We have today launched CWU LIVE – a section on our website where we will live blog the latest news for members on workplace issues, the wider movement and of course the coronavirus crisis

cwu.org/live

Royal Mail have sent the communication below to all managers. It is vital this is shared as widely a possible. Every single local rep must engage with local managers tomorrow morning.

We will update you tomorrow following our meeting with the company.

………

Our priorities in light of coronavirus are clear. They are:

1. Protect our people – health comes first
2. Protect our country
3. Protect our company
   In light of coronavirus we have made some temporary changes to our operational processes to increase social distancing and continue to support our ‘health comes first’ principle. Government advice is that, wherever possible, people should stay two metres apart in order to manage the risk of exposure to the virus. This builds upon a number of measures we’ve already put in place in the operation.
   
4. New ways of working in delivery
   
   Delivery office managers should ensure that the following changes are put in place:
5. One person, one van rule. There should be only one person in a Royal Mail vehicle at any one time. This could be implemented in a number of ways. For example, completing walks on foot in a starburst approach from the office, using a remote start option or changing shift patterns to allow dual use of vehicles
6. Arrange indoor and outdoor operations to adhere to the two metre social distancing guidelines
7. Cease WTLL sessions, and implement small touchpoint huddles adhering to social distancing rules
8. Everyone should wash their hands when coming in to and leaving the office, as well as at regular times during the day

Operations managers will arrange conference calls with delivery office managers first thing ‪tomorrow morning‬ to go through these changes in more detail. Different processes will be needed in different offices. Local solutions and collaborative working are key. There will not be a one size fits all solution. On these calls, we will work through any other detailed options to increase social distancing. 
 
Please discuss these with your operations manager, your CWU rep and your wider team to see what will work for your unit. The list is not prescriptive or exhaustive. If you have other ideas that are safe and can be deployed then please feed them back through your line manager.
 
Please brief your teams in small huddles, observing social distancing guidance – not WTLL sessions – at the earliest opportunity.
 

2. New ways of working in processing
    
   In processing, the following changes are being put in place:
3. Standard ways of working are being revised to ensure that, wherever possible, people stay two metres apart
4. Processes have been reviewed to minimise passing of work between colleagues
5. Cleaning of PDAs will be required when handing over between colleagues 
6. Good hand hygiene must be maintained to minimise the risk of any infection

Detailed standard operating procedures will be provided to assist best practice in work areas. Further information will be cascaded through the line tomorrow. 
 

3. New ways of working in distribution
    
   In distribution, the following changes are being put in place:
4. Social distancing protocols will be put in place in the traffic offices for handover of keys and instructions to drivers
5. PPE must not be shared between individuals
6. Ensure all tools, such as PDAs, are cleaned after use
7. Face to face handovers need to be completed two metres apart, wherever possible

Detailed standard operating procedures will be provided to assist best practice in work areas. Further information will be cascaded through the line tomorrow.

Keep up to date with wider changes

The situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus is fast-moving. The safety, health and wellbeing of our employees, members of the public and the communities in which we operate is paramount.

COVID 19 (CORONAVIRUS) TEMPORARY RELAXATION OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE EU AND GB DRIVERS’ HOURS RULES / SUSPENSION OF TRAILER MOT’S

Branches may be aware that as a response to growing Supply Chain disruption resulting from the Coronavirus crisis, the Government has announced a temporary relaxation of the EU and GB Drivers’ hours rules.

The advice on the Department of Transport Website states that these two temporary relaxations apply from 00:01 on Monday 23rd March 2020 and will run until 23:59 on Tuesday 21st April 2020. The DofT reserves the right to withdraw the relaxations earlier or extend the relaxations if circumstances change. In addition, the continuation of the relaxations past Sunday 5th April 2020 is subject to a specific review.

The specific measures include:

Relaxation of EU Drivers Hours Rules 

The EU Drivers’ Hours rules can be temporarily relaxed as follows: 

a) Replacement of the EU daily driving limit of 9 hours with one of 11 hours 

b) Reduction of the daily rest requirements from 11 to 9 hours 

c) Lifting the weekly (56 hours) and fortnightly driving limits (90 hours) to 60 and 96 hours respectively 

d) Postponement of the requirement to start a weekly rest period after six-24 hours periods, for after seven 24 hours period; although two regular weekly rest periods or a regular and a reduced weekly rest period will still be required within a fortnight 

e) The requirements for daily breaks of 45 minutes after 4.5 hours driving replaced with replaced with a break of 45 minutes after 5.5 hours of driving 

Drivers must not use relaxation ‘a’ and ‘d’ at the same time. This is to ensure drivers are able to get adequate rest. 

