Your Voice in the Workplace – September 2024 

Please find attached the September Workplace Bulletin.

We will be sending you out a limited print run (approx. 10 per cent of branch membership) of this Edition, which should reach you by the end of this week for distribution to your reps to take into workplaces.

You also have the link to print immediate copies and/or to print off more copies.

It is crucial that branches are distributing the monthly bulletin in every workplace. The purpose is to ensure members are receiving written content from the union directly into their workplaces, so your role in that process is integral.

Thank you for your support and please contact us with your feedback on the Bulletin.

Click to access 08160-your-voice-RMG-issue-7-Sept-2up.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

24LTB294 Your Voice in the Workplace September 2024

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Ofcom Future of the Universal Service

Ofcom today produced an update on the responses they received from their original consultation launched in January 2024.  Ofcom also set out the next steps including considering Royal Mail’s proposal for USO reform.

Ofcom’s paper indicates that they will publish a consultation on Royal Mail’s proposed changes in early 2025 with a view to publishing a decision statement in the Summer of 2025.

We have ongoing discussions with Royal Mail on the proposed USO change alongside a growth strategy for parcels.

The CWU have expressed our concerns over the current quality of service in Delivery Offices, which we believe is down to unmanageable workloads and resourcing problems.

We will now consider Ofcom’s latest paper and also engage with Royal Mail.

The CWU will then provide a further update to Branches and members on USO reform.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)                                

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 293-24 – Ofcom Future of the Universal Service

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INTERNAL MOVEMENTS WITHIN ROYAL MAIL

Please see attached a letter from Andrew Smith, Head of Industrial Relations on behalf of
Royal Mail.

This letter confirms that any individual who is on terms and conditions pre 1st December 2022 will remain on those terms if they move/transfer to another office within Royal Mail.
In addition, they retain their terms and conditions if they go from full time to part time.

Furthermore, the confirmation provided will now mean vacancies within a unit will be
advertised internally rather than going straight to external recruitment. We are now
discussing with Royal Mail how this is applied retrospectively to anyone who has moved
units or reduced their hours since 1st December 2022.

Discussions continue concerning resolving the issue of part timers who increase their hours
up to full time being able to remain on their current contract of employment. These
discussions are being covered in our meetings on USO reform and new entrants’ terms and
conditions.

We hope to be in a position to update you on the above shortly. In the meantime, please
can Branches ensure that this LTB and attachment is given the widest publicity.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGSP
Department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 290.24 Internal Movements Within RM

LTB 290.24 Attachment 1

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP: PENSIONS TRAINING – CONFERENCE MOTION 11 

We are pleased to report that all 10 training workshops have now been completed. All reports received confirm that the sessions have been hugely successful and well received by all concerned. Accordingly, we wish to thank Paul Kennedy Divisional Representative who delivered the training for all his endeavours in this regard.

We are aware that some Reps have been unable to attend their session. We are therefore planning to have a mop up session to provide a new and further opportunity to receive the training. The date and venue are as follows:

• Monday 16th September – Venue: Birmingham District Amal, CWU, 47 Summer Lane, Hockley, Birmingham, B19 3TH

This session is open to all who would have been eligible to attend the earlier sessions. Any travel or overnight expenses incurred will be the responsibility of the Branch.

It is obviously necessary to monitor attendance at this session so that we have a manageable number of attendees. Therefore if anyone wishes to attend, please advise Samantha Nicholas at snicholas@cwu.orgproviding your name, Branch & Representative role by next Wednesday 11^thSeptember. In the event we are oversubscribed with Reps wanting to attend, consideration will be given to arranging a further session.

Lastly, Royal Mail have been positive in supporting this crucial activity. In this regard Angela Gough, Director of Corporate Pensions and Emma Weston-Green, Head of RMCPP Executive and Scheme Secretary will also be presenting at the session primarily around the introduction of the new Collective Plan. This is a valuable contribution that is complementary to Paul Kennedy’s activities.

Any queries in relation to this LTB should be directed to Samantha Nicholas at snicholas@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary 

Attachment 1: 24LTB289 RM – Pensions Training – Conference Motion 11

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National Equality Event, Newcastle – 21^st & 22^nd October 2024 

**Preferential Hotel Room Rates Extended until 20^th September 2024**

Further to LTB 283/24, which confirmed the details for our National Equality Event, we are writing to encourage Branches to take advantage of the preferential room rates negotiated by the department, outlined again for your benefit below.

