NICE Suicide Prevention Quality Standard Consultation – CWU Response

The CWU has submitted a written response to the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) consultation on Suicide Prevention Quality Standards, a copy of which is attached for the information of Representatives, Branches and Regions.

The NICE suicide prevention quality standard will cover ways to reduce suicide, with an emphasis on local organisations combining their expertise and resources to implement a range of suicide prevention measures. Consultation responses will feed in to the development of the standard, which is expected to be published in September 2019.

We were very pleased to be able to participate in the Consultation and be putting forward a Trade Union voice, not commonly heard in NICE Consultations.

The NEC and the Mental Health Strategy Project Working Group believe this submission comes at an appropriate time as the Union continues to develop its Mental Health Strategy and following the carriage of Motion 1 at CWU General Conference 2019 on workplace suicide, which called for a campaign to:

1. ensure that workplace suicide is recognised in legislation; and
2. place the burden of proof on the employer to demonstrate that the suicide was not work-related.

We hope that NICE will take on board the comments from the CWU in drafting the quality standards, particularly as the CWU’s submission highlights the absence of employers and trade unions in the draft suicide prevention quality standard, and argues that employers and unions should be involved in supporting multi-agency suicide prevention partnerships.

The CWU Mental Health Strategy Project Team agreed the CWU should respond to this consultation which was endorsed by the NEC.  The response has been a joint piece of work between the Research Department and the Health, Safety & Environment Department before submission via the General Secretary.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health in the United Kingdom, which provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. It publishes guidelines in four areas:- (a) the use of health technologies within the National Health Service (NHS) (such as the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures) (b) clinical practice (guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions) (c) guidance for public sector workers on health promotion and ill-health avoidance (d) guidance for social care services and users. Essential information is produced for key groups including NHS, GPs, local government, public health professionals and members of the public. The Institute aims to determine the clinical effectiveness of interventions and to help achieve improvements in the quality and delivery of health care. NICE appraisals are based primarily on evaluations of efficacy and cost-effectiveness in various circumstances. NICE was also established in an attempt to end the so-called postcode lottery of healthcare where treatments that were available depended upon the NHS Health Authority area in which the patient happened to live, but it has since acquired a high reputation internationally as a role model for the development of clinical guidelines.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB477 NICE Suicide Prevention Quality Standard Consultation – CWU Response

CWU Response NICE suicide prevention 23 05 19

ROYAL MAIL/DIMENSIONS UNIFORM ‘ROADSHOW’ WORKPLACE VISITS – ADDITIONAL DATES FOR 2019 (& ‘MINI-FOOTWEAR’ ROADSHOWS)

Dear Colleagues,

Further to Letter to Branches 246/19, dated the 18th of April, Branches are advised that a further Uniform Roadshow event has now been added to those already planned to be held by Royal Mail and their uniform supplier Dimensions up to November.

The further workplace to be visited is:

North London Delivery Centre – 20th August (07:00am -10:00am)

Additionally, Royal Mail have been holding some ‘Mini-Footwear’ events during this month and plan to hold more of these events in the following Delivery Offices (noting that this may be subject to some short notice alterations):

Hull CDO – 7th August (07:30am-08:30am)

Dronfield DO – 9th August (07:30am-08:30am)

Sheffield South DO – 12th August (07:30am-08:30am)

Sheffield CDO – 13th August (07:30am-08:30am)

Chesterfield DO – 15th August (07:30am-08:30am)

Manvers DO – 16th August (07:30am-08:30am)

Sheffield West DO – 22nd August (07:30am-08:30am)

Sheffield South West DO – 23rd August (07:30am-08:30am)

These ‘Mini-Footwear’ workplace visits are simply to cover the current Royal Mail footwear range and both parties have agreed to review the benefits, or otherwise, of these events against the wider remit of the general Uniform Roadshows going forward.

As reported to Branches before, these Roadshow events have proven to be very successful and largely welcomed by members since they started last year and in addition to offering details on the current uniform range and addressing particular individual questions and enquires, they also aim to give members more information on such issues as how to self-order uniform, how to return unwanted items and the process to follow for orders which are over the individual’s members uniform allocation.

In setting out this further Uniform Roadshow workplace visit, it can be confirmed that a number of the previous listed Offices have been nominated by CWU Branches and Royal Mail have confirmed that further consideration will be given to any additional visit requests made. Therefore, if Branches wishes to request a Uniform Roadshow visit for a particular workplace, they are invited to do so by writing into the Outdoor Department. Equally, those workplaces which have already been nominated by Branches for such future visits have not been overlooked and will be added to the next phase of Roadshow events which will be planned once the Royal Mail uniform tendering contract process has been completed (details of which are set out in LTB 063/19).

