Ofcom Decision – Saturday 1^stJanuary – Revised Peak Christmas Arrangements

Further to and LTB 350/21 circulated on the 6^th December 2021 on Peak Christmas Arrangements 2021, Branches will be aware of the well documented issues created by the late application by Royal Mail to seek Ofcom dispensation to grant an additional Non USO day for Saturday 1^st January 2022.

Branches will be aware from the contents of LTB 312/21 circulated on the 26^th November 2021 that both departments had taken Royal Mail to task over the failure to engage with Ofcom on the Non USO day for 1^stJanuary 2022 even though the precedent had been set the last time this pattern occurred in 2010/11.  Our position had been and remained that we could not support any solution which would entail mandatory attendance of our members who are covered by this agreement on either Saturday 1st January or Monday 3rd January (Tuesday 4th January in Scotland) 2022.

The matter became the subject of a public consultation exercise by Ofcom which closed on the 13^th December and Ofcom published their decision to allow the dispensation yesterday, 16^thDecember 2021. The interim Peak arrangements circulated in LTB 350/21 included the following paragraph.

In 2011 Saturday 1st January was designated a non USO Day by the regulator and Ofcom have published their intention to do so again for the 1^st January 2022. Formal consultation on this dispensation will conclude on the 13^th December 2021 with a final decision announced no later than December 17^th 2021. While both parties anticipate a positive outcome, national discussions will continue on establishing contingency operational arrangements, should the non USO day not be confirmed. Arrangements for Saturday 1^stJanuary 2022 through to 4^thJanuary 2022 will therefore be part of an addendum to the arrangements that will be communicated following the Ofcom Announcement.  

Both departments met Royal Mail yesterday afternoon following the Ofcom announcement and concluded a revised Peak arrangements document which now includes guidance on the arrangements for the New Year Weekend. The arrangements include confirmation of the non USO day for 1^st January 2022 and Royal Mail have confirmed that like Christmas Day they do not intend to run any USO or test kit service on that day.

Sunday 2^nd January 2022 is considered a normal working day and a Covid Test kit operation will be required, however it has been agreed that Sunday Tracked 24 HV Deliveries will be deferred to Monday 3^rd January 2022. As that is now confirmed as a Bank Holiday this will ensure that attendance is voluntary and will attract Bank Holiday Options. All other resumption arrangements are consistent with the content agreed for the Christmas Bank Holiday on the 28^th December and as in previous years the arrangements for the additional Bank Holiday in Scotland (4^th January 2022) are confirmed.

Attached for the information of Branches is the revised document which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive and we would be grateful if Branches ensure that the contents are brought to the attention of Representatives and members.

The relevant changes can be found at paragraphs 2.6 – 3.9 and 3.12 of the Attendance and Resourcing Section of the agreement

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Processing/Distribution: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference 706A.14

Deliveries/Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email: njones@cwu.org quoting reference 170.

 Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson   – Assistant Secretary                                                                       

Mark Baulch  – Assistant Secretary 

LTB 555-21 – Ofcom Decision Revised PEak Arrangments -17-12-21

Peak – Christmas Arrangements 2021

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POL – Re-Introduction of Mandatory Face Masks and Covid-Secure Controls plus Road Safety Update:

Discussions take place on a regular basis between the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department and Post Office Limited’s Director of Health and Safety as they have done throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic along with regular on-line meetings of the National Joint Health and Safety Committees for DMBs and for Supply Chain/CVIT plus the National Joint Road Risk Forum where the Health, Safety & Environment Department have tabled a number of occupational road risk ideas and proposals plus the driver safety campaign, including materials, along with driver training proposals and a suggested supplier.

Campaigns that we proposed last year:

. Driver fatigue
· Speeding and Speed Awareness Training
·   Driver distraction and Mobile Phones

A meeting will take place with POL to discuss road safety shortly.

On Covid-19, we were recently in meetings discussing the response to the Government’s Plan B announcement, which resulted in POL issuing urgent communications to those POL teams supporting branches and attending Central offices.

The POL Safety Team have been conducting visits to PO branches to support and also monitor the public response to the new guidelines, including the important re-introduction to wearing face coverings.

POL has re-introduced Safety updates and Covid-19 calls with the Union to review the data, guidance and current impact on POL.

