For the attention of all Operational colleagues in Royal Mail and Parcelforce – PLEASE PRINT AND DISPLAY

You will have all seen in the media the shocking violence currently happening in some towns and cities across the country.  The safety and security of our people are a priority at this time as we continue to serve our customers. We continue to monitor which areas are affected by recent protests so you should report to your normal work location unless you hear otherwise from your manager.

However, as the situation evolves it is important to be prepared so you know what to do if you do find yourself at risk or in a situation that makes you feel threatened or unsafe.

Keeping yourselves and each other safe and secure

1.     Stay informed

·       Follow updates from your manager and trusted news sources.

·       Maintain regular check-ins with your manager and team.

2.     Be prepared

·       Carry ID, a charged mobile phone, and be familiar with emergency contact numbers.

·       Park in secure, authorised areas, lock all doors and windows, and remove or hide valuables and sensitive materials from view.

·       Where necessary, follow altered routes and schedules to avoid protest areas and follow guidance on any required operational adjustments.

·       If you do encounter a protest whilst driving, stay calm and patient, keep doors locked and windows closed, avoid confrontation with protesters, drive slowly and carefully, and seek alternative routes if blocked.

·       If there is a protest happening near to Royal Mail units or offices, keep movement in and out of buildings to a minimum, rearrange any non-essential meetings.

3.     Stay alert

·       Stay aware of your surroundings, try and stay in safe locations, know your exits and routes out of impacted areas.

·       Report unusual or suspicious activities immediately to the Security Help Desk at www.royalmail.com/all-eyes-on-security

·       Avoid engaging with protesters.  Remain calm, composed, and professional if interaction is unavoidable.

·       Call 999 straight away if you think you are in danger.

Ensuring an inclusive and respectful work environment for all

At Royal Mail, we are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels safe and is treated with dignity and respect. 

As part of Change for Good, we are all responsible for providing a safe and secure work environment where everyone is protected from bullying, harassment, and inappropriate behaviour.  

Our Business Standards clearly describe the standards of behaviour that we expect from all our colleagues. We encourage colleagues to speak with their line manager about any concerns and use the Raising Concerns tile on the People App where needed. 

Looking after yourself and those around you 

If you or someone you know, has been impacted by recent events please remember the Wellbeing Employee Assistance Programme is there to support you, day, or night. 

The service is independent and confidential, and can be contacted through Help@hand or by phoning 0345 266 5060. Wider support is also available through our Wellbeing Hub . 

We will continue to monitor events. Thank you for your continued to commitment to keep the mail moving for our customers.

Alistair Cochrane

Chief Operating Officer

CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN- MEDICAL AID APPEAL

The purpose of this LTB is to ask all branches to support the Cuba Vive appeal to send life-saving medical supplies to Cuba.

Cuba’s commitment to health as a human right has helped the country achieve world-renowned health services for its people, despite 62 years of an illegal US blockade. These achievements are now under threat. Extra sanctions imposed under Donald Trump and maintained by the Biden administration have taken a terrible toll on the health service. Cuba’s dedicated health professionals struggle with limited resources to treat patients. Surgical supplies, spare parts and medicines are all needed. Shortages are costing lives.

Let Cuba live – support the appeal

Together with other unions, the CWU is supporting this appeal which aims to fill and ship a container of vital medical supplies to Cuba. Since the appeal was launched in February, more than £80,000 has already been raised. With our support we can break the blockade on health and help reach the £100,000 fundraising target.

We encourage all branches to support the appeal by donating and publicising it to your members. In addition to financial support, it would be helpful if you could raise awareness by sharing this email and the attached leaflet with your members.

There is also a website to accompany the appeal (www.cubavive.org.uk), which has model motions, fundraising ideas, links to further information and online donation facilities. CSC can also provide links to films about the impact of the US blockade on health, as well as speaking notes for anyone who wants to organise a meeting or fundraising event to support Cuba Vive.

The appeal is supported by the Cuban health workers union. Their General Secretary, Dr Santiago Badía González, has sent a message of thanks for our support: “The Cuban people are very grateful for every action of support. You show that the unjust and illegal policies of the US government cannot and will not be able to block solidarity.”

To make a donation or find out more about the Cuba Vive appeal and how you can support it visit www.cubavive.org.uk/donate.  For further information, please contact the Cuba Solidarity Campaign at campaigns@cuba-solidarity.org.uk or email the General Secretary’s office at jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 272-24 CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN- MEDICAL AID APPEAL

Cuba Vive

Tomorrow at 4pm we will host a live session for Royal Mail Group members on pensions. We’ll cover all the basics and take some of the most commonly asked questions.

This is for members of any of the pension schemes.

CWU Policy Advisor Lionel Sampson will be on hand to take us through the session.

We think this will be of interest to a lot of members so please let them know.

The show can be watched via this link live at 4pm tomorrow https://youtube.com/live/ceD80CsjFvs

As always it will be on catch up and podcast.

