World Hepatitis Day 2024 – “It’s Time for Action”

World Hepatitis Day and Week takes place each year W/C 28 July, to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to highlight the importance of testing, treatment and vaccination. This year’s theme is, “It’s Time For Action” highlighting the urgent need for swift and decisive measures to tackle hepatitis on a global scale. This call to action is reinforced by the alarming statistic that someone dies from a hepatitis-related illness every 30 seconds.

The WHO and partners mark World Hepatitis Day to increase awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes. This date honours the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus.

There are 5 types of hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D and E. All hepatitis viruses can cause acute infection and inflammation of the liver, but infection with hepatitis B, C and D viruses can also result in chronic hepatitis that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Viral hepatitis B and C are major health challenges and root causes of liver cancer. In the WHO European Region, 15 million people are estimated to live with chronic hepatitis B and 14 million with hepatitis C. Most of these people are unaware of their infection and continue to carry the virus. They are therefore at high risk of developing severe chronic liver disease and can unknowingly transmit the virus to other people.

Every year, more than a million lives are lost to hepatitis. 

Through this campaign, efforts to fight viral hepatitis focus on raising awareness of the disease; improving prevention by promoting vaccination, safe sex and safe injection practices; and ensuring equitable access to testing and treatment to all who need it. The earlier people find out whether they are infected, the better the chance of a long and healthy life, and no further onward transmission.

World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, to encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public, and to highlight the need for a greater global response.

Useful Links and further information:

• World Hepatitis Alliance: https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/
• The Hepatitis Trust: https://www.hepctrust.org.uk/
• The British Liver Trust: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/liver-conditions/autoimmune-hepatitis/

Hepatitis Trust Helpline: 

• 020 7089 6221 (Mon-Fri 10:30am– 4:30pm)

Attachment:

• NHS Hepatitis Fact Sheet with links to further detailed information.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 264/24 – World Hepatitis Day 2024 – It’s Time for Action

Hepatitis – NHS Fact Sheet

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UPDATE ON IDS (RMG) TAKEOVER BID

The purpose of this LTB is to provide branches with a full update on developments with the IDS (RMG) takeover bid.

Conference Policy

All branches will be aware of our Conference policy to achieve the best outcome for our members in this takeover process.  We do not believe it is right for an overseas equity investor to own Royal Mail in its entirety, equally, we have no confidence in the current IDS Board to secure the future of the company.  This is why, in our discussions with EP Group and the government, we are calling for a new business/ownership model to give employees and customers a greater say over the future direction of the Royal Mail Group.

As we set out in our recent members communication, our ultimate aim is to see Royal Mail renationalised.  However, we must deal with the immediate situation facing Royal Mail and ensure the company is able to grow and secure postal workers jobs for the future.  Therefore, regardless of who owns Royal Mail, we must continue to play a vital role in influencing all current developments.

Meeting with Daniel Kretinsky

On the 23^rd July, we had an introductory meeting with Daniel Kretinsky (EP Group) where we were able to express our major concerns about his proposed takeover of Royal Mail and also ask relevant questions about his future plans.

The outcome of the meeting is that we have agreed to hold further talks in the coming weeks with the objective of reaching a comprehensive agreement on the future of our members’ jobs and the company.  In these discussions, the union will be seeking to achieve the following:

• Job security guarantees alongside a set of our own legal protections that expand on the contractual obligations contained in the offer document.
• The need to immediately implement measures to solve the ongoing quality of service/USO compliance issues, imposed revision failures and the major resourcing crisis created by the previous senior leaders and the current RMG Board.
• The need to end the managerially imposed two-tier workforce and harmonise pay, terms and conditions for new entrants.
• The need for a full agreement on the approach to maintain the USO.
• A way of giving employees a serious stake in the future of the business.
• A radical change in the governance structure of Royal Mail at all levels, including the urgent need to end the oppressive “it’s our business to run”managerial culture that remains deeply entrenched.
• Agreement for a new business plan with a serious strategy to secure our future by growing our share in the next day parcels market, exploring new services, a better role for our members and leveraging the advantage of Royal Mail’s current infrastructure.

Meeting with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on 11^th July 2024

All Branches will be aware of the Labour Party 2024 Manifesto commitment set out again below for ease of reference:

Royal Mail remains a key part of the UK’s infrastructure. Labour will ensure that any proposed takeover is robustly scrutinised and that appropriate guarantees are forthcoming that protect the interests of the workforce, customers and the United Kingdom, including the need to maintain a comprehensive universal service obligation.

