months after his two dogs seriously mauled a postman who ended up in intensive care.

The penalties for dangerous dog offences can involve unlimited fines, prison sentences as well as dog destruction orders, dog ownership bans, compensation orders, and other ancillary orders. Dog owners need to fully understand that their actions usually are the cause of a dog being dangerous and simple precautions can prevent the pain for everyone concerned. No matter what breed of dog is involved, the dog can present a substantial danger to postal workers. Another aim of the week is to raise awareness of the new laws and the penalties dog owners risk facing if they fail to control their animals and an attack occurs.

Enforcement Issues

The Health, Safety and Environment Department has been highlighting a number of enforcement issues and dog control law enforcement problems across the UK. This involves Police forces in England and Scotland, as well as Crown Prosecution bodies and the Courts. As a result of this, strong representations have been made to the UK Government, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government. Discussions have taken place, led by the CWU and supported by Royal Mail Group in an effort to achieve further changes to the law and sentencing protocol. The Union has also, via the National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, given evidence to the Dangerous Dogs Law Inquiry conducted in the House of Commons by the EFRA Parliamentary Select Committee and the Dangerous Dogs Law Inquiry conducted by the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee. Subsequently the National Health, Safety & Environment Officer has met the Scottish Minister, the Welsh Minister and a representative of the UK Minister. Our Union’s objective is to achieve a post-implementation review of the current legislation and its enforcement and sentencing guidance in order to achieve further strengthening and improved outcomes for dangerous dog prosecutions.

Dog Awareness Week Postmark

To help promote dog safety, a special Dog Awareness Week Postmark will be applied to all stamped items from Monday 6^th July to Saturday 11^th July 2020.

Top Tips for Dog Owners

RMG and the CWU will continue to promote advice to dog owning customers as even the most friendly dog can be a danger to postal staff. Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable. Here are some ideas to help postman and women deliver the post safety. Please do what you can to promote these messages to the public:

• Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or woman arrives. Secure your dog in a secure closed room or the back garden.
• If you have a back garden, please close off the access, in case your dog could get round to the front when the postman calls.
• Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for or collect an item which can’t go through the letterbox. Please keep your dog in another room before answering the door and make sure children don’t open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.
• Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered.
• Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived before you let your pet back into your hallway. Check outside before letting the dog out to make sure the postman or woman has left and the gate is shut. Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.
• If your dog likes to attack your mail when it comes through the letterbox, consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s fingers.
• If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.

Top Tips for Royal Mail and Parcelforce Outdoor Delivery and Collection members – would ASRs/WSRs promote and communicate these important messages:

“AVOID & STAY SAFE”

“AVOID:”

A – Avoid interacting with all dogs

V – Value yourself; don’t put yourself at risk

O – Observe; keep your walk log up to date

I – Inform others of potential risk to stop them being attacked

D – Defend yourself if necessary, using your delivery equipment

“STAY SAFE:”

• 83% of attacks happen at a customer’s door or in their garden so take no risks.
• Never put your fingers through a letterbox – use a posting peg.
• If there’s a gate to the property, rattle it and wait a few seconds to see if a dog is present. Listen and look for signs of a dog’s presence, dog bed, toys, food and water bowls.
• Never accept assurances – always ask owners to restrain their dogs and step away.
• Use your pouch or trolley as a barrier between you and a dog, if approached unexpectedly.
• Never tease or antagonise a dog.
• Report all dogs on your duty via the WRAP system and check Walk Logs.
• Under the revised Dangerous Dogs Act, postal workers have legal protection from dog attacks on private property.
• If you are attacked, we urge you to report it, even minor incidents – first to your manager and then to the police. You could help stop future attacks happening.
• Royal Mail Group and the CWU are committed to driving Dog Attack numbers down. We now have the law in place to do it but we need to get messages across to members.
• Firstly, don’t take risks!
• Secondly, don’t ignore minor incidents! – report it! It may be far worse next time!
• Thirdly, support investigations and prosecutions – too many injured members refuse to support prosecutions and give evidence, leaving dog owners guilty of criminal offences to get away scot-free!