Relaxation of GB Drivers’ Hours Rules 

The GB Drivers’ Hours rules can be temporarily relaxed as follows: 

a) Replacement of the GB duty time limit of 11 hours with 12 hours 

b) Replacement of the GB daily driving time limit of 10 hours with 11 hours 

Drivers can only take advantage of this temporary relaxation 5 days in any 7 day period, and must take a rest period of 24 hours within the same 7 day period when taking advantage of this relaxation. 

Discussions have taken place with Royal Mail this morning to ensure that there is a shared understanding of the intentions of the business to adapt to the relaxation of the rules and any implications.

Following that discussion Branches are advised of the following clarifications that have been provided.

• Royal Mail do not intend to re-plan current workload on the basis of the relaxation of the rules and have issued advice to their managers to that effect.
• That should an increase in absence as a result of COVID 19 require a rethink on this policy, that National discussions will take place with the department before any revised advice is issued by the business.
• That no individual driver will be required to work beyond the current limits should they not wish to do so.

Separately the union has also been advised that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have approved a 3 month suspension on all Trailer MOT’s scheduled for March and April 2020 to allow for the absence of testers at their stations. All trailers that have been prepared for test will be released back into service and recalled at the appropriate time. All outstanding tests or re-tests for February 2020 will continue as normal.

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

Drivers: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference 014.14

or

Fleet: Carl Maden, Acting Assistant Secretary, PTCS Department; email: khay@cwu.org quoting reference 220.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary

Carl Maden – Assistant Secretary (Acting)

20LTB149

Coronavirus Covid-19 Issues – CWU Courses

Due to the spread of the Coronavirus throughout the UK and the current Government advice, serious consideration has been given regarding the delivery of our Education and Training Programme both Residentially and Regionally due to be held for the remainder of the Academic Year (July 31^st)

Therefore, the decision has made to cancel all courses that are currently scheduled until the end of the Academic Year.

This decision, which has not been taken lightly, will help to alleviate the pressures that we will face when we eventually come through the other side of this Coronavirus crisis.

We are exploring with Ruskin College the possibility of enabling those students who have commenced and are still to conclude their studies within a specific timeframe to remotely complete courses and will be in touch with them in due course.

We will of course continue to review the situation as developments progress.

Branches are reminded that CWU Left-Click, our online learning platform continues to be available for representatives and members at https://leftclick.cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

20LTB 148 – Coronavirus Covid-19 Issues – CWU Courses

We have put our proposal on the coronavirus crisis to Royal Mail.

They have agreed to respond by 10am tomorrow. We anticipate this being positive news.

To be clear: if we aren’t 100% assured by them that the safety of our members is secured then we will not wait any longer and we will immediately issue our own instructions to CWU members.

Please listen and share this podcast with GS Dave Ward and DGSP Terry Pullinger. We need this played to every colleague.

Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Latest Questions & Answers Guidance (V16) Dated 21 March 2020

Royal Mail Questions & Answers Guidance:

Royal Mail Group has established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all heads of department and this team meets daily to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and update communications to Managers and Questions and Answers information which is cascaded out to the business.

Attached for the information, reference and use of CWU Health and Safety and Branch IR Reps is the latest version of Royal Mail Group’s ‘questions and answers’ communication version 16 (21 March 2020). These are normally circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link in the ‘Managers Update Messages’.

Main Topics covered:

• Coronavirus Guidance – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, a) Prevention, b) Self-isolation, testing and reporting, c) Cleaning and consumables, d) Travel, e) Support and advice
• Coronavirus Sick Absence and Pay
• Post and Parcels; General Ops Advice, Operational Processes and Reporting Changes, Delivering and collecting from customers.
• There is guidance in there on use of water fountains and water dispensers.
• Gym Closures.

Positive Coronavirus Covid-19 Cases in Royal Mail:

Positive Cases in Royal Mail now stand at 9 – Manchester NWDO, Portabello DO (Edinburgh), Edinburgh MC, Abingdon DO, NDC, Mount Pleasant MC (W1 Collections), Eastleigh DO, Romford MC and Atherstone RMI.

