Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains. Karl Marx.
DGSP Terry Pullinger writes for @tribunemagazine on the #CoronaCrisis and how postal workers can keep the country moving.
He makes it absolutely clear safety has to be the number one priority https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/03/delivering-for-those-in-need
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Re: Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Precautions & Hygiene – Supply Shortages of Gloves, Sanitizer Wipes, Soap, Detergents and Paper Towels:
Further to the full report published in LTB 125/20, this is to update Area Safety Reps, Regional Health and Safety Committees and Branches and members. Please cascade this communication to members.
The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues to press Royal Mail Assets and Royal Mail Procurement on this weekly but there is not only a national shortage, there is a global shortage of antiseptic wipes and similar products. This is also a factor due to the raw materials used in manufacturing of said products, as the chemical components required to make them are in limited supply due to increased medical and hygiene product demand where they are also used.
Royal Mail currently has ample stocks of gloves to meet demand along with soap, detergents and paper towel supplies.
Royal Mail Assets and Procurement advised us that demand for antiseptic wipes has hugely outstripped supply across the UK, and following a period of increased buying, Royal Mail Group were unable to keep up with demand, so exhausted all of the company’s supplier’s stocks of wipes across the UK. (Even the NHS and Ambulance Services have run short).
Royal Mail Group Assets and Procurement have confirmed that they purchased and supplied:
At that point supplies began to run out.
On 12 March 2020, 300 Boxes containing half a million antiseptic wipes were procured and were despatched to the field on a priority basis.
In 6 weeks they expect to take delivery of 6 Million antiseptic wipes made up of 60,000 packs of 100 wipes, with a further 10,000 a week replenishment orders placed with suppliers. The orders have been placed, however if the NHS require further provisions, they will be prioritised.
Cleaning materials orders have also been advanced and RMP&FS now hold two month’s worth of supplies in order to deal with regular and any extra cleaning requirements.
List of Coronavirus LTBs issued to date by HS&E Department for your reference:- 033/20, 043/20, 054/20, 063/20, 071/20, 080/20, 093/20, 094/20, 096/20, 098/20, 102/20, 111/20, 123/20, 124/20, 125/20, 126/20, 129/20, 137/20.
I trust this will bring all Reps up to speed.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
20LTB142 Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Precautions & Hygiene – Supply Shortages
POST OFFICE: HORIZON SCANDAL – BBC PANORAMA PROGRAMME – MONDAY 23RD MARCH
Further to LTB 116/20 dated 11th March 2020.
I would like to advise Branches and members that a BBC Panorama programme in relation to the Horizon scandal will be aired on BBC One on Monday 23rd March at 2030 (for half an hour), the day before the second session of the BEIS Select Committee Inquiry and also the meeting of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
Nick Wallis, the independent journalist who has been closely following this story for a number of years is presenting the programme, which is entitled “Scandal at the Post Office” and is described as follows: “Panorama reveals how the Post Office covered up evidence of miscarriages of justice”. The programme is likely to be hard-hitting and highly critical of the behaviour of senior Post Office management and also its relationship with the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP), which let down so badly hundreds of Postmasters.
Second Session of the BEIS Select Committee Inquiry – 24th March
On the following day, 24th March, the second evidence session of the BEIS Select Committee Inquiry into the Horizon case is scheduled to take place. The Committee is expected to question the current Post Office CEO, Nick Read, the former CEO, Paula Vennells, Fujitsu, a BEIS Minister and a representative from UKGI (UK Government Investments).
Criminal Cases Review Commission – Meeting 24th March
The following question from Gill Furniss, Shadow BEIS Minister, was asked to the Ministry of Justice and was answered on 17 March 2020:
Asked by Gill Furniss (Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough) To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure the Criminal Case Review Commission is adequately resourced to process quickly the cases of former subpostmasters convicted due to errors in the Horizon IT system.
Answered by Alex Chalk, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice:
The Government believes that the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is sufficiently funded for the valuable work that it undertakes including the work to complete its reviews into the Post Office Horizon cases, with the necessary speed and thoroughness.
For the 57 Post Office Horizon cases it is reviewing, the CCRC is currently preparing for a Case Decision Committee meeting, involving three Commissioners, on 24th March 2020.
Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary
20LTB139 Post Office – Horizon Scandal – BBC Panorama Programme
QUADRANT PAY AGREEMENT 2020 – BALLOT ARRANGEMENTS
Branches are advised further to LTB135/20 issued on 17th March 2020, that following consultation with the SDG(S) department arrangements for an individual member’s ballot in respect of the Quadrant Pay Agreement 2020 have now been finalised and the timetable will be as follows:
Ballot Papers Dispatched: Thursday, 26th March 2020
Ballot Closes: Wednesday, 8th April 2020
Branch Secretaries are requested to ensure that our members are made aware of the content of this LTB and that every effort is made to encourage our members to use their vote.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org, quoting reference 301.09.
Yours sincerely
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
RE: Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Latest Questions & Answers Guidance (V12) Dated 17 March 2020, Managers Update, Guidance, Links, Support & Good Practice Posters:
Royal Mail Questions & Answers Guidance:
Royal Mail Group has established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all heads of department and this team meets daily to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and update communications to Managers and Questions and Answers information which is cascaded out to the business.
Attached for the information, reference and use of CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps is the latest version of the ‘questions and answers’ communication version 12 (17 March 2020). These are normally circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link in the ‘Managers Update Messages’.
Managers Update Message:
Also attached for the information and reference of CWU Reps is a copy of the ‘Managers Update Message’ dated 12 March which details the procedure for managers to follow in situations where a member of the workforce has a positive Coronavirus Covid-19 diagnosis whereby the Line Manager must contact CPC (Central Postal Control) which is Royal Mail’s first point of contact for any business continuity issue.
Positive Coronavirus Covid-19 Cases in Royal Mail:
Positive Cases in Royal Mail now stand at 5 – Manchester NWDO, Mount Pleasant MC/DO, Atherstone DC, Abingdon DO and Eastleigh DO.
Posters:
Finally, attached are copies of the good hygiene practice posters on ‘How To Handwash’ and the National Health Service (NHS) ‘Catch It, Bin It, Kill It’ Poster.
The latest Q & A’s covers the following questions:-
Q What is the key preventative advice to reduce the risk of coronavirus?
Q What is defined as “close contact” with someone with a confirmed case of coronavirus?
Q How should a manager record that an employee is self-isolating?
Q What is the latest government advice re self-isolation for employees.
Q What should I do if an employee receives a positive coronavirus test result?
Q A manager is concerned whether an employee should be self-isolating, what should the manager advise the employee to do?
Q If an employee is on immune suppression drugs what should we do?
Q What is the current advice for returning travellers?
Q How can I order gloves and antiseptic wipes?
Q The hand wash in our dispensers does not contain alcohol, will it be powerful enough to kill any virus? If not, can we get hand sanitiser gel?
Q Will Royal Mail be providing face masks?
Q if I have any questions relating to an employee absence, leave or other policy question where do I go for advice?
Q Where do managers or employees go for First Class Support?
Q What advice is available for first aider’s who may need to respond to a patient with coronavirus symptoms? Version 11: Monday 16th March 2020.
Q What new cleaning processes have Royal Mail put in place?
Q Are we likely to run out of cleaning products e.g. soap, toilet rolls etc?
Q A colleague has a child whose school is closed and needs to be at home to look after them – how do I support the individual?
Q A colleague has less than a year’s service and is worried about losing pay if they go off with symptoms of coronavirus.
Q Will absences due to coronavirus be counted within the attendance procedure?
Q Is it safe to deliver a package from China or any other place where the virus has been identified?
Q If a colleague is in self-isolation should we request a deep clean of the colleague’s vehicle?
Q My delivery/collection colleagues have made a delivery/collection from premises which has since been temporarily closed as a coronavirus precaution. What should we do?
Q Are colleagues required to sign health declarations when collecting or delivering mail to an address?
Q If a customer has had to close their own premises due to an outbreak, what would colleagues do with the customer’s mail?
Q A customer is blocking their letterbox until the threat is over. What is the guidance on delivering mail?
Q Contractor is due on site, should they still be allowed on site?
Q Royal Mail is changing Operational Delivery processes for the delivery of any parcels which cannot be posted through a letter box or that requires a signature.
Q What about the process for Customer Service Points?
Q A colleague was due off on leave, but is now not able to travel, can they cancel holidays and re-arrange for a future date?
Q A colleague went home today mid-delivery, colleagues are questioning if it’s safe to touch the mail he left, and if they should be using the van the colleague was using.
Q Staff in my unit are self-isolating which has created a resourcing shortfall and I have failed USO how should I report this?
