Working Long Hours Brings Risk of Stroke Report Published
(Things People Can Do To Reduce The Risk Of Stroke)

Working long hours has been linked to an increased risk of stroke in a recently published report.

Researchers, from Angers University and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, looked at data on age, smoking and working hours from a population study of more than 143,000 adults.

Long hours was defined in the French study as more than 10 hours on at least 50 days a year. Just under a third worked long hours, with 10% working long hours for 10 years or more.  People who worked long hours for more than a decade were at the greatest risk of stroke, the researchers concluded.

Overall, 1,224 of those in the study had had a stroke. But the UK’s Stroke Association Charity said there were lots of things people could do to counteract the effects of long hours, like exercising and eating well.

The research, published in the American Heart Association’s journal ‘Stroke’, said people working long hours had a 29% greater risk of stroke, and those doing so for 10 years or more had a 45% greater risk.

Part-time workers and those who suffered strokes before working long hours were excluded from the study.

Dr. Alexis Descatha, who led the research stated that the association between 10 years of long work hours and stroke seemed stronger for people under the age of 50. This was unexpected. Further research is needed to explore this finding.

This study looked at numbers, rather than reasons, but other research has found people who run their own businesses, chief executives and managers seem less affected by long hours — as opposed to those working irregular shifts and nights, or who have job-related stress.

Things People Can Do To Reduce The Risk Of Stroke 

Dr. Richard Francis, head of research at the Stroke Association Charity stated that there are lots of simple things people can do to reduce the risk of a stroke, even if they work long hours:-

• Eating a healthy diet
• Finding the time to exercise
• Stopping smoking and
• Getting the recommended amount of sleep can and does make a big difference to people’s health.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB640 Working Long Hours Brings Risk of Stroke Report Published

2019 Dispute Relating to Honouring & Deploying the Four Pillars of Security & Pay/Guiding Principles National Agreement between the CWU & RMG – Unagreed Recruitment of Additional Temporary, Agency and Casual Workers

The DGS(P) Department has been made aware of adverts that have been circulated throughout large parts of the country by a number of employment agencies. These relate to the recruitment of casual, agency and in some cases temporary workers on varying rates of pay and during the hours of around 11:00 – 19:00. The Union believes these actions are a clear breach of a number of our National Agreements and are currently seeking legal advice.

In addition a Sub Group has been established to monitor the situation and devise ways that these unilateral actions can be challenged using our agreed industrial processes.

I have also taken the step of writing to the Head Office of each of the Employment Agencies that are recruiting for these posts to remind them of their legal obligations during an official dispute and strike action. It is also important that Branches contact all employment agencies in the areas where such unagreed recruitment is taking place to remind them of the legalities around this matter.

Please see attached for the information of Branches a letter which I would encourage you to use as a template to approach local employment agencies.

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

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

19LTB639

Attachment to LTB 639-19

Parcelforce TUPE/Employee’s Letter

As you are aware the proposal to create a new separate legal trading entity of Parcelforce Limited and transfer Parcelforce employees to the new company by means of a TUPE transfer remains a central issue in our disputes with both RMG and Parcelforce Worldwide.

The departments have become aware that Gary Simpson, Managing Director, wrote to our members in Parcelforce on 30th October 2019 to express the business’ view on the TUPE consultation and potential next steps in relation to their proposal.

On the issue of the TUPE consultation the departments believe that the content of the letter misrepresents the position of the CWU within that process.

Of greater concern is the fact that the letter in our view signals to CWU members in Parcelforce a clear intent on the part of the company to progress with the deployment of their proposal following the conclusion of the Dispute Resolution Process on 7th November 2019. This despite the fact that our members have overwhelmingly rejected the proposal through the democratic Industrial Action Ballot process.

It is ironic that at a time when the company has publicised their request to the Union to refrain from calling Industrial Action and supposedly offering unconditional talks on a resolution to our dispute in RMG, that in reality the actions of Parcelforce may make any settlement of the matters in both disputes impossible and serious group wide Industrial Action inevitable.

In response to the business’ letter we have attached for the information of Branches a copy of an individual CWU letter sent to our members in Parcelforce. The attached reaffirms the CWU opposition to the company proposal and clarifies our position in relation to the dispute across RMG should the company choose to ignore the views of their employees and proceed with the TUPE transfer of our Parcelforce members.

Our members in Parcelforce should be assured that this issue remains a fundamental element of both disputes with the company and that the CWU will continue to press for a negotiated settlement by all means necessary, in line with the overwhelming mandate of our members, utilising our collective strength and solidarity across RMG.

We would request that Branches ensure that this LTB and attached letter are given the widest possible publicity to our representatives and members across Parcelforce and RMG.

Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger – DGSP

Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary 

Ray Ellis – Assistant Secretary 

19LTB638

Attachment 1 – PFW Member’s Letter 01.11.19

GENERAL ELECTION – CWU NATIONAL BRIEFING FRIDAY 8^TH NOVEMBER 2019

The purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches that the union will be holding a National Briefing to set out our approach to campaigning in the General Election.  The event will take place on Friday 8^thNovember at the NEU, Mander Hall, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD, commencing at 11 a.m. and finishing no later than 2 p.m.

The forthcoming General Election is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver fundamental change in the country and realise a number of significant policies that CWU has pushed over recent years.  At the briefing we will set out what Labour’s offer means for our members and explain the work we are asking Branches to undertake over the next six weeks.

In making this a priority commitment, we want all CWU Branches to attend with a maximum of two delegates.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary 

19LTB636 General Election – CWU National Briefing Friday 8th November 2019

Christmas Arrangements 2019

Branches will be aware that due to the current National dispute, the union has been offered no sight of the business’s operational plans for the pressure period and no discussions have taken place in relation to Christmas/New Year arrangements for the 2019/20 festive period.

Given that we would normally have engaged or concluded agreed arrangements by this stage, both departments have started to receive enquiries in relation to the approach representatives should adopt with any local discussions.

Attached for the information of Branches is a copy of a letter that has been sent to Simon Barker, outlining the CWU position with regard to this year’s Christmas Arrangements, in the absence of a specific agreement for 2019/20.

We believe the contents of the letter are self-explanatory and we would advise Branches and representatives to conduct any discussions in line with the position outlined.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the relevant department:

Processing/Area Distribution: email: shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 706A.10

Or

Deliveries: email outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference number: 170

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch – Assistant Secretary

LTB 635 -19

Att 635