POST OFFICE: HORIZON SCANDAL – POST OFFICE RESPONSE TO CCRC

Further to LTB 482/20 dated 1^st October, Branches will recall that the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred 47 cases of former Postmasters prosecuted by the Post Office in relation to the Horizon computer system to the Court of Appeal.  Earlier today, the Post Office announced that it will not oppose 44 of the 47 appeals in which it acted as prosecutor, meaning that in all likelihood these victims of terrible injustice will have their convictions quashed and hopefully they will be fully exonerated and will receive decent compensation for the long drawn out misery they have suffered.

The Court of Appeal however still needs to make this decision, as explained via the following Tweet from the CCRC earlier today:

“Certainly seems encouraging for those who’ve been told Post Office will not oppose their appeals. However, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s the Court of Appeal that will decide whether or not to quash the convictions referred to it by @ccrcupdate”

Nick Wallis, the leading journalist who has been following the Horizon scandal for ten years and was instrumental in bringing about broadcasts such as the BBC Panorama programme “Scandal at the Post Office” and the BBC Radio 4 series “The Great Post Office Trial” Tweeted the following this morning:

“I understand the Post Office have decided to contest 3 of the 47 cases referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. That essentially means 44 people have wrongly been given criminal convictions by the Post Office’s own admission. #PostOfficeScandal”

The full press statement from the Post Office can be accessed via the following link:

https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/secure-corporate/media-centre/post-office-media-centre/#/pressreleases/post-office-statement-on-postmasters-appeals-of-historical-convictions-3039904

As a consequence of these developments, please see below a link to a CWU web article:

https://www.cwu.org/news/justice-for-postmasters-with-more-horizon-humiliation-for-shamed-post-office-bosses/

It should be noted that the 47 cases referred by the CCRC relate to England and Wales only and the Scottish CCRC (SCCRC) is also considering whether to send cases to the Court of Appeal in Scotland.  A BBC article outlining this position was published on Wednesday:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54339004

Furthermore, below is a link to an ITV story published today:

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-10-02/post-office-scandal-dozens-of-postmasters-celebrate-landmark-victory-over-historic-convictions

Clearly, the Horizon scandal is one of the biggest ever miscarriages of justice and those Senior Directors and Managers in the Post Office who were directly responsible need to be held to account.  It is therefore disappointing that the Inquiry to be led by retired judge Sir Wyn Williams will not be statutory and it will not be able to legally compel those responsible to give evidence.  The Union will continue to campaign and lobby for justice.

Today’s development is another key milestone for Postmaster victims of the Horizon scandal.  However, there are people who were in high positions of authority within the Post Office who are culpable in this matter and this must be exposed in order that full justice is secured for those who were wronged.

Further developments will be reported.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be directed to Andy Furey’s Department.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 486/20 – POST OFFICE HORIZON SCANDAL – POST OFFICE RESPONSE TO CCRC

RMG Free Flu Voucher Scheme 2020

Following a number of enquiries into both departments, we can confirm that PFSL staff are
definitely included in the RMG Flu Voucher Scheme. Whilst of course it is a voluntary benefit, we
encourage our members to take up the offer.

Please refer to LTB 478/20 dated 30th September for further details if required.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference: 600
email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org or khay@cwu.org reference 420.

Yours sincerely,

Mick Kavanagh – Assistant Secretary (Acting) 
Carl Maden – Assistant Secretary (Acting)

LTB 485/20 – Flu Voucher Scheme

Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 59)

I attach for your information Version 59 of the Royal Mail Group, Managers’ Coronavirus/Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance document, issued by the business on 30 September 2020.

At the commencement of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, Royal Mail Group established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all national heads of department and this team meets regularly to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and to issue update Questions and Answers information communications to all managers, which is cascaded throughout the business.

Attached is a copy of the version 59 Q&A document which has been shared with the Union. It is hereby circulated for information and reference purposes for CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps.

The Q&A documents are circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link on the Royal Mail Group ‘Intranet’, in the ‘Managers Update Messages’ section.

Please note that changes and additions from the last versions 57 and 58 are highlighted in ‘Yellow’.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues in dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team to raise additions and amendments to the Q&A document.

Any enquiries to this LTB or feedback on the RMG Q&A document should be directed to Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

20LTB484 Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 59)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v59

Black History Month

The CWU is commemorating Black History Month and remembering the contribution of Black men and women and more recently other ethnic BAME groups.

We are delighted to confirm that we have put together, in conjunction with our National BAME NEC representative Ali Moosa, a series of events that will be run over the coming weeks, as part of this year’s Black History Month celebrations.