Labour will also explore new business and governance models for Royal Mail so that workers and customers who rely on Royal Mail services can have a stronger voice in the governance and strategic direction of the company.

In light of this commitment, the union was invited to a meeting with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the 11^th July to discuss our concerns on the takeover bid and the future of Royal Mail.  It was a constructive meeting and we made it clear that we expect a Labour Government to fulfil the commitments made in their Manifesto in full, particularly the need to robustly scrutinise all elements of the takeover bid.

Subsequent to this meeting, the Secretary of State has confirmed in the media that the Government will call in the takeover bid under the National Security and Investigation Act.

The union also took the opportunity at a TULO meeting with the Prime Minister on 23^rd July, to again raise our overall concerns about the future of Royal Mail.

We will continue to discuss these matters with the Labour Government and ensure that the proposed takeover of IDS remains crucially important for all politicians and the country.

Meeting between CWU Lawyers and EP Group Lawyers

We can also advise Branches that the union has engaged a firm of lawyers, who specialise in company acquisition law and they have provided the union with a detailed and very helpful report on the EP Group offer document that was published to shareholders on 26^thJune.  The report explains the way the takeover bid is being financed.

Following the report being provided to the union, a meeting was held on 18^th July between CWU and EP Group, including our respective legal advisors.  The meeting was helpful in raising our significant concerns over the contractual obligations and the financial structuring of the proposed takeover.  The union will continue to engage our lawyers to fully investigate this proposed takeover and any consequences that it may have for our members.

Next Steps in the Takeover Bid Process

Now that EP Group has formally launched their offer for IDS, there are a number of steps to complete before any takeover is both approved and accepted by shareholders.  As the takeover is a ‘contractual takeover offer’, the shareholders will need to respond as to whether they accept and if a majority accept the offer, EP Group will be able to take control of the business, provided it also passes any regulatory clearances.

However, we expect that the deadline for this time period for shareholders to accept will be extended so that the takeover can be subject to regulatory clearance.

As we have communicated to members previously, the takeover must be approved by the UK Government under the National Security and Investment Act, the Competition and Markets Authority and by EU and international regulators.  It is likely that the major institutional shareholders will want to withhold any approval until most of these regulatory hurdles are cleared and we expect this to take several months, if they are approved.

Summary

You will see from the above that the union is pursuing all available avenues to achieve the best outcome for our members.  Throughout this process, we will be engaging further with our members, businesses, politicians and the public to ensure the widest possible debate on the future of the UK’s postal service. Further developments will be reported in due course.

Finally, please ensure the content of this LTB is distributed to all representatives and all workplaces.

Any enquiries should be addressed to the General Secretary at jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward – General Secretary                                                             

Martin Walsh – Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

24LTB263 Update on IDS Takeover Bid

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2024

• CWU Young Workers Committee – Ballot Results

Further to LTB 221/24 dated 24^th June 2024, please see below the results of the branch ballots that closed today:

CWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – POSTAL CONSTITUENCY

South West RegionElliott BoothWestern Counties Branch8343*ElectedBenjamin SpencerWessex South Central1639 

CWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – TFS CONSTITUENCYShannon ConnorScotland No 13890*ElectedLouis O’ConnorGlasgow & Motherwell Branch875 

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 0208 971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 262.24 – Election of National Representative Positions 2024 – CWU Young Workers Committee – Ballot Results

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Better Backs Campaign” – “Move York Containers Safely – One at a Time” (Reminder)

The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues to receive enquiries from individual members and Workplace Safety Reps from various workplaces regarding LTB 163/24.

Disappointingly, the messages being received indicate that the CWU “Better Backs” Campaign has not been deployed in all workplaces and that the new posters and leaflets have not been circulated to all Units.

Members and WSRs also indicate the ongoing problem of other members and agency staff moving two York containers at a time in breach of the SSoW and secondly that managers are advising the workforce that “it’s their choice whether they move more than one York container at a time”, which is not correct and is in breach of the York Container Safe System of Work (V3.3).

However, there is a clear pattern developing across the UK that managers are conveying the same message ‘covertly’ and so encouraging the workforce to move two York containers at a time. This has been raised with the RMG Safety Director Liz Lloyd.

It’s important therefore that the CWU proactively gets the correct message across, countering some operational managers’ misinformation and deceitful activities by using the new campaign materials. Copies are attached.

