Branch Youth officer Forum – Report and Matters Arising 

As branches may already be aware, following the last Branch Youth Officers’ forum in June, a report of the event was produced. This is attached for your information.
In the report, 9 clear “action points” can be identified. These are detailed below together with a commentary on how it is intended to progress them. 

ACTION POINT
COMMENT
Have a former CWU Youth Committee member as a guest speaker
This will be done
Produce a brief history of the union
Discussions with the Comms and Research Departments to produce a visual record of this are planned
More information on the basics of the BYO role
An explanatory video will be produced in time for Youth Conference 2016
Introduce group sessions to enable participants to speak about their branch, issues and solutions
This will be done
Update the BYO Toolkit and distribute
In discussion with the Education and Training department, a new version of the tool kit will be developed for the Left Click platform in 2016
Scope the possibility of producing a welcome pack available on request (such as when a new BYO is elected)
The Youth Committee will be agreeing how to progress this at their meeting on 30 October
Arrange a Q&A session either via social media of the CWU Youth website – or both
The Youth Committee and Communications Department are scoping how this will work in practice
Arrange further BYO forum, outside of London
This will take place on either 25 May or 8 June in the Newcastle
 
Any queries on this Letter to Branches should be directed to my office at CWU HQ.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Simon Sapper
National Officer

Trial Deployment of a Telephone Accident Reporting Process 

Following an approach by Royal Mail, a number of meetings have taken place between the company and the department on the above subject. At those meetings, we raised and have subsequently addressed a number of concerns over the proposed trial and are now satisfied that we have been able to agree a Terms of Reference, supplemented with further documents that will form a training package for those offices included in the trial.  

 

The documents included are:

 

• Terms of Reference

• Accident details card

• Proposed process chart for new reporting process

• Advice on use of PDA telephoning

• Advice and guidance at the scene of an accident

• LEX questions at the scene / following and RTA

 

The purpose of the trial is not to replace, change or amend the current reporting process contained within the Road Traffic Accident Procedure, but an attempt to speed up the process from the scene of the accident so that potential 3rd party claims can be dealt with as soon as possible. It is estimated that 63% of RTA’s do not arrive with LEX Autolease within the specified 24 hour reporting period, therefore leading to costs that could be avoidable when dealing with 3rd party claims, including being unable to recover the cost of damage to Royal Mail vehicles. It is further recognised that the quality of information reported on the ERICA form in many cases is missing or unclear which severely delays the legal process for Royal Mail solicitors, STRATA.

 

We recognise that our members can encounter a considerable amount of shock and stress when involved in an RTA, therefore, for the purpose of this trial, the driver has the opportunity to speak to someone more experienced in dealing with individuals following a RTA. At the same time, only if or when the driver deems it is safe to do so, they can telephone LEX Autolease from their PDA who will ask the driver a number of questions relating to the circumstances surrounding the accident that will provide immediate information to STRATA so that the legal process can commence as soon as possible. The conversation between LEX and the driver should only take around 7-8 minutes, and no delay to the delivery or collection of the mail following an RTA and entering this process will be held against the driver. The safety and wellbeing of the driver is paramount, therefore the driver can make the call when they get back to their office if they chose to. To ensure the viability of the trial we would encourage full co-operation/participation from drivers and delivery office managers.

 

 

Participation and feedback from the trial offices will be through CWU Divisional Representatives, Delivery Directors, DSMs, DOMs, CWU Representatives and drivers on a monthly basis. Discussions with these individuals will take place prior to the commencement of the trial.

 

The trials are due to commence on the 16th November 2015, and will be jointly assessed by Royal Mail and CWU at the end of a 3 month period. Further roll out will only take place following the assessment and through agreement.

 

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300.02

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

 

 

Yours sincerely

 
 

Bob Gibson

CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor

CWU Youth Conference – Saturday 23rd January 2016 

The CWU Youth Conference will be held on Saturday 23rd January 2016 at The Mechanics Centre Ltd, 103 Princess Street (Major Street Entrance), Manchester, M1 6DD.

 

a) Motions

 

Each Regional Youth Committee will be entitled to submit ONE motion to the Conference Agenda.

 

Each Branch will be entitled to submit ONE motion to the Conference Agenda.

 

The Youth Committee will be entitled to submit THREE motions to the Conference Agenda.

 

Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the template attached. Branches or Regions who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

 

Motion forms must be returned by Wednesday 9th December 2015. Anything received after this date will not be accepted. All sections of the form must be completed.  

