CWU Submission to HM Treasury and UKSA on Reform of the RPI

The CWU has made the attached submission to the HM Treasury and UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) consultation on reform of the Retail Prices Index (RPI) methodology, which has been endorsed by the NEC.

UKSA has recommended that the methodology used for CPIH (Consumer Prices Index including housing costs) is imposed on the RPI, saying this will make RPI more statistically robust.

The CWU’s submission opposes UKSA’s proposal, arguing that RPI is the most suitable measure of inflation for assessing the rising cost of living for working households.

CPIH is typically lower than RPI, and the formula used in CPIH has been criticised for downward bias.  The proposal could therefore put at risk the ability of trade unions to secure pay settlements that reflect the actual rise in the cost of living experienced by working households.  The change is also expected to significantly reduce the value of Defined Benefit pensions, two thirds of which are currently uprated each year in line with RPI.

As agreed by the NEC in endorsing this submission, the CWU will consider all potential avenues to put pressure on the Government to reject the UKSA proposals, including campaigning and lobbying with the TUC and other organisations who oppose the change to RPI.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the Head of Research (email: btaylor@cwu.org).

Yours sincerely

Bill Taylor

Head of Research

LTB 455-20 CWU submission Treasury and UKSA on RPI reform 2020

CWU Response to Treasury UKSA RPI Consultation 17 August 2020

Recording of session with DGSP Terry Pullinger https://www.facebook.com/ThecommunicationsUnion/videos/1020694135048966/?vh=e&extid=FSL6GZNpHux627Yf&d=n

Please make sure all members see this.

As many of you are aware, from past report’s that, I’ve been updating the branch on the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) on their activities.
On the 21st July 2020, WASPI took their case to the High Court and lost. They appealed against that decision, and was informed, their appeal would be held in the Autumn.
Today, 15th September 2020, In the High Court, their appeal was lost.
Attached for your information are two PDF files, one giving a full report, and the other giving today’s outcome their appeal

Thanks.

Dick Hewlett

Please click on the link below

delve-and-glynn-v-sswp-judgment.pdf

delve-and-glynn-v-sos-for-work-and-pensions-press-summary.pdf

Royal Mail Group Night Worker Health Promotion Initiative and Free Health Assessment 2020

For the information of Branches and Area Health and Safety Reps, please see attached communications issued this week by the Royal Mail Group Safety Health and Environment, Occupational Health Team to promote night worker health and signpost those workers to the availability of a free health assessment if employees would like one which can be arranged via their line manager and the RMG occupational health service. Due to the current pandemic situation, the approach has changed this year from sending a home mailing questionnaire to night workers. This will be reviewed for 2021.

Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, a ‘night worker’ is an employee whose regular work hours includes at least three hours of the night time. Under this legislation, night time is between 11pm to 6am unless otherwise agreed. While working at night doesn’t necessarily pose any significant health risks, it may worsen some existing health conditions including epilepsy, depression, anxiety and diabetes. Employers are required by law to offer all night workers a health assessment. It must be ‘free’ and carried out before they become night workers and periodically thereafter. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the night worker health assessment requirement detailed in the Working Time Regulations 1998. The health assessment helps employers to identify where night shifts are causing workers health risks. After completion, it also helps to decide how best to make reasonable adjustments.

In line with the requirements of the legislation, during the month of September Royal Mail Group are offering night workers the opportunity to take up a regular “free health assessment” via a screening questionnaire that has been compiled with guidance from Royal Mail’s occupational health service provider. The night worker health assessment is designed to identify any risk factors associated with medical condition(s) and then allow advice to be obtained on how to manage them effectively. Night shift workers can receive a health assessment by request via their line manager who will then make a referral to the occupational health service by 28^thSeptember. A health questionnaire will then be e-mailed to the night worker concerned to complete and return direct to the occupational health service provider. All assessments are in confidence. Participation is voluntary and if there are no health concerns, employees and line managers will receive a report to confirm this. As part of the exercise, the Royal Mail Group Occupational Health Service is distributing health advice to night workers which also contains advice on physical activity, diet, social interaction and the steps workers can take to help maintain and improve their health and minimise any adverse effects.

Managers’ Actions are to deliver the attached WTLL brief during September and provide the attached ‘Health Advice for Shift Workers’ information sheet/hand-out to all night workers. Managers must inform night workers they are entitled to receive a voluntary night worker health assessment if they wish and the manager must submit any requests by making a referral to the occupational health service via a provided on-line link by 28^th September 2020. Night workers requesting a health-check assessment will be e-mailed a health questionnaire to complete electronically and return directly to the occupational health service for assessment.

Support available: 

The Royal Mail Group ‘Feeling First Class’ portal has helpful support content on both mental and physical health. Visit www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk (code FFC1 to register) and download the app from iTunes or the Google Play store.  Call the ‘First Class Support’ Helpline on 0800 688 8777, visit www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk or download the ‘Lifeworks’ app. New users are required to ‘sign up’ using a unique invitation code, which is ‘RMG-‘ and their payroll number, for example RMG-12345678.

