Latest Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance/Q&A Document (Version 53)
I attach for your information Version 53 of the Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers document, issued by the business on Thursday 30 July 2020.
Please note that additions are in ‘Green’ and Changes highlighted in ‘Yellow’.
The Health, Safety & Environment Department continues in dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team to raise additions and amendments to the Q&A document.
Any enquiries to this LTB should be directed to Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Tories’ TV licence betrayal of over-75s could backfire in bill for £855million.
Pension Credit costs will hit the Treasury but the Government thought that forcing the BBC to fund the lifeline would save them £745m a year – Age UK are encouraging an estimated 590,000 eligible over-75s to claim the benefit.
The Tories’ free TV licence betrayal of over-75s could backfire and cost the Treasury £855million more every year as campaigners encourage OAPs to sign up for Pension Credits.
From today only those over 75 and receiving the credit will get the benefit, which will leave an estimated 3.7 million OAPs £157.50 out of pocket every year.
The Government thought that forcing the BBC to fund the lifeline would save them £745m a year, but Office for Budget Responsibility figures show the amount of unclaimed pension credits stands at £1.6billion annually.
The increased costs from more claims could mean the Government pays out an extra £855m every year.
National Pensioners Convention General Secretary Jan Shortt with a ripped up TV licence during a protest outside BBC Newcastle.
Age UK are encouraging an estimated 590,000 eligible over-75s to claim the Pension Credit, which is means-tested, they are due.
The BBC says keeping licences free for all over-75s would mean closing BBC2, BBC4, the BBC News Channel, BBC Scotland and Radio 5 Live.
Caroline Abrahams, of charity Age UK said successful claimants “could find themselves £2,000 better off a year”.
National Pensioners’ Convention carried out a series of protests.
Over-75s have been entitled to a free TV licence since 2000.
The BBC is being forced to restrict the benefit to people on Pension Credit after the Tories broke a 2017 manifesto promise to keep licences free.
We reported how pensioners took to the streets yesterday to protest the move.
A Downing Street spokesman said the BBC “must now look at how it can use its income to deliver for all ages by making efficiencies.”
BBC chairman David Clementi on how organisation will still help pensioners in need.
Sir David Clementi, Chairman of the BBC, writes for the Mirror and breaks down the ‘myths’ around the new TV license scheme and promises the organisation will still help pensioners in need.
BY
Sir David Clementi, Chairman of the BBC
1ST AUGUST 2020
Emergency services rescuing woman after 60ftunsubscribe at any time.
So much of what has been said about the BBC’s new TV licence scheme for over 75s is either misleading or wrong.
I want to break down some of the myths, because it’s important that pensioners in particular really understand what’s changed.
First, the BBC has not decided to take free licences away from over 75s. It was the Government who funded free licences in the past; it was the Government who decided to stop paying for them.
The BBC thought long and hard about what we could do to create and fund a new scheme to help those who need it most.
The result is that any household with someone aged over 75 who receives pension credit is now entitled to a free TV licence, paid for by the BBC.
In other words, we’re providing extra help to those older pensioners who, according to the Government, need it most.
Sir David Clementi was the Government’s preferred candidate to be the BBC’s new chairman.
These are people who have worked hard all their lives. They are among the most likely to feel lonely or isolated. Some are vulnerable. The coronavirus crisis has highlighted just how much many rely on TV and radio for day-to-day companionship.
Some say that the BBC has somehow gone back on what was agreed. But there was never any agreement that the BBC would keep the Government scheme going. Both Government ministers and the BBC recognised at the time that change was likely.
Partly that’s because copying the Government’s scheme would have cost us £745 million a year. That’s equivalent to the combined budget of BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5live, plus some of our local radio stations and more. And the cost would rise to £1 billion a year by the end of the decade.
That would mean substantial cuts to our services. It would mean a BBC very different from the one we know our oldest audiences in particular depend on.
Some say we could afford to do more if we stopped employing our biggest stars. In fact, even if we employed no presenters paid over £150,000, we would only save £10 million per year. The figures simply don’t add up. And 4 out of 5 members of the public tell us they want the BBC to feature the highest quality presenters, actors and reporters.
So this was a tough decision for us to have to take. But we believe it’s the fairest possible. Our focus now is on two priorities.
First, safety. In this health crisis, we have spent the past few months making sure no one will need to leave their home to claim for a free TV licence or to pay for one.