Whilst the details of this LTB are hopefully self-explanatory, any enquires or requests for such Uniform Roadshow visits to a workplace should be directed to the Outdoor Department, reference 500, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch                                      

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 474.19 – RM DIMENSIONS UNIFORM ROADSHOW WORKPLACE VISITS ADDITIONAL DATES FOR 2019

ROYAL MAIL REVIEW OF FUTURE CATERING PROVISION – QUADRANT JOINT VENTURE

The department was recently contacted by Martin Gafsen, Royal Mail Group, Property and Facilities Director, in relation to instigating discussions on the future of catering provision and a meeting subsequently took place on the 31st July 2019. 

Historically in 1998 Quadrant became the subject of a Joint Venture between Royal Mail and Compass Group and have provided catering facilities since that time. The current Quadrant contract which commenced in 2015, was originally for three years, with a review point after two. In 2017 a two-year extension was agreed with the next review point due in September 2020.

Branches will be aware that over recent years the department has fought to champion the use of the Quadrant facilities by our Royal Mail members. However, despite our best efforts and support from Branches the trends with regard to footfall and sales continue to be negative.

As such the business has been reviewing the situation and has been in discussions with Quadrant on both the food offer and facilities. However, the Royal Mail Board has decided that the commercial contract should not be extended without the market being tested in respect of alternative options that may be available. Effectively this means that a commercial tender process for future Catering provision in Royal Mail is to be commenced.

During the meeting the business were at pains to assure the department that it is not their intention to cease subsidised catering and in fact may invite tenders for solutions beyond the scope of the current arrangements with Quadrant. They have also confirmed that Quadrant will be invited to submit a tender which will be considered with equal status.

The business has informed us that the tender process will commence in August – September 2019 and will follow three key stages:

1. August 19 – September 19 – Pre-Qualification Stage

2. September 19 – January 20 – Request for, and evaluation of, outline solutions stage

3. February 20 – April 20 – Request for Detailed Solutions

Quadrant has been informed of the intention to move to tender and we understand that they will be communicating with their employees, our members, today to inform them of Royal Mail’s decision.

Of course in any tender process there remains the possibility of a move to an alternate service provider and as such we have questioned what would happen to the Joint Venture in such circumstances. In response the business has indicated that they would look to dissolve the Joint Venture arrangement.

The department with the assistance of the CWU Research Department are currently undertaking analysis of the Joint Venture documentation to assess any direct implications for our members should such a scenario develop.

Clearly we appreciate and understand that regardless of any assurances, the fact that the business intends to move to commercial tender is extremely unwelcome and will be of great concern to our Quadrant members.

Discussions are therefore under way between the department and Royal Mail to develop a structure for engagement throughout the tender process to ensure that the union is fully engaged and can influence any final decision.

Our priority will be to ensure that our Quadrant member’s long term job and standard of living security is protected and that they are fully supported throughout what will undoubtedly be a very unsettling time.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.orgquoting reference number: 311.02

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

LTB 475-19 Future of Catering Provision – 07.08.19

CWU Conference 2020 & 2021 

As Branches will be aware the decisions made at the Special Redesign Conference in November 2018 and at this year’s Rules Revision Conference means that General Conference 2020 will be 3 days in duration.  Adding in the Industrial Conferences means that next year’s event will be of 6 days in total.

The only venue and timescale that we are able to secure that could host CWU Conference over a 6 day period is the Bournemouth International Centre from Sunday 19^th April to Friday 24^th April.

We are aware that this date conflicts with the STUC but regrettably there are no other dates and venues available to host the size and duration of our event and as a result the NEC have agreed that CWU General Conference will be at the BIC from Sunday 19^th April 2020 to Friday 24^th April 2020.  Further details will be issued regarding the timetable, registration and submission of motions to the relevant conferences in due course.

The NEC were mindful in making this decision of the policy and views previously expressed by Branches of the need to rotate conference venues.  Accordingly the NEC have taken an in-principle decision that CWU General Conference 2021 will be held in Blackpool.

A new conference centre is nearing completion in Blackpool and is due to open in 2020 (it opens too late for it to be considered for our 2020 conference) alongside a number of new hotels.  The specifications for the centre show that it can accommodate our needs but the in-principle decision is subject to an on-site visit confirming this position.

