Election of:  

CWU Delegates to the TUC Equality Conferences – 2025

Further to LTB 370/24 dated 25^thNovember 2024, at the close of nominations on 9^th December 2024 the following nominations have been received:

TUC WOMENS CONFERENCE

Postal 

4 Lay MembersRachel DaleyBristol & District Amal*ElectedTina HolmesLeicestershire*ElectedEsther RobertsonEastern No 4*ElectedLaura SnellEastern No 4*Elected

Telecoms & Financial Services

3 Lay Members                                                                                                                          Amber GowinPortsmouth, West Sussex & IOW, Capital, Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mersey, Meridian, North Anglia, North East, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*ElectedLouise ShortTyne & Wear Clerical, Capital, Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mersey, North Anglia, North East, Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW, South Wales, West Yorkshire*ElectedTrish VollansWest Yorkshire, Capital, Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mersey, North Anglia, North East, Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW, South Wales*Elected

TUC BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE

Postal 

4 Lay Members (minimum 1 Woman)Adam AlarakhiaLeicestershire*ElectedStephen IslamNewcastle Amal*ElectedPrince Kingsley – FaborodeNottingham & District Amal*Elected

Telecoms & Financial Services

3 Lay Members (minimum 1 Woman)Omari BlackmanUTAW,*ElectedAhmed KasuMidland Counties*ElectedPeter PascallMersey, Capital, Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, North Anglia, North East,  Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*Elected

TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE

Postal 

4 Lay Members (minimum 1 Woman)                                                                      Ballot RequiredAdam AlarakhiaLeicestershireEsther RobertsonEastern No 4Sajid ShaikhBirmingham District AmalTony SneddonScotland No 5Laura SnellEastern No 4Lee Starr-ElliottBristol & District Amal

Telecoms & Financial Services

3 Lay Members (minimum 1 Woman)Maya McCutcheonUTAW, Capital, Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, North Anglia, North East, Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, Scotland No 1, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical,  West Yorkshire*ElectedPeter SharrocksNorth East, Capital, Edinburgh Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, North Anglia, Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, Scotland No 1, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical,  West Yorkshire*ElectedJoyce StevensonScotland No 1, Capital, Edinburgh Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, North Anglia, North East, Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*Elected

TUC LGBT+ WORKERS CONFERENCE

Postal 

4 Lay Members (minimum 1 Woman)Tony SneddonScotland No 5*ElectedLaura SnellEastern No 4*Elected

Telecoms & Financial Services

3 Lay Members (minimum 1 Woman)Moira CahillUTAW, Capital, Edinburgh Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, North Anglia, North East, Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*ElectedBradley CorriganUTAW, Capital, Edinburgh Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, North East, North Anglia, Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*ElectedJay NealNorth Anglia, Capital, Edinburgh Dundee & Borders, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, North East, Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*Elected

The timetable for the ballots is as follows:-

Ballot Papers Despatched:          11^thDecember 2024

Ballots Closes:                                  23^rd December 2024

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 388/24 – Election of CWU Delegates to the TUC Equality Conferences – 2025

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Blue Cross Webinar (In Conjunction with Royal Mail) – Raising Awareness Amongst Dog Owners

Branches and Representatives will be aware of the union’s ongoing ‘Bite Back’ Campaign and the RM/CWU National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group.

Whilst we continue to work on the transition of the former roles and responsibilities of the Health, Safety & Environment Department into our Postal Departments, the purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches and our Safety Reps that Royal Mail have been working with the Blue Cross charity in terms of continuing to raise awareness of the steps owners can take to keep delivery workers safe.

Accordingly, we have now received the following communication from Royal Mail concerning a further webinar planned with Blue Cross in December:

There were over 2,200 dog attacks reported on our colleagues last year and a significant 148% increase in serious injuries. 

We have been working with Blue Cross to try and raise awareness of the simple steps owners can take to keep delivery workers safe. This partnership has led to them delivering a free webinar for us, which has received great feedback from those attending.  

The next webinar is coming up in December and we would like to get as many people attending as we can. The advice not only helps protect our workers, but also the owner and their dog from the repercussions of a dog attack.

If you could share the links below that would be hugely appreciated. I’ve also posted the message below on WorkPlace Link.

Next Blue Cross webinar: Protecting your Postie, 16th Dec 6pm – 7pm.

Protecting your Postie focuses on the risks postal workers face with dogs and provides essential advice to owners on how to prevent a dog attack. Anyone can register for this free webinar at www.bluecross.org.uk/protecting-your-postie. 

The last webinar saw candidates’ confidence in managing their dog safely around postal workers increase from 55% at the start, to 96% by the end, so we know this is a really effective way of helping to educate those attending.

You can find the post shared by Royal Mail via their Facebook account HERE.

Given the nature of this webinar, I have no hesitation in encouraging our Reps to join the session, as we would support any programme or activity which seeks to further highlight owners’ responsibility to avoid dog attacks on our members when on Delivery.