 

Branches, Regions and the Advisory 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.

 

If motions are being sent electronically they will only be accepted if sent 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 Youth 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.

 

As with previous Conferences, 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.

 

b) Delegates

 

Details for registering delegates and observers will be issued in a further LTB. Any queries regarding the registration process should be directed to conferences@cwu.org

 

Regional Youth Committee Secretaries shall attend Youth Annual Conference in an

ex-officio capacity with the right to speak and move Motions on behalf of their

Regional Youth Committee but not to vote. Funding for Regional Youth Committee

Secretaries to attend Youth Annual Conference shall be from the General Fund.

 

Branch delegate entitlement to this Conference as agreed by the NEC is as follows:

 

 

Number of Young Members

Delegate

entitlement

1-249

1

250-499

2

500 and above

3

 

 

Branches are urged to make every effort to ensure that their delegation comprises members who are either 30 and under as of October or who are serving Branch Youth Officers. The expectation is that voting delegates aged over 30 will be present on an exceptional basis.

 

 

In order that we can cater for any delegate with special needs such as seating, 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 8th January 2016.

 

c)​Election of Delegates to General Conference

 

As you will know, the Youth Conference will select two delegates to represent the Youth Members to attend General Conference 2016.

 

The Standing Orders for the Youth Conference will advise a ballot to select these two delegates and it will be conducted during Conference itself. Nominees must be members of the Union and have the support of their branch and/or Regional Youth Committee.  

 

Additionally, individuals must be willing to accept nomination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Branches and Regional Youth Committees should forward any nominees on the attached form for this ballot to conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

 

CWU Retired Members Conference – Thursday 21st January 2016 

The CWU Retired Members Conference will be held on Thursday 21st January 2016 in the Crystal Suite, Britannia Hotel, Portland Street, Manchester M1 3LA.

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 Members

Delegate

entitlement

1-249

1

250-499

2

500 and above

3

 

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 General Fund.

 

In order that we can cater for any delegate with special needs such as seating, 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 8th January 2016.

 

b)​Motions

 

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using 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 7256 Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting the Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branches, Regions and the Advisory 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 one Motion to the Retired Members Conference.

 

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

 

Motion forms must be returned by Tuesday 8th December 2015. 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 2016.

 

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’ Advisory Committee, to be eligible.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Chris Tapper either by post to head office or by email to Conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

 

National Network Review (Network 15) Update – Deployment Date 

Further to LTB 588/15 please find attached for your information a Joint Statement which communicates the 25th January 2016 as the agreed deployment date for the National Network Review (Network 15).

 

The aim will now be to ensure that duty sets and re-picks are concluded in readiness for the deployment date, in line with the terms of the attached Joint Statement. The NWG will remain available to offer advice and assistance where necessary.  

 

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that our Network members are made aware of the contents of this LTB at the earliest opportunity.

 

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 233.11

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

 JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL LOGISTICS AND THE CWU REGARDING DEPLOYMENT OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK REVIEW

This Joint Statement confirms the agreed way forward in relation to the deployment of the National Network Review.

Both parties recognise that we are currently experiencing positive increases in Tracked customer demand and the overall volumetric growth in the pipeline as we move towards Christmas. It is therefore vital that everyone is fully focused on this critical operations period.

Given the above it has been jointly agreed not to deploy the National Network Review prior to Christmas.

This Joint Statement confirms that the deployment date for the National Network Review will be the 25th January 2016.

Both parties recognise that there will be some final areas of adjustment to be concluded and that local and national discussions will continue, in order to finalise duty sets and complete re-picks ahead of the deployment date.

Any issues which could place the agreed deployment date at risk must be referred to the National parties at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure these are addressed in a timely manner.

 