We wanted to share this information now so as Branches can see that action has been taken to move our Conference away from the location we have used for a number of years i.e. Bournemouth.  Final confirmation will be forwarded to Branches once that visit has taken place.

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

19LTB473

Sale of BT Fleet Ltd to Aurelius 

As you now will be aware BT has agreed the sale of BT Fleet Ltd to Aurelius with the transaction due to complete on 1st September 2019.

BT has stated that the sale forms part of its ongoing transformation strategy to “focus on converged connectivity and services” – namely full fibre and 5G.   BT Fleet management is arguing that a standalone business will have more control over how it can invest its profits in key areas such as “HGVs, accident management and vehicle funding”. Hence the sale to Aurelius who claim to specialise in acquiring “non-core” divisions of companies in need of operational support to transform them into standalone, sustainable organisations.

The CWU does not support the sale.  We believe that BT could find other ways to free up resources so it could invest in Fleet as well as fibre and 5G which were not fully considered.  Regrettably, however, it is extremely unlikely that we are going to be able to stop this sale.

It should also be noted that the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) does not apply in this case as it is a “Share Purchase” sale not covered by the legislation. As BT Fleet Ltd is being sold as a legal entity then the employment contracts and contractual benefits will remain in place.

The CWU will be having discussions with BT over the coming days to ensure we reach a steadfast commitment to a full recognition agreement with the new company.   This will ensure we have full collective negotiation rights about future pay and working conditions. Although we have been informed by BT that there are no contractual changes, some non-contractual benefits may change given that they will separate away from BT. We will also be pressing BT on these issues and confirming the pension arrangements to be adopted by the new company and we will keep you appraised of our progress.

For information, I have attached to this letter copies of the “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs), a crib sheet and a slide presentation which BT will be using when dealing with members’ queries and at meetings.

This is obviously a stressful time for our members and I would encourage all branches with BT Fleet members to visit the affected workplaces within your area as soon as possible. We will keep both branches and members updated as the situation develops but in the meantime if   members have any questions that their local branch cannot answer then please email:  btfleet@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Andy Kerr

Deputy General Secretary (T&FS)

471.2019

Royal Mail/CWU Road Safety Campaign – Mobile Phones – W/C Monday 12 August 2019

Background and Context 

The importance and aim of the August Road Safety Campaign is to raise awareness amongst our members who are drivers about the risks and dangers of using mobile phones, including ‘hands free’, whilst driving. The law and Royal Mail policy is applicable to all employees, including van drivers, HGV drivers and car drivers.

The campaign will concentrate on key messages to drivers and managers with the emphasis on how important it is for drivers to refrain from using their mobile phones including ‘hands free’, for any purpose while driving. We want all drivers to be safe, legal and not distracted whilst they are behind the wheel on the UK’s busy roads.

Dangers of Using Your Mobile Phone While Driving

Mobile phone use while driving is not only illegal but it is widely considered dangerous by road safety experts and road safety organisations and charities (e.g., Think, Roadpeace, Brake, RoSPA, RAC, AA, AIRSO, FTA, Police etc.,) due to its potential for causing driver distraction and crashes.

There have been many reported horror stories about the dangers of phone use and driving with today’s phone technology and the use of mobile phones in everyday life. Most of these warnings are about the specific risk of driver distraction that phones can present to drivers. Using a phone in any way while behind the wheel can distract anyone enough to cause an accident. Many people fail to realise that being on their phone while operating a vehicle endangers not only their life but the lives of everyone around them on the roads as well. Accidents caused by drivers distracted by mobile phones are accidents that can be avoided!

Hand-Held Mobile Phone Driving Offences

It’s an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving a motor vehicle under current UK law. Driving includes being stationary if the engine is running, including in traffic queues and at traffic lights. Prosecutions for these offences are designed to promote UK road safety. This offence carries a standard fine of £200 and 6 penalty points, with a maximum of up to £1000 and 6 points on your driving licence (the fine can rise to £2,500 if you are driving a heavy goods vehicle, bus or coach. If a driver chooses to reject the fixed penalty and asks for a court hearing they will be at risk of higher fines and court costs but the points will remain the same.

Drivers can be prosecuted not just for having a phone in their hand and in use. It includes using the device for any telecommunication purpose, not just making or receiving calls. This includes texting while driving, using any other Apps, or messenger services that allow the driver to communicate with other people. This offence is not just using a mobile as a phone to talk to people while driving. If you get caught driving while using a mobile phone and if you were considered to be holding the phone, you will be at risk of 6 points and a fixed penalty or a summons to court.