ASRs

Would ASRs ensure that managers have delivered the WTLL and that our night worker members are firstly, fully aware of the availability of the annual health assessment, secondly that they have received the health and wellbeing advice and thirdly that they are aware of the support services available to them should they require it for any reason.

Attachments:

• RMG Night Workers Health Assessment & Advice WTLL/Huddle 2020
• RMG Health Advice For Night Workers Handout 2020
• RMG Night Workers Health RMG Intranet Article 2020

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 452/20 – Royal Mail Group Night Worker Health Promotion Initiative and Free Health Assessment 2020

RMG Health Advice for Night Workers (2020)

RMG Night Worker Health (2020) – RMG Intranet Story

Sept20 Night Worker Health 2020 SHE Huddle FINAL

CWU/RM Joint National Agreed Framework for Dealing with Delivery Office

Mergers / Closures

Branches will be aware that the Department have been pursuing a new agreement on the subject of dealing with Delivery Office Closures, as instructed by Annual Conference 2017 – Motion 28.

The main issue of concern and difficulty expressed by Branches and representatives with the current existing National DO closures/mergers agreement, is that the involvement process does not kick in until Royal Mail has made the business case decision to close or merge delivery units. Therefore, the resultant local discussions are effectively to move forward the issues that result from the decisions taken by Royal Mail and not influence this before it is made, and this in many examples has led to a “fait accompli” situation.

Accordingly, as part of the National Four Pillars Agreement, highlighted in section 19.3.1 and in order for us to progress the conference policy, we insisted on a commitment from Royal Mail to review the current National agreement and in line with this, a Joint working group with Royal Mail was established which was headed up on behalf of the Outdoor department by Mick Kavanagh, along with Divisional Reps and also involving representatives from the field, who have had recent experience of dealing with closures.

The attached National agreement covers everything tasked to the department by Conference and delivers a comprehensive framework, that allows for the fullest possible consultation in every aspect of a potential Closure/Merger, from the initial thinking, to the effect of a closure some way down the line.

We believe that the agreement builds in significant improved safeguards to those within the current framework and enables our Field Officials, Local Branches and representatives to gain much better understating of the rationale behind any such proposed moves, whilst allowing full input and discussions at all stages, along with the opportunity to influence the outcome prior to any decision or announcement.

This National framework agreement which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive will therefore replace the existing National Agreement and be used with immediate effect.

There are a number of Delivery Offices involved within a bulk lease expiry and high level scoping has identified 12 units across the UK, of which there may be potential merger impacts.

Accordingly, the respective SDLs will be contacting the appropriate Divisional Reps during the course of next week in order to initiate consultation on the sites appropriate to their areas and localities.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 555,  email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch                                      

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 451/20 – National Agreed Framework for Dealing with Delivery Office Mergers Closures

Framework for Dealing with Delivery Office Mergers and closures_Signature Copy_Sep20

DO Mergers Framework National Joint Statement_200915

Annex 1 – DO Mergers Framework_Final S.I. Materials – 15.09.20 – pdf

Annex 2 – Consultation – Detailed Design – 15.09.20

Annex 3 – Deployment – Implementation – 15.09.20

Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 54)

I attach for your information Version 54 of the Royal Mail Group, managers’ Coronavirus/Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers guidance document, issued by the business on 14 September 2020.

At the commencement of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, Royal Mail Group established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all national heads of department.  This team meets regularly to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and to issue updates to Questions and Answers, information and communications to all managers, which is cascaded throughout the business.

Attached is a copy of the Q&A document (version 54), which has been shared with the Union. It is hereby circulated for information and reference purposes for CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps.

The Q&A documents are circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link on the Royal Mail Group ‘Intranet’, in the ‘Managers’ Update Messages’ section.

Please note that changes and additions from the last version are 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 or feedback on the RMG Q&A document should be directed to Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer.

Attachment:

• Royal Mail Group Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers V54 

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 453/20 – RMG – Updated Coronavirus Covid-19 – FAQs and Answers Guidance Document (Version 54)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v54 (002)

Postal Organising/Recruitment Strategy – Motion 81

Further to LTBs 064/20, 089/20, 128/20 and 133/20 issued on 17^th March 2020.

Having carefully monitored the situation regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and in light of the new Government restrictions due to be implemented on Monday 14^th September 2020.

We can confirm that the Postal Organising/Recruitment Strategy event which was due to take place in Liverpool on Thursday 22^nd October 2020 has been postponed.  We are confident that colleagues will understand and appreciate the reason behind this decision and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Postal Branches can be assured that meeting the terms of the conference policy contained in Motion 81 remains a key objective of the Postal Department.  Organising remains central to the Department’s overall agenda going forward especially as we believe this will assist in reducing the number of non CWU members currently employed in Royal Mail Group.  Colleagues can also be assured that this event will be rescheduled at a time when it is safe to do so.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department and/or  Lynn Browne, Senior Organiser lbrowne@cwu.org as appropriate.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                           

LTB 450/20

The barrier to change in Royal Mail isn’t the union or our members – it’s managements lack of ambition

General Secretary Dave Ward for Tribune Magazine in response to the Royal Mail AGM this week

https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/09/the-barrier-to-change-in-royal-mail-isnt-the-union-its-the-management