Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay

Further to LTB 288/19 regarding the above.

We have been made aware that managers in certain locations are refusing to log grievances for members over the issue of holiday pay and are claiming that they do not need to follow this process as discussions are now taking place nationally.

If members in your locality are being told this, we advise them to email their manager asking for a grievance to be recorded so that a paper trail exists. We will then notify ACAS that this is the case.

We have also expressed concerns to ACAS about the final wording of the COT3 Settlement Agreement and in particular in relation to Paragraph 2. We are apprehensive that the current wording may result in members not receiving back pay in the event that this is secured through a national collective agreement.

The Union is currently in discussions with RMG through ACAS to agree suitable alternative wording that would prevent this from being the case. We have also informed ACAS that whilst members can agree the monetary offer, all of the associated COT3 forms that contain the legal terms and conditions, should be put on hold until this wording has been finalised.

Many members who are now taking annual leave are effectively losing out on money that is legally theirs. We would therefore encourage all Branches to continue to maximise the number of claims submitted to ACAS.

A meeting has been held with Royal Mail Group at national level in order to commence negotiations about this issue and secure a national agreement. Your ongoing efforts will help to bring this to fruition.

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)

POST OFFICE: BEIS SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY – POST OFFICE NETWORK

Further to LTB 215/19 dated 8th April 2019. An evidence hearing was held yesterday in relation to the BEIS Select Committee inquiry into the Post Office network: 

BEIS Select Committee Inquiry – “the franchising of Post Offices, the reduction of Government subsidies, and the long-term resilience of the service”.

The Union gave oral evidence along with the NFSP, Citizens Advice, WH Smith, the Association of Convenience Stores and the Post Office. The minister, Kelly Tolhurst was due to respond to the inquiry yesterday afternoon; however, we understand this was delayed at her request until June (date to be confirmed).

Members of the Select Committee directed some challenging questions to Post Office the NFSP and WH Smith which can be viewed along with the responses by using the following link:

https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/61a37aa0-cb1e-4140-a57e-aa90e9f9907b

Press Coverage – Save our Post Offices Campaign

There was good media coverage regarding the future of the Post Office including a major piece in the Daily Mail which has just launched a Save our Post Offices campaign. The full article, which features some of our members including Mark Baker our Postmasters Branch Secretary, is available online:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7051033/Save-post-offices-Mail-launches-campaign-preserve-vital-branches-closing-thousands.html

The Daily Mail followed up the launch of the campaign with a further piece in today’s edition:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7056133/MPs-line-demand-Government-steps-safeguards-future-local-Post-Offices.html

The inquiry and associated press and media coverage has come about as a result of our activities including our campaign against Crown Office privatisation. We will continue to put pressure on the government and the Post Office with the aim of securing a long-term future for the Post Office network.

A web article on the inquiry is attached to this LTB for your information along with our full submission to BEIS which was written by our Head of Research, Bill Taylor in conjunction with Andy Furey and Andrew Towers, Head of Political Strategy. We would like to thank Bill Taylor for his efforts in this regard. In our written submission we elaborate upon our vision for a prosperous Post Office for the future and this is contained within the 12 key recommendations.

Finally, also attached to this LTB is a communication from Callum Greenhow, the CEO of the National Federation of SubPostmasters who gave oral evidence at yesterday’s inquiry. Naturally we view the current state of the network and suggestions for the future very differently to the NFSP. In particular, as Branches are aware, and as Andy Furey raised during yesterday’s evidence session, we believe a Post Bank owned and run by the Post Office would help to provide a long term future for this Great British institution.

Further developments will be reported.

If you have any questions in relation to this LTB, please contact Lea Sheridan – lsheridan@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey – Assistant Secretary                 

Terry Pullinger – Deputy General Secretary (P)                             

Dave Ward – General Secretary

19LTB305 – Post Office – BEIS Select Committee Inquiry – Post Office Network

Attachment 1 – Web Article

Attachment 2 – CWU Submission to BEIS SC on Post Office 7 May 2019 FINAL VERSION

Attachment 3 – BSC 12 – BEIS Select Committee hearing

Royal Mail Group June 2019, Road Safety Campaign, Launch W/C 3 June 2019 – “Seat Belts”

It’s compulsory to wear a seat belt at all times when driving a Royal Mail vehicle. The law and Royal Mail Policy applies to drivers and passengers who must wear their seat belts.

Seatbelts can help to save lives. They are important safety features that, like air bags, help to protect a driver or passenger in a collision and minimise injuries. Those who do not wear their seatbelts while in a vehicle put themselves at greater risk of severe injury or even death. It is also a legal requirement and has been since 1983. Royal Mail Vehicle Drivers are NOT exempt!