IMPORTANT ATTACHMENTS:

• Dog Awareness Week Communications Concurrence
• Dog Awareness Week SHE WTLL Huddle/Staff Briefing
• Dog Awareness Week RMTV “A.V.O.I.D” Screen Shots
• Dog Awareness Week Internal Campaign Poster (England, Scotland, Wales)
• Dog Awareness Week External Campaign Poster (England, Scotland, Wales)

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

20LTB356 RM Group CWU Dog Awareness Week 2020 – Monday 6 July to Saturday 11 July

556228_RM_41_Dog Awareness week Screens_1360x768px_V3

Communication Concurrence Form (Dog Awareness Week)

SHE Huddle Dog Awareness Delivery FY20 003

External Dog Awareness_A4 Poster_ENGLISH

External Dog Awareness_A4 Poster_SCOTTISH

External Dog Awareness_A4 Poster_WALES

External Dog Awareness_A4 Poster_WELSH_ENGLISH

Internal Dog Awareness_A4 Poster_ENGLISH

Internal Dog Awareness_A4 Poster_SCOTTISH

Internal Dog Awareness_A4 Poster_WELSH

Fire Risk Assessments – UK Employers Legal Requirements

Introduction

This LTB is being issued to provide information to CWU Health and Safety Reps across the Union in all employers, in all parts of the UK and as a  reminder of the importance of fire safety as well as ensuring employers are in full compliance with their fire safety legal responsibilities.

The relevant legislation for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is referenced below. Key links to government, enforcing authority and safety professional websites, information, legal guidance and templates are listed below also.

All employers must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of their premises and keep it up to date. This will identify what is needed to prevent fires and keep the workforce and visitors safe.  Written records of fire risk assessment must be retained.

Carrying Out The Assessment

• Identify the fire hazards.
• Identify people at risk.
• Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks.
• Record the findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide training.
• Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly.

Items to consider:

• emergency routes and exits
• fire detection and warning systems
• fire-fighting equipment
• the removal or safe storage of dangerous substances
• an emergency fire evacuation plan
• the needs of vulnerable people, for example the elderly, young children or those with disabilities
• providing information to employees and other people on the premises
• staff fire safety training

Most Fires Are Preventable

Those responsible for workplaces and other buildings to which the public have access can avoid them by taking responsibility for and adopting the right behaviours and procedures.

General Fire Safety Hazards

• Fires need three things to start – a source of ignition (heat), a source of fuel (something that burns) and oxygen:
• Sources of ignition include heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical equipment, smokers’ materials (cigarettes, matches etc.), and anything else that can get very hot or cause sparks.
• Sources of fuel include wood, paper, plastic, rubber or foam, loose packaging materials, waste rubbish and furniture.
• Sources of oxygen include the air around us.

Actions

Once the risks have been identified, appropriate action must be taken to control them. Consider whether the risks can be avoided altogether or, if this is not possible, how they can be reduced and managed. Also, employers must consider how to protect people if there is a fire:

• Carry out a fire safety risk assessment.
• Keep sources of ignition and flammable substances apart.
• Avoid accidental fires, e.g., make sure heaters cannot be knocked over.
• Ensure good housekeeping at all times, e.g., avoid a build-up of rubbish that could burn.
• Consider how to detect fires and how to warn people quickly if they start, e.g., installing smoke alarms and fire alarms or bells.
• Have the correct fire-fighting equipment for putting a fire out quickly.
• Keep fire exits and escape routes clearly marked and unobstructed at all times.
• Ensure workers receive appropriate training on procedures they need to follow, including fire drills.
• Review and update risk assessments regularly.

The Law

• In England and Wales the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire safety.
• In Scotland, requirements on general fire safety are covered in Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
• In Northern Ireland fire safety requirements are covered in Part 3 of The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.

What do Employers have To do?

To help prevent accidental fires or explosions, employers first need to identify:

• What substances, materials, processes etc., have the potential to cause such an event, i.e., substances that burn or can explode and what might set them alight.
• The people who may be at risk/harmed.
• Once risks have been identified, management should consider what measures are needed to reduce or remove the risk of people being harmed. This will include measures to prevent these incidents happening in the first place, as well as precautions that will protect people from harm if there is a fire or explosion.

