At the NEC held on the 22nd January 2020 the following programme of business was agreed for CWU Conference 2020:
Sunday 19th April 2020 – General Conference
Monday 20th April 2020 – Equality Day
Tuesday 21st April 2020 – General Conference
Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th April 2020 – Industrial Conferences
Branches should be aware that the Equality Day at Annual Conference 2020 will include motions in the morning and afternoon (subject to SOC placement). The aim for the Equality Day is for it to be informative and interactive with a number of panel sessions, campaign presentations for our National Equality Leads and guest speakers.
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by telephoning 020 8971 7256 or by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org
Further to LTB 037/20 dated 23rd January 2020, we have now been advised that the current responsibilities under the Assistant Secretary (TFS) are not as previously published and are as follows:
Assistant Secretary (TFS)
The above position is currently responsible for dealing with the following companies; BT Technology, Santander Group, Manpower, Telefonica O2, Paragon and Connect 44.
We would be grateful if you could ensure that this LTB is brought to the attention of the members of your branch.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
Millions of Waspi women who lost out by state pension increase given sliver of hope.
Campaigning group Backto60 has been granted the right to appeal
the High Court’s ruling CREDIT: ISABEL INFANTES/ AFP • Jessica Beard, pensions reporter
22 JANUARY 2020
Women born in the Fifties affected by the rise in their state pension age from 60 to 65 have been given a sliver of hope after being granted approval to appeal a High Court ruling from last October.
Two women from the Backto60 campaign group took the Government to a judicial review, arguing the delay in receiving their state pension had disproportionately affected them. Until 2010, women were entitled to receive the state pension from the age of 60, but the government announced in 1995 that this would increase to the age of 65 to equalise the playing field with men.
The two women argued that many others of their generation took time out of work to care for children which limited their earnings, meaning they had less opportunity to build up a healthy private pension.
The High Court judges decided they had not been discriminated against, and claimed the government’s move was to “correct historic direct discrimination against men”.
But now the group has had a breakthrough in its fight by receiving the green light to contest the ruling in the Court of Appeal.
Many of the complaints made by campaigners including group Backto60 and Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) have called for a reinstatement of the age of 60 for women’s state pension and for compensation of the amount they have missed out on since the ruling.
Campaigners and complainants argue they did not have enough time to prepare for the change, which has left them worse off in retirement and that they have experienced financial loss with a negative impact on their health, emotional well-being or home life. They contend that the change has discriminated against 3.8 million people, leaving them £47,000 out of pocket in retirement.
Separately, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is set to begin investigating a sample of complaints from women affected, after sending out communications to them last week.
The PHSO has been barred by the High Court ruling from recommending the reimbursement of these “lost” pensions, and nor can it advise in favour of a reversal of the Pensions Act legislation. However, it has been investigating to see if there has been an injustice as a result of maladministration, under which it could make recommendations to pay out compensation.
The investigation differs from the judicial review in that not all the issues considered were taking into account as part of the review, including DWP’s and ICE’s complaint handling and the communication of changes to National Insurance.
The ombudsman will look at whether the DWP conducted its communication of the changes to women’s state pension age wrongly or poorly, focusing on what the department should have done to better voice the changes.
State pension age: Fresh hope for WASPI & Back-to-60 women as court appeal is granted.
STATE PENSION: Campaigners who have been affected by the state pension age changes for women have been granted permission to appeal the decision lodged regarding the Judicial Review about the age and sex and age discrimination.
Julie Delve and Karen Glynn, from the campaign group Backto60, challenged the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with a judicial review, which took place last year. The campaigners argued that rising their state pension age “unlawful discriminated against them on the grounds of age, sex and age and sex combined”.
On Monday this week, (20th January) Back-To-60 confirmed that the campaign group had been granted permission to appeal the decision.
An announcement on the Back-To-60 website reads: “We are delighted to confirm that http://www.back-to-60.com have been granted permission to Appeal ON ALL GROUNDS at The Court of Appeal.”
Speaking in a video outside Number 10 Downing Street on Monday, Joanne Welch, Back-to-60 director said: “We’re delighted to be here today at Number 10 Downing Street, and share with you the brilliant news that Back-to-60 has been granted an appeal in the High Court based on all grounds argued.
“Absolutely thrilled to share that with you, and thank you everybody who’s donated and supported us, because without you, we would not be here.”
State pension age changes: Backto60 campaigners have been granted permission to appeal the decision.
The Case Tracker for Civil Appeals states that the case is currently awaiting a hearing.
It says that the hearing will be by February 25, 2021.
Also speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street on Monday, Jackie Jones, a Labour MEP for Wales, said: “I’m here at Number 10 Downing Street for Back-To-60. We just handed in a petition for women born in the 50s to get their pensions back, and this is absolutely vital. Legislation should be passed.”
However, changes to the state pension age for women were announced the Pensions Act 1995.
Under the Pensions Act 2011, the state pension age for women increased more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018.
Now, the state pension age for women is increasing for both men and women.