Moreover, this outlined activity is very much in line with current wider initiatives planned and ones already in place, the most recent being the Dog Safety Partnership meeting held in Liverpool in September to support the setting up of an All-Wales Dog Attack Working Group, which our ASRs from across the North West and Wales areas have been front and centre in terms of moving forward.

In setting out the above, it is noteworthy to also remind ourselves that the union has previously worked with other animal groups such as the Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Association on matters concerning Dangerous Dog control legislation. Such organisations are equally aware of the CWU’s wider ‘Bite Back’ Campaign.

In closing, I would further like to take the opportunity to update Branches that we have also recently been in direct contact with Royal Mail on the need to re-start and re-energise the RM/CWU National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group, which they have welcomed, alongside the need to review the outputs and feedback from the New Design Mk2 Posting Peg Trials, as outlined in LTB 216/24. Further updates on this will also be issued in due course.

Any enquiries to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department, email address: Pharacz@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary

LTB 384-24 – Blue Cross Webinar – Raising Awareness Amongst Dog Owners

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TUC BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE VISITORS – 11^TH – 13^TH APRIL 2025

The TUC Black Workers Conference 2025 is being held from Friday 11^th – Sunday 13^th April 2025 at the TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.  The Conference sessions will be as follows:

Friday 26^th April                  14.00 – 17.30

Saturday 27^th April             09.30 – 17.30

Sunday 28^th April                09.30 – 15.00

The CWU are allowed a limited number of visitors to attend the above Conference and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Due to the need for extra security at all TUC Conferences, names and addresses of those wanting visitor tickets must be supplied and tickets are not transferable.

Anyone interested in attending will need to contact their Branch initially for funding, to include a £15 visitor ticket fee. The easiest way to pay the £15 fee will be for us to transfer it directly from your Branch’s account through the rebate system, therefore please contact Angela Niven on conferences@cwu.org  with details of which Branch the individual belongs to on application.  Alternatively you can send a cheque (made payable to ‘CWU’) addressed to Angela Niven at CWU HQ with a covering letter.  Please note that places will not be reserved until the £15 fee is received.

Please let me know if you would like to attend the Conference as a visitor by no later than midday on Friday 20^thDecember 2024.

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

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 387/24 – TUC Black Workers Conference Visitors – 11th – 13th April 2025

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TUC WOMENS CONFERENCE VISITORS – 5^TH-7^TH MARCH 2025

The TUC Women’s Conference 2025 is being held from Wednesday 5^th – Friday 7^th March 2025 at the TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.  The Conference sessions will be as follows:

Wednesday 5^th March          14.00 – 17.30

Thursday 6^th March             09.30 – 17.30

Friday 7^th March                 09.30 – 15.00 with the possibility of finishing early

The CWU are allowed a limited number of visitors to attend the above Conference and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Due to the need for extra security at all TUC Conferences, names and addresses of those wanting visitor tickets must be supplied and tickets are not transferable.

Anyone interested in attending will need to contact their Branch initially for funding, to include a £15 visitor ticket fee. The easiest way to pay the £15 fee will be for us to transfer it directly from your Branch’s account through the rebate system, therefore please contact Angela Niven on conferences@cwu.org  with details of which Branch the individual belongs to on application.  Alternatively you can send a cheque (made payable to ‘CWU’) addressed to Angela Niven at CWU HQ with a covering letter.  Please note that places will not be reserved until the £15 fee is received.

Please let me know if you would like to attend the Conference as a visitor by no later than midday on Friday 20^thDecember 2024.

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

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 386/24 – TUC Womens Conference Visitors – 5th-7th March 2025

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Your Voice in the Workplace – December 2024 

Please find attached the December Workplace Bulletin. It rounds up our first year of producing a monthly workplace orientated communication.

As per normal we will be sending out a limited print run (approx. 10 per cent of branch membership) of this Edition, which should reach you by the end of the week for distribution to your reps to take into workplaces.

You also have the link to print immediate copies and/or to print off more copies.

It is crucial that branches are distributing the monthly bulletin in every workplace. The purpose is to ensure members are receiving written content from the union directly into their workplaces, so your role in that process is integral.

Click to access 08230-your-voice-RMG-10-Dec-2up.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Chris Webb
Head of Communications 

24LTB385 Your Voice in the Workplace December 2024

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ROYAL MAIL DELIVERIES – DECEMBER PODCAST

Please find below a link to the December edition of the Royal Mail Delivery Podcast. We covered a range of issues including a full discussion on the Universal Service Obligation talks. Please ensure this is shared with all representatives and members.

Royal Mail Deliveries Special – Updates on USO

We have also agreed to meet early in the New Year to talk about adding to the already agreed suite of engagement initiatives for our members in Delivery.