Q Staff in my unit are self-isolating which has created a resourcing shortfall and I have failed workplan how should I report this?
Important Useful Links:
My Royalmail.Com site includes the latest Q&A and general detail: https://www.myroyalmail.com/Coronavirus
Public Health England latest advice and guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
NHS common questions and answers: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Reporting a Positive Coronavirus Case:
If a member has a positive Coronavirus diagnosis, the line manager must contact Royal Mail Central Postal Control (CPC) on: 0345 266 1060.
Good Hygiene:
It is important that everyone follows basic good hygiene techniques. Wash hands regularly particularly before eating. Regularly clean with antiseptic wipes any shared equipment such as keyboards, PDA’s and scanners. Cough and sneeze into tissues. Dispose of any tissues immediately. ‘Catch It, Bin It, Kill It’.
Royal Mail First Class Support:
First Class Support is available to all Royal Mail Group Employees free 24/7 providing a confidential support helpline 0800 6888 777 as well as a range of support services including health, counselling, debt and legal advice and practical help.
The attached is for the information, reference and assistance of Health and Safety Reps, Branch Officers and Reps and Divisional and Regional Officers for reference in any local discussions. The Q&A’s cover off a number of issues raised by CWU Reps.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
An important video message from DGSP Terry Pullinger. Please share as widely as possible
Some decent articles to share
Royal Mail CWU workers vote to strike (but want to support the country)
Some bits to share
Financial Times https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/beceb382-686a-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75
Reuters https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKBN2143NC
Quote from Age UK https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/newslanes.com/postmen-delay-strikes-and-volunteer-to-help-protect-the-vulnerable/%3famp
QUADRANT PAY AGREEMENT 2020
Branches will recall that in recent years the pay review date for Quadrant members was moved to April each year, in order to align with the annual review of the National Living Wage. As in previous years both parties were committed to early discussions in 2020 to ensure that any agreed arrangements can be concluded to meet the April deadline. Discussions have therefore been taking place with Compass Group to meet that aspiration.
It would be fair to say however that two issues have had a significant bearing on the talks. Firstly, the decision by Royal Mail to move to a tender process for the future of Catering Provision across the business. Branches will be aware that while Compass Group/Quadrant have advanced to the latter stages of the tender process, no final decision has as yet been taken by Royal Mail. The CWU continue to campaign for the retention of Quadrant as the sole catering supplier to Royal Mail Group and are committed to protecting the job security of our Quadrant members.
In addition, in 2020 the annual review of the National Living Wage has produced a 6.2% rise, from £8.21 to £8.72 per hour. The department’s aspiration remained to continue to keep our Grade C members above the National minimum, which in Quadrant would require a rise of 4.6% just to match the April 2020 rate. Clearly for our Grade C members this far outstrips not only the rate of inflation measured by RPI at 2.2% but also the median level of pay increases for the sector, currently 2.3% as advised by the CWU Research Department.
To ensure that we did not just match the legal minimum but retain a differential the focus for this year has therefore been on maximising the increase in basic pay. We also sought to retain a universal percentage rise across all grades. Branches will also be aware that the 2019 pay settlement set Premium Overtime Rates (above 37.5 hours) at £1 above the appropriate hourly rate for each grade and as such they will automatically move with any increase to basic pay.
Following positive discussions, a negotiators agreement has been reached with Compass Group/Quadrant on a pay settlement, which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive at its meeting today the 17th March 2020.
The agreement meets the CWU aspiration of retaining a differential with the National Living Wage for our Grade C members, while delivering percentage pay rises for all grades which are extremely favourable when considered against inflation.
The agreement has two phases:
All grades will receive a 5% increase in basic pay from 1st April 2020.
All grades will receive a further 1% increase in basic pay from 1st October 2020.
The agreement represents a full year increase to the value of 5.7% with an exit rate of 6%. For our Grade C members, the rate from October 2020 increases the current level of differential over the National minimum, which in the circumstances we believe is a significant achievement. The next pay review date will be April 2021.
Given the current situation the Postal Executive has no hesitation in recommending the 2020 Quadrant Pay Agreement to our Quadrant members.
Arrangements and a timetable are currently being confirmed with the SDGS department for a ballot of our Quadrant members in order to ensure that the increases can be included in April salaries.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: shayman@cwu.org, quoting reference 301.09.
Yours sincerely
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 