In October last year, Ms Delve and Ms Glynn, supported by campaign group Back-to-60, took the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to court over the changes.
The women, supported by Back-to-60, claimed the increases discriminated against them on the grounds of sex, age and both sex and age combined, and that they were not given adequate notice of the changes, in order to prepare for the years without their state pension.
State pension age changes: A judicial review took place last year, but the claims were dismissed
However, High Court judges dismissed their claims “on all grounds”.
Lord Justice Irwin and Mrs Justice Whipple said in a statement: “There was no direct discrimination on grounds of sex, because this legislation does not treat women less favourably than men in law,”
“Rather it equalises a historic asymmetry between men and women and thereby corrects historic direct discrimination against men.”
The DWP cannot comment on pending legal action.
Last year, Ms Welch spoke to Express.co.uk about the campaign. During an exclusive interview, she said: “They [50s women] were quite happy. They had raised their families, looked after them, and probably cared for the elderly in some cases.
State pension age changes: The DWP released new figures of the total cost estimate of reversing the changes last year.
“Maybe they were looking forward to their retirement, and then the rug is ripped up from beneath their feet.”
The Campaign Director also explained that the group are seeking a “fair equality”.
She said: “Generally speaking, people are pro equality – as are we. However, we will be looking for a fair equality.
“50s women have suffered lifelong inequity, like the pension gap, the pay gap, the maternity gap. It’s like, ‘Mind the Gap’.
“You’d have to be a 50s woman to actually understand these gaps.
“Women weren’t even entitled to occupational pensions. It was seriously as bad as that.”
Elsewhere, the campaign group Women Against State Pension Age Inequality (WASPI) has received a notification from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) that they will proceed with a revised proposal to investigate six sample Complaints of Maladministration.
From June millions of pensioners are going be £154 worse off.
That’s because this Tory government reneged on its promise to maintain free TV licences for the over 75s.
Age UK says the loss of the benefit will leave hundreds of thousands of elderly struggling to pay their heating and water bills.
Boris Johnson has tried to wash his hands of all responsibility by blaming the BBC.
This is unfair on the cash-strapped broadcaster, which was told by ministers to accept responsibility for funding free TV licences or risk losing its charter to operate.
Pensioners left out of pocket will realise that the fault lies with a Tory government.
Coronavirus and Avian Flu Outbreaks in China – Statements From Royal Mail Group, Department of Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE) and Further Advice
This is an update further to LTB No. 033/2020, issued on 22 January 2020.
Royal Mail Group Statement:
Royal Mail Group issued the attached advice on their intranet site on Friday morning 24 January and stated that the Business is monitoring the Coronavirus outbreak situation in China and will issue more updates as appropriate following advice from Public Health England (PHE).
PHE maintain that the risk to the UK population has been assessed as low and should this assessment change, the NHS is well prepared. Royal Mail has advised that as with all mail handling and all other roles, good hand and personal hygiene should be maintained to minimise the risk of any infection of colds and flu, which are very common at this time of year. Hands should always be washed before eating and any gloves worn for mail handling should be washed frequently. Royal Mail has decided that although the risk of infection is very low, while the Coronavirus situation is developing, disposable gloves will be made available to anyone handling large numbers of parcels or letters originating from China who would like to wear them as an additional precaution. Any member wishing to be provided with the disposable gloves should request them from their manager. Details of how they are to be ordered have been provided to Office Managers and are contained in the attached Royal Mail statement.
The latest news update and statement from DHSC and PHE jointly is attached. They confirm continued enhanced monitoring of the Coronavirus situation in Wuhan, China and are ready to put in place proportionate, precautionary measures to protect the UK public. All direct flights from Wuhan, China to the UK are being met and advice and support to travellers is being provided if they feel unwell. The team involved includes medical inspectors, doctors, admin support and a team leader. They will check for symptoms of Coronavirus and provide information to all passengers about symptoms and what to do if they become ill. Mandarin and Cantonese language support will be available and leaflets will be available to all passengers.
DHSC has issued clinical guidance for the detection and diagnosis of Coronavirus, and PHE has developed a diagnostic test, making the UK one of the first countries outside China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this new disease.
The UK is well prepared for new diseases and the UK’s approach is kept under constant review. UK public health measures are world-leading and the NHS is well prepared to manage and treat new diseases.
Despite the current reports of 2000 confirmed cases and 50 deaths in China and confirmed cases of 15 other places outside China, DHSC and PHE confirm that the risk to the UK population has been assessed as low, based on the emerging evidence regarding case numbers, potential sources and human to human transmission. To date there are no confirmed cases of this new infection in the UK.
Can you catch Coronavirus from Parcels and Packages Posted from China to the UK?