Kind regards

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary (Outdoor) 

24LTB 383 ROYAL MAIL DELIVERIES – DECEMBER PODCAST

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Election of National Representative Positions – 2025/2026

•  Members Auditors

Further to LTB 367/24 dated 20^thNovember 2024.

Branches should note that no nominations were received for the above positions.

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 382/24 – Election of National Representative Positions – Members’ Auditors – 2025-2026

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Election of CWU National Trustees – 2025/2026 

No.  381/24

6th December 2024

To:  All Branches

Dear Colleague,

Further to LTB 366/24, at the close of nominations on the 6^th December 2024 the following have been received:

Postal Constituency – 2 Postal NEC MembersMick Kavanagh,  South Midlands Postal 

Nominated by:  South Midlands Postal*ElectedRob Wotherspoon, Bristol & District Amal

Nominated by:  Bristol & District Amal*Elected

Telecom & Financial Services Constituency – 2 TFS NEC MembersMichelle Bailey,  Midland No 1 

Nominated by:  Midland No 1*ElectedAndrew Mercer, Greater Mersey Amal

Nominated by:  Greater Mersey Amal*Elected

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 381.24 – Election of CWU National Trustees – 2025-2026

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Royal Mail Area Representative & Royal Mail Area Representative Substitute Elections – 2024/2025

Branches will be aware that the Senior Deputy General Secretary is required to publish a standard election timetable for the RM Area Rep/Substitute positions. The timetable applies to positions that cover more than one branch area, i.e. those RM Area Rep elections, which are currently organised by the Regional Secretary.  Accordingly, the timetable for the 2024/2025 RM Area Rep elections is as follows:

Nominations Open:        5^thDecember 2024

Nominations Close:        6^th January 2025

In line with the above policy, I have asked Regional Secretaries to co-ordinate these elections and to contact branches and advise them of the arrangements for the positions which are subject to election within their respective areas.

Branches are reminded that candidates must have received the nomination of their own branch and if ballots are required, we will advise the respective branches of the ballot timetable in due course.

Branches should also note that any ballots will be conducted on an individual member basis of those members eligible to vote and that the costs incurred for the ballots would have to be met from the relevant Branch(s) funds. The Regional Secretary will discuss the detail of this with the Branches.

Also, please note that it has been agreed that any candidates taking part in a ballot will be entitled to submit the following biographical and election information:

1. Biographical Details up to a maximum of 100 words.
2. An Election Statement of no more than 300 words.
3. Submit a recent photograph – Head & Shoulders  (passport style)

Please note that the biographical details and election address will need to be provided to the respective Regional Secretary by the close of nominations on 6^th January 2025.   Any information received after this date will not be included with the ballot information. 

In addition, any elections will be conducted in line with the attached Guidelines and I would also take this opportunity to remind branches and candidates that they have a responsibility to treat fellow candidates with respect and they must ensure that no election material is published that could be deemed as either offensive or abusive.

Please note that elections for Area Representatives that fall wholly within one Branch boundary are the responsibility of the Branch, however if required, assistance can be sought from the Regional Secretary regarding these elections.

 Any enquiries regarding this LTB 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 380/24 – Royal Mail Area Representative & Royal Mail Area Representative Substitute Elections – 2024 2025

Attachment: RM Area Reps Guidelines 2024

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CAPITA TVL: PAY DISPUTE 2024/25 – BALLOT RESULT

Further to LTB 350/24 dated 1^st November.  Branches are advised the industrial action ballot of Capita TVL members in relation to pay 2024/25 pay dispute closed today and the results are as follows:

Are you prepared to take part in Strike Action?Yes Votes28796.63%No Votes103.37%Turnout64.64%

Spoilt ballot papers – 1

Are you prepared to take part in Action Short of a Strike?Yes Votes29398.65%No Votes41.35%Turnout64.64%

Spoilt ballot papers – 1

Attached is a copy of the ballot result from the Independent Scrutineer – CES

Capita TVL members have returned two excellent “YES” votes and we have also comfortably surpassed the legal threshold for turnout.  Thanks go to our TVL members for their support in delivering these strong Yes votes.  The Union will be writing to Capita TVL management to advise them of the result.  Also, Branches with TVL members are required to share the contents of this LTB with the impacted members.

Meeting with Capita TVL Reps – Thursday 5^th December

We will be meeting with our Senior TVL Reps in Manchester on Thursday 5^th December to discuss the ballot result and next steps.  Our thanks go to the Reps for their efforts in raising the profile of this ballot and for helping to ensure a good outcome.  Now it’s time for Capita to listen to its employees and act accordingly by reaching a fair settlement to the pay dispute.  In this regard, we are meeting with Capita at Acas, also on Thursday.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 378/24 – Capita TVL – Pay Dispute 2024-25 – Ballot Result

Attachment to LTB 378/24 – Ballot Result – Independent Scrutineer – CES

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