CWU RESPONSE TO NATIONAL FAR RIGHT RIOTS

As you will know, the past few days has seen acts of violence against Muslim and ethnic minority communities across the country.

The union has now been made aware that at least 40 demonstrations have been planned by far-right groups against mosques and refugee centres this Wednesday (7th August), with more being organised for the coming weekend.

Many of these acts are being committed in the name of the three children horrifically murdered in Southport. To be clear, these violent riots have nothing to do with people in Southport, who are appealing for calm, and the attack there was not committed by a Muslim. The CWU stands in absolute solidarity with the families and community of Southport and our local branches and region have been showing their support to the community in every way possible.

It is the job of trade unionists to deliver for workers and act as pillars of the community in bringing people together. The aims of our union and the labour movement are compromised and weakened if the agenda of race war beats the fight for working-class unity.

As such, we ask all branch committees to contact local mosques, refugee centres and solidarity groups in order to offer our union’s solidarity and support on the ground at a time when they face severe intimidation.

Finally, the need for the whole trade union movement to urgently develop and implement a new anti-racism strategy that reaches every single workplace and community in the UK is greater than ever. The CWU will be taking a lead on this and reporting back to Branches in the coming days and weeks.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary                                                     

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

24LTB271 CWU RESPONSE TO NATIONAL FAR RIGHT RIOTS

View Online

LGV PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS’ RECRUITMENT 

Branches and representatives will be aware that the Joint Statement covering the deployment of the Network Window on 17^th June 2024 included a National Network Review. This activity identified gaps in resourcing across a number of the Vehicle Operating Centres (VOC’s).

Discussions have taken place with the business to review vacancy numbers at each VOC and to reconfirm the Nationally agreed Resourcing Principles will be followed, including reconfirming DCPC is not a barrier to progression.

Whilst the current position of the business is not to agree Joint Statements with the CWU, the numbers and locations have been jointly agreed with the business and this activity is intended to recruit 284 drivers across 30 VOCs nationally. Selection for all vacancies will be in line with the Nationally agreed process, although some positions may be filled by current surplus or supernumerary employees, holding the necessary licence.

The vacancies available in 4 sites Exeter, Newcastle, Scotland, and Wolverhampton are a mixture of FT/PT.  The recruitment for the Midlands hub is already at assessment stage, this is due to the large number of new drivers required. This unit will remain under review and further opportunities may become available.

Below are the number of recruitment opportunities per site:VOCRecruitmentVOCRecruitmentBELFAST VOC10NOTTINGHAM VOC8CARLISLE VOC5NOTTINGHAM MINI VOC3CHORLEY VOC7NWDC VOC30COVENTRY VOC5PETERBOROUGH VOC4CROYDON VOC4PRDC VOC17DONCASTER MINI VOC1PRESTON VOC10ESSEX VOC12ROBOROUGH VOC2EXETER VOC10SCOTLAND VOC10GATWICK VOC4SEDC VOC10GREENFORD VOC6SOUTHAMPTON VOC7HWDC VOC5SWDC VOC3MIDLANDS SH VOC41SWINDON VOC4NEDC VOC8WOKING VOC7NHCDC VOC13WOLVERHAMPTON VOC7NORWICH VOC4YDC VOC20

The recruitment activity provides our members holding an LGV C+E Licence with a real opportunity to progress to a Professional Driver Role. The department has pursued training opportunities to fill any shortfall in candidates, however the business has confirmed that they have no budget for driver training available in this financial year, which will mean that external recruitment will take place, where there are insufficient internal candidates.

 Applications are open to all Royal Mail Group employees who hold a valid LGV C+E licence. Members are advised to ensure that applications are submitted on the Royal Mail Success Factors website by the closing date. A copy of the Success Factors Process is attached to assist, please apply via this process as the business cannot pick up internal candidates via the external applications process.

Applications will not be considered after the closing date. Therefore, any difficulties in registering on the Success Factors platform should be notified to the department immediately and definitely prior to the closing date, in order that they can be brought to the attention of the business.

We would therefore ask Branches and representatives to make every effort to ensure that members are made aware of this LTB and that it is given the widest publicity possible, in order that any interested parties are afforded the opportunity to submit applications before the closing date.

The applications process opens today, Tuesday 23^rd July 2024 with a closing date of the 8^th August 2024, due to this being a peak period for annual leave.  Where interested candidates  have missed the closing date of the 8^th August, due to annual leave  a further opportunity will be facilitated to submit an application of interest via:  driveracademy@royalmail.com, the closing date for this will be the 15^th August 2025.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: jrodrigues@cwu.org quoting this LTB number.260/24.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

Accessing SuccessFactors as a non RMG or PFS Network Account Holder

View Online

Health & Safety Update

Branches and Representatives will recall that at Annual Conference confirmation was given that Dave Joyce, CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, would be leaving the CWU following his incredible service to the union over many, many years.  

