Organising and Recruitment – National Briefing 10^th July 2024

All Branches will be aware that we explained at Conference we would be holding a National Briefing to launch the NEC’s agreed new approach to Organising and Recruitment.

Therefore, the purpose of this LTB is to confirm that the National Briefing will take place on the 10^thJuly, at the TUC Conference facility in Great Russell Street, London.

The Briefing will commence at 11 a.m. and conclude no later than 2 p.m.

This is priority commitment and we are asking for two delegates from each CWU Branch to be in attendance.

Further information and an agenda for the meeting will be sent out in due course.

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

Karen Rose  
Deputy General Secretary (T&FS) 

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)

222.24 Organising and Recruitment National Briefing 10th July 2024

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2024

• CWU Young Workers Committee

Further to LTB 176/24 dated 23^rd May 2024, at the close of nominations the following have been received:

CWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – POSTAL CONSTITUENCYEASTERN REGIONNo Nominations ReceivedMIDLAND REGIONCallum HarperNottingham & District Amal*ELECTEDNORTH EAST REGIONNo Nominations Received  NORTH IRELAND REGIONNo Nominations Received  NORTH WEST REGIONCharlotte HooleGreater Mersey Amal*ELECTEDSCOTLAND REGIONKristopher McGuireGlasgow & District Amal*ELECTEDSOUTH EAST REGIONJake LawlorSouthdowns Weald & Rother*ELECTEDSOUTH WEST REGIONBallot RequiredElliot BoothWestern Counties BranchBenjamin SpencerWessex South Central WALES REGIONNo Nominations Received  LONDON REGIONNo Nominations Received  

CWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCYEASTERN REGIONNo Nominations Received  MIDLAND REGIONAbdul ShaikhMidland No 1 Branch*ELECTEDNORTH EAST REGION Beckham Myatt-TurnerWest Yorkshire*ELECTEDNORTHERN IRELAND REGION Hollie GreggNorthern Ireland Telecom*ELECTEDNORTH WEST REGIONThomas Kirkwood-SweetGreater Mersey Amal*ELECTEDSCOTLAND REGIONBallot Required Shannon ConnorScotland No 1Louis O’ConnorGlasgow & Motherwell SOUTH EAST  REGIONNo Nominations Received  SOUTH WEST  REGIONJoshua BarclayGreat Western Branch*ELECTEDWALES REGIONMorgan PowellSouth Wales*ELECTEDLONDON REGIONBallot RequiredAntony EdwardsCapital BranchJames MasonSth Lnd Surrey & Nth Hampshire, Greater London CombinedUTAWBradley CorriganUTAW Branch*ELECTEDAlex CharilaouUTAW Branch*ELECTED

The ballot timetable is as follows:

Despatch ballot papers:            2^nd July 2024

Ballot closes:                              23^rd July 2024

Branches should note that ballot papers and biographical information will be emailed to the Branch email address and these papers will need to be printed off, signed accordingly and emailed back to elections@cwu.org by the closing date.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB221 – Election of National Representative Positions – 2024 – CWU Young Workers Committee

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Election of National Representative Positions – 2024

• CWU Retired Members Committee

Further to LTB 174/24 dated 23^rd May 2024, at the close of nominations the following were received:

2 Retired members living in WalesThomas HughesShropshire & Mid Wales*ElectedJoan MoxonNorth Wales & The Marches*Elected

2 Retired members living in Northern IrelandLawrence HustonNorthern Ireland Telecom, Plymouth & East Cornwall*ElectedMichael McAlindenNorthern Ireland West*Elected

2 Retired members living in ScotlandWilliam JohnstonScotland No 2*ElectedJames StewartGlasgow & District Amal, Plymouth & East Cornwall*Elected

6 Retired members living in EnglandDes CarneyNorth West No 1, Mersey, Plymouth & East Cornwall*ElectedJohn FarnanEastern No 6, Plymouth & East Cornwall*ElectedMick GoldsmithEastern No 5*ElectedBrendon O’BrienMidland No 1*ElectedSean RyanEast London Postal, Plymouth & East Cornwall*ElectedKen WardPlymouth & East Cornwall*Elected