The Black History Month events programme list and dates are as follows:

Wednesday 21^st October 2020 at 6.30pm – Panel Session on Role of the Commonwealth during WWI & WWII (further details including registration will be circulated soon).

Wednesday 28^th October 2020 – Launch of ‘My Journey’ video. This will be a series of short videos merged into a short film that will highlight the often difficult journeys that member’s families have had in coming to the UK decades ago.

Film Night. We will be communicating the details of the film night nearer the time but essentially we will announce a film/documentary and ask people to watch it. During the viewing an online discussion will commence using various platforms (Facebook, Twitter etc) with a dedicated hashtag inviting members to comment and discuss the programme.

We would urge Branches to encourage members to participate in these events.

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to Equality&Education@cwu.org

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

20LTB483 – Black History Month

POST OFFICE: HORIZON SCANDAL – INQUIRY DETAILS

Further to LTB480/20 Dated 29th September.

Following the Government’s announcement on Tuesday regarding the Horizon Inquiry, yesterday we received further information from the Inquiry Secretariat in the form of an email which is reproduced below for your information:

Dear Sirs,

Yesterday Sir Wyn Williams FLSW was announced as the Chair of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, as a result of which he will make findings and recommendations for publication in 2021.

Sir Wyn is committed to hearing from the postmasters, and/or their representative parties, working with the contemporary Horizon terminals and software to ensure his inquiry addresses the current service offer from the Post Office Limited to postmasters.

Sir Wyn would also like to hear from any individuals and third parties who have been or are currently involved in dispute management between the Post Office Limited and Postmasters in relation to Horizon IT, to ensure his inquiry provides a clear account of the implementation and failings of Horizon over its lifetime. Sir Wyn welcomes any information you consider relevant to the inquiry and that this will be evaluated alongside the responses to a formal call for evidence and the postmaster survey mentioned further below.

The inquiry will also hear from the affected individuals and groups of the longstanding Horizon dispute to ensure his inquiry acknowledges the human impact of this matter. Sir Wyn will ensure there is dedicated space to receive this evidence through planned engagements. The detail for these engagements will be released in due course.
There will also be a formal call for evidence in November 2020, and the postmaster survey (due in early 2021) mentioned further below. Taken
together, these engagements and other meetings should provide the range of evidence necessary to the Inquiry’s terms of reference.

Overview of the inquiry

The inquiry will provide a public summary of the key events and failings that occurred at the Post Office Limited in relation to the Horizon IT system.
The terms of reference commit to build upon the findings of the Horizon and Common Issues trials by establishing a clear account of the implementation and failings of Horizon over its lifecycle. The Inquiry will assess whether lessons have been learned and the changes that are being made.

Additionally, the Inquiry will examine whether the current governance and whistleblowing controls are sufficient.

Engagement
Sir Wyn will engage with both current and former postmasters, the Post Office Limited, Fujitsu, and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. The Inquiry will also seek evidence from those third parties who have represented postmasters’ interests, or who have been involved in mediation and/or dispute resolution processes with the Post Office Limited. Engagement with these groups will be via a combination of formal and informal consultations and information requests.
To obtain the relevant evidence and support Sir Wyn Williams’ engagement aims, the Inquiry will be launching a Call for Evidence in November 2020. This will be open for 12 weeks, and in early 2021 a survey will be distributed to current postmasters. The Survey will be open for 12 weeks.

The Inquiry will engage with former postmasters to obtain their accounts and testimonies, which will assist with providing a public record of the impact that the Horizon IT matter has had.

Sir Wyn Williams and his Secretariat will engage with stakeholders through correspondence (email, post, and telephone appointments) as well as face to face (where possible and consistent with applicable law and COVID guidance) and virtual meetings.

Outreach
The Secretariat will be in touch again in due course to arrange a time and date to discuss next steps, and to hear from you directly on Inquiry matters.

Governance
The inquiry will be led by Sir Wyn Williams, as the Independent Chair he will be supported by a dedicated Secretariat and up to four Independent Advisers. These Independent Advisers will support Sir Wyn Williams by providing advice on the sources, content and interpretation of evidence received (other than the
findings in Mr Justice Fraser’s judgments). They may also provide independent scrutiny and challenge in relation to emerging findings and recommendations.