Euan McMurdo      Davie Robertson

Director Logistics      Assistant Secretary

Royal Mail                      CWU

Date: 5th November 2015

Notification of Welcome to Royal Mail Sessions (New Entrant Recruitment)
Branches will be aware that as part of the New Entrant Induction process agreed in 2006, the CWU has a timeslot of one hour allocated to recruit new entrants as members of the Union. In the past there has been no official structure in place to notify Branches of when or where the Welcome to Royal Mail (WTRM) sessions were taking place.
Colleagues will also be aware that in order to address the resourcing shortfalls that have crystallised of late, Royal Mail has embarked upon a recruitment drive across the country. How these resourcing shortfalls materialised is the subject of ongoing discussion with the business but in order to maximise the number of new entrants being engaged, Royal Mail notified the Union that they were making a temporary change to the induction training programme, whereby new entrants received their first day training in the workplace (covering health and safety) with the remaining induction training being carried out within one month of their appointment.
The Union immediately responded advising the business that this was unacceptable and that whilst we acknowledged the need to close the resourcing gaps as expediently as possible we could not accept that the CWU would not have access to new employees on commencement of their employment. A meeting subsequently took place with the business; in attendance for the Union was Shelley Banbury – PEC Member and Lynn Browne – Senior Field Organiser. As a result of this meeting the business has confirmed that in addition to new employees being given Health and Safety training, they will also be introduced to the CWU Representative. It is therefore imperative that CWU Representatives take this opportunity to recruit new employees.
Royal Mail also confirmed at the meeting that the CWU’s one hour slot would remain in place on day one and that the WTRM sessions have been revamped to make them more informative and professional. Given the aforementioned revamp, the CWU have agreed to change the one hour slot to commence at 11:00 as this is the optimum time given in the new programme.

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

URGENT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS
In addition to the above, the negotiators were successful in securing details of dates and venues of the day one training sessions, up to week commencing 30th November 2015 (copy attached). Further dates will be circulated to Branches in due course.

Any enquires from Branches /Representatives should be referred to Lynn Browne, Senior Field Organiser, lbrowne@cwu.org in the first instance.
Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger​

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

 

Trade Union Bill: Government response to picketing consultation 

As you may have seen reported in the media today, the government published its response to its consultation on picketing provisions in the Trade Union Bill yesterday evening. This followed the TUC rally and lobby in Westminster on Monday, which was strongly attended by CWU branches across the country.

 

While the media have presented the government response to its consultation as ‘a climb-down’, it is important to be clear that the government has changed its position on just two issues.

 

• The government has tabled an amendment that relates to the picketing supervisor. Under the original wording in the Bill, the union would need to appoint a supervisor on a picket who would be required to show a letter of authorisation to ‘any person who reasonably asks to see it.’ The government is proposing to change this to require it to be shown to the employer, or someone acting on their behalf, only.

 

• Alongside the provisions on picketing within the Bill, the consultation asked for views on whether the government should create a new criminal offence of intimidation on the picket line and whether unions should be required to publish in advance their plans for protesting, using social media and picketing. The government has now stated that it will not take these things forward.

 

• However, in changing its position on the above two issues, the government has also announced that it will now strengthen the restrictions in the Code of Practice on Picketing to cover intimidation, the use of social media and wider protests around industrial disputes. We do not yet have any details about these proposals, but a failure to comply with the Code would have legal implications for the union.

 

It should be clear from the above, that while some progress has been made, the Bill remains a significant and wide-ranging attack on the trade union movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next parliamentary stage of the Bill will take place on 10th November, when it will be voted on by the House of Commons, and we are expecting the government to respond to two other consultations – on the use of agency workers as strike-breakers and on balloting thresholds in the public sector – shortly.

 

Following the strong CWU presence at the TUC’s rally and lobby on 2nd November, we would ask Branches to continue lobbying Tory MPs, writing to local media and campaigning against the Bill on social media. We will update Branches on any further developments on the Bill as these occur and any queries on the contents of this LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting reference GS13.1/LTB 708/15.

 

Yours sincerely

 

​ ​

 

Dave Ward​

General Secretary

AGREEMENT BETWEEN CWU & PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE ON 2015 AUTUMN PRESSURE AND CHRISTMAS REMUNERATION PROPOSALS FOR ALL CWU GRADE DEPOT EMPLOYEES 

Branches and representatives will be aware that in previous years agreement has been reached with Parcelforce Worldwide in relation to incentive for volunteers to attend on the Saturdays and Sundays in the run up to Christmas.

 

IN LINE WITH THIS TRADITION PLEASE FIND ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION A COPY OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CWU & PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE ON 2015 AUTUMN PRESSURE AND CHRISTMAS REMUNERATION PROPOSALS FOR ALL CWU GRADE DEPOT EMPLOYEES, WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY THE POSTAL EXECUTIVE AT ITS MEETING ON THE 3RD NOVEMBER 2015.

 

IN RESPECT OF INCENTIVE PAYMENTS FOR ATTENDANCE OVER THE STATED PERIOD ARRANGEMENTS MIRROR THOSE ACHIEVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. FOR 2015 HOWEVER THE WEEKENDS TO BE COVERED HAVE BEEN EXTENDED FROM 3 TO 4 AND INCLUDE THE LAST WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER WHEN BLACK FRIDAY FALLS. THIS OF COURSE AFFORDS OUR MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY OVER A LONGER TIME PERIOD TO ACHIEVE THE £36 INCENTIVE FOR COMMITMENT TO ATTEND FOR TWO OR MORE SATURDAY/SUNDAYS.

