Election of: 

• CWU Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

• CWU Postal Executive (Postal Grades) – Rerun Ballot

 

Further to LTB 339/15, dated 15 May 2015

 

1. CWU Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

 

Nominations for the above position closed at 14:00 on 11 June 2015.

 

Please find below a list of accepted nominations and respective nominating branches.

 

Ray Ellis ​CWU Officers Branch​(Ballot Required)

 

Nominating Branches

 

CWU Officers Branch

London West End Amal

Birmingham District Amal

Meridian

Central and West Lancs

Mid Wales, The Marches and North Staffs

Central Counties and Thames Valley

Midland No.1

Cheshire No.1 Amal

Midland No.7

Colchester and District

Newcastle Amal

Darwen Capita

North East

East Lancs Amal

North West Central Amal

East London Postal

North West No.1

East Midlands

Northern Ireland Combined

Eastern No.3

Northern Ireland East

Eastern No.6

Northern/North West London

Gloucestershire Amal

Scotland MT

Great Western

Somerset, Devon and Cornwall

Greater Manchester

South Central MT

Jersey

South East Anglia

Leicester and Midshires

South East London Postal and Counters

London 7

South Midlands Postal

London North Western C&C

South Yorkshire

London Postal Engineering

West Yorkshire

London RMT

Wolverhampton and District Amal

London South West Postal

 

 

 

 

 

Terry Pullinger ​CWU Officers Branch ​(Ballot Required)

 

Nominating Branches​

 

CWU Officers Branch

Northern Home Counties

Bournemouth and Dorset Amal

Northern Ireland West

Bradford and District

Nottingham and District Amal

Bristol and District Amal

Portsmouth and District

Cleveland Amal

Romford Amal

Cornwall Amal

Scotland No.2

County Durham Amal

Scotland No.5

Croydon and Sutton Amal

Shropshire and Mid Wales

Doncaster and District

South and East Thames Amal

Eastern No.5

South East No.5

Essex Amal

South East Wales Amal

Glasgow and District Amal

South West 7

Guernsey

South West Middlesex Amal

Gwent Amal

South West Wales Amal

Hull and East Riding Amal

South Yorks and District Amal

Isle of Man

Southdowns, Weald and Rother

Kent Invicta

Suffolk Amal

Kingston Area

Wessex South Central

Leeds No.1 Amal

Western Counties

Merseyside Amal

Worcester and Hereford Amal

North Lancs and Cumbria

York and District Amal

North Wales and Marches

 

 

 

2. CWU Postal Executive (Postal Grades) – Re-run Ballot

 

Branches are reminded that the ballot for the above election will be conducted in conjunction with the DGSP Ballot. For ease of reference the candidates and balloting arrangements for this election are contained in LTB 339/15.

 

The timetable for the above ballots is as follows:

 

Ballot Papers despatched:​23 June 2015

Ballot Closes:​​14 July 2015

 

Any enquiries regarding the above should be directed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department for the attention of Peter Metcalfe.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION AND WHISTL 

The Government announced late yesterday afternoon that 15% of the shares in Royal Mail (half of its remaining stake) has been placed with a number of city institutions to be sold to institutional investors. The process for this took place overnight and this is clearly a further demonstration of the Government’s total disregard for a public voice in the company. It brings to the fore the very real threat to the continuation of daily delivery services and the Universal Service Obligation in the UK. Furthermore, the haste in which this has been carried out clearly denies any debate or scrutiny of the government’s proposals.  

 

We understand that the Chancellor also confirmed in a speech last night that a further 1% of shares would go to employees. At this stage we have no further detail on this.

 

In response to these developments the union has made it clear that public or private the CWU is going nowhere and prospective institutional investors should know that we will defend our members’ terms and conditions by all means necessary. These events strengthen our determination to campaign for stronger legislation to protect daily deliveries and the universal service.

 

In a separate development yesterday Whistl confirmed that following its 30-day consultation the company is pulling out of its entire UK delivery operation.

 

It can be seen from the aforementioned that events within the postal sector are moving at a very fast pace and it is more important than ever that the union has a co-ordinated and effective response and our approach to this will be fully discussed at next week’s briefing on the 19th June.  

 

Finally, we can also confirm that the Union will be holding a parliamentary event before the summer recess and further details on this will follow in due course. Although the parliamentary event will focus on postal industry issues, it will be our intention to open up this event to CWU Branches across both constituencies.