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

TONY KEARNS,
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY

24LTB219 – Election of National Representative Positions – 2024 – CWU Retired Members Committee

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Rivus Fleet

We learned last Friday afternoon that Rivus Fleet has been placed into administration and that what remained of the business, which was largely the Metropolitan Police Contract, has been sold to the Met Police.  This will result in a Tupe of 165 staff including former Rivus Team members and those Tuped into Rivus from the company that previously had the Met Police contract.  Of this number, we know that we have some Rivus garages in London that will be involved in the Tupe and some staff in the Rivus support Centre in Birmingham.

Contact has been made with the Met Police and a meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.

The CWU were advised in the letter from the CEO of Rivus on Friday afternoon that Price, Waterhouse (PcW) have been appointed administrators.  They also provided the names of
three people who will act on their behalf.  We shall be seeking an early meeting with PcW.

The email from the Rivus CEO also had a letter attached advising us of the Tupe and offering discussions on any questions that we may have.  Our initial efforts to contact Rivus have not been successful but will continue.

A meeting is also planned with the union’s lawyers and further briefings or LTBs will be circulated as more information becomes available.

Yours sincerely

Allan Eldred
National Officer

LTB 218.2024 – Rivus Fleet

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POLITICAL FUND REVIEW BALLOT 2024

Branches and representatives will be aware that, in accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (as amended), the Communication Workers Union is required to hold a Political Fund Review Ballot at least every ten years, in order that the union can retain its political fund.

The ballot will give members the opportunity to vote on whether the union should be able to spend money for political purposes. The law says that the union must have a political fund to do this.

The Communication Workers Union will therefore be balloting members on whether or not to maintain the union’s political fund. The ballot will take place between 24 September and 15 October 2024. The ballot will be a postal ballot and voting papers will be sent directly to members.

Please note that in respect of Political Fund ballots members in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are classified as ‘overseas’ members, are excluded from the ballot and will not be receiving a voting paper.

Civica Election Services will be acting as the Independent Scrutineer and will oversee the conduct of the ballot. They can be contacted at the following address:

Civica Election Services, Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London, N8 0NW.

A free copy of the rules which will be used to conduct the ballot are available to members on request from Tony Kearns, Senior Deputy General Secretary, CWU, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1RX.

Please note that any member who has recently changed their home address should contact the Membership Records Department at membership@cwu.org or CWU HQ, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX (FAO Membership Department) as soon as possible.

If you have any further questions, please contact jdunn@cwu.org

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary    

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary 

LTB 217-24 POLITICAL FUND REVIEW BALLOT 2024

TUC – Women Safety Reps Free Online Courses (July 2024): ‘An Introduction to the Role of Union Health and Safety Rep:’

The TUC have announced new, free to attend, online courses for women union members in July 2024.

The ‘free’ on-line, half-day, tutorial courses, entitled ‘An introduction to the role of union health and safety rep’ are aimed at encouraging women members to consider the role and becoming a Safety Rep and for those who are new Safety Reps.

Interested CWU Members are invited to register to attend.

This is a free, online introductory course, designed to introduce women members to the role, what it involves, and aims to make those attending have a better understanding of what a safety rep does, and why it’s such a vital role.

The course has been designed for women trade union members who have considered or have newly taken on the role of a Health and Safety Rep, and want to find out and know more about what the role involves and see if they wish to proceed to the full Health and Safety Reps’ staged training programme.

There will be an opportunity to discuss the different health and safety issues in the workplace. The course will consider how the safety rep role is approached and will cover the rights safety reps have in law, the concerns and questions women reps have about becoming a health and safety rep and detail the kinds of issues and campaigns that safety reps work on, and action they can take.

PLEASE NOTE: This is for women union members only because the TUC has identified that women members are under-represented in the role of health and safety reps.

