Ken McKenzie Award for Lifelong Learning 2024 

Branches will be aware of the policy adopted at General Conference 2010 to present the Ken McKenzie Award for Lifelong Learning, which is presented to a Union Learning Representative (ULR) or group of ULRs who have made a significant contribution to Lifelong Learning within the CWU.

The award is presented each year at our CWU ULR National Networking Event and will be part of the agenda at this year’s event scheduled to be held in Newcastle over two days on the 30^thand 31^st October 2024.

Therefore, I am now inviting applications for the 2024 Annual Ken McKenzie award for Lifelong Learning.

Nominations can be made by Branches, Regional Learning Committees or Regional Committees via letter or email to my department.

Nominations should include a summary of the nominated ULR or group of ULRs endeavours and achievements and sent to:

Michelle Simpson, Equality, Education & Development, CWU, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX or email equality&education@cwu.org  

The closing date for nominations will be FRIDAY 11^th OCTOBER 2024.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 306/24 – Ken McKenzie Award for Lifelong Learning 2024

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Royal Mail Group – The Collective Plan 

Further to LTB 282/24 dated 23rd August.

As previously reported, there are two key attributes to the new Collective Plan that if members wish to activate in time for the commencement of the scheme on the 7^th October, will need to be done by this Friday 13th September. This date is required in order for payroll to process the necessary arrangements.

Specifically, this applies to both the Lump Sum Booster and Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC’s) which can be activated via the People App.

Lump Sum Booster: Members can pay an extra 1% of pensionable pay into the guaranteed lump sum and Royal Mail will match this 1% making an extra 2% going into your lump sum. There is also an extra benefit as you will get tax relief on your 1% by paying via Pension Salary Exchange (PSE).

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC’s): Members can also pay AVC’s into the scheme and this will also be subject to tax relief by paying via Pension Salary Exchange (PSE). It should be noted, if members are currently paying an AVC into another Royal Mail pension scheme, this will stop once The Collective Plan is introduced. Members will therefore need to restart the AVC for The Collective Plan.

We are pleased to report that over 20,000 people have already registered to pay the 1% Lump Sum Booster and very nearly 4,000 AVC’s have been applied via the People App. We fully expect these numbers to continue to rise, however to make this happen in time for the commencement of the scheme, applications must be logged on the People App by this Friday. Members can of course apply after this date; it just means these attributes will start at a later date.

A helpful slide that amplifies these benefits has been produced by Royal Mail and is attached.

Branches are encouraged to bring these benefits to the attention of our members and to remind them that to activate either of these attributes in time for the commencement of the scheme will need to be done by this Friday via the People App. More information on The Collective Plan can be found at http://www.myroyalmail.com/collective-plan

Your sincerely,

Martin Walsh         

Deputy General Secretary (P)                                                             

Andy Furey 

Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: LTB 304/24 – Royal Mail Group – The Collective Plan

Attachment 2: Attachment to LTB 304/24

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Outstanding Employment Tribunal Claims

Branches will note that LTB 275/24 reported that “Weightman’s solicitors, acting on behalf of Royal Mail, have confirmed that all of the outstanding sick pay claims (where members had sick pay unlawfully withheld) during the dispute will be paid the sick absence pay that was wrongly stopped.”

It is important that members who have not been paid out ensure they inform Unionline so their claims can be progressed to payment.  This will go some way to deter the business from doing the same in the future.

Unionline has written to and emailed the affected members to confirm if they have already been paid by the employer.  A number of members have responded to say that they have not yet received the unpaid sick absence pay they are owed, and this will be flagged up with Weightman’s later this week.  Upon receipt of this information, Weightmans will pursue payment on their behalf.

Unfortunately, Unionline have not received a response from around half of the members affected.

The purpose of this LTB is to advise that, if members have not yet received the money they are owed, the only action needed is for them to inform Unionline at cwugroup@unionline.co.uk quoting what they are owed and from which dates.

Unfortunately, if members do not respond, it is likely that their case will be struck out without any payment taking place.

 Unionline has also written to Branches with details of the members in their Branch with outstanding claims and it would therefore be appreciated if Branches could also encourage the members in their Branch to respond to Weightmans at cwugroup@unionline.co.uk.

