CWU/ROYAL MAIL JOINT STATEMENT – CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PAYMENT/FUTURE TALKS

We have attached to this LTB a JOINT STATEMENT which builds on the recent reassuring exchange of correspondence between the union and the company over temporary changes to the USO. 

Following the recent exchange of correspondence, the union has been in talks with the company about a recognition payment for the huge effort our members continue to make in maintaining services during the COVID19 pandemic. 

You will see from the statement that Royal Mail has now agreed to pay a £200 lump sum to CWU represented grades.  The payment will be made in June and will be on a pro rata basis for part time working, absence and unpaid leave.

We have also been discussing a framework for talks to resolve all issues in the current national dispute and ultimately agree a strategy for the future of the company and our members.  The Joint Statement also confirms this point.  These discussions are ongoing and we hope to be in a position in the near future to provide all Branches, representatives and members with an update. 

In the meantime, please ensure our representatives and members are advised of these developments.  We understand that in conjunction with this the company are also making an external announcement to the markets.  Any enquiries on the above should be address to hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger                                                                         
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 254/20 – CWU-ROYAL MAIL JOINT STATEMENT – CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PAYMENT-FUTURE TALKS

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CORONAVIRUS – GOVERNMENT FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENSION

The purpose of this LTB is to notify branches of the government announcement yesterday of an extension to the furlough scheme – the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. While the majority of CWU members have continued to work throughout the crisis, we have a number of members who will be affected by this.

Under the scheme employers have been able to claim the costs from the government of 80% of an employees’ wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month, where they have been furloughed as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. In many instances this has meant avoiding redundancies and provided a level of protection for workers’ incomes. The government has now said that the scheme will continue to operate in its current form until the end of July.

Alongside this, the government has announced that there will be a further extension to October, but with changes to the scheme from August. The details of these changes will be announced at the end of May and will include allowing employers to claim a share of wage costs for furloughed employees returning to work part-time.

An updated note on government assistance measures during the crisis from the CWU Research Department is attached to this LTB and any queries in relation to the operation of the scheme in particular employers should be addressed to the relevant industrial department. Any general queries should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 253/20 – CORONAVIRUS – GOVERNMENT FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENSION

Government Assistance Measures – Work Welfare Housing and Childcare 12 05 20

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Coronavirus – Government announcement on easing lockdown measures

The purpose of this LTB is to update branches on the Government’s announcement and statements this week, on easing the current lockdown measures in England to deal with coronavirus.

Whilst many CWU members will not be directly affected by the changes in relation to the re-opening of workplaces, we do have members who will be and we will all be impacted by the easing of lockdown measures more generally. The union has therefore been engaging with the Government independently and through the TUC over the past two months.

The Prime Minister has set out a number of steps on easing the lockdown for England including encouraging the re-opening of workplaces that have shut – notably in manufacturing and construction – where it is not possible for staff to work from home; removing the limit on exercising outside only once a day from Wednesday, while continuing social distancing requirements; and looking ahead, the possible re-opening of primary schools, starting with certain year groups in June, and the possible re-opening of the hospitality industry in July. A summary of the measures is attached to this LTB.

Alongside this, the Government has published more detailed guidance about safe-working in certain types of workplaces including offices and contact centres, other people’s homes and shops and branches. Along with the TUC, the CWU has been engaging with the Government on its workplace proposals and this guidance over the past two months. Working with other unions we have been pushing the Government to put the health and safety of workers first with regard to any easing of the lockdown and to clearly set out the steps employers need to take in order to ensure workplaces are safe. We have also made a number of proposals in relation to working practices in our own industries and taken part in a Government consultation to set out the union’s views.

We do not believe the Government has managed the latest announcements well, particularly by failing to publish its guidance on specific workplaces until last night and having been unclear initially about when it hoped workplaces that had been closed would open from – it has now clarified it is encouraging re-opening from Wednesday. We are also concerned that there is no UK-wide approach to social distancing, that the public messaging is not sufficiently clear and in several areas the proposals we made in relation to particular types of workplaces have not been included in the final guidance.

For members who are affected by changes as a result of the announcements on workplaces this week, it is important to be clear that employers are under legal obligations to protect workers from risks to their health and safety, to carry out risk-assessments and to consult union health and safety representatives. Importantly, employees have individual rights not to work in a workplace where they reasonably believe it would be unsafe to do so. The guidance the Government has published sets out more detailed workplace- specific standards in relation to coronavirus on issues such as maintaining 2 metre distancing and cleaning surfaces, and where any employer is re-opening their business or changing working practices in response to the Government’s announcement, it is important that branches contact the relevant industrial department for advice.

Similarly, where changes are being made by employers and there are questions in relation to those in vulnerable groups who have been told to self-isolate, individuals who have childcare issues or face difficulties getting to work because of public transport, branches should contact the relevant industrial department.