You can either print the posters and leaflets locally in the Branch, Region or local printers or if that’s not possible, contact CWU HQ and we’ll get some printed for you.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

24LTB261 Better Backs Campaign – Move York Containers Safely – One at a Time (Reminder)

Better-backs-campaign-animated-version-Poster-Leaflet

Better-backs-campaign-photographic-version-Poster-Leaflet

LTB163-24-Better-Backs-Campaign-–-Move-York-Containers-Safety-One-at-a-Time

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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

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ROYAL MAIL: THE COLLECTIVE PLAN – LUMP SUM BOOSTER AND ADVANCED VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS (AVCs)

Further to LTB 248/24 dated 16^th July.  On the evening of 17^thJuly we held a CWU Live Event specifically on The Collective Plan to provide an overview of the new scheme and answer some key questions raised.  If Branches, Reps or members were unable to watch the Live Event, the recording can be accessed via: www.youtube.com/live/zlVy4EPITCo

1% Lump Sum Booster (Matched by Royal Mail)

The Collective Plan contribution rates are 13.6% employer and 6% employee and the Plan provides both:

• A wage in retirement
• A guaranteed Lump Sum payment upon retirement.

Members can also choose to enhance the Lump Sum payment by opting for the booster which essentially means that Royal Mail will pay an extra 1% to match your 1%.

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)

The Collective Plan allows for members to pay additional contributions via an AVC.  The application needs to be made via the People App prior to 13^th September in order to set up the new payment to begin after 7^th October(Any AVCs linked to the RMPP will cease).

Thousands of our members have already signed up to either the AVC and / or the Lump Sum Booster.  Members are reminded they can ask questions via the “Enquiries” section of the Royal Mail microsite – www.myroyalmail.com/collective-plan

Lastly, a set of comprehensive FAQs (running to 16 pages) which Reps and members will find very helpful is available via the following link:

www.myroyalmail.com/sites/default/files/2024-07/Collective%20Plan%20Transition%20FAQs.pdf

Further developments will be reported as we approach the launch date of 7^th October.

Yours sincerely

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                                    

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

258.24 RM THE COLLECTIVE PLAN LUMP SUM BOOSTER AND ADVANCE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AVCs

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BRANCH ACCOUNTS – SAGE SYSTEM

The purpose of this LTB is to provide Branches with an interim update on where we are with regard to the above.

When the CWU suffered the cyber incident in March of this year we shut down all our systems until we could ascertain what systems were safe to bring back to operation and importantly what systems may not be or were not safe to restore.

Given the multitude of IT systems we operate with and given the nature of the attack we were the victim of, there was a long and detailed process of arriving back at a “business as usual” position.

This meant prioritising working environments and the systems that support them, to ensure engagement with Branches and members and to ensure that we remained compliant with a variety of regulatory requirements.

To ensure the future safety and integrity of our operations this has proved to be, by necessity, a very long and time-consuming process.

Obviously, as Branches will be aware, one of the systems we shut down was the SAGE system in use for Branches to input their own financial transactions. There were a number of technical reasons why we had to follow this course of action and for us subsequently to not bring it back online.

We then had to begin the process of identifying a new system, identifying how we could install the new system and develop training and instruction in its use.

We have worked with SAGE to go through the suite of accounting packages that they now offer and then to identify, separately, an installation partner, to transfer data, synchronise it with other finance products in use at CWU HQ, as well identify training needs.

We are now at the end of that process and following a meeting earlier this week we are aiming to be able to have this programme available during the month of October for Branches to start inputting 2024 branch financial transactions.

Whilst we now finalise this programme of works, we are considering asking Branches to start inputting 2024 financial transactions information into excel spreadsheets in readiness to be able to export this data into the new system when it goes live. This would give us a head start on capturing the information. We should finalise our position on this in the next week to 10 days and we will then contact branches again to set out what these arrangements look like.

In the meantime, we want to thank Branches for their patience in waiting for us to get to the position we have, we appreciate this has been a difficult position to be in but following discussion with 3^rd party suppliers we are optimistic we will shortly be able to restore normal operations a set out in this LTB.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB be addressed to the SDGS Department sdgs@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB257 – BRANCH ACCOUNTS SAGE SYSTEM

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ROYAL MAIL DEPLOYMENT OF LARGE PARCEL AUTO-DIVERT CONVEYORS 

IN MAIL CENTRES

Branches will be aware of the drive by Royal Mail to increase automation capability. In February 2022, Royal Mail introduced two Large Parcel Conveyors (LPC’S) into two Mail Centres: Gatwick MC and South Midlands MC. This deployment was the subject of an agreement with the CWU and covered by an agreed Joint Statement.