This is an introductory ‘taster’ course which is not designed for experienced, established health and safety reps and this training will not qualify members as a safety rep. This new, free, online introductory course is primarily for any woman who might be considering becoming a trade union health and safety representative or are very new to the role and who are motivated by the prospect of keeping themselves and union member colleagues safe, by helping prevent workplace illness and injury.

There are two Courses:

TUC tutor Jennifer Forbes will run the classes. There are two dates to choose from:

Tuesday 16th July, 14:00 – 17:00:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdeupqjgjGNWRixi7VhxAZRpCMXjy5aBq#/registration

 Thursday 18th July, 10:00 – 13:00: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcuGhpzwjGtfYlgqrThFw4Ue7JMZskPE2#/registration

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

24LTB215 TUC – Women Safety Reps Free Online Courses July 2024

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Tomorrow 29/6/24 at 2pm we will be live with a general election special.

Dave Ward will be joined by Mick Lynch of the RMT and Jo Grady of the UCU.

We realise the vast majority of our members will be at work but this was the only time we could get the whole panel together and the whole session will be available on catch up.

Here’s the direct link to watch the show https://www.youtube.com/live/piX1tPBa1QA?si=m0YEj_POX0HkIQvr

Please share the link.

Your Voice in the Workplace – June 2024

Please find attached the June 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 08121-your-voice-BTG-06-v5-AR-2up-1-1.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Karen Rose
Deputy General Secretary (T&FS) 

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

24LTB213 Your Voice in the Workplace June 2024

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Royal Mail/CWU Joint Statement Network Window – Post Implementation Review (PIR) 

Branches, Representatives and CWU members will recall that there have been numerous updates in relation to developments linked to Network Window and the ongoing talks between both parties to mitigate the overall impact and ensure that we have an agreed Post Implementation Review (PIR) in place.

Over the last few weeks those discussions have continued with the business and have also widened the talks to ensure the overall impact of Network Window in Scotland was further supported via an enhanced PIR process.

We have finally concluded two Joint Statements regarding a National PIR and also an Enhanced PIR for Scotland which we believe will enable the CWU to ensure our Divisional and Area Reps have the necessary structures in place to fully review the Network Window changes.

Branches and CWU Representatives will see that the two Joint Statements mirror the overall approach of continuing with the National JWG, Regional Steering Board (RSB) JWG and the Local Mail Centre Catchment Group (LMCCG) JWG.  All of the JWGs will review the key metrics outlined within the Joint Statement on a weekly basis and across each day of the operation to ensure we can seek to mitigate areas which we believe the business has been over cautious.

In relation to the National PIR, we have agreed the process will take place across two phases with Phase 1 being after the 12 deployment and it being clear that changes to the structures and design can be made where all parties are in agreement.  The second Phase of the PIR will take place after the Peak period but will ensure that both parties have considered the additional peak requirements as part of the overall review and not that Peak is used as a vehicle to stop further mitigations of design being made.

In relation to the Enhanced Scotland PIR, this will be a reduced period and run for 6 weeks commencing from Monday 17^th June through to Monday 29^th July.  Again, being clear that changes to the structures and design can be made where all parties are in agreement.  Additionally, we have agreed that a joint summary will be presented by LMCCGs and RSB nominated members to the national group at 3-week and 6-week checkpoints of the PIR to support this process.

Branches, Representatives and CWU members will be aware and fully understand that Network Window was the biggest overall change and impact within the BRG&T Agreement.  Which when we consider the starting point during the dispute that the business wanted up to 3 hours change and a move to 9am-5pm and then the words contained within Appendix 2 of the agreement, the fact we have ensured over 1,000 offices have seen their overall impact on start and finish times being less than 60 minutes is a considerable achievement by the CWU.

We continue to believe however that further mitigation across all functions can be achieved, the two Joint Statements agreed with the business on the PIR process and the CWU across all levels has the ability to ensure that comes to fruition.