Finally, alongside the TUC, the union will be continuing to push the Government on both immediate steps taken in response to the crisis – including statutory sick pay, benefits levels, the furlough scheme and support for parents – and the need to ensure working people do not suffer as a result of a long-term economic crisis. The NEC will be discussing these issues later this week and we will be saying more on the union’s demands and how we will be campaigning on this as part of our ongoing work on the new deal for workers.

Any queries on the contents of this LTB should be directed to gsoffice@cwu.org or the appropriate industrial department.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward

General SecretaryLTB 252/20 – Coronavirus – Government announcement on easing lockdown measures

Our Plan to Rebuild – Summary of Government Plan 12 05 20

COVID–19 Test Kits Home Collection Service

Dear Colleagues,

Branches and Representatives will be aware that Covid-19 testing services are now being made available via different access points. In this regard the CWU has been engaging with RMG on a cross departmental basis, to ensure that the services that are being provided for key workers and their families, through various initiatives on behalf of the Government/NHS, are collected and processed quickly and safely.

As detailed within the previous update contained within LTB 242/20 colleagues will note that one of the initiatives being provided by Royal Mail on behalf of the Government/NHS is a Home Collection service. Currently the Royal Mail owned eCourier service are collecting Covid-19 Test Kits from home addresses and delivering them to Mail Centres for onward processing and delivery by Royal Mail to laboratories. However, as the need to rapidly increase the numbers of individuals for testing grows and the service provision is expanded accordingly there is also the requirement to provide an in-house operational solution.

Therefore, we have been in discussion with Royal Mail in relation to expanding the home self- testing collection service to the rest of the UK. In this regard further to a successful pilot in the TR postcode area, we have jointly agreed with Royal Mail to extend the service on a phased basis to a further 159 units, which are attached and contained within the spreadsheet for information at Annex A.

As part of this expansion we have agreed a Phase 1 roll-out plan and we have also concluded a National Joint Statement with Royal Mail which covers the necessary operational and local engagement details and safeguards necessary in order to successfully provide this service. This is attached at Annex B.

The Safe Systems of Work for the home collection of these items is also attached as below:

Annex C: Delivery & Collection Service Annex D:Doorstep Collection Service

Equally, as demand for the Home Collection service increases additional Mail Centres/RDC’s will be coming on line and utilising the Tracked Returns process. Attached for assistance are the relevant SSoW and Standard Operating Procedures for the Processing function:

Annex E: SSOW Processing
Annex F: CV2 Outward Primary Sort RM Tracked
Annex G: CV3 Process and Scan Tracked Returns 24 Covid19 Test Packs Annex H: CV4 Delivery to Covid19 Test Pack Lab

We appreciate that members will have concerns in relation to the handling of the test kits and we believe that every effort has been made to ensure that maximum protections are being provided. However, all activity relating to testing initiatives will be continued to be monitored at National level.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Delivery & Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference: 600.

or

Processing, Area & Distribution: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 014.14.

or

Health & Safety: Ray Ellis, Acting Head of Health & Safety, email: lpietrzykowska@cwu.org quoting reference E1/20.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

Ray Ellis
Acting Head of Health & Safety

LTB – 251/20 – COVID-19 Test Kits Home Collection Service

Annex A – Hub Mapping Covid19 May 20

Annex B – Joint Statement COVID Home Collection National Expansion

Annex C – COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Deliveries and Collections (final)

Annex D – COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Doorstep Collections V1.docx

Annex E – COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Processing (final)

Annex F – CV2 Outward Primary Sort RM Tracked

Annex G – CV3 Process and Scan Tracked Returns 24 Covid19 Test Packs

Annex H – CV4 Delivery to Covid19 Test Pack Lab

Coronavirus – Government announcement on easing lockdown measures

The purpose of this LTB is to update branches on the Government’s announcement and statements this week, on easing the current lockdown measures in England to deal with coronavirus.

Whilst many CWU members will not be directly affected by the changes in relation to the re-opening of workplaces, we do have members who will be and we will all be impacted by the easing of lockdown measures more generally. The union has therefore been engaging with the Government independently and through the TUC over the past two months.

The Prime Minister has set out a number of steps on easing the lockdown for England including encouraging the re-opening of workplaces that have shut – notably in manufacturing and construction – where it is not possible for staff to work from home; removing the limit on exercising outside only once a day from Wednesday, while continuing social distancing requirements; and looking ahead, the possible re-opening of primary schools, starting with certain year groups in June, and the possible re-opening of the hospitality industry in July. A summary of the measures is attached to this LTB.