POL have taken steps over the past 2 weeks to tighten up Covid controls behind DMB PO counters and have re-introduced mandatory face masks/coverings in agreement with CWU.

Face masks are now compulsory for customers visiting Post Offices across all UK nations.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department has submitted a request for the introduction of CO2 monitors in POL buildings and Ventilation improvements. POL has taken steps to ensure air quality checks have been completed for every DMB and Supply Chain site and the POL Facilities Management (FM) provider has implemented identified improvements.

When Covid restrictions were relaxed prior to the new rules re-introducing face coverings on 10 December, POL had kept in place all other Covid-Secure controls in CVIT Supply Chain and DMBs, including wearing face coverings on the public side of counters, social distancing wherever possible, use of screens and daily enhanced cleaning and monthly anti-pathogen fogging.  POL also has sanitiser stations in place for customers and are encouraging social distancing through notices to customers and behind counters and all communal areas in Supply chain.

Whilst the number of positive cases have increased slightly in POL DMBs, overall the rates across POL remain low when these are compared to the transmission rates in the population as a whole and this is encouraging, but POL cannot be complacent and the situation is being monitored daily.

POL took the decision last week to ask office employees to work from home where their roles allow and POL has refrained from encouraging staff to return to the office, unless there is an essential need to meet face to face. The POL H&S team and Property are advising those teams who have meetings and desk bookings in POL Central offices.

POL Field teams will continue to provide essential support to branches and Supply Chain, and the POL Safety Director has reiterated the Covid-19 H&S controls and are strongly encouraging employees to take Lateral Flow Device (LFD) Tests, which have been offered to all employee across the POL business, including anyone required to commute to central offices for essential meetings.

POL is also advising all field team staff to avoid car sharing again but if by exception it is necessary, they should follow the guidance that POL has published to minimise risks.

Attached is a copy of POL ‘one update’ communication on Covid-19 update.

Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 554-21 – POL – Re-Introduction of Mandatory Face Masks and Covid-Secure Controls plus Road Safety Update

Important Covid 19 Update for Colleagues

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Ofcom Exception to Royal Mail USO 1^st January 2022

Following representations from the CWU and Royal Mail, Ofcom has today announced that it will grant an exception to the postal universal service obligation (USO) across the UK for 1^st January 2022 because this day falls on a Saturday. 

This means that Royal Mail will not have to collect or deliver mail on 1^st January 2022, in addition to observing the non-working day on Monday 3^rd January 2022.  This is welcome news and it will ensure that CWU members in Royal Mail can take an uninterrupted break over the New Year weekend. 

When 1^st January falls on a Saturday, the following Monday has been designated as the official public holiday. Therefore in the absence of a direction from Ofcom, Saturday 1^st  January 2022 would be a normal working day on which Royal Mail would be required to deliver and collect letters under the universal service obligation.

Ofcom launched a consultation on this issue in November after Royal Mail requested that the regulator issue a direction to make 1^st January 2022 an exception to the USO. Royal Mail argued that mail volumes are likely to be relatively low on 1^stJanuary 2022 and that the non-working day would be consistent with its duty of care to staff who need a break over the New Year period.

The CWU’s submission to Ofcom’s consultation supported Royal Mail’s request and said that CWU members in Royal Mail need and deserve a rest over the holiday period, having worked extremely hard under difficult conditions throughout the pandemic. 

The CWU’s full submission can be found on Ofcom’s website at the following link: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/229625/cwu.pdf

Ofcom’s statement can be found at the following link: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-3/2022-royal-mail-uso-exception  

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) or GS Department.

Yours sincerely,                                                                            

Dave Ward                                                              

General Secretary     

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 553/21 – Ofcom_Royal Mail USO Exeception Jan 2022          

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RM Fleet Maintenance – Territorial Reps Elections

Further to LTB510/2021 dated 24th November 2021, at the close of nominations on the 14th December 2021 the following were received:

Midlands & North of England
Andrew Austin                  Warrington Mail Centre                      * Elected

Trailer Hubs
Michael Nicholson            Midlands MT                                        * Elected

South West South Wales
Ian Gray                               Bournemouth & Dorset Amal           * Elected

London & South East
Peter Concannon               London RMT                                        * Elected

Scotland, North East & Northern Ireland
Crawford Johnstone         Scotland MT                                         * Elected

Congratulations to all who have been elected.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 220. Email address: khay@cwu.org

Carl Maden
Assistant Secretary

LTB 551/21

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BREAKING: CDC Pension schemes will come into force in August 2022. This union had a vision of an alternative to the decline of DC schemes. It is now a reality.