Second, care. We’ve set up special contact centres to help people during this time. We know many will need specific support, so we’ve been working with organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society and RNIB to make sure the needs of vulnerable people are taken into account.
Already we’ve received over 450,000 applications for a free licence. Around 1 million more are eligible.
No one needs to do anything immediately. Everyone will receive guidance in the weeks ahead. Everyone will have the time and support they need to make the transition to the new scheme.
Free TV licences end on Saturday – what that means for the over 75s.
The controversial decision to axe the free licence fee for pensioners will come into effect on August 1 – after it was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Over-75s will no longer be entitled to free TV licences from August 1.
What is really going on in po
Millions of pensioners will have to start paying the BBC licence fee for the first time from the beginning of August.
People over 75 have been entitled to a free TV licence since 2000, allowing them to watch TV and listen to BBC radio without paying the annual charge.
This exemption was due to end in June but the controversial move was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
An estimated 3.7million pensioners currently receive the benefit but will now have to pay £157.50 per year to use their TV.
Here’s what the changes mean for you.
What are the current rules?
Millions of pensioners will be affected by the changes.
Anyone who watches live TV or uses BBC I-player must pay £157.50 per year for a TV licence for their household.
If you do not use a TV then you do not have to pay.
The licence free can be paid in installments or as a lump sum – and people who fail to pay can be prosecuted.
Over-75s have been exempt from paying the fee since 2000, with the shortfall paid by the Government.
What will happen on August 1?
More than three million households will be lose their entitlement to a free licence fee.
TV licensing will write to all licence holders over 75 to explain how to pay the fee.
Specialist call centres have been set up to help people deal with the change, and it can also be done online, so no one has to leave their homes to pay during the pandemic.
Does this affect everyone over 75?
No. Anyone who receives pension credit can still claim a free TV licence, which will be funded by the BBC.
Households where someone claims this benefit – which is available for the poorest pensioners – are able to apply for a free licence.
More than 1.5million people claim pension credit, according to Government figures.
The BBC said it had received more than 450,000 applications already.
Why are these changes happening?
The BBC said funding the exemption would cost £745million annually by 2021/22.
The BBC took the decision to axe the free licence fee amid a major squeeze on its budgets.
The corporation said funding the exemption for pensioners would cost it some £745million annually by 2021-22.
It had been handed responsibility for paying for the free licence fee for the elderly in 2015 by the Government, which previously footed the bill.
It is a source of tension between the Government and the BBC – with each side criticising the other for the controversial move.
The Tories previously pledged to protect the benefit in their 2017 manifesto.
And Boris Johnson’s spokesman said scrapping the free licence fee for pensioners was “the wrong decision”.
But critics say the principle responsibility lies with the Government.
What has the reaction been?
Age UK said it was “bitterly disappointed’ by the decision and said many elderly people may be forced to give up their TVs, which have been a “lifeline” during the pandemic.
The Mirror has been campaigning to save the benefit, with support from well-known faces such as former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, ex-Strictly judge Len Goodman and actor Ricky Tomlinson.
Labour leader Keir Starmer slammed the move, saying many people would be forced to choose between paying the licence fee and their heating bills this winter.
“The idea that you could take away so many people’s connection to the outside world is cruel,” he said.
“It’s simply not good enough for the Government to pass the buck and blame the BBC.”
Thousands of senior citizens have also vowed to press ahead with a campaign of direct action against bill collectors. Leading campaigner Lord Foulkes warned there is just 24 hours to save the perk for the over-75s and called on the government to stage a last-minute intervention. BBC bosses are imposing the £157.50 on the over-75s from Saturday for the first time in 20 years.
Members of the National Pensioners’ Convention will take to the streets in London, Newcastle, Oxford, Norwich, Liverpool, Irvine and Belfast in protest.
General Secretary Jan Shortt said: “The free TV licence for all over 75s is a universal entitlement to supplement our poor state pension.
“To force people to find the money to pay for it now, particularly during the pandemic when they rely on their TV’s for information, is just cruel.
“That is why the fittest and healthiest of our older members will put on their masks and gloves – and pop sanitiser in their pockets – to join static, and socially distanced demonstrations around the country.”
BBC TV licence fee protest: Thousands will protest on Thursday (30th July).
BBC headquarters in London.
Older people’s group Silver Voices said its members will begin their plan to “gum up the works” of TV Licensing.