 

Any enquiries about the content of this LTB should be addressed to the GS Department quoting the reference LTB379/15. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

​​​​​

Dave Ward​​​​​​

General Secretary

END AUSTERITY NOW – DEMONSTRATION AND MARCH 20TH JUNE
You may be aware the anti-austerity campaign group, the People’s Assembly is holding a national demonstration and march in London on the 20th June to protest against the government’s agenda of privatisation and spending cuts. The union is affiliated to the People’s Assembly, as endorsed at this year’s General Conference.
The campaign is being backed by the CWU and other unions including Unite, PCS, Unison and the RMT and aims to make clear the strength of opposition to the government’s plans. In the wake of the general election, with a majority Conservative government now determined to attack trade union rights, this has become all the more important.
In particular the campaign highlights the need for: a fairer economy; more and better jobs; protection for public services; and a solution to the housing crisis. The CWU will have a bloc on the march and we will be protesting on these issues and the causes we are campaigning on, notably agency workers, the race to the bottom on terms and conditions and the recent announcement for the final stage of privatisation in Royal Mail.
The demonstration and march will start from the Bank of England at midday and is expected to end at Parliament Square between 4pm-5pm. As General Secretary I will be speaking at the demonstration at the Bank of England before the march calling for the labour movement to re-assert union values in society today and for a rebalancing of forces in the world of work.
Details about the event, including coaches that have been organised from around the country, are available here http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/.
Given the challenges facing the CWU and wider society I would urge all CWU branches to have a presence at the event and to encourage as many members as possible to come along and make their voices heard. Many of us were deeply disappointed to wake up to a Conservative government on 8th May – it’s time for the movement to fight back.
Any enquiries about the content of this LTB should be addressed to the GS department quoting the reference LTB378/15.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
 
 
DAVE WARD

General Secretary

CWU Equality Conferences 2015
 

At the last meeting of the NEC it was agreed that the dates for this year’s Equality Conferences are as follows:

 

LGBT Conference – Saturday 3rd October 2015

Black Workers Conference – Saturday 17th October 2015

Women’s Conference – Wednesday 18th November 2015

Disability Conference – Thursday 19th November 2015

 

All conferences will be held at The Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3SF.

 

Further information will be issued regarding online registration, submission of motions and any special requirements in due course.

 

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Chris Tapper in the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7331 or email ctapper@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 376/15 National Men’s Health Week 2015 ??” 15 – 21 June

To view this download, please click here

No. 376/15
Ref: P3
Date: 10 June 2015
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues
National Men’s Health Week 2015 – 15 – 21 June

The Men’s Health Forum, an independent body founded by Royal College of Nursing in 1994, has confirmed that National Men’s Health Week 2015 will start on 15 June 20015.
So with just a short time left until Men’s Health Week kicks off on 15th June there’s some great events happening up and down the UK to tell you about including: 

• Link4Life Leisure Trust in Rochdale have organised walking football sessions.
• Trim Down Shape Up have partnered with Wigan Warriors and Leigh Centurions rugby clubs to offer rugby skills throughout the week, ending with a 7 v 7 game on the Sunday.
• Pompey in the Community have teamed up with the Society of St James to provide a sport, fitness and education service for people who affected by addiction, homelessness & mental health.
• Middlesbrough have a range of activities going on in the week including on Wednesday a two hour showcase sharing good men’s health practice in Middlesbrough.
There’s still time to take part in Men’s Health Week. Sign up online to access the resource pack and keep up to date with the week at http://www.menshealthforum.org.uk Resource Pack. The resource pack for the week is available to those who have signed up for the week and it contains posters, graphics and briefings to help you with the week. Also, the Men’s Health Forum now has a press template available which you can use to help get your event out to the local media. The Forum will be tweeting throughout the week @menshealthforum using the hashtag #MHW15 so follow them to get the latest news in the week.
There’s still time to order a range of man manuals from the Men’s Health Forum online store. The H&S Dept will circulate 3 MHF booklets to Branches and Forums: the Man Manual, Challenges and Choices, the Beat Stress Feel Better manual and the Man manual Men’s Health Made Easy. 

If there’s anything else that you need now or during the week, please don’t hesitate to contact the Men’s Health Forum via their email mhw@menshealthforum.org.uk.
Yours sincerely
 

 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety& Environment Officer
 

RE: royal mail group national conduct code procedure 
Further to LTB 374/2015 dated 9 June 2015, due to an administrative error the result figures provided to my department and published for the above agreement were incorrect. The branch returns have now been re-checked. 