According to BBC health and science correspondents Dr. Michelle Roberts and Biologist James Gallagher along with the US Department of Health in Minnesota, the answer is no, there is no evidence this is a risk. These Medical experts say the Coronavirus can only survive on inanimate objects for a few hours, maybe a day or two in perfect laboratory conditions and parcels and packages from China take several days to arrive. Some diseases can spread through surfaces contaminated by people coughing or sneezing on them. It has not been shown this new Coronavirus can do that. Even if it could, there would still be questions about whether international shipping would be a major problem. Cold viruses tend to survive less than 24 hours outside the human body although Norovirus (a severe stomach bug) can last for months outside the body. The most reassuring fact so far is that Coronavirus cases seem to require close contact with an infected person – say, a family member or healthcare worker – in order to spread. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses such as Pneumonia and Bronchitis. The viruses are in the respiratory tract and they spread mainly through the air via coughing or sneezing, through close personal contact and touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes after touching an object or surface with the virus on it, before washing one’s hands.
Maintain Good Basic Hygiene
The NHS and doctors advise everyone to maintain good basic hand and personal hygiene standards, washing hands regularly to minimise the risk of any infection as this virus outbreak develops.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT – ROYAL MAIL/PARCELFORCE MEMBERSHIP
You will have seen, across various communication platforms within the CWU, the updated position with regard to negotiations with Royal Mail regarding the 4 Pillars of Security and the future direction of the business, updates will continue to be communicated by Terry Pullinger DGSP.
We are at a position where we will now need to ballot our membership for Industrial Action as a result of Royal Mail’s failure to negotiate a resolution to the issues under discussion.
The purpose of this LTB is to begin the necessary processes regarding our membership records in order that we are able to produce a ballot when the Postal Executive require it. It is anticipated that such a ballot will be required in the very near future.
Branches will be aware of the continuous legal challenges from Royal Mail that the union has recently faced on industrial action ballots. It is essential therefore that all branches are ready to engage with CWU HQs on this issue when needed.
The SDGS Department will be writing directly to Branch Secretaries in order to begin the process of checking membership records to enable this ballot to take place.
The seriousness of the situation our members face, as well as the future of the industry cannot be understated. As you are all aware decisions to ballot for national industrial action are not taken lightly, however given the circumstances we have been left with no choice.
We need to emphasise that this check of membership records is an extremely important activity that will be essential to us undertaking a strike ballot.
From this point on there will be an extremely close working relationship between the, GS, DGS(P) and SDGS departments on this issue and a support structure consisting of Postal Executive Members and Senior Field Officials will be put in place to assist Branch Secretaries, where required, to ensure that the process is concluded at pace and that this union acts as one in moving forward at such an important time.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
CWU Delegates to the TUC Equality Conferences – 2020
Further to LTB 012/20 dated 9th January 2020, at the close of nominations on the 24th January 2020 the following have been received:
TUC WOMENS CONFERENCE
Postal
4 Lay MembersBallot RequiredRachel DaleyBristol & District AmalClare DrummondGreater ManchesterChristine GlynnSouth Central PostalTina HolmesLeicestershireKath KellyNewcastle AmalRuth MeadowsShropshire & Mid Wales
Telecoms & Financial Services
3 Lay MembersBallot RequiredSylvia BeckettCapital, Mersey, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Scotland No 1Mel GorrieScotland No 1, Capital, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mersey, Mid Wales The Marches & North StaffsGwawr JenkinsSouth Wales, Capital, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mersey, Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Scotland No 1Cathy RhodesWest Yorkshire
TUC BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE
Postal
4 Lay Members (1 Woman)Ballot RequiredAdam AlarakhiaLeicestershireGreg AmissahNorth Lancs & CumbriaAmar SoofiSouth Central PostalDaniel SmithShropshire & Mid WalesIan TaylorGreater Manchester
Telecoms & Financial Services
3 Lay Members (1 Woman)Sylvia BeckettCapital, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mersey, Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Scotland No 1*ELECTEDPagget LewisCapital, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mersey, Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Scotland No 1*ELECTED
TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE
Postal
4 Lay Members ( 1 Woman)Adam AlarakhiaLeicestershire*ELECTEDEsther RobertsonEastern No 4*ELECTEDTony SneddonScotland No 5*ELECTEDLee Starr ElliottBristol & District Amal*ELECTED
Telecoms & Financial Services
3 Lay Members (1 Woman)Jonathan BellshawLincolnshire & South Yorks, Capital, Mersey, Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Scotland No 1*ELECTEDGemma HughesSouth Wales, Capital, Lincolnshire & South Yorks Mersey, Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Scotland No 1* ELECTEDJacky MorreyMid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Capital, Lincolnshire & South Yorks , Mersey, Scotland No 1* ELECTED
TUC LGBT CONFERENCE
4 Lay Members (1 Woman) Ruth MeadowsShropshire & Mid Wales*ELECTEDTony SneddonScotland No 5*ELECTEDPeter ThompsonSouth Central Postal*ELECTED
Telecoms & Financial Services
3 Lay Members (1 Woman)Jason ReynoldsCapital, Mersey, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Scotland No 1*ELECTEDDuncan StrivensSouth London Surrey & North Hampshire*ELECTED
The timetable for the ballot is as follows:
Dispatch ballot papers: 28 January 2020
Ballot closes: 11 February 2020 (14:00)
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 