We will bring a full update on what this means for Royal Mail Group members in the coming days https://www.pensionsage.com/pa/CDC-legislation-to-come-into-force-on-1-August-2022.php

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) – Resources For Health and Safety Reps:

MSDs are preventable and the HSE has published a range of useful tools that will help health and safety representatives make representations regarding identified problem areas and from there raise issues through health and safety inspection and committees to work with employers and managers to reduce the levels of MSDs in the workplace.

For basic information on preventing MSDs go to:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/msds.htm

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most commonly reported cause of occupational ill-health in the UK with over half a million workers suffering from a work-related MSD at any one time.

MSDs are prevalent in all sectors but with logistics and transport, agriculture, construction and health and social care having significantly higher than average rates.

Past TUC Safety Rep surveys have shown that it was also one of the problems most encountered by Trade Union health and safety reps with a third saying that back strains were a major concern for union members and over a quarter saying that repetitive strain injuries were a major concern.

MSD Toolkits

There are three HSE MSD toolkits that can be used by both health and safety reps and managers to help highlight high-risk tasks. These are:

• Manual handling assessment charts: https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/mac/index.htm
• Assessment of repetitive tasks of the upper limbs: https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/uld/art/index.htm
• Risk assessment of pushing and pulling: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg478.htm

Regulations

The main regulations and related guidance are also on the HSE and GOV.UK sites. These are:

• Manual Handling Operations 1992 and the guidance on the regulations: 
• https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2793/contents/made
• Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) regulations and guidance: 
• https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2792/contents/made

Guides

There are a range of guides published by the HSE. Many of them are written for employers to tell them how to comply with the law, but they are equally of use to health and safety reps.

These include:

• Manual handling at work: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.htm
• Upper limb disorders in the workplace: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg60.htm

• Working with display screen equipment: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf
• Display screen equipment workstation checklist: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.pdf

The HSE material will ensure that you know what employers and managers must do to obey the law.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 552/21 – Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) – Resources For Health and Safety Reps

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Daily Rapid LFD Testing for Covid-19 Close Contacts Launched – Changes To Self-Isolation Rules For England Announced:

(Self-Isolation Rules For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland explained also below and attached)

From Tuesday, 14 December the UK Government, through the Department of Health and Social Care issued new guidance in respect to changes to the self-isolation rules in England as set out below.

In summary, fully vaccinated close contacts of a Covid-19 case should take a daily lateral flow device test for 7 days instead of self-isolating. The Government state that this is designed to slow the spread of the virus.

• Those who test positive or develop symptoms will need to self-isolate.
• Unvaccinated adults must continue to self-isolate for 10 days if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.
• This rule change follows a significant rise in Covid-19 Omicron variant cases in the UK with the new variant expected to become the dominant virus strain by mid-December.

From Tuesday 14 December, people who are fully vaccinated and identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19 – whether Omicron or not – should take an NHS rapid lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days to help slow the spread of Covid-19.

The practical move comes as Omicron variant infections are rising significantly in the UK and it is expected to become the dominant strain in the UK by mid-December. It aims to reduce pressures on people’s everyday lives by replacing the requirement for Omicron contacts to isolate for 10 days, while protecting the public by identifying asymptomatic cases and stopping the chains of transmission. Testing daily will also help us understand how and where the virus is spreading.

Close contacts of people who test positive are at higher risk of getting Covid-19 and, with 1 in 3 people asymptomatic (positive but showing no symptoms), daily testing will help ensure that the 1 in 3 infected people with no symptoms are not unknowingly passing the virus on to others.

As now, anyone whose rapid LFD test comes back positive or who develops Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test to verify the result. If the PCR result comes back positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days from the day they took the positive rapid test or developed symptoms. They do not need to continue taking rapid tests during that 10-day isolation period once confirmed positive. If the PCR result comes back negative, they can stop self-isolation but should continue to take rapid tests for the remainder of the 7 days.