Key points to remember

• Employers/management need to think about the risks of fire and explosions from the substances that are used or created in the business and consider how they might remove or reduce the risks.
• Use supplier safety data sheets as a source of information about which substances might be flammable.
• Consider reducing the amount of flammable/explosive substances stored on sites.
• Keep sources of ignition (e.g., naked flames, sparks) and substances that burn (e.g., vapour, dusts) apart.
• Get rid of flammable/explosive substances safely.
• Review risk assessments regularly.
• Maintain good housekeeping, e.g., avoid a build-up of rubbish, dust or grease that could start a fire or make one worse.
• Employers/management also need to consider the presence of dangerous substances that can result in fires or explosions as part of the fire safety risk assessment. This is required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (in England and Wales) and under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act.
• The Fire and Rescue Authorities deal with general fire safety matters in workplaces apart from on construction sites including shipbuilding where these are dealt with by HSE or its agents. Enforcement responsibility for fire safety where dangerous substances are kept and used generally lies with HSE (or local authorities if they inspect the premises).

Further detailed Information 

• The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website has advice on the legislation, including premises-specific guidance documents designed to help you meet your responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• The Welsh Government website also provides information.
• The North Wales Fire & Rescue Service has an excellent Website providing Fire Safety Law Information at: https://www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk/keeping-you-safe/at-your-business/risk-assessment-process/links-to-wales-government-guides/
• The Scottish Government provides similar information to help you meet your responsibilities under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.
• The HSE website has Fire Safety Information at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/fire.htmFire Safety and Employer Guide at: https://books.hse.gov.uk/bookstore.asp?Action=Book&ProductId=9780113412297
• The ‘Health & Safety Advisor’ has a free Fire Protection Toolkit which includes fully editable fire protection templates, checklists & training documents. A resource for individuals with health and safety responsibilities at work to keep you up to date and compliant with the fire regulations currently being enforced in the UK: https://www.safety-adviser.co.uk/lead/ed/fire-protection-toolkit/?c=google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5e2Egdir6gIVGLLtCh0KYwO4EAAYASAAEgKxO_D_BwE
• The Shropshire Fire & Rescue Servicehas an excellent ‘free’ Generic Fire Risk Assessment Template provided to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which affects employers and those who are responsible for industrial, commercial and residential premises. At the heart of this legislation, is the need for the ‘responsible person’ for each premises to ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out by a competent person. This has to be completed in consultation with the Trade Union Health and Safety Representative. The competent person will then evaluate the risks arising from the hazards and decide whether the existing fire precautions are adequate, or whether more needs to be done. This risk assessment needs to be subject to regular review. The documents below have been produced by Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service to help businesses carry out and record a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. These are at: https://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/safety-at-work/generic-fire-risk-assessment-template
• The HSE(Northern Ireland) produce an Employers Guide booklet ‘Managing Fire Safety In The Workplace’ which explains how employers can reduce the risk of fire in the workplace and keep within the law. It provides a step-by-step guide to carrying out a fire safety risk assessment and includes a number of useful fire safety templates. This can be located at: https://www.hseni.gov.uk/publications/managing-fire-safety-workplace The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service website is at: nifrs.org

Footnote: Fire Safety – Future Building Safety Regulations

The government has asked the HSE to establish a new building safety regulator in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster and following recommendations in the ‘Building a Safer Future’ report by Dame Judith Hackitt.  The new regulator will oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings so that residents are safe and feel safe. It will be independent and give expert advice to local regulators, landlords and building owners, the construction and building design industry, and to residents.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

20LTB354 Fire Risk Assessments – UK Employers Legal Requirements

The TUC has put together a three day trade union festival online next week (9-11 July).

We would encourage as many of you as possible to attend as many of the sessions as you can.

There’s are some great speakers. Our union will be involved with speakers and panelist’s across the 3 days.

Register via the link below and here’s a video message from the GS.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/Organise2020

TUC ‘ORGANISE 2020’ FESTIVAL

Further to LTB 295/20 additional details of the online TUC ‘Organise 2020’ Festival are now available and branches and representatives are urged to register for participation on:

https://www.tuc.org.uk/organise-2020

Organise 2020 is a three-day free festival of ideas in union organising, with one simple aim: to rebuild collective strength by putting organising at the heart of everything we do. This initiative has come directly as a result of the CWU motion on a New Deal for Workers carried at last year’s TUC Congress. CWU General Secretary, Dave Ward is speaking at the opening session on Thursday 9^th July at 11.00am, which will launch the Organise 2020pledge, which commits to greater union co-operation on organising to grow the movement and ensure it is genuinely representative of all working people.

If you have any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Head of Recruitment & Organising by email to rellis@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

RAY ELLIS

Head of Recruitment & Organising

LTB 353/20 – TUC Organise 2020 Festival

Joint Statement – Royal Mail Group and the CWU

You will be aware via different communication strands of the business and the CWU, that we have agreed a Joint Statement which represents the most significant and positive first step in nearly two years to resolve our dispute.