Seat belts are designed to retain people in their seats, and so prevent or reduce injuries suffered in a crash. They ensure that as little contact is made between the occupant and vehicle interior as possible and significantly reduce the risk of being thrown from a vehicle.

Seat belts are designed to work as the key part of wider injury prevention measures and safety systems, such as airbags and head restraints, which will not be as effective in reducing the risk of injury if an occupant is not wearing a seat belt.

Seatbelts are reported to save over 2,000 lives per year. In the event of a serious collision, you are twice as likely to die if you are not wearing a seatbelt.

Worryingly, Royal Mail drivers and passengers are increasingly being found to not be wearing a seatbelt and are in breach of the law.  During observations of drivers last year, 669 drivers or passengers were observed not wearing a seatbelt; an increase of 54% on the previous year.

Facts:

• Drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seat belt – it only takes 5 seconds to belt up.
• All drivers must wear their seat belts all the time to comply with Royal Mail’s standard so if you are moving belt up.
• The fixed penalty for failing to wear a seat belt as a driver or passenger is a £100 fine.
• If the case is taken to court, you could face a fine of up to £500.
• A number of Royal Mail drivers have been fined for not wearing their seat belt.

Wearing a seat belt correctly:

• In order to wear a seat belt safely, the following points should be adhered to:
• The belt should be worn as tight as possible, with no slack.
• The lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach.
• The diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck.
• Nothing should obstruct the smooth movement of the belt by trapping it.

Damaged seat belts:

• Seat belts should be regularly checked for damage, this forms part of the driver’s vehicle checks. Common forms of damage to the seat belt that will reduce its effectiveness in an accident:
• Fraying or fluffing around the edges of the seat belt.
• A cut which causes the fabric to split.
• A hole in the seat belt.
• Damage to the buckle.
• Report any faults found during vehicle checks before using the vehicle.

Managers’ responsibilities:

Managers must carry out driving and yard checks to reinforce positive safe behaviours through coaching. During this campaign they should concentrate vehicle checks on drivers and check they are wearing their seat belts.

If the vehicle is moving, belt up!

All drivers must wear their seatbelt at all times whenever driving or travelling for Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide, RMSS, RMP&FS, RMG Fleet etc.).  There are no exceptions regardless of whether they are in the yard, reversing, on private and public roads/property, or travelling only short distances. If the vehicle is moving, belt up!

Film, Poster & WTLL:

There is a film to be shown to drivers to reinforce the consequences of failing to wear a seat belt. A poster (see attached) will be displayed (sent out to all offices on 16 May 2018) and a WTLL will be delivered (copy attached). An RMTV session will also run during the campaign.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Campaign is not tied to just one week and we want the focus on the campaign to be sustainable so ASRs, SHE Team and Operational Managers can focus on the issue and programme, the WTLL and Poster distribution with best effect to most suitable local timetables and arrangements – followed up and kept in focus regularly.

Royal Mail and the CWU agree that the safety of the workforce is paramount. Vehicle and driver safety, road risk, avoiding accidents and injuries are top priorities for us all.

Please support this Road Safety Campaign – Would ASRs and WSRs pro-actively engage the SHE Team and Operational Managers to get involved and lift the profile of the Campaign in line with the RMG/CWU Joint Agreements and Joint Statements on Health and Safety. Thanks for your support.

Any Management enquiries should be directed to Olesha Rhoden RMG SHE Road Safety Programme Manager: Mobile: 07436 039 785Email: olesha.rhoden@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB304 Royal Mail Group June 2018, Road Safety Campaign, Launch WC 3rd June 2019 – Seat Belts

CWU Seat Belt Poster

SAFE BELT UP POSTER – FINAL

Seat Belts – one-pager for logistics drivers – June 2019 – FINAL

Seatbelt June 2019 ASR – FINAL

WTLL Road Safety Campaign – Seat Belts – May 2019 – Draft 2 MB amends – .._

Safe & Well – May 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Please see attached the May 2019 edition of the Safe and Well newsletter with contributions from our USRs and field teams. A really good mix of shared learning and articles from a range of people this month – including articles sourced from safety day, incidents, near misses and also seasonal focus. The dog awareness focus is to try to halt incidents by getting the message across as early as possible in May and this will become a separate toolbox talk download. Also included are new “Think: stay safe by” hints based on looking at previous incidents to share the learning a bit more as a refresh, plus also reminding people to report dog-related near misses as well. There is a continued focus on the need to report threats and assaults as incidents plus the usual mix of varied articles and updates including the new HV power WBT.  Crystal – re the HV power – this edition includes the launch of the WBT and a link for FEN 60 which covers the project in more detail plus it’s been agreed to do a promote/update/refresh in the next two editions as a minimum.  This is initially coved in http://snip.bt.com/SNW067 which is the source for some of the local briefings.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB302 Safe & Well – May 2019

Safe and Well Issue 70 May 2019