Anyone identified as a close contact with a negative rapid lateral flow device test result is strongly advised to limit close contact with other people outside their household, especially in crowded or enclosed spaces and with anyone who is more vulnerable. They should also follow government guidance on wearing a face covering and working from home where possible.

Unvaccinated adults are not eligible for this new daily testing policy, they must self-isolate for 10 days if they are a close contact of someone who tests positive for Covid-19 – Omicron variant or not – unless eligible for existing workplace daily contact testing.

The government state that they are taking this proportionate and more practical measure to limit the impact on people’s day to day lives while helping to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

Rapid tests are freely available in pharmacies and online. In Royal Mail Group they can also be obtained through the Workforce Testing Scheme where they can be requested and will be delivered to the workplace.

People may be contacted by NHS Test and Trace by phone, email or text or they will receive a notification from the NHS Covid-19 app if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 and they will be advised as to what action they need to take.

They will be advised to get a box of 7 lateral flow device (LFD) test kits, free of charge from NHS Test and Trace either through pharmacies, schools, home delivery by ordering online or at the Workplace. People are encouraged to use the tests they already have at home before ordering more. People should take these tests from the day they are notified as being a close contact and report their results to NHS Test and Trace on GOV.UK or by calling 119.

Testing with isolation remains a vital tool in controlling the spread of Covid-19 and the Omicron variant given how quickly it passes from person to person. Extensive clinical evaluation shows lateral flow device (LFD) tests are accurate and sensitive enough to be used in the community and detect 80 to 90% of people that are highly infectious very quickly, so more people who are at a high likelihood of spreading the virus isolate and prevent the variant from spreading to others.

The Prime Minister confirmed on Wednesday 8 December that England will move to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK. This means people are advised to wear face masks/coverings, work from home where possible, practice good hygiene standards – washing hands and sanitising, ventilate indoor spaces and get plenty of fresh air. Face coverings are now compulsory in most indoor venues and on public transport.

The government and NHS have expanded and sped-up the vaccination and booster programme to be delivered via 1,500 community pharmacy sites, additional hospital hubs and pop-up sites will be opening in convenient locations across the country. Extra financial support is being given to GPs, community pharmacies and primary care staff will help boost capacity and encourage more visits to those who are housebound.

Background information

Daily rapid testing applies to all contacts who are:

• fully vaccinated adults – people who have had 2 jabs
• all children aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, regardless of their vaccination status
• people who can prove they are unable to be vaccinated for clinical reasons
• people taking part, or have taken part, in an approved clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine

Under 5s are exempt from self-isolation and do not need to take part in daily rapid lateral flow device testing.

Self-Isolation Rules For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

See attached flow charts which have helpfully been produced by the Royal Mail Group Occupational Health Team, explaining the different self-isolation rules for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which differ significantly and can be somewhat confusing as there are variations between each nation. Added to this are variations between Omricon and Non-Omricon variant infections and variations between household and non-household close contacts – so please read the flow charts carefully.

Attachments:

• Message From Dr. Shaun Davis RMG Director SHE, Compliance & Sustainability – “Daily rapid testing for seven days in England, face coverings and travel at Christmas”
• RMG Self-Isolation Rules Flow Charts; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 550/21 – Daily Rapid LFD Testing for Covid-19 Close Contacts Launched – Changes To Self-Isolation Rules For England Announced

Message From Dr Shaun Davis -Daily rapid testing for seven days in England 14.12.21

Close contact alert_v7

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Grenfell Tower Fire Disaster Inquiry Update Report – Government “Hid” Fire Safety Risks to Buildings:

Introduction 

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry is a British public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people and destroyed Grenfell Tower. It was created to examine the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fire at Grenfell Tower on the night of 14 June 2017.

The Inquiry opened on 14 September 2017 and is now into week 61. It can be followed on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Website with sessions streamed live at this link: https://www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/

The Grenfell Inquiry has heard of how consecutive governments were accountable for “collusion” with the construction industry and have been accused of “deliberately covering up” the dangers posed to combustible materials before the Grenfell Tower fire, suppressing the results of investigations into previous building cladding fires, including one which occurred at Lakanal House in 2009.