The group is urging everyone over 60 to cancel direct debits and pay by cheque instead to cause chaos for the organisation that will collect the bill.
Director Dennis Reed said the BBC willingly took over responsibility for the free TV licence and had five years to plan and budget for it.
He accused the corporation of being “lazy and cynical” in agreeing to exemptions for people on pension credit knowing that many eligible pensioners do not realise they are entitled to it.
BBC protest: Angry scenes over alleged Brexit bias in 2017.
Mr Reed said: “The BBC has had years to budget so that it could continue to provide free licences for the over 75s but now it is pleading poverty.
“The only real poverty from this decision is for millions of older people who will struggle to pay the licence fee of £157-50, which is approximately equivalent to one week’s state pension.
“Scrapping the free licence during a pandemic which has hammered the physical and mental health of the over 75s is beyond belief.
“From Saturday our direct action against TV Licensing will reflect the fury of older people about this decision”.
Early this month the BBC announced it will impose the annual fee on most over-75s from August 1 despite campaigners warning it will leave some pensioners choosing between food and heating or television.
Lord Foulkes, who chairs the All-Party Group for Ageing and Older People, said there was just 24 hours to save the licence and called on the government to take urgent action.
“The clock is ticking down to midnight on Friday when hundreds of thousands of older people will be faced with the possibility of increasing loneliness or increasing poverty,” he said.
British pensioners have every right to be angry at TV licence betrayal.
A lifeline not a perk.
On Saturday the much-loved benefit of the free TV licence comes to an end for over 75s despite the Conservatives pledging that they would be retained. They are not a perk. They are a lifeline.
DAILY MIRROR.
31ST JULY 2020
Ricky Tomlinson joins protesters outside BBC Media City in Salford, Greater Manchester, at the broadcaster’s decision to axe free TV licences for 3.7 million pensioners.
If Britain’s pensioners are angry it is with good reason.
In their 2017 manifesto the Conservatives pledged that free TV licences for the over 75s would be retained. But on Saturday this much-loved benefit comes to an end.
The Tories are trying to pin the blame on the BBC but the responsibility lies entirely with them. They made a promise and now they are refusing to abide by their word.
No wonder so many people feel betrayed.
Free TV licences are not a perk.
They are a lifeline for millions of pensioners for whom the telly is a source of companionship and a window into the outside world.
National Pensioners’ Convention doing a series of protests about the reimposition of the TV licence fee on the over 75s.
The decision is especially cruel when so many older people are having to shield because of coronavirus.
A government with a conscience would find the money to enable the BBC to maintain the benefit. In failing to do so this Tory administration has shown it is shameless and heartless.
Please find below a statement which has been issued today to the press and placed on social media relating to BT’s results announced today.
BT remains in a strong position financially as it publishes its Q1 2020/21 results today. Unsurprisingly Covid 19 has impacted on the business with a fall in revenue and profits. That said BT remain a hugely profitable company with reported pre-tax profits of £561m. Phillip Jansen, CEO has stated he expects to return the business to sustainable adjusted EBITDA growth as the business recover from the impact of Covid 19.
Andy Kerr, Deputy General Secretary for Telecoms and Financial Services – CWU stated:
“This crisis has shown that the BT workforce have been crucial in keeping the UK connected. BT are a hugely profitable company who receive enormous amounts of government funding to deliver broadband. It’s our members who have continued to work throughout the pandemic to deliver on this. Most businesses have taken a hit from the Covid 19 pandemic and its clear BT will bounce back. The news of an impact on their financial revenue and profits will come with anxiety for the workforce however, as BT are embarking on a major restructuring programme involving mass redundancies of its workforce. Any loss in revenue and profit should not impact on future job security and terms and conditions for dedicated frontline workers. The CWU believe BT should halt any redundancies and stop the race to the bottom on pay terms and conditions for telecoms workers”.
National Terms of Reference for the Deployment of a Hydrogen Powered Van Trial
Branches will be aware of the trial of a CNG Iveco Van and the trial of gas powered motive unit at the Chorley Vehicle Operating Centre, both of which are trialling alternative fuels as oppose to the various number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) on trial in deliveries.