Alongside this, the Government has published more detailed guidance about safe-working in certain types of workplaces including offices and contact centres, other people’s homes and shops and branches. Along with the TUC, the CWU has been engaging with the Government on its workplace proposals and this guidance over the past two months. Working with other unions we have been pushing the Government to put the health and safety of workers first with regard to any easing of the lockdown and to clearly set out the steps employers need to take in order to ensure workplaces are safe. We have also made a number of proposals in relation to working practices in our own industries and taken part in a Government consultation to set out the union’s views.

We do not believe the Government has managed the latest announcements well, particularly by failing to publish its guidance on specific workplaces until last night and having been unclear initially about when it hoped workplaces that had been closed would open from – it has now clarified it is encouraging re-opening from Wednesday. We are also concerned that there is no UK-wide approach to social distancing, that the public messaging is not sufficiently clear and in several areas the proposals we made in relation to particular types of workplaces have not been included in the final guidance.

For members who are affected by changes as a result of the announcements on workplaces this week, it is important to be clear that employers are under legal obligations to protect workers from risks to their health and safety, to carry out risk-assessments and to consult union health and safety representatives. Importantly, employees have individual rights not to work in a workplace where they reasonably believe it would be unsafe to do so. The guidance the Government has published sets out more detailed workplace- specific standards in relation to coronavirus on issues such as maintaining 2 metre distancing and cleaning surfaces, and where any employer is re-opening their business or changing working practices in response to the Government’s announcement, it is important that branches contact the relevant industrial department for advice.

Similarly, where changes are being made by employers and there are questions in relation to those in vulnerable groups who have been told to self-isolate, individuals who have childcare issues or face difficulties getting to work because of public transport, branches should contact the relevant industrial department.

Finally, alongside the TUC, the union will be continuing to push the Government on both immediate steps taken in response to the crisis – including statutory sick pay, benefits levels, the furlough scheme and support for parents – and the need to ensure working people do not suffer as a result of a long-term economic crisis. The NEC will be discussing these issues later this week and we will be saying more on the union’s demands and how we will be campaigning on this as part of our ongoing work on the new deal for workers.

Any queries on the contents of this LTB should be directed togsoffice@cwu.org or the appropriate industrial department.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 252/20 – Coronavirus – Government announcement on easing lockdown measures

Our Plan to Rebuild – Summary of Government Plan 12 05 20

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Communications Workshops for CWU Branches

Dear colleagues,

Over the course of the coming weeks the Communications Department will be putting together a series of workshops with branches on key channels / tools, which will hopefully enable you to build on the work you are doing locally.
 

The sessions will be held via Zoom and will be hosted by the Department and experts from across our movement.
 

So far in our planning we have agreed sessions on;
 

• Livestreaming
• Video
• Social Media
• Design
• Media

We will be adding to these in the coming weeks in order to fully share with branches the work we undertake at national level.

The first session will be held on Tuesday 26^th May at 4pm and will cover livestreaming. I will be joined by Gary McQuiggin who is the Head of Video at Novara Media and a livestreaming expert. We will cover the basics of live video alongside some more advanced content. We will of course take questions from branches during the event.

We will send the joining link for this and the full plan of events next week. None of the sessions will last more than an hour.

We would welcome suggestions from Branches on any other tools / channels you would want us to host an event on.

Kind regards,

Chris Webb

Head of Communications, Engagement and Media 

LTB 249/20 – Communications Workshops for Branches

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CWU 2021 Diary

Branches are reminded of the deadline dates below and attached is an electronic diary order form for your branch use.

We continue to offer branches personalised diaries at no additional cost. Branches can personalise an area on the front cover of the CWU pocket diary and also have the option to have a personalised page (printed on one side only) which will be inserted near the front of the pocket diary.

The CWU pocket diary is priced at £1.75 and the A5 desk diary is priced at £2.60.

We also continue to offer branches bulk discount on pocket diaries only on orders of 1,000 or more for £1.40 per diary.

Branches ordering unaltered diaries should return their completed order form by no later than Friday 11th September.

Personalised branch diary orders only

Branch personalised diary orders must be returned by no later than Friday 22nd May. On receipt of your order form you will be emailed the appropriate template(s),please ensure to include your email address as this is where your template(s) will be sent with further instructions.

Please complete your template(s) as soon as possible and note the return deadline is Friday 12th June. Due to strict deadlines any orders or proofs received after the dates provided may not be processed.

If you would like to use your 2020 diary template(s) and there are no changes, please advise Marcia Murray.

Orders will be based on the following:
Minimum order to personalise front cover: 250 units

Minimum order to insert page: 500 units
Minimum order to personalise front cover and insert page: 500 units

All completed order forms and enquiries on this LTB should be addressed to Marcia Murray by email only to mmurray@cwu.org

The diaries will be dispatched from Friday 25th September 2020.

Kind regards,

Chris Webb

Head of Communications, Engagement and Media

LTB 248/20 – CWU 2021 Diary

CWU 2021 Diary Order Form