ELECTION OF:

• ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 2023 – NORTH EAST & SOUTH WEST / SOUTH WALES DIVISIONS

Branches in the respective Royal Mail Divisions may be aware that Bob McGuire & Gary Hodgkinson (North East Division) and Les Evans (South West/South Wales Division) have left employment with Royal Mail.

Nominations are therefore invited from Branches within the two relevant divisions above for the vacant positions of Royal Mail Divisional Representatives as follows:

North East – 2 Divisional Representatives

South West/South Wales – 1 Divisional Representative

The successful candidates will take up office at the conclusion of the election period and the term of office for these positions will be until 28 February 2024.

Nomination forms are attached to this LTB and completed forms must be signed by the Branch Secretary and Branch Chair or accredited deputies and the nominee and should be returned by email to elections@cwu.org  to be received by 2^nd May 2023 (14:00).   

The timetable for the election is as follows:

Nominations Open:                      14 April 2023

Nominations Close:                       2 May 2023 (14:00)

Ballot Papers dispatched:            10 May 2023

Ballot Close:                                    31 May 2023 (first post)

If ballots are required for the positions of RM Divisional Representative they will be conducted on an individual member ballot basis and the ballots will be run in accordance with the CWU guidelines for Senior Regional/Field Official elections, which are attached for your information.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 0208 971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 094/23 – Election of Royal Mail Divisional Representatives 2023 – North East & South West / South Wales Divisions

Att: Regulations 2023

Att: Div Rep Nomination Form

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Re: National Agreement on Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions Limited (RMPFSL) Overtime Holiday Pay Agreement – Ballot Results

We are pleased to advise Branches of the following result in the above ballot:

YES:                                                         893

NO:                                                            0

SPOILT PAPERS:                                     0

Total papers received:                       52

Ballot papers despatched:                93

We will write to the businesses accordingly in order for arrangements to be made for payments to commence.

In closing we wish to thank branches for their attention in this matter.

Any enquiries to this LTB please contact: The PTCS Department reference 312, email address: hmaughan@cwu.org or The Outdoor Department reference 120.12, email address njones@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Carl Maden  
Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

LTB 093/23 – National Agreement on RMPFSL – Overtime Holiday Pay Agreement – Ballot Results

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TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE VISITORS – 11^TH – 12^TH JULY 2023

The TUC Disabled Workers Conference 2023 is being held from Tuesday 11^th – Wednesday 12^th July 2023 at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) in Bournemouth.    The Conference sessions will be as follows:

Tuesday 11^th July               11.00 – 12.45           14.15 – 18.00

Wednesday 12^th July           09.30 – 12.45          14.15 – 17.30

The CWU are allowed a limited number of visitors to attend the above Conference and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Due to the need for extra security at all TUC Conferences, names and addresses of those wanting visitor tickets must be supplied and tickets are not transferable.

Anyone interested in attending will need to contact their Branch initially for funding, to include a £15 visitor ticket fee. The easiest way to pay the £15 fee will be for us to transfer it directly from your Branch’s account through the rebate system, therefore please contact Angela Niven on conferences@cwu.org  with details of which Branch the individual belongs to on application.  Alternatively you can send a cheque (made payable to ‘CWU’) addressed to Angela Niven at CWU HQ with a covering letter.  Please note that places will not be reserved until the £15 fee is received.

Please let me know if you would like to attend the Conference as a visitor by no later than midday on Friday 12^thMay 2023.

Any further enquiries with regards this please contact conferences@cwu.orgor Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 092/23 – TUC Disabled Workers Conference Visitors

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POST OFFICE: PAY AGREEMENT – 94% YES VOTE

We are pleased to advise Branches our Post Office members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Pay Agreement covering the years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 as follows:YES VOTES in favour of the pay agreement93994%NO VOTES against the agreement566%TURNOUT73%

*spoilt ballot papers – 2

The positive ballot result means members will receive both the pay uplift of 9% from 1^st April 2023 and the appropriate lump sum payments with their May salaries.

Disappointingly PO are unable to process these payments in time for the April salaries due to a combination of time constraints and the amount of year end work along with the configuration of data checking that is required to implement the pay award and lump sums.

All other benefits associated with the pay agreement (refer to LTB 074/23), including improvements to Annual Leave Entitlement, Scheduled Attendance being rolled out across Supply Chain Cash Centres, improvements to Paternity leave and Parental Bereavement leave, and the removal of the entry rate for a Counter Clerk, will apply from 1^st April.

In closing, we wish to once again thank our Representatives and members for their support throughout the pay dispute.  There is no doubt our members’ determination has helped to deliver this outcome.

The next pay review date is 1^st April 2024.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey            
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 091/23 – Post Office – Pay Agreement – 94% Yes Vote

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Cryptocurrency: Composite Motion 9 – General Conference 2022

Composite motion 9 carried at CWU General Conference 2022 instructed the NEC to commission a report on cryptocurrency, setting out the current states of digital currencies and the likely outlook in the next 10 years; identifying future risks and opportunities; and considering how CWU might use any expertise gained to recruit and organise in the sector.