 
Please find detailed below the correct figures for the ballot result on the Royal Mail National Conduct Code Procedure which closed on 9th June 2015 at 14.00 pm.

 
Votes in Favour 88,923

Votes Against 3,007

Spoilt Papers 0

 
Number of Ballot Papers Despatched 105

Number of Ballot Papers Received 72

 
Two ballot papers were received at HQ this morning. As they were received after the closing date they have not been included in the result. 

 
As discussed at the National Briefing representatives will now be approached to attend joint training sessions over the next few weeks. 

 
Any enquiries on the ballot should be addressed to the SDGS department sdgs@cwu.org.

 
Any enquiries relating to the agreement should be addressed to Ray Ellis’s department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/335. 

Email address: rellis@cwu.org  

 
Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis,                                              

A/Deputy General Secretary (P)                                            

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Month – June 2015 – The Mike Findley Story and Fund:
Mike Findley a brave and incredible man was 70 on 14th February 2015. This is a big year for Mike, celebrating his 70th birthday, 10 years since he was diagnosed with MND, 50 years as a member of the CWU (and 60 years supporting Fulham football club!).

As many will know, Mike is CWU Gold Badge Holder and a Former CWU Regional Secretary, Divisional Representative, Branch Secretary and Branch Chairman, serving the Union with distinction for over 30 years before retirement from Royal Mail in 1999.

After retirement, Mike became an active and distinguished leader in both his Local Community Association and in Pensioners organisations. He also became a local Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Council.

After diagnosis of MND in June 2005 he formed the Mike Findley MND Fund and has raised over £155,000 for MND, wining many awards and accolades for his efforts including an MBE in 2010. He was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland in 2012.
On 17 June 2005 Mike was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and was told the average lifespan is two – five years. In 2007 after more tests he was told that he had the slower type of the condition called progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) which has a lifespan of 5+ years.
On 15 September 2005 along with family and friends he launched the Mike Findley MND fund and since then has organised many events to raise awareness of MND and to raise money for the MND Association’s ‘central research fund’, plus he has helped local people suffering with the disease through the MND care centre at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.
Mike says “There is no treatment or cure for Motor Neurone Disease and the only outcome is death, with the majority of people with MND dying within 14 months. So it is vitally important that we continue to do all we can to raise awareness and money for research, in the hope that one day the world will be free of MND. So any support people can give will be much appreciated.”

Mike’s condition update is that he has been in remission for three years, although his shoulders and neck are a little weaker. He is still unable to use his arms and hands properly and he uses speech recognition computer software for communications such as writing e-mails. Thankfully, his legs are still strong, although he still needs an electric wheelchair to get around. He told me that he is feeling upbeat and great in himself and in fact better than he has for a few years, and after a four-year break he has just been elected back onto the local Council.

Mike is hoping to attend CWU Annual Conference next year, for his good friend Dave Ward’s first Conference as CWU General Secretary and also hopefully to meet many old colleagues and for a CWU Divisional Representatives reunion.
Mike Findley would be happy to hear from anyone in the CWU wanting to help during Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Month. Attached is a list of this year’s fundraising events organised by the Mike Findley MND Fund. Anybody wishing to know more about the events can email Mike, especially the MND Walk which is an enjoyable walk along the coast from the village where Mike lives in Marske by the sea to Redcar. Anybody wishing to enter a team can obtain registration forms which are available now.
Attached is a photograph of Mike Findley (centre of bottom row) with his dedicated team of volunteers.
Please visit Mike’s Website:- http://mikefindleymndfund.com/

Contact details are:-

4, Northfield Road
Marske-by-the-sea
Redcar, Cleveland
TS11 6EJ
01642/830220 (home)
07805764212 (mike)
07794612857 (judith – treasurer)
mikefindley@ntlworld.com
judithfindley@ntlworld.com
Website:- http://mikefindleymndfund.com/
Yours sincerely
 

 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety& Environment Officer

 

RE: ROYAL MAIL GROUP NATIONAL CONDUCT CODE PROCEDURE 

Further to the individual letter sent to branches dated 22nd May 2015 which contained a ballot paper for the above Agreement.

 

Please find detailed below the ballot result of the Royal Mail National Conduct Code Procedure which closed on 9th June 2015 at 14.00 pm.

 

Votes in Favour​91,930

Votes against​0

Spoilt papers​0

 

Number of ballot papers despatched​105

Number of ballot papers received​72

 

As discussed at the National Briefing representatives will now be approached to attend joint training sessions over the next few weeks.

 

Any enquiries should be addressed to Ray Ellis’s department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/335. 