Branches will wish to note that Aberdeen City Council has approached Royal Mail to trial a hydrogen powered commercial vehicle to use in the Altens Delivery Office, Aberdeen, free of charge. Hydrogen is high quality energy and is used to power fuel cell vehicles. Fossil fuels which mainly include petroleum and coal provide for the major extent of energy needs around the globe today. Hydrogen however readily combines with other molecules. The most common way to liberate hydrogen is to use heat and catalysts to reform hydrocarbons. Hydrogen fuelled vehicles emit no greenhouse gases or other pollutants, as during combustion, hydrogen only produces water vapour thus reducing the release of harmful gasses such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, as described in the above mentioned PE documents.
The vehicle to be deployed is a Euro 6 Ford Transit L3 H3 converted to run on hydrogen, which uses blends of hydrogen and diesel for performance and emissions reduction. The range of the hydrogen converted vehicle whilst running on hydrogen is dependent on the specific duty cycle but estimated to be 120 miles.
The Project is a result of the Council’s role within the EU funded ‘Civitas PORTIS’ project which looks at sets of sustainable mobility measures in port cities to improve the attractiveness of the urban environment. The Council is committed to Aberdeen becoming a more sustainable, low carbon city. The Council want to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles, particularly hydrogen vehicles, within the private sector as this is part of their solution to improving the city’s air quality, cutting carbon emissions which will have the associated health benefits. The Council also want to continue to lead on hydrogen technology. With Royal Mail participating in the project, the intention will be to promote the involvement and willingness by the private sector to trial hydrogen vehicles.
Cross departmental discussions have therefore taken place in relation to an agreement to enable the activity to take place. The CWU will be fully involved in all aspects of the trial locally, to help promote the benefits and purpose of the trial. The trial will be jointly overseen and monitored by RM Fleet Innovation and Environment Manager, who will provide periodic reports to the CWU both locally and nationally.
The trial activity will be the subject of a joint review six months after the commencement of the trial and periodically thereafter, as agreed by the Royal Mail Fleet Operational Specification Group (RMFOS). Local Managers and CWU representatives and drivers involved in the trial will also feed into this process.
The attached visuals indicate the vehicle to be deployed in the trial which will be wrapped in red and will also be branded with the cruciform as well as a reference to hydrogen. Branding has yet to sign off the final livery
and the safety documents will be assessed against this. The vehicle has also been checked for suitability of collection and delivery in Altens.
Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department quoting reference 500, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
Branches and representatives are informed that the department have been receiving enquiries over recent days in relation to documentation that is the field regarding changes to sorting methods for Tracked items, which utilises Alphanumeric coding on barcodes.
We can advise that a meeting has taken place with the business in relation to the issue and the department have been informed that the business are introducing a simplified Alphanumeric sorting method into Mail Centres for both the Inward and Outward Tracked areas, from the 10th August 2020.
The change in method involves the use of Alphanumeric coding on barcodes for Tracked items. This method has been used successfully in the RDC’s for some time and is now being introduced into Mail Centres to provide uniformity.
The business have advised that it is now possible to introduce the method into Mail Centres, as a threshold level of c80% has now been achieved in relation to the inclusion of Alphanumeric coding on barcodes for Tracked items.
The business have confirmed that the move to Alphanumeric coding is a change in designation rather than an actual change to sort selections. Therefore, the number of sort selections remains the same and the use of the Alphanumeric process provides one cohesive plan for Tracked items.
It is not anticipated that the change in method will have any impact on headcount or presentation to Delivery Offices.
Attached for information is documentation that the business has shared with the department in relation to the change.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 709.02
Following a number of requests from Branches to provide training since the announcement from BT Group on compulsory redundancies, we have arranged for an accredited redundancy course to be delivered through Ruskin College.
The initial pilot course is scheduled to run over three days (25th, 26th & 27th August 2020) and will be delivered “virtually” from 09.30 – 16.30 using Ruskin’s “Google Classroom” platform. Regular screen breaks are assured throughout the course.
Priority will be given to applicants from Branches with members in BT and the class size is capped at 25.
Applications will be accepted from Branch Secretaries only by emailing the following details to learn@cwu.org before the deadline of midday on 18th August 2020:
Name of applicant
Membership number
Email address
The course will cover the following topics:
Course Aims and Objectives, Course Introduction
Accreditation and introduction to Google Classroom
What is Redundancy?
Redundancy Process
Collective Consultation
Has the work disappeared or diminished – Activity
Suitable Alternative Employment
Selection Process
Redundancy and Unfair Dismissal
Notice and Redundancy Pay
The course does not attract formal paid release, however local arrangements may apply. The course will be reviewed after initial delivery and further dates will be scheduled if feedback is positive.