Any questions in relation to this LTB should be directed to cwugroup@unionline.co.uk or rwotherspoon@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)                                  

Ray Ellis
Acting Head of Legal Services

LTB 305-24 – Outstanding Employment Tribunal Claims

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Royal Mail / Dimensions Uniform ‘Roadshow’ Workplace Visits 2024/25

Further to LTB 088/24 (Letter To Branches), which sought to update Branches and members in terms of the ongoing developments surrounding uniform matters in Royal Mail following the rollout of the new ‘performance’ uniform range some 3 years ago.

Branches may recall that one of the developments outlined in this LTB was the intention of Royal Mail to restart the uniform Roadshow events, which were a major opportunity and avenue for direct feedback from members on new uniform items, and which played a major role in terms of the current uniform design.

Accordingly, Royal Mail have now informed the Outdoor Department that they intend to relaunch their uniform Roadshow this September, along with their uniform supplier Dimensions. Set out below are the planned locations for these Roadshows, noting however that several dates still need to be confirmed by Royal Mail:St Albans DO

Luton DO

Basingstoke DO

Debden DO

Southend MPU

Dartford DO

Harrogate DO12^thSeptember

13^thSeptember

3^rdOctober

11^thOctober

Date TBC

Date TBC

Date TBCWimbledon DO

Bromley PDO

Newton Abbot DO

Colchester DO

Exeter DO

Croydon DO

Southwark & Rotherhithe DODate TBC

Date TBC

Date TBC

Date TBC

Date TBC

Date TBC

Date TBC

Alongside this, Representatives will recall that Royal Mail had a uniform stand at this year’s CWU Annual Conference, where a number of new prototype garments were displayed for feedback from Branch delegates. Based on this feedback, new garments, as well as alterations to existing items, are now currently in production. These planned Roadshows will further allow members to give direct feedback into these ongoing changes and the future uniform range.

From the outset, these Roadshow events have proven to be very successful and largely welcomed by members in previous years. In addition to offering details on the current uniform range and addressing particular individual questions and enquiries, they also aim to give members more information on such issues as self-ordering of uniforms, returning unwanted items or the process for orders which are over the individuals members uniform allocation.

In setting out this list of workplace visits, it can be confirmed that a number of the abovementioned locations have been nominated by CWU Reps and Royal Mail have confirmed that further consideration will be given to any additional visit requests made. Therefore, if Branches wish to request a Uniform Roadshow visit for a particular workplace, they are invited to do so by writing into the Outdoor Department.

Any enquiries to the content of this LTB or further requests for Uniform Roadshow visits to a workplace, should be directed to the Outdoor Department, reference 500, email address: Pharacz@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch                                                                                       

Assistant Secretary

LTB 303/24 – RM Dimensions Uniform Roadshow Workplace Visits 2024-25

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Raising Concerns Agreement

We are very pleased to announce and inform Branches that the Raising Concerns Agreement has now been endorsed.

The result of the ballot is as follows:-

Accept the Agreement:  59,683

Against the Agreement:  12,213

Spoilt Papers:  0

Total Ballot Papers received:  47

Total Ballot Papers dispatched:  102

Branches should be advised the Agreement is due to go live on the 30^thof September.

We have already shared a copy of the Agreement when we sent the Ballot Papers out, we will now prepare a further signed copy, along with a copy of the Procedure and Management Guidelines to send to Branches in advance of the launch date.

We will also liaise with the Communications department in order to produce any further necessary documentation so Branches and Members are fully supported before the 30^th.

Any enquiries on this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS department, email lpietrzykowska@cwu.org.

Your sincerely

Bobby Weatherall
Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 302/24 – Raising Concerns Agreement

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CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 30^th October 2024

The CWU Retired Members Conference will be held on Wednesday 30^th October 2024 at the offices of CWU Birmingham District Amal Branch, 47 Summer Lane, Hockley, Birmingham B19 3TH.

a) Delegates 

Only Branches with Retired members Sections are entitled to send Delegates.

Branch delegate entitlement to this Conference as agreed by the NEC is as follows:Number of Retired  MembersDelegate

entitlement1-2491250-4992500 and above3

Branch Secretaries should register delegates and observers by emailing conferences@cwu.org

by 25^th October 2024. Confirmation of request will be sent to branches within 72 hours. Should confirmation not be received within this time branches are asked to contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7237.