Royal Mail met with the department recently and has informed us of their intention to deploy a further 9 LPC’s into the MC’s highlighted below;

• Jubilee
• Tyneside
• Medway
• Birmingham
• Leeds
• Greenford
• HCN
• Chelmsford
• Bristol

The business has identified these sites due to volume and the LPC will be fitted with a Dimension Weigh Scanner to enable every item to have a scan to contribute to Revenue Protection activity.   Royal Mail have indicated that they are seeking to deploy the first 6 on the list prior to Peak in the Sept – Nov window and the remaining 3 are scheduled for the post Peak period in Jan-Feb 2025.   Installation at each site is expected to last 4-5 weeks from delivery to go live.

The original design (Palm Tree) has a large footprint and since 2022 the business has designed an alternative configuration (Sword) which can be utilised at sites with less available floor space. The operation of the mech is the same in both configurations and requires staffing levels, at full capacity of 18, (14 on the mech and 4 porters).

While the business is anticipating an efficiency through the introduction of the LPC’s it is not anticipated that this will result in a headcount reduction at any site, other than a potential small reduction at Medway, subject to confirmation.

The department had sought to agree a revised Terms of Reference (TOR) or Joint Statement (JS) to support this deployment activity, given the length of time since the initial deployment and the changes to configuration.  This would have been the normal process at any time prior to the dispute and should have been of no concern to the business given that we have previously agreed deployment of the LPC’s.  However, in line with their current Royal Mail policy the business has stated that they will not agree a TOR/JS with the CWU.

Given this, we have attached for the assistance of Representatives at the in-scope sites the original Terms of Reference which we encourage you to utilise in discussions with management on the deployment arrangements.    If there are any issues in this regard, we would ask that Representatives contact the department for assistance.

In the view of the CWU the current Royal Mail stance with regard to Joint Statements is ridiculous and counterproductive in relation to the progression of activity and inconsistent with the commitments to restoring joint working and Industrial Relations contained in Section 2.4 of the Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth (BRT&G) Agreement.   The matter is being pursued at the highest level with the company.

Also attached for the information of Representatives are the slides Royal Mail presented to the department on the deployment. It should be noted that the CWU have not agreed to the notional throughput figures included in the slide presentation.  In addition,  Royal Mail have shared the WTLL briefing issued this afternoon in the 9 plants, which is also attached for your information.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: jrodrigues@cwu.org quoting LTB No. 252/24.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 252.24 – ROYAL MAIL DEPLOYMENT OF LARGE PARCEL AUTO-DIVERT CONVEYORS IN MAIL CENTRES

212 – TOR Deployment Large Parcel Auto Divert Conveyors In Mail Centres SMMC Gatwick – 22.04.22

MCLPC project overview v1c 03072024 Union view

WTLL_Large Parcel Conveyorsv1.10

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Election of:     

• Royal Mail Division Chair – Scotland (Vacancy)

Further to LTB 237/24 dated 3^rd July 2024, at the close of nominations today, the following have been received.RM Divisional Chair – Scotland*Ballot RequiredOwain BeaumontScotland No 2 Brian DonaghyGlasgow & District Amal 

Ballot papers will be emailed to branches under the following timetable:-

Ballot Papers Despatched:     23 July 2024

Ballot Close:                                 6 August 2024

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 0208 971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 256.24 – Royal Mail Division Chair Nominations – Scotland Division

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CWU – CYBER INCIDENT

Further to previous LTBs regarding the above we are writing to inform Branches of correspondence received from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

When such incidents take place, we are required, by law, to inform the ICO of the incident, subsequently the ICO can and in our case have, asked a series of detailed questions around the incident. Following this process we have now received a letter from the ICO that states as follows.

“Based on the information you have provided we have decided that regulatory action is not required in this case” 

 adding further that

“We now consider this matter closed”

Branches may be aware that the ICO does have the power to instigate its own inquiry, produce public reports on these inquiries and in certain cases levy fines if they consider it appropriate.

Against that background the above position set out by the ICO is welcome news and we share it here in order to update Branches on this development.

Any enquiries should be forwarded to sdgs@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB255 CYBER INCIDENT

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