Booking arrangements: Bookings can be made via the hotel website by using the following link:

CWU Equality Event 21.10.24

For clarity, once you choose the dates, you will see the preferential CWU rates confirmed. 

Please note that a credit card is required to reserve the room – no charge will be made to your  account, it is just to reserve the room.

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for nights of Monday 21stand Tuesday 22nd

October), Rooms are charged @ £110 for standard rooms or King Rooms @ £125 for single occupancy per room, per night, both inclusive of full English breakfast & complimentary use of the leisure facilities. {Rooms will be held at this rate until 20th September, after which time they will be released and the preferential rate will not be available}.  The rates above cannot be guaranteed beyond 20^th September. 

Please be reminded to confirm your delegation details and any dietary requirements by emailing equality&education@cwu.org  The closing date for providing dietary requirements is 1^st October.

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 288/24 – National Equality Event, Newcastle – 21st & 22nd October 2024

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MARK BAULCH NATIONAL OUTDOOR OFFICER – LEAVING THE CWU

We have been advised by Mark Baulch, National Outdoor Officer, that he will not be seeking reelection in the forthcoming National Officer elections and will be leaving the CWU, once the election has concluded.

On behalf of the Postal Executive, we would like to place on record our sincere thanks for the work Mark has undertaken in representing our members and the union over many years.

Mark joined the CWU/RM in 1983 as a postal worker and has held many representative positions at local, branch, area, divisional, and national levels. Throughout his long career at the union, he has made an excellent contribution to the CWU and we will be marking this at a future date.

We are sure all CWU representatives and branches will join in our appreciation for Mark’s dedicated work in the CWU and our predecessor union, also within the wider trade union movement and in wishing him and his family all the best for the future.

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Ward                

General Secretary                                                   

Martin Walsh                                                  

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 287/24 – MARK BAULCH NATIONAL OUTDOOR OFFICER – RETIREMENT

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National Network PIR

Please find attached the following:

1. Letter dated 20^th August 2024 from Alistair Cochrane regarding commencing the network PIR for week commencing 9^th September 2024.
2. A signed copy of the national Joint Statement for the PIR.

In line with the Joint Statement all local Mail Centre Catchment Groups should meet week commencing 9^th September to review how the network review has landed for the period 17^thJune – 1^st September 2024.  The aim is to conclude the first phase PIR by 11^th October 2024.

The Joint Statement provides metrics of what you should review.  However, your experience of what has happened within each unit will be invaluable.

The PIR will also allow you to discuss whether there is the potential to review start and finish time across the week.  The extent of what you can do will vary unit by unit and within different Mail Centre catchment areas.

The PIR allows for a 3-step process in these discussions as follows:

Step 1 – Local Mail Centre Catchment Group
Step 2 – ROD/Divisional Steering Group
Step 3 – National Joint Working Group

It is also important to recognise that the network change has not yet experienced a peak period, so any change must take this into account.

There will be a further opportunity to have a network PIR (phase 2) week beginning 20^thJanuary 2025 that covers the period of 2^ndSeptember 2024 to 10^th January 2025.

Branches should note that under the proposed USO change workload on Mondays and Tuesdays will potentially look very different from how it is currently.  The early modelling suggests that Mondays and Tuesdays will become the heaviest days of the week. It is therefore important that Branches take this into consideration when reviewing start and finish times.

We would encourage all Branches to ensure that they engage with Royal Mail in line with the terms of the National Joint Statement and the agreed escalation process.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be referred to the DGSP department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 286.24 National Network PIR

LTB 286.24 Attachment 1 National PIR Commencement Letter 20 08 24

LTB 286.24 Attachment 2 Joint Statement Network Window National PIR process 17th June Final

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SOUTHPORT TRAGEDY – CWU BRANCH APPEAL

As members may be aware (LTB 274/24), postal worker and CWU member David Stancombe from Southport Delivery Office lost his beautiful daughter Elsie Dot in the appalling attack in the town on Monday 29th July.