We are acutely aware that this is a first step and that there is a huge amount of work to be done, however it was essential, given where we have been and with a new RMG leadership in place, that we established a high level Joint Statement which demonstrates that both parties are serious about moving forward together.

The re-commitment of the new RMG leadership to the following terms is a significant step in the right direction:

• Develop a joint strategy for the future of the business.

• Develop a joint strategy to protect the USO.

• Develop jointly the opportunities to minimise letter decline.

• Develop jointly opportunities for diversification to build upon our essential service key worker status.

• Completely take off the table the proposals to make Parcelforce a separate limited company, removing the TUPE threat to our members.

• Re-commitment to all our agreements, including the Four Pillars agreement and our legally binding protections.

• Commitment to resolve all issues in dispute.

• Commitment to resolve the 2020 pay award.

Colleagues will be aware that Royal Mail Group face many challenges, most of which are anticipated in our agreements. Recent events have accelerated the need for a response and we need to move matters on whist we concentrate on resolving our dispute and the wider strategy issues detailed above.

Against that backdrop you will note that the 600 local disagreements are now removed and we will conduct new local revisions across all functions. The detail on the approach will be worked out over the next two weeks but will take account of the ongoing impact of COVID-19.  Such activity will require a new attitude from all involved and a genuine approach to finding and agreeing mutual interest solutions.

In the same time frame, to determine the approach to interim revision activity, we will also resolve the 2020 pay award.

It would be appreciated if Branches could please ensure that the Joint Statement and contents of this LTB are reported to our members. Nationally we will develop a communications plan to keep members informed of any progress on the above issues.

Finally, there is no question that this positive first step would not have been achieved without the unwavering support and hard work of all our Representatives and members. For that reason, any sense of achievement should be shared by all.

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

Yours sincerely,                                                     Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger                                                       Dave Ward

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)          General Secretary       

20LTB352 – Joint Statement – Royal Mail Group and the CWU

LTB 352.20 ATTACHMENT 1

Recording of session with GS and DGSP on the Joint Statement with RMG.

Please share as widely as possible

TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL FLEET AND THE CWU ON DEPLOYMENT OF AN ELECTRIC TAXI VAN FROM LONDON ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY

Branches will recall LTB 454/2017 and LTB 641/2017 advising the Introduction of 100 LE2 Peugeot Partner Electric Vehicles across a number of Delivery Offices in the UK. For some considerable time, the issue of vehicle emissions, pollution and the impact on health, the environment and global warming have been increasingly coming into focus and have recently been at the international centre of attention, specifically in the UK.

There are circa 290 electric vehicles in the fleet that are currently testing the capabilities as well as the impact this will have on the grid to sustain available power. With an increasing number of Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) in cities across the UK, the challenge to reduce carbon emissions and help improve air quality in the communities in which we operate, is increasingly important to CWU and the customers we serve.

The department has been approached to further test a vehicle that is based on the London Taxi which has world-wide recognition for durability in urban areas and replicates the stop-start collection and delivery of the current light commercial vehicle, or LCV panel vans. The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) have offered Royal Mail a vehicle ‘free of charge’ to test, which has a range extender (36 litre petrol tank) and is therefore suitable for longer routes & duties giving a total range of 340 miles and a pure EV range of 50-70 miles. Such a vehicle can deliver tangible benefits to Royal Mail whilst helping to reduce their overall carbon footprint. As the Zero Emission Zones expands and the focus on reducing our emissions, we need to have options available that offer a greater range than just pure electric. The purpose of the trial therefore is to help inform future purchasing decisions for electric vehicles.

The trial will only involve one vehicle which will be deployed at 6 sites across the UK for 2 weeks at a time. All units identified also currently have electric vehicles already based on site, so charging posts are readily available and will not impede upon the existing electric fleet. The vehicle currently offers access to the loading compartment which in this model, is via the nearside door but can be reconstructed depending on feedback.

Branches will also note that the loading compartment looks very much like the rear of a London cab which is due mainly to the purpose of the trial, i.e. the rear compartment can of course be stripped out completely with the loading door(s) being repositioned, depending on the feedback from the Drivers, around loading and access.