Retired Members Regional Committee Secretaries shall attend the Retired Members conference with the right to speak and move motions on behalf of their Retired Members Regional Committee but not to vote. Funding for Retired Members Regional Committee Secretaries to attend Retired Members Conference shall be from the General Fund.

In order that we can cater for any delegate with special needs such as seating, dietary requirements etc., it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Friday 18^th October 2024.

b) Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit onemotion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.orgusing the attached template. Confirmation of receipt of motion will be sent to branches within 72 hours.

Should confirmation not be received within this time branches are asked to contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7237.   Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting the Angela Niven on 020 8971 7237.

Branches, Regions and the Committee are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Each Retired Members Regional Committee is entitled to submit oneMotion to the Retired Members Conference.

The Retired Members Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the Conference, standing in their name.

Motion forms must be returned by NOON Monday 30^th September 2024.   Anything received after this date will not be accepted.   All sections of the form must be completed.

If Motions are being sent electronically, they will only be accepted to the above email address.

As with previous Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be 2 sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that the Retired Members’ Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit 2 motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be in this category, they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

The 2 motions for submission to the General Conference agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the 2 motions will be held at the Conference.

c) Election of Delegates to General Conference

As you will know, the Retired Members’ Conference will select two delegates to represent the Retired Members to attend General Conference 2025.

The Standing Orders for the Retired Members’ Conference will advise a ballot to select these two delegates will be conducted during Conference itself.

Additionally, individuals must be willing to accept nomination, and must have the nomination of their own branch and/or the Retired Members’ Committee, to be eligible.

The exception to this are members of the Retired Members’ Committee themselves who may be proposed for these positions but need to have the nomination of the Retired Members’  Committee and/or any Regional Committee.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 301/24 – CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 30th October 2024

Att: Copy of Retired Count and Section 2024

Att: Guidance Notes

Att: Motion Form

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CWU NATIONAL OFFICER 2024 ELECTIONS – CWU RESTRUCTURING (PHASE 2)

The purpose of this LTB is to update Branches on forthcoming National Elections and Phase 2 of the CWU Restructuring Programme.

Against the background of CWU policy to undertake a more substantial 2^ndPhase of CWU restructuring, the NEC agreed at its meeting on Thursday 5^thSeptember to hold back a number of National Officer roles from this year’s elections, pending the outcome of the Phase 2 review.

The NEC Officer roles that were agreed to be held back are as follows:

National Officer Roles to be reviewed under Phase 2 restructuring

• SDGS
• 1 T&FS National Officer role
• 1 Postal National Officer role (C&CH Assistant Secretary)

National Officer Roles to be included in the 2024 election

• 2 T&FS National Officer roles
• 1 Postal National Officer role (Outdoor Assistant Secretary)

The NEC were also given a report on the approach that will be taken to the Phase 2 Restructuring Programme and further information will be sent to Branches on this in due course.  This will include the overall approach we will be taking to identify clear choices for our future, as well as a timeline for consultations with Branches and the appropriate conference arrangements.

Additionally, the T&FS Department had indicated a willingness to reduce the overall number of National Officers by one alongside the need to integrate our growing membership in the tech sector into the wider constituency.  As a result, John Chadfield has been employed as a National Officer, on a cost-neutral basis, with a combined role of growing the union through the UTAW Branch and the tech sector, while also providing wide-ranging internal expertise and support to rebuild the CWU’s technological infrastructure.

We believe Branches will understand the need for the NEC to take all the above decisions in response to the growing financial, membership and organisational challenges facing the union.  We confirm that any final decisions on the future of the roles listed in this LTB will be a matter for the NEC and a Conference of the union, as appropriate.     

Finally, we can advise that the Regional Secretary elections will also be held back, pending the outcome of Phase 2.

Any enquiries on the above should be addressed to the General Secretary’s department jdunn@cwu.org. 