The funeral of Elsie Dot took place last Friday where hundreds gathered to celebrate the life of this amazing little girl. Postal workers from Southport created a convoy of red vehicles to show support for their colleague David Stancombe. The family wanted a colourful service to celebrate her life and for it to be ‘Elsie’s Special Day’. It was a very emotional day, especially when listening to the tributes from her parents, school friends and teachers. We continue to offer our support and deepest condolences to David and his family.

In consultation with David’s branch, North Lancs & Cumbria, we have now launched a CWU branch appeal to help David and his family in memory of Elsie Dot. CWU Representatives will be meeting with David and his wife Jennifer in a couple of weeks to discuss how best to use any donations received.

If your branch would like to make a donation, please see below details:

Account Name:                   CWU GENERAL FUND

Account Number:              33019822

Sort Code:                            60-83-01

Reference:                           Elsie Dot

We understand that many members may want to share this appeal with friends or family but due to financial restrictions, please do not share these bank details outside of the union as this appeal is only open to donations from CWU branches.

Thank you for your continuing solidarity and support in this tragic matter. If you have any questions, please contact the General Secretary’s office at jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours Sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary                                      

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary                    

24LTB285 SOUTHPORT TRAGEDY – CWU BRANCH APPEAL

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Andy Kerr – a true friend and comrade

We are writing to advise Branches of the deeply sad news that Andy Kerr our previous Deputy General Secretary Telecoms & Financial Services, passed away last night following a serious illness.

Many of you will have heard Andy’s truly inspirational address to our Conference in April, when he spoke passionately about his lifelong commitment to working class people as an active trade unionist and socialist.

We know that Andy and Andrea really appreciated the overwhelming support and kind personal messages that they received following the conference.

We personally held Andy in the highest esteem and we all know he made an immense contribution in representing our members, the CWU and the UK and international trade union and Labour movement. As such, he will be sorely missed and will always be remembered as one of the most influential leaders in the history of the CWU and our predecessor unions.

Andy made clear to conference that his illness was very serious, nevertheless this news will still come as a shock to everybody who knew and respected Andy as a friend and colleague.

We know we speak on behalf of everybody in the CWU and the wider movement in expressing our sincere and heartfelt condolences to his wife Andrea, his children Matt and Mandy and his wider family.

Yours in solidarity

Dave Ward                                                      

General Secretary

Karen Rose                     

Deputy General Secretary (T&FS)

Tony Kearns                                                  

Senior Deputy General Secretary

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 284/24 – ANDY KERR – A TRUE FRIEND AND COMRADE

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National Equality Event – 21^st & 22^ndOctober 2024 

We are pleased to confirm that this year’s National Equality Event will take place as follows:

Date:                  Monday 21^st & Tuesday 22^ndOctober 

Venue:              Crowne Plaza Newcastle, Stephenson Quarter, Hawthorn Square, Forth Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3SA

Times:               The event will start with registration on the 21^st October between 12.30 and 13.30 and will conclude at 15.00 on the 22^nd October. Please note that lunch will not be provided on the first day.

 The agenda will be shared nearer the time but in the meantime, we would ask that Branches confirm their delegation details and any dietary requirements by emailing

equality&education@cwu.org

The closing date for providing dietary requirements is 1^st October.

Given the nature of the event, Branches are asked to give priority in the first instance to representatives who have responsibility for roles linked to equality, however, our industrial representatives are also more than welcome to join us.

 Accommodation: 

It is important that Branches book places early at the Crowne Plaza Newcastle, as they will be holding a number of rooms at a special rate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis until 16^th September 2024.

Booking arrangements:

Bookings can be made via the hotel website by using the following link:

CWU Equality Event 21.10.24

Please note that a credit card is required to reserve the room – no charge will be made to your account it is just to reserve the room.

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for nights of Monday 21^st and Tuesday 22^nd October)

 Rooms are charged @ £110 for standard rooms or King Rooms @ £125 for single occupancy per room, per night, both inclusive of full English breakfast & complimentary use of the leisure facilities.  {Rooms will be held at this rate until 16^th September, after which time they will be released and the preferential rate will not be available}.

Parking & Transportation:

The Hotel is a 5 min walk just behind Newcastle Central Station. Further Parking & Transportation details can be found using this link: Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter Map & Driving Directions (ihg.com)

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org

We look forward to seeing you in Newcastle.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

24LTB 283 – National Equality Event – 21st and 22nd October 2024

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