Ongoing information will be available and shared at the Joint Royal Mail Fleet Operational Specification Group (RMFOS) meetings. The trial will be jointly overseen and monitored by RM Fleet Innovation and the Environment Manager, who will provide periodic reports to the CWU both locally and nationally. The trial activity will be the subject of joint review 6 months after commencement and periodically thereafter, as agreed by the Royal Mail Fleet Operational Specification group (RMFOS).

Full involvement of local CWU reps in all aspects of the trial with appropriate Union release time, will work with the local project team. Training will be supplied by a Fleet Technical Engineer at each site for Drivers who have already undertaken the electric vehicle course and a Safe System of Work guidance provided by the CWU Health and Safety Department. The Working Group will provide the outputs of the review and recommendations to the signatories of this Joint Statement. Should the development of the trial be considered a success, it will be subject to further discussion at National level prior to deployment.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 300, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 351-20 TOR for the deployment of a Taxi Van from LEVC
TOR for the deployment of an electric Taxi Van from LEVC
Attachment for EV London Taxi

BT Group Business Services Proposes Site Closures

Group Business Services which includes Contract Delivery Services, Group Customer Billing, Group Business Assurance and Process Excellence & Automation has announced its key sites for the future. 

GBS intends to move to six key sites by March 2024 with some other specialist sites.  About 40 existing GBS sites including Crawley, Reading and Sevenoaks are not in the GBS plans.

The CWU will be doing all we can to keep as many jobs as possible in GBS, onshore work, maximise redeployment across BT, and opposing compulsory redundancies.

Further details are included in the attached CWU newsletter and BT communication.

Branches are asked to ensure that members in GBS are sent a copy of the CWU newsletter.

Yours sincerely

Nigel Cotgrove

Assistant Secretary

350.2020

BT Group Business Services Proposes Site Closures

BT GBS Comms 1st July 2020

POST OFFICE: COVID-19 – VULNERABLE PEOPLE POLICY

I wish to update Branches with regards to the attached Joint Statements agreed for the return to work of members in the vulnerable categories who have been self-isolating and/or shielding on ‘Special Paid Leave’ since March.

Government guidance for some time has been that people in the ‘clinically vulnerable’category and those who ‘live with extremely clinically vulnerable’ people could go to work, albeit taking extra care due to their circumstances.

On June 19th, the government lowered the Covid-19 alert level to level 3 and on June 22nd, the government announced that people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and are currently shielding would no longer need to do so from August 1st in England.

As a response to the latest announcements, we have been working with Post Office and Unite to agree a way forward that facilitates the return to work of these members which is sensitive and empathetic thus helping them to feel confident in the knowledge that their safety and well-being in the workplace is an absolute priority.

The two Joint Statements for Crown Offices and Supply Chain (which are identical in content), explain the agreed timeline and flight-path of the crucial activities that need to be carried out by line managers before members are able to return to work.

Consequently, we have agreed that members who fall into the categories below will begin returning to work during July:

• Clinically vulnerable
• Living with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable

Members who are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ will begin returning to work during August and will remain on paid special leave throughout July. The aim is that everyone is back at work by the beginning of September. Where there are differences across the UK regarding the lifting of shielding rules, members will return according to the protocols in the relevant country.

An integral and important part of the Joint Statements is a firm commitment that the activities below will be undertaken by line managers in advance of these members returning to the workplace. It is imperative our Representatives ensure that in all circumstances the following actions are performed as a pre-requisite to these members returning to full duties. Any problems encountered in this regard should be immediately reported to Lynn Simpson, Postal Executive member – lsimpson@cwu.org who is liaising with Senior Post Office Management in these matters.

• Workplace Risk Assessments
• Individual Risk Assessments
• 121 conversations to gauge the needs and support individuals may need
• Familiarisation of the operational changes to facilitate social distancing
• Half day induction

In closing, I am certain the agreed arrangements as contained within the Joint Statements are to the benefit of our members. It is though important that our Reps engage with management to ensure the agreed measures are followed in full. I also wish to thank Lynn Simpson who has engaged with Post Office management on this matter and other Covid-19 related issues. Branches and Representatives are urged to bring this LTB to the attention of Post Office members (particularly those in the categories described above).

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

20LTB349 Post Office – Covid-19 – Vulnerable People Policy

Attachment 1 to 20LTB349 Joint Statement Post Office-CWU-Unite – Vulernerable People Return to Work Announcement – DMBs

Attachment 2 to 20LTB349 – Joint Statement Post Office-CWU-Unite – Vulernerable People Return to Work Announcement – Supply Chain