Not Being in Proper Control of a Vehicle

It’s important to realise that even if a driver is using a ‘hands-free’ mobile phone device, if the police consider the driver is being distracted and it has affected their standard of driving, they will still be committing driving offences such as not being in proper control of their vehicle or careless driving or even dangerous driving. That’s why under Royal Mail’s own driving rules, all mobile phone use including ‘hands-free’ is strictly forbidden.

If a driver is involved in a road traffic accident and their telephone records show that they were using their mobile phone at the time of the incident, even via voice activation, it could have serious legal implications for them.

Mobile Phone and Royal Mail Policy

Royal Mail Group policy prohibits the use of mobile phones, PDAs or any other device including hands free that may cause distraction whilst driving on behalf of Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail, Parcelforce, RMSS, RMP&FS, RME, RM Fleet, etc.,) and by doing so is a breach of business standards.

Facts and Figures

• Drivers talking on the phone are four times more likely to be in a crash that causes injury, even if using hands-free devices.
• Having a telephone conversation takes focus off driving, and it is this mental distraction rather than any physical distraction, which causes the increased risk.
• Distracted drivers have 35% slower reaction times and poorer lane control.
• Drivers reading and sending text messages are 23 times more likely to crash than an attentive driver.
• In the Department of Transport Annual report published in 2016, there were 83 cases where drivers were involved in a fatal accident related to using their mobile or being distracted while driving.  A further 459 drivers were involved in a serious RTC related to mobile phone use and distractions while driving.

CWU Area Health & Safety Reps Involvement

CWU ASRs are to be fully involved and consulted on joint Road Safety Week activities and attached is an ASR Road Safety Campaign task/activity guide and list to follow. This includes carrying out visits to units, safety inspections and speaking to drivers. ASRs full support is very much appreciated by Royal Mail Group and the CWU.

ASRs are asked to agree with Operational Managers, which units they plan to visit and jointly support during this Road Safety Campaign, and:

• Assist the Front-Line Manager in delivering the WTLL (which will be published on Friday 9 August).
• Carry out additional activities to increase awareness.
• Remind drivers of LGV’s and HGV’s (where applicable) to carry out preparations checks in their cabs before they set out on their journeys.

Engage Drivers and Check that they have:-

• Received the WTLL briefing on mobile phones (which will be published on Friday 9 August).
• Seen the poster (copy attached).

And that they:-

• Follow Royal Mail policy on mobile phones at all times whilst driving.
• Put their phones in drive mode/silent before starting their journeys.

Also:-

• There’s a pre-campaign mobile phone survey which will be sent out via the Workplace Platform next week, so please keep an eye out for the notification when it goes live.
• The materials for the WTLL will be sent out to offices on Friday 9^th August.
• Please brief all other CWU Reps.
• FINALY – REMIND DRIVERS THAT EVEN A MOMENT’S DISTRACTION CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. 

Ask Front Line Managers:

• What activities have they completed for the Mobile Phone Road Safety Campaign?
• Have they made all drivers aware of the actions they need to take?

Thanks for your support and assistance.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB470 Royal Mail CWU Road Safety Campaign – Mobile Phones – WC Monday 12 August 2019

Mobile Phone Poster – FINAL

Mobile Phones and Distractions – one-pager for logistics drivers – Augus.._

Mobile Phones August 2019 ASR – FINAL

Postal Organising/Recruitment Strategy – Motion 81

Further to LTB 408/19 regarding the above, circulated on 3rd July 2019.

Branches/colleagues are advised that a Seminar/Workshop has been arranged to aid the development of a wider strategy within the Postal Constituency to meet the objectives and mandate detailed in the terms of Motion 81.

The Seminar/Workshop will be held on Wednesday 9th October 2019 at the Holiday Inn, Liverpool City Centre, Lime Street, Liverpool L1 1NQ beginning at 10:30am and concluding no later than 16:00pm.

The following Representatives are invited to attend the Seminar/Workshop:

• Postal Branch Secretaries (or their Substitute or appropriate Branch Officer)
• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives (a minimum of 2 from each Division)
• Territorial Engineering Representatives
• Parcelforce Regional Organisers
• Regional Secretaries

It should be noted that due to the capacity of the venue, Branches are only able to send one delegate. Your assistance in this regard would be appreciated.

Further details on the wider strategy and activity that will take place on the day will be circulated in due course however the DGS(P) Department thought advance notification of this event would assist Branches/colleagues to make the necessary travel/accommodation arrangements as appropriate.

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

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary Postal

19LTB467