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                                                     

General Secretary                                         

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 297/24 – CWU NATIONAL OFFICER 2024 ELECTIONS – CWU RESTRUCTURING (PHASE 2)

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RMPFSL Pay – Ballot Timetable 

 Further to LTB 281/24, we can confirm that the ballot timetable for the above ballot is as follows: 

• Ballot papers dispatched to home addresses from 12^th September(Second Class)
• Ballot closes on 3^rd October(Second Class)

 We would urge all Branches to encourage our members to participate in the ballot, and to return their ballot papers as soon as they can. 

We have also attached for your information the members’ bulletin which was sent to email addresses a few days ago.  

Any enquiries on this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference number 320, email: hmaughan@cwu.org or the Outdoor Department, quoting reference number 120.12, email: Pharacz@cwu.org. 

Yours sincerely, 

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary                        

Bobby Weatherall
Acting Assistant Secretary                         

LTB 300/24 – RMPFSL Pay – Ballot Timetable

Att: Members Bulletin RMPFSL Pay 2024

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ANDY KERR – FORMER DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY T&FS – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS 

Further to LTB 284/24, please see below details of the funeral arrangements for Andy Kerr former DGS (T&FS).

Service on Wednesday 25^thSeptember 2024, 12 noon at: 

Clyde Coast & Garnock Valley Crematorium, 

A760 Largs Road,  

Dalry

North Ayrshire  

KA24 5LE  Website: www.clydecrematorium.co.uk

We believe a lot of our Branches and representatives will want to attend the service and pay their respects.  There may also be some Branches who are unable to make the journey to Scotland.  Therefore, there will also be a link to join the service remotely on 25^th September, which will be advised to Branches when we have the details.

Additionally, separate to the funeral, we will be organising an opportunity at a future date to come together at a memorial service in London, the details of which will be advised in due course.

The family have suggested people might like to wear something in a shade of blue to acknowledge Andy’s favourite colour.  

Donations in memory of Andy, in lieu of flowers, can be made to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Donate | The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Yours in solidarity                   

Dave Ward                                                                

General Secretary    

LTB 298/24 – ANDY KERR FORMER DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY TFS – FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

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World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 – Tuesday 10^th September

Dear Colleagues,

The CWU has a long tradition of supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing.  Suicide is a major public health challenge with more than 700,000 deaths each year globally.  Each suicide has far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences and deeply affects individuals and communities worldwide.

The theme for 2024 is ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’ with an associated call to action of ‘Start the Conversation’.

The CWU are continually striving to be a ‘suicide safer’ organisation.  Part of that process includes the continued training up of accredited MHFAiders and advanced MHFAiders to ensure that conversations can take place at any given time in workplaces where we have representation.

Since 2020 a cohort of CWU Mental Health First Aid instructors have been frequently training CWU members/Representatives in Mental Health First Aid on the 2-day MHFA England training course.

From April 2024 All newly trained CWU MHFAiders will now be encouraged to join the Association of Mental Health First Aiders, which is England’s first and only membership body for Mental Health First Aiders, where collaboration, connection and sharing of best practice can take place with like-minded individuals. https://www.aomhfa.org/

We are pleased to report that we have now trained over 500 CWU members in the MHFA England 2-day course.  We will continue to look at how we educate on suicide prevention whilst also developing/enhancing our postvention strategy.

It remains hugely important that as an active Trade Union we understand the important factors affecting mental ill health by being ready to:

• Identify the signs and symptoms for a range of mental health conditions.
• Provide immediate Mental Health First Aid to someone experiencing a mental health issue or crisis.
• Listen non-judgmentally and hold supportive conversations.
• Signpost people to professional help.

Attached to the LTB are a number of supporting materials and we would ask Branches to ensure that all Representatives and Members are made aware of the support and organisations that are available.

Please remember talking about feelings doesn’t have to be scary.

https://www.samaritans.org/branches/dunfermline/news/world-suicide-prevention-day-tuesday-10-september-2024/

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

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 299/24 – World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 – Tuesday 10th September

Attachment 1 – st_john_ambulance_mhfaider_poster

Attachment 2 – suicide-safer-language-9

Attachment 3 – listening-tips-poster

Attachment 4 – self-harm-conversation-tips

Attachment 5 – mental-health-and-suicide-conversation-tips

Attachment 6 – POSTVENTION PLANNING- WHY WE NEED IT AND WHAT IT IS…

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