Any enquiries to the above LTB and/or the attached Joint Statements should be addressed to the appropriate postal department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 214-24 – Royal Mail-CWU Joint Statement Network Window – Post Implementation Review (PIR)

Attachment 1 – Joint Statement Network Window National PIR process 17th June Final

Attachment 2 – Enhanced Post Implementation Review for Network Window Scotland 17th June Final

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Seasonal Variation: Confirmation Of Summer Low Period 2024 & The Recording of Annual Leave in PSP (RMG/CWU Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement – Appendix 1)

Branches, Representatives and members will recall LTB 165/24 (Letter To Branches) issued on 21^stMay, which included a Joint Communication that advised of two further agreed changes to the application of Seasonal Variation for this year’s Summer Low Season, which is designed to better support the introduction of Network Window.

The first adjustment means that the Summer Low Season for 2024 will be advanced by a week to start on Monday 17^th June and end on Sunday 1^st September (11-week period).

The second adjustment to better support the introduction of Network Window means that Full Time employees will start 9 minutes later and finish 15 minutes earlier and Part Time employees will start 5 minutes earlier and finish 15 minutes earlier to ensure they align with the Full Timers.

Alongside this, Branches will recall LTB 017/24 issued on 15^th January and its linked Joint Communication, which confirmed the principle that in line with the BRT&G (Business Recovery, Transformation & Growth) Agreement, annual leave booked and taken from the 2024/25 annual leave year (commencing April 2024) would be ‘seasonalised’. This means that the number of hours an individual is deducted for a day’s annual leave will vary, if taken during a period of Seasonal Variation (i.e. a reduced level of leave will be deducted in the Low Season, but a higher daily deduction of hours in the High Season).

As a result of these and other changes to the original Seasonal Variation dates, this has meant that there are a number of weeks in which the Human Resources PSP system (which records individual’s annual leave) is now not aligned with the new Seasonal Variation periods. This will impact on the following weeks:PeriodNumber of WeeksStart weekEnd WeekDescription1327/05/2416/06/24PSP will deduct less time per day’s leave than it should (24 mins Full Time; 10 mins Part Time per day)2102/09/2408/09/24As above31009/09/2417/11/24PSP will deduct more time per day’s leave than it should (24 mins Full Time; 10 mins Part Time per day)

As before, when there was an imbalance in booked and taken annual leave during the introduction of Seasonal Variation last year to that recorded in the PSP system (as communicated in LTB 017/24), Royal Mail HR Services will run an exercise retrospectively to ensure the correct annual leave deductions are recorded for all individuals who take leave during the affected weeks. This will work in two ways:

• In abovementioned Periods 1 & 2, for those employees who took annual leave, work schedules will be centrally adjusted to ensure the correct amount of leave is being deducted in PSP during leave taken in those weeks where there is mis-alignment;
• In Period 3, HR Services will adjust the leave balances for employees who took leave in these weeks retrospectively, which is planned for mid-January 2025. This adjustment will show as a distinct entry against the employees’ leave quota in PSP.

To confirm, local managers do not need to take any action in PSP, as the above outlined exercise will retrospectively ensure the correct annual leave deductions. As a result of this, no one will lose any leave balance and individuals will be able to book annual leave as normal.

Attached to this LTB, is a Royal Mail WTLL briefing which they have advised will be issued the week commencing 17^th June to confirm the above arrangements and that: ‘no one will lose any leave balance, and employees will be able to book annual leave as normal. Any errors in terms of the realignment of employees’ hours will be corrected.’

Where there are local level issues or questions in terms of the application of the above, these should be raised as a matter of priority by the relevant local CWU Reps and COMs to ADR/OPL level for resolution. Any errors in terms of the realignment of employees’ hours will be corrected and Royal Mail commits to do so in line with the above plan.

Any enquiries to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department, email address: Pharacz@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

LTB 212-24 – Seasonal Variation Summer Low Period 2024

RM WTLL SEASONAL VARIATION 170624 BRIEFING

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