A report produced by the Research Department is attached.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Head of Recruitment & Organising by email to rodept@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

RAY ELLIS
Head of Recruitment, Organising & Membership Growth

23LTB089 – Cryptocurrency – Composite Motion 9 – CWU General Conference 2022

Crypto in the UK – Report for Conference 2022

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Tonight at 7pm – the truth of the Royal Mail Group dispute

Dear Members,

In the last 48 hours there has been a lot of noise. A lot of rumour. A lot of positioning. A lot of drama. 

Tonight we cut to the chase. We lay out Royal Mail Groups offer. We update you on negotiations. We will discuss the next steps. We will move forward as one. 

We have significantly moved the company. They haven’t moved because of the kindness of their heart. They haven’t moved because they wanted to. They have moved because your vote and your strike action has made them. 

Join us via the CWU social media channels or the direct link below at 7pm. And bring every single colleague with you. 

We went into this dispute together. We will come out of it together – but only if we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder. 

See you tonight at 7pm. 

Solidarity,

Dave Ward
General Secretary 

Andy Furey
Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

EUREST (EX QUADRANT) PAY CLAIM 2023 – BALLOT RESULT

Reproduced below for the information of Branches is the result of the above ballot, which has been received from Tony Kearns, Senior Deputy General Secretary:Ballot Papers Issued143Votes for Acceptance  63Votes Against    2Spoils    1

The ballot has therefore resulted in a return of approximately 46% with 97% voting in favour of the agreement.

Branches are requested to ensure that members are made aware of the result of this ballot.

The department has informed Eurest of the result and we understand that arrangements are being put in place for the increased rates of pay and any backdated monies to be paid to members in their April 2023 salaries.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference number: 301.12.

Yours sincerely,

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

090-23 Eurest (Ex Quadrant) Pay Claim 2023 Ballot Result 06.04.23

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Royal Mail Group – Handbrake Safety and Avoiding Vehicle Roll Away Accidents – (SHE Huddle FY23 022 Rollaways) & RMG/CWU Joint Driver Safety Communication Campaign:

Background and Raising Awareness

See attached RMG SHE Huddle FY23 022 Vehicle Rollaways and supporting Driver Safety Communication Campaign materials which is being issued week commencing 10 April to all fleet operational units for briefing and communication to all drivers.

This follows the ongoing problems with van rollaway incidents and the profound dangers of injury, death and serious substantial damage to Royal Mail vehicles and third party vehicles and property.

This Safety SHE Huddle, accompanied with a reminder to deliver the briefing to drivers in the RMG SHE Calendar along with a poster and ‘HIT’ leaflet/vehicle seat drop will be launched week commencing 10 April and messages via unit plasma screens will be shared on the content on demand screens.

The campaign, briefing, posters, leaflets and plasma screen messages reinforce the ‘mandatory controls’ required when parking Royal Mail Group and Parcelforce fleet vehicles, to eliminate vehicle roll-away incidents.

RMG Vehicle Rollaway Numbers:

2014   –   200

2015   –   116

2016   –   155

2017   –   127

2018   –   145

2019   –   109

2020   –   163

2021   –   135

All drivers must adopt the safety standards to prevent vehicle rollaway incidents which can and have caused very serious injuries and even fatalities, involving other companies fleet vehicles and drivers.

In many rollaway accidents, investigations into the cause have found that drivers generally do apply the handbrake in most cases but it’s not always fully applied and the drivers don’t leave the vehicle in gear or turn the wheels as an added safety precaution. If the driver makes an error applying the handbrake, if the handbrake is not fully applied or the handbrake fails, the vehicle can then roll away. There have been a worrying number of vehicle rollaways.

This Safety Huddle plus multi-media communications is to raise awareness of all drivers, urging them to follow the ‘HIT’ Acronym ‘Handbrake On, Vehicle in Gear, Turn The Wheels’ when parking their vans and lorries. A slight incline or even just an uneven road surface can be enough to start a vehicle moving. It’s important that the ‘HIT’ safety controls are ALWAYS applied, even on level ground to develop good practice and good, safe driving habits.

Case Studies

Drivers can additionally place themselves at risk of prosecution by the Police for serious motoring offences action if they ignore and fail to comply with safety control instructions and Road Traffic Act law.

Case 1: 

At Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court Van driver 48-year-old Anthony Smith pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment and was disqualified from driving for 12 months after Smith failed to apply the parking brake and his vehicle rolled away killing a nearby road worker who was unable to get out of the way and was trapped and crushed between the two vehicles. He sustained major head injuries and died at the scene.