 

Clarification is also provided in respect of Saturday 26th December 2015 as the USO does not apply to Parcelforce operations.

 

You will also note that clarification in relation to seasonal cull arrangements has also been included in this year’s document. This ensures that the incentive arrangements for additional attendances for the dates outlined in the attached agreement will also be applied as appropriate at any cull site that is established.  

 

The department would be grateful if Branches and representatives would ensure that this LTB and its attachment are brought to the attention of our members.

 

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 106A.06

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

 

AGREEMENT BETWEEN CWU & PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE ON 2015 AUTUMN PRESSURE AND CHRISTMAS REMUNERATION PROPOSALS FOR ALL

CWU GRADE DEPOT EMPLOYEES

 

 

1. Introduction

 

This agreement has been reached to ensure that the expected increased volumes of traffic during the pre-Christmas and Christmas period can be delivered to meet customer requirements and to provide great quality of service performance. It also confirms the payment arrangements for December 2015 and the operating arrangements for the holiday period.

 

 

2. Pressure Period Working

 

It has been agreed between both parties that during the pressure period the following terms will apply for all CWU Graded Depot employees.  

 

Weekdays: Additional hours to be put in if necessary to handle increased workload, with scheduled attendance offered where appropriate and subject to normal conditions

 

Weekends: Local discussions will identify the requirement for scheduled attendance working on Saturday and Sundays for the period 28th November to 20th December 2015 inclusive. Where workload requires attendance for Saturday or Sunday working, employees will be invited to enter into an advance commitment to attend for any or all of the required Saturdays or Sundays. Upon the signing of this advance commitment, employees will be eligible for a special payment of £19.76 an hour for those days worked, equivalent to double the normal duty hourly rate, instead of the normal pre-scheduled or overtime rates. These arrangements will also apply to advance commitments for additional attendances performed on the Friday/Saturday, Saturday/Sunday and Sunday/Monday night shifts.

 

In addition, employees who sign for an advance commitment for two or more of the four Saturdays/Sundays highlighted previously and perform the work will receive a single payment of £36.00 in addition to the above rate.

 

The special payment will be offered for attendance of a minimum of six hours on each of the Saturdays/Sundays or night shifts as required.

 

Anyone committing under these arrangements to attend for more than one Saturday/Sunday who fails to fulfil their commitment will only receive the pre-scheduled rate of pay for any days attended and any previous payments made will be rectified accordingly on the next pay date.

 

Operations managers will meet unit reps to discuss the work and manpower plans required in each office. These meetings will identify the extent, if any, to which additional attendance over normal is required. Against this backdrop both parties commit to work together to ensure that the appropriate number of applicants required in each of the depots, on all of the days covered by this agreement, is fully met. In advance of signed commitments being made, volunteers will initially be sought on a without prejudice basis in order to gauge demand and assist in matching attendances to planned traffic levels on each of the relevant days.

 

 

3. Payment Arrangements

 

December salaries will be paid on 24th December 2015, and will include variable payments for the weeks commencing 16th November, 23th November, 30th November and 7th December. 

 

 

4. Attendance Arrangements

 

Exceptionally this year, Parcelforce Worldwide will be closed for business on Saturday 26th December. Depots will be open for business on all other days, including Saturdays where applicable, that are not designated bank or public holidays. 24th December, Christmas Eve, is a normal working day. Local discussions will take place over any necessary adjustments or reductions to duties, in line with previous agreements, on shifts either just before or just after the public holidays due to changes in network arrangements affecting the flow of work.

 

 

5. Seasonal Cull Operations

 

Arrangements in relation to seasonal cull activity, i.e. the Southern Cull, will be subject to a separate local agreement between the relevant Regional Organiser and AGM. Remuneration for additional attendances on the aforementioned dates will be on the same basis as detailed in this agreement, where applicable. Any variations to the remuneration package or standard terms and conditions as outlined in this agreement will be subject to negotiation at National level.

 

Any enquiries appertaining to this agreement should be referred directly to the respective Headquarters.

Davie Robertson​Sharon Sherriff

Assistant Secretary​Head of Employee Relations

Communication Workers Union​Parcelforce Worldwide

 

 

Date: 4th November 2015