Lakanal House Fire 2009 and Former Minister Eric Pickles

Southwark Council was fined a total of £570,000 for safety failures at Lakanal House, the south London tower block in which three women and three children lost their lives in 2009. London fire brigade (LFB) brought the prosecution against the council, which was landlord of the 14-storey block of flats at the time, after inspectors visited Lakanal House in the wake of the fire.

The most egregious shortcomings identified was a failure to conduct a fire-risk assessment, deficiencies in fire-resistant structures and materials between each maisonette staircase and shared internal doors, a lack of compartmentation in false ceiling structures of shared corridors and an absence of fitted intumescent strips and smoke seals on fire doors.

The fire which occurred at Lakanal House, almost a decade before that which occurred at Grenfell Tower, resulted in a coroner, Frances Kirkham, cautioning the government that all parts of a building should be examined in fire safety inspections.  The Coroner recommended re-writing the fire safety guidance that construction firms and architects rely on to ensure they meet the requirements of the building regulations as well as recommending the retrofitting of ‘sprinklers’.

Eric Pickles, the Tory Government Secretary of State responsible at the time was “dismissive” of the Inquest’s findings and Coroner’s recommendations made to eliminate or reduce future risk to life, sent to the Minister under Rule 43 of the Coroners Rules. 8 years after the Lakanal House fire tragedy in which 6 died came the Grenfell Tower fire disaster with 72 deaths!

The introduction of ‘sprinklers’ had been shelved on cost grounds and there were no changes to fire safety inspections and a review of building regulation management had not been completed either.

Minister Michael Gove Admits That Government Had Not Appreciated the Importance of Fire Safety

Last month, Michael Gove current Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government admitted to MPs in the House of Commons that his department: “Will be seen to have, on a couple of occasions, not necessarily appreciated the importance of fire safety and not necessarily done everything it should have in the wake of the Lakanal House fire tragedy”. (The understatement of the decade)!  

David Cameron Former PM and his ‘Anti-Health and Safety’ Agenda Needs to Be Held To Account

Michael Mansfield QC, the barrister representing a group of victims, bereaved families and survivors at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, said that former Tory Prime Minister David Cameron should appear before the Inquiry over remarks he made in 2010, when he ‘ridiculed’ health and safety as ‘red tape’, seven years before the fire. Mansfield said that Cameron should appear at the Inquiry hearing and clarify what he meant when he said he wanted to, “scrap health and safety rules that put people off”. Mansfield added that Cameron also said that “Britannia didn’t rule the waves with arm bands on”. Michael Mansfield argued that these observations were, “ridiculing and humiliating health and safety”.

In a 2014 speech to the Federation of Small Businesses the then PM David Cameron said 100 standards and building regulations were facing the ‘bonfire’ – a move which Cameron claimed would save around £60 million a year for house builders or £500 for each new home built. His announcement re-iterated the government’s deregulation agenda which included a ‘Housing Standards Review’. Cameron’s added that his wider plans included the scrapping of 80,000 pages of environmental guidance by March 2015.

Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council described Cameron’s claims, at the time, as ‘utterly reprehensible’ and more of the same poisonous political rhetoric from Number 10, devaluing regulation in a slash and burn manner with words that are damaging and irresponsible as well as misrepresenting the wishes of businesses, large and small.’

Stephanie Barwise QC another barrister representing a group of victims, survivors, bereaved relatives and former residents of Grenfell Tower said Grenfell was a “predictable victim of the unbridled passion for deregulation”.  She also argued that: “Government’s response on realising the extent of the problem was to react by concealment instead of candour.  The result is a prolonged period of concealment by government, which should properly be regarded as one of the major scandals of our time.”

During the next few months, a series of former government ministers and senior officials are expected to provide evidence in the Inquiry. In a response, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy must never be allowed to happen again, and we remain absolutely committed to helping the Inquiry get to the truth. The role of central government will be considered in this module and we continue to support the Inquiry throughout its investigations.”

Footnote: David Cameron has not said whether or not he will appear at the Inquiry!

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 549/21 – Grenfell Tower Fire Disaster Inquiry Update Report – Government “Hid” Fire Safety Risks to Buildings

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