Important Useful Links:

Check if you have coronavirus symptoms: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19.

My Royalmail.Com site includes the latest Q&A and general detail: https://www.myroyalmail.com/Coronavirus

Public Health England latest advice and guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

NHS common questions and answers: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Reporting a Positive Coronavirus Case:

If a member has a positive Coronavirus diagnosis, the line manager must contact Royal Mail Central Postal Control (CPC) on: 0345 266 1060.

Good Hygiene:

It is important that everyone follows basic good hygiene techniques. Wash hands regularly particularly before eating. Regularly clean with antiseptic wipes any shared equipment such as keyboards, PDA’s and scanners. Cough and sneeze into tissues. Dispose of any tissues immediately. ‘Catch It, Bin It, Kill It’.

PPE Supplies

There is a Global shortage of ‘disinfectant wipes’ and Royal Mail Assets and Procurement have been endeavouring to secure replenishment supplies from a large number of suppliers. The priority by the industry has been to direct supplies to the NHS first. Some supplies have been secured by Royal Mail which have been despatched but a substantial order of 6 million wipes in packs of 300 should arrive in at the end of next month followed by monthly deliveries of 10,000 wipes.

Royal Mail First Class Support:

First Class Support is available to all Royal Mail Group Employees free 24/7 providing a confidential support helpline 0800 6888 777 as well as a range of support services including health, counselling, debt and legal advice and practical help.

The attached is for the information, reference and assistance of Health and Safety Reps, Branch Officers and Reps and Divisional and Regional Officers for reference in any local discussions. The Q&A’s cover off a number of issues raised by CWU Reps.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

20LTB147 Royal Mail Group – Coronavirus Latest Questions & Answers Guidance (V16) Dated 21 March 2020

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v16 210320

Doc1

Correspondence to Royal mail re social distancing
Hi Ricky,

Re: Coronavirus Covid-19 Issues – Social Distancing in RMG – PHE Advice:

I write further to our recent meeting with the Rico Back CEO and others on 19 March, specifically
In relation to the latest government and PHE advice on Social Distancing.

The Prime Minister has in recent days been driving forward the importance of the PHE advice
on ‘Social Distancing’ and has been urgently requesting at every briefing he gives that people
strictly adhere to guidance and has threatened that “tougher measures” may have to be
imposed to tighten the rules because of non-compliance which risks spreading Coronavirus
Covid-19. Time and again this featured in his daily press conferences over the weekend. He
said its “absolutely crucial” that we all follow Public Health England (PHE) advice and
guidance, by all of us “Staying two metres apart at all times” which he added “Is not such a
difficult thing to do.”

The question now is Ricky – What is Royal Mail, Parcelforce and RMSS going to do about
reducing the risks?

CWU/HQ is currently fielding increasing numbers of queries and concerns expressed by
members about this issue because of our current work methods e.g. sharing vans, sharing
‘Bullrings’, sharing Sorting Frames, sharing Drop Bag Fittings, sharing Conveyors etc. In
many of Royal Mail’s Offices, especially where Office mergers have taken place, we have a
large amount of people in these Offices, where space is at a premium and our staff work
virtually on top of each other. Shared Vans in particular has become a legitimate concern
regarding the lack of ‘social distancing’ and no options plus the amount of time partners
are out on delivery together.

Additionally, our Members who live or care for vulnerable relatives are also very concerned
about the risk of contracting the Virus and subsequently exposing their loved ones to the
disease, due to lack of social distancing at work.

The guidelines have been issued for everyone to follow, and the Prime Minister is urgently
requesting at every briefing he gives now that they are strictly adhered to. I’d welcome your
proposed solutions to these issues. Can you please advise me of what further measures
our workforce can now take to help protect themselves and others including vulnerable
individuals?

I look forward to your speedy reply to allay peoples concerns, as time is of the essence,
and as you, Shaun Davis and the CEO Rico Back said at our recent meeting, protecting
the workforce and their Health & Safety is the Number 1 priority for us all.

Your assistance and support on this matter would be much appreciated. I look forward
To your urgent response.

Yours sincerely
DJ Sig

Dave Joyce | National Health and Safety