Case 2:  

At Southwark crown court, 52-year-old van driver Larkland May was handed a 32-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work, disqualified from driving for 3 years and ordered to pay £700 costs after he failed to apply the handbrake of his parcel delivery van which rolled away down a slope, crushing and killing two pedestrians as it struck a wall in Pudding Lane, near Monument in London. Both were declared dead at the scene.

The ‘HIT’ Acronym 

The attached Safety Alert Communication is being issued to ‘raise the profile of this risk’ to all Royal Mail delivery drivers and to promote ‘HIT’. 

• Handbrake On 
• In Gear 
• Turn the Wheels 

SHE Huddle FY23 022 – Key Points And Messages

All drivers should be aware of the mandatory requirement to follow ‘HIT’, every time they park, regardless of whether they are parking on a hill. This is included in Royal Mail training, in the Driving Safe System of Work and is regularly communicated

Handbrake on – apply the handbrake FULLY, pulling it all the way up on the ratchet (click, click, click!). 

In Gear (or ‘Park’ mode) – even if the handbrake fails, your van will not move if it is in gear.  

Turn Wheels – use the kerb to ‘chock’ your wheels or if there is no kerb present, turn to the place of least danger.

• Drivers – DON’T try to stop a rolling vehicle. You are unlikely to be able to and this is the most common way to get injured or even killed.
• Always complete your pre-use vehicle checks and report any handbrake defect.
• NEVER drive an unroadworthy vehicle.
• Familiarise yourself with the vehicle before you depart. If you are driving a new vehicle, make sure you know where the handbrake is and how it operates. Newer vehicles may have electronic park brakes or even automatic park brakes.
• Why is this so important? Do we have to talk about this every year?
• Whilst progress has been made in recent years, there are still over 100 rollaways every year. These are entirely avoidable events which cause damage to vehicles and property and which have caused serious injury and even death.
• If everybody follows ‘HIT’, every time they park their vehicle, there need never be another rollaway again.
• If you see a colleague has not applied ‘HIT’, please remind them.
• Why does it keep happening? The short answer is because not all drivers apply ‘HIT’ all the time. This can be for several different reasons: (a) Some drivers under-estimate the risk and think that the handbrake is sufficient to secure the vehicle. “It will never happen to me …”. In most cases the handbrake does hold but this builds false confidence and if the driver forgets to apply the handbrake, doesn’t secure it enough, or if the handbrake fails then the vehicle is free to roll away. That’s why this is a mandatory control. (b) Some drivers take short-cuts – there is very little time to be saved by not following ‘HIT’ but Royal Mail telemetry data shows a link between excessive idling and rollaways, and there have been numerous examples of vehicles rolling away whilst left with the door open and the engine running. This is an obvious security risk as well as a safety risk, and drivers rushing in this way are the most likely to forget the handbrake or not apply it fully. (c) Some just forget – there can be a lot going on when parking, especially when making a delivery, and it’s easy to lose concentration especially if you get distracted. It’s obviously important to focus on driving until the vehicle is safely parked up, but by making sure drivers follow ‘HIT’ every time they park they will quickly develop ‘muscle memory’ where they almost do it without thinking. This seriously reduces the chances of an error.

Remember and Think ‘HIT’ 

The three controls required to fully and safely secure a vehicle so that it doesn’t roll away are:

• ALWAYS apply the handbrake firmly – do not press the button when applying the handbrake.
• ALWAYS leave the vehicle in a low gear – use first gear if facing uphill or on level ground, and use reverse if facing downhill. Select Park in automatic vehicles.
• ALWAYS turn the wheels – if a kerb is present turn away from it when facing uphill, and towards it if downhill. If there is no kerb turn towards the point of least danger (usually the side of the road).

Caution:

• If drivers suspect a vehicle handbrake is faulty, a PMT1 Defect Report should be completed, the vehicle must be taken out of service and booked into the Workshop immediately, using the defect/fault report process and not returned to service without expert technical clearance from the RM Fleet Workshops.
• Drivers should never try to physically stop a rolling vehicle.

CWU Reps Action

Can all CWU Representatives carry out safety spot checks to ensure that managers have communicated the Safety Huddle message to all staff that drive Royal Mail Group Vehicles please.

Attachments: 

• Vehicle Rollaways – Joint RMG/CWU Rollaways Driver Safety Awareness raising Campaign Communication
• SHE Huddle FY23 022 Rollaways
• ‘HIT’ Flyer
• ‘HIT’ Leaflet
• Two Preventing Vehicle Rollaways – Screenshots

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 088/23 – Royal Mail Group – Handbrake Safety and Avoiding Vehicle Roll Away Accidents – (SHE Huddle FY23 022 Rollaways)

Att: CWU RMG Joint Driver Safety Campaign

Att: SHE Huddle FY23 022 Rollaways (00000003)

Att: Driver division_Royal mail_HIT flyer_V2 (004)

Att: HIT Leaflet – May 2020

Att: 699949_08_ROLLAWAY_Poster

Att: 699949_08_ROLLAWAY_Screen_1360x768px_V1-2

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