As you would expect, we will be working with Bill Taylor, Head of Research and Andrew Towers, Head of Political Strategy, alongside Mark Baker, Postmasters Branch Secretary to co-ordinate our activities going forward, which will include submissions to the Inquiry. It should be noted there is nothing in the above email about accountability, or penalties for those culpable and compensation for those wronged. However, from our perspective this position will not inhibit the content of any submissions we make.

The link to the full Terms of Reference to the Inquiry is as follows:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-office-horizon-it-inquiry-2020/terms-of-reference

Finally, a web article on this matter has been published and can be accessed via the following link.

https://www.cwu.org/news/post-office-horizon-scandal-sir-wyn-williams-to-head-inquiry/

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

20LTB482 Post Office – Horizon Scandal – Inquiry Details

ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2020

• CWU Young Workers Committee

Further to LTB 465/20 dated 24^th September, as previously advised the NEC has now agreed the 2020 election arrangements for the National positions listed above.  Accordingly please find attached the regulations, nomination forms and candidate consent and biographical details form.

Branches are asked to print the attached forms, complete and sign them and send the forms back electronically to elections@cwu.org by the advertised deadline.

Nominations are on the basis of one member coming from the TFS Constituency and one member coming from the Postal Constituency for each of the 10 CWU regions.   Additionally all candidates must be aged 29 or under at the time of the election.

The term of office for the CWU Young Workers Committee will be from 1^st January 2021 for a two-year period.

Branches will also wish to note that:

• Each candidate needs the nomination of their own branch.
• The election is by means of a branch ballot within each respective constituency i.e. branches with members in the Postal Constituency will vote for the 10 Postal members of the committee and branches with members in the TFS Constituency will vote for the ten 10 TFS members.

The Timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open:              1 October 2020

Nominations Close:              31 October 2020

Ballot opens:                           7 November 2020

Ballot closes:                           28 November 2020

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 481/20

CWU Young Workers Regulations 2020

Nomination Form – Postal Constituency

Nomination Form – TFS Constituency

Candidate Biographical & Consent Form 2020

POST OFFICE: HORIZON SCANDAL – RETIRED HIGH COURT JUDGE LEADS INQUIRY

Further to LTB 337/20 Dated 26th June.

Branches and members will recall that on 10th June, Paul Scully MP, Small Business and Postal Affairs Minister, announced there would be an “Independent Review” into the Horizon scandal and subsequently there were numerous calls from MPs and also Darren Jones, Chair of the BEIS Select Committee, calling for this to be a judge-led statutory inquiry rather than a “review”. Also, EDM 593 which currently has 77 signatures reiterated this call.

Today the Government has announced that this “review” will now be called an “inquiry” although disappointingly it remains non-statutory, meaning it will lack the subpoena powers and ability to take evidence under oath that are afforded to statutory inquiries.

The inquiry will though be chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, a retired High Court Judge. The Terms of Reference for the inquiry has also been expanded which is a positive. The Government claims this change is following feedback from former Postmasters.

The link to the full press release from BEIS is below and the key headlines are as follows:

• Sir Wyn Williams will lead the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, which will start its work immediately
• inquiry will establish a clear account of the implementation and failings of Horizon over its lifetime
• it will also now gather available relevant evidence from this period from Post Office Ltd, Fujitsu and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/retired-high-court-judge-to-lead-post-office-horizon-it-inquiry

We obviously welcome this development and whilst the Government has in our opinion not gone far enough by failing to make this a statutory inquiry, we are pleased to see the appointment of an experienced retired High Court Judge. We would now hope this appointment will ensure the factors leading to the terrible injustices suffered by many Postmasters cannot happen again. We also intend to press Sir Wyn Williams to fully hold to account those senior Post Office Directors who have inflicted so much misery on so many.
Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

LTB 480/20 – Post Office – Horizon Scandal – Retired High Court Judge Leads Inquiry

POST OFFICE SECTION OF ROYAL MAIL PENSION PLAN (RMPP) AND ROYAL MAIL STATUTORY PENSION SCHEME (RMSPS) – COMMUNICATIONS

Further to LTB 475/20 dated 29^th September 2020, Branches are advised that there is a slightly different approach in regards to the RMPP communication for Post Office members in the Royal Mail Defined Benefit pension scheme (closed on 1^st April 2017 for Post Office members). Post Office members will receive the following:

• Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) – Newsletter and annual statement for all benefits built up before 1^st April 2012 (the date of the privatisation of Royal Mail, at which point the Government took over the scheme). The RMSPS is now administered by Capita.  A sample – “template” statement is attached for information.
• Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) – Update on Transfer of Benefits to Rothesay Life – A letter from the RMPP Trustee in relation to the benefits built up between 1^st April 2012 and 1^st April 2017 when the scheme closed for Post Office members. This letter gives further detail on the proposed transfer of benefits to Rothesay Life which will now not happen until 2021.  Within the letter, the RMPP Trustee also makes it clear they are not in a position to issue annual statements this year for the reasons referenced in the attached letter.