Dave leaves his role and the CWU on 31^st July 2024 and in line with previous LTBs and acknowledgment of Dave’s service, I am sure all CWU Representatives and Members will wish Dave and his family the best in his retirement.  

CWU HQ are continuing to work on the future changes required in introducing the Central Services Health & Safety role. This new position is a key and important change and will be structured to provide support and advice to the General Secretary and the two Industrial Departments on all matters relating to Health & Safety. The new role will be an important link for the union as far as legislative requirements and regulations are concerned, as well as TUC directives. 

In addition, the Deputy General Secretary’s Office (Postal) is currently finalising the working arrangements linked to the integration of Health & Safety into the Postal Department, alongside the support from Area Safety Reps as part of the future working arrangements. 

Whilst the above is being finalised from 1^st August 2024, where Branches and Area Safety Reps have queries relating to legislative requirements/regulations these should be directed to the General Secretary’s Office. Where Branches and Area Safety Reps have queries relating to Postal Industry matters these should be directed to the DGS(P) Department who will ensure the correct allocation across the Postal Department takes place.

As we stated at Annual and Industrial Conferences this year, this is an incredibly important opportunity for the CWU to ensure that Health & Safety matters are fully integrated into our overall agendas and we would hope that over the direction of the coming months that the changes being introduced are successful in achieving this. 

Any queries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the appropriate department – General Secretary’s Office jdunn@cwu.org or Deputy General Secretary (Postal) hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward                       

General Secretary                                                 

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 270/24 – Health & Safety Update

View Online

MEMBER PORTAL : UPDATED BRANCH ADMINSTRATOR TRAINING VIDEO

Branches are advised that an updated training video has been produced to cover the main areas of the member portal for branch admins.      Please view the video here: https://vimeo.com/991969493

Furthermore, if you need to add or remove branch admin permissions for yourself or a branch colleague, please contact membership@cwu.org.

If Branches have any issues or feedback about the member portal, please contact membership@cwu.org in the first instance.

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 269/24 – Member Portal Updated Branch Administrator Training Video

View Online

BILLY MCCLORY – FORMER NCU/CWU NATIONAL OFFICER – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

Further to LTB 244/24, as promised please see below details of the funeral arrangements for Billy McClory former NCU/CWU National Officer.

The family have requested smart dress for the funeral with a dash of colour, the family have suggested red and/or green to celebrate Billy’s two great passions. 

Friday 9th August 2024 at 2.45 p.m.

Extended Service at:

West Norwood Crematorium,

Norwood High Street,

London SE27 9JU

Telephone No. 020 7926 4221

Website: www.lambeth.gov.uk

Parking is available in the grounds of the Crematorium.

In memory of Billy, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to one of Billy’s favoured charities:

• St Mungo’s – Working to end homeless and rebuild lives:

http://www.mungos.org

• Battersea Dogs & Cats Home:

https://www.battersea.org.uk/

• Celtic FC Foundation – Creating opportunities for societies most vulnerable and marginalised https://charity.celticfc.com/

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 268/24 – BILLY MCCLORY – FORMER NCU-CWU NATIONAL OFFICER – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

View Online

The Guardian G2 Section, Today’s Edition 30 July 2024, Pages 6 & 7 – Two Full Page Article on Dog Attacks on Postal Workers, Highlighting the UK Dog Attack Epidemic and National Crisis: The Article is Headed; ‘The dog lunged at my face – then my lip came off’:

This is to notify CWU Branches, Reps and Regions that a two-page feature article on dog attacks on UK Postal Workers, has today been published in the Guardian’s G2 section on pages 6 and 7.

This well-written article by journalist Emma Beddington follows on from our RM/CWU Joint Dog Awareness Week Campaign efforts earlier this month, our press statement and releases plus the circulation and promotion of our ‘responsible dog ownership’ leaflet. All part of the CWU’s continuing efforts to raise awareness of the growing number of dog attacks on CWU member, postal workers in Royal Mail and Parcelforce which is nothing short of a ‘National Crisis’ of ‘Epidemic Proportions’ with numbers increasing 15% a year along with worsening injuries being sustained by victims.

We have called for the new UK Labour Government, UK police forces and Crown Prosecution Service to take firm action, clamping down on irresponsible, criminal dog owners by;

• Firstly, Government further strengthening the Dangerous Dogs Act,
• Secondly, Police forces enforcing the law effectively and
• Thirdly, judges and courts to hand down penalties, sentences and orders that fit the crime and act as an effective deterrent.

We’re obviously pleased to have secured a sizeable two-page feature in a National Daily Newspaper which includes an interview with the National Health and Safety Officer along with two members, who were dog attack victims, recounting their terrifying and painful experiences, one of whom could have been killed.

Let’s hope the article helps assist us in raising awareness of all involved and in opening the eyes of the public, dog owners, politicians, police offices, lawyers, judges and magistrates.

Yours sincerely                                 

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 267 /24 – The Guardian G2 Section Article Today 30 July 2024 – Dog Attacks on Postal Workers