Email address: rellis@cwu.org  

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 
Ray Ellis, ​

A/Deputy General Secretary (P)​​

 

I.T. FOR REPS COURSE 

In response to motion 80/2014 at postal conference we have now launched the IT For Reps course. This is an online course designed to give reps the IT skills they need to save them the time and effort in their busy lives.

 

Aims of the programme:

This course is divided into 4 sections:

 

• Word In The Workplace: Creating Address Labels, Setting The Agenda, Creating Attendance Sheets, Posters & Flyers

• Making Data Work: Creating Expenses Claim Forms, Creating Contact Lists, Analysing Branch Membership, Calculating a Pay Claim, More About Formulas

• Mastering Mail Merge: Creating Numbered Ballot Papers, Mail Merge Letters, Mail Merge E-mail, Mail Merge Labels, Mail Merge Envelopes

• Presentations: Getting Started, Using Tables & Charts, Formatting & Animating Text, Body Language

 

Who should take this course?

Any CWU reps who want to develop their competence in using computers and the Microsoft Office package. It focuses on Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint and provides links to further learning.

 

For those who are completely new to computers there is an introductory course, Getting To Know Your Computer, which is also available on Left Click and can be accessed directly from this course. This is designed to get people used to using their PC, laptop or tablet, internet and e-mail, although if they are really new to computers they might need a ULR or friend to sit with them for the first few minutes until they get going.

 

Release

We are seeking agreement from employers for this course but agreement has not yet been reached. However, Branches will be familiar with Paragraph 27 of the Code of Practice relating to time off for union duties which states that e-learning tools should be used where available and appropriate. It makes the point that their best use is as an additional learning aid and goes on to explain that time normally needs to be given during normal working hours for union representatives to take advantage of e-learning where it is available. We hope this assists branches in achieving local understandings regarding course participation.

 

 

 

Dates

This course is available now in the Learning for Reps section of CWU Left Click. Just go to http://www.cwu.org/leftclick . If you are logging on for the first time you will have to create an account. This should be self-explanatory but in the event of problems please contact learn@cwu.org

 

Please refer any enquiries regarding this LTB to Trish Lavelle at tlavelle@cwu.org

 

Best wishes,

 

 

Trish Lavelle

Head of Education and Training

 
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

URGENT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS

 Facebook: Dave Ward CWU @DaveWardGS

 

PROFIT RELATED INCENTIVE SCHEME 

All CWU Postal Branches will be aware that until a new incentive scheme is finalised, an interim position was secured that put in place a one year profit related incentive arrangement directly linked to business performance – specifically over achievement of the company’s operating profit target.  

 

The results of the scheme for 2014/15 are as follows:

 

1. The company operating profit target for incentive payments in 2014/15 was £620 million before transformation costs.

2. The profit before incentive payment and at the budgeted foreign exchange rate was £628 million, meaning that the over achievement pot created to share amongst employees was circa £8 million.

 

3. At the actual foreign exchange rate and post incentive payment the reported profit was £611 million. 

4. The scheme covers all CWU Represented grades across the Royal Mail Group (including Parcelforce).

5. The £8 million pot is divided by the total number of full time equivalent staff (adjusted to include part timers’ overtime hours) of 117,868 FTE’s. This equates to a payment of £61 per full time employee.

6. Payment is pro-rata for part timers, although payment will be based on the actual hours worked by individual part timers over a 12 month reference period, where this is higher than their contractual hours.

7. Payment will be made on 26th June for weekly paid staff and in June salaries for monthly paid.

 

We have attached to this LTB a communication that should be copied to CWU members in the workplace.  

 

We have also been advised by the company that eligible full time employees with 729 free shares, will also receive a dividend of around £104 on the 31st July 2015.

 

It is important to emphasise to CWU members that the interim profit related scheme was a holding position until such time as new incentive arrangements are finalised. As such, expectations were never high as to the payment that could be generated, particularly given it was always related to over achievement of the company’s stated profit target.  

 

We should remind CWU members that the union’s priority for 2014/15 was to ensure the 2.8% basic pay increase was delivered in full irrespective of the inflation review clause. Going forward the union will now prioritise negotiations to hold the company to account on the commitment to introduce new incentive arrangements.

 

Any enquires on the content of this LTB should be addressed to the Acting Deputy General Secretary, Ray Ellis.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

​​​​​​​​

 

 

Ray Ellis ​​​​​​​Dave Ward

A/ Deputy General Secretary (P)​​​General Secretary ​​​​​​