As a consequence of the RMPP Trustee’s Rothesay Life update, a Joint Statement with the Post Office and Unite has been issued (attached) that is essentially a “signposting” document which gives full details as to what the members can expect to receive from the RMPP. If members have any questions regarding their pension, Branches are encouraged to direct them to the following:RMPP (Administered by Royal Mail)

Email   pensions.helpline@royalmail.com

Phone  0345 603 0043RMSPS (Administered by Capita)

Email   enquiries@rmsps.co.uk

Phone  0333 222 0078

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 479/20 – POST OFFICE SECTION OF ROYAL MAIL PENSION PLAN (RMPP) AND ROYAL MAIL STATUTORY PENSION SCHEME (RMSPS) – COMMUNICATIONS

LTB 479.20 ATTACHMENT 1

LTB 479.20 ATTACHMENT 2

LTB 479.20 ATTACHMENT 3

Update – Royal Mail Group – 2020 Free Flu Voucher Offer

Further to LTB 437/20 issued on 7^thSeptember 2020, the Royal Mail Group Flu Voucher Scheme launches this week and vouchers will start to be delivered to employees’ home addresses from Wednesday 30^th September and can be redeemed from Thursday 1^st October.

See attached ‘Flu 2020 Intranet Go Live Article w/c 28th September 2020’ and ‘RMG Free Flu Jab poster for further information’.

Yours sincerelyDave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment OfficerCarl Maden

CWU Assistant Secretary (Acting) PTCS Department

20LTB478 Update – Royal Mail Group – 2020 Free Flu Voucher Offer

Flu 2020 Intranet Go Live Article wc 28th Sept 20 FINAL

620355_RM_Free Flu Jab_A4 POSTER_v3

TUCAN (Trade Union Clean Air Network) Newsletter No 2, Spring 2020:

LTBs No. 035/2019 and 436/19 reported on the launch of the Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN), launched as part of the ‘Hazards Campaign’ and linked to the ‘Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA)’, working to generate worker/trade union awareness and a for the trade union voice to be prominent in the public debate on the issue of air pollution, waste, the environment and climate change. TUCAN has joined the fight against air pollution and occupational health damage as concerns continue to grow. Much air pollution is caused by industry and work-related activities. Climate change and damage to the environment are direct consequences. There is rightly a public outcry about air pollution as a public health emergency. 36,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, according to a government report. Outdoor workers have been ignored for too long as the pollution crisis deepens. Government strategy however has been essentially to ‘kick the can down the road’ by delaying vital measures or passing it over to local authorities to sort out.

‘TUCAN developed a ‘Charter’ providing a set of demands for unions to prioritise in campaigns at local, regional, national and international level. TUCAN also developed – ‘Guidance on Air Pollution for Union Reps’, a pollution checklist for health, safety and environment reps and the ‘TUCAN Charter’ promoting best practice and to raise awareness.

The ‘TUCAN Charter’:

• Introduce a new Clean Air Act that enshrines the right to breathe clean air.
• Update Health and Safety Law (such as COSHH).
• Ensure effective enforcement.
• Involve the workforce.
• Protect jobs.
• Rapidly expand clean and inexpensive public transport systems alongside investment in active transport to increase levels of cycling and walking.

Please find attached a copy of the TUCAN Newsletter No.2, Spring 2020 edition, which covers the following subjects:

• TUCAN to help investigate air pollution problems at the workplace
• Union action on toxic tube dust
• Brake dust possibly as harmful as diesel fumes to immune cells
• BFAWU calls for action on drive through worker exposure
• New environment bill
• Outdoor worker exposure in London
• Airborne nanoparticles risk greater than thought
• Air pollution shortens lifespan by three years
• GJA sets priorities for 2020
• NASA shows China slow down reduced NO2 pollution
• Do you want a TUCAN speaker?

Further Information

If you would like further information about TUCAN then please contact Janet at Hazards (email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk) or Graham at the Greener Jobs Alliance (email: gjacoms@gmail.com).

Attachment: 

TUCAN Newsletter No 2, Spring 2020

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 477/20 – TUCAN (Trade Union Clean Air Network) Newsletter No 2, Spring 2020

TUCAN-NEWSLETTER-2