ROYAL MAIL: CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, GRADUAL RETURN TO THE WORKPLACE
Further to LTB 250/20 dated 12th May. Branches will be aware many of our Customer Experience members have been working from home during the pandemic with all sites operating at a greatly reduced capacity to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to. We have been in discussions with management throughout this difficult period with the safety and well-being of our members being our clear priority.
Given the recent Government announcements including an encouragement to return to the workplace, our discussions have included the steps needed to be taken to plan the gradual return to the CE Units. Steve Keeley, Newcastle Amal (our Doxford Health & Safety Representative), has been leading on these talks and I am grateful to Steve for his efforts in engagement with management to ensure the appropriate procedures and measures are being taken. The following Joint Statement has been agreed:
Welcoming you into the office… step by step It’s hard to believe less than three months ago, many of you were leaving your places of work to continue providing an essential service to our customers, from your own homes. It’s been an unsettling time for all of us, and we’re proud of how everyone has continued to support our customers – often in challenging circumstances.
Whether you’ve been working from home, remained working in your site, or returned to it more recently, we appreciate that recent government announcements, encouraging an earlier return to offices, will have caused uncertainty and anxiety for many of you. Consequently we want to share with you our plans on how we aim to move forward over the coming months.
Customer Experience has an important role as our business and our customers face difficult challenges in these uncertain economic times. We’re keen to ensure we all move forward with a continued focus on supporting our customers as effectively as possible, and your wellbeing is vital to us. Over the coming weeks we’ll be welcoming everyone back into their office environment, safely and on a gradual, considered basis.
COVID Secure: It’s different We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make sure all sites are clean, safe and fully certified as COVID Secure in readiness for you to return. To ensure everyone’s safety, changes have been made to both the physical environment and how we plan for you to work within it. The changes you can expect to see at your site are:
1. Your site will have been Covid-19 safety checked with a COVID Secure certificate on display. 2. To ensure social distancing, each site has a reduced capacity limit, so bringing staff back will be planned on a gradual basis. 3. The ongoing cleaning schedules will be more regular, thorough and extensive. 4. There will be new signage, one way systems and Perspex screens located around the building.
A clean and clear desk policy will be in operation – to support this you will find any personal items left on desks prior to leaving will have been removed, placed in bags and labelled for you.
Working with you to achieve a gradual transition Locally, managers and union reps will continue to work together and involve teams at each stage to enable us to move forward at a sensible pace. What you can expect over the coming weeks: • You’ll start to hear more from your site teams about local arrangements, as well as site welcome communications to give you an insight into how the working environment looks and feels. • From mid-August, we will start to bring in teams, depending on site capacity this may be on a rotational basis. This will enable you to prepare together, with your team leader and colleagues, and support each other. Your line manager will talk to you more about this in due course. • To support this rotational approach, we’ll aim to re-allocate all available non specialist equipment so that, wherever possible, you’ll be able to leave equipment at home when returning to sites temporarily. • If you wish to return to work in your office earlier than mid August, you’ll be very welcome. Please let your line manager know and they will help make arrangements.
If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your line manager or your Union Representative in the first instance. You’ll be receiving further communications from your local site teams as we move forward safely, together.
Lastly, we wish to thank you for all your hard work and efforts.
We will continually monitor the effectiveness of the above arrangements. In the meantime, all CE Reps are encouraged to engage with their local Unit managers regarding the specific practicalities for the members in their site.
JOHN DUFFUS – CAPITAL BRANCH VICE CHAIR AND HEALTH AND SAFETY LEAD
It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that John Duffus, Capital Branch Officer, Vice Chair and Health and Safety Lead, passed away suddenly overnight on Monday 27th July.
John was a committed trade unionist and Labour Movement activist who had a long history of working tirelessly on behalf of our members and the CWU.
He was very well known and highly respected within the Capital Branch and across the Telecoms and Financial Services Constituency.
He was also very well known for his contribution within the London Region and the excellent Health and Safety work he carried out on behalf of the union.
In conveying our sincere condolences, I know I speak on behalf of the whole union in saying John will be sorely missed and that our thoughts are of course with John’s family and friends at this very sad time.
Given ongoing restrictions with funeral arrangements due to COVID19, we are advised that the Capital Branch will circulate any further information on this.
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 