Dispute Daily Episode 12 has landed
General Secretary, Dave Ward tells us why it’s so important to keep the momentum up in this dispute #WeRiseAgain
Union members support bid to keep TV licences free for over-75s.
Union members support bid to keep TV licences free for over-75s.
At the TUC’s annual congress motions from unions Prospect, the GMB and the National Union of Journalists condemned the “wrong-headed and unfair” decision to scrap them.
Licence to lie.
WHEN unions representing nearly six million workers demand no change to free TV licences for our over-75s, it underlines how out of touch the Tories are on this.
Blaming the BBC doesn’t wash when the Conservatives have broken their manifesto vow – and the whole country knows it.
BY
Mikey Smith Political Correspondent
11 SEP 2019Duration 0:51
Loaded: 77.19%
Thanks to a sneaky Tory manoeuvre to shift the benefit’s cost on to the BBC, the free licence is due to be mean-tested from next year.
That means only 1.5million OAPs who get Pension Credit will be eligible and up to 3.7million more will have to pay £154.50 for a licence or do without their TV.
The move breaks a Tory manifesto commitment to fully fund the benefit until 2022 – but PM Boris Johnson has refused to backtrack.
The Mirror is campaigning to save free licences, which the Beeb estimates would cost it £745million a year to maintain in full.
At the TUC’s annual congress yesterday in Brighton motions from unions Prospect, the GMB and the National Union of Journalists condemned the “wrong-headed and unfair” decision.
Military veteran John McDonnell, 80 (no relation to the Shadow Chancellor), said his generation had earned their free TV licences. “I was 18 when I was called up,” he said. “And I come home got married, had a daughter. In 1956 they called me up and I went to Suez in that fiasco.
“I’m saying to everybody who’s over 75 – don’t pay for it, because John McDonnell won’t be paying it!”
Philippa Childs, head of media union Bectu, said: “Free TV licences are a welfare benefit and should be funded by the Government.”
Latest UK Politics News
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MPs scuffle as Commons is shut down
BreGMB boss Tim Roache said: “The BBC have been backed into a corner by a vicious Tory Government.”
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson added: “It’s a disgrace that this Tory Government is breaking the promise it made to pensioners. This cruel policy will leave millions of older people poorer and more isolated.”
CWU DGSP Terry Pullinger moving an emergency motion at TUC Conference 19
E2 Royal Mail dispute
Congress notes the CWU announced a ballot timetable for strike action in Royal Mail on 22/8/2019 and is holding meetings around the country in the second major national dispute in two years.
In 2017, CWU members delivered an 89% yes vote on a 74% turnout, smashing the legal threshold – we believe this will happen again.
Royal Mail has replaced its senior management team and it is clear that it plans to de-recognise the union’s influence; break current agreements; reduce the vital 6-day USO and good jobs, terms and conditions; and break up this excellent public service the People’s Post.
It has unilaterally announced moves heralding the break-up of the company, starting with Parcelforce, and a new strategy for parcels that will render the core 6-day service unsustainable and leave 20,000 jobs at risk, as well as introducing operational change without agreement, which will leave thousands of jobs under threat.
It has done nothing to tackle a bullying culture that is endemic in Royal Mail, is introducing technology in a way that leaves staff being tagged like criminals and wants to move away from the legal protections agreed with the CWU in 2012 that have prevented it joining the race to the bottom with destructive asset-stripping and insecure employment models.
This dispute is the direct result of liberalisation and privatisation and Congress expresses its full solidarity with CWU members in defence of their jobs, agreements and the very future of a vital public service.
#WeRiseAgain
Mover: Communication Workers Union
Seconder: Unite
CWU South Central Postal Branch Simon Maxwell HP Section Secretary
wanted to write something down about the upcoming ballot but really do not know where to start so here goes
Our beloved (cough) CEO Rico has decided to take executive action on part of our company, he has decided that Parcelforce needs now to be a LTD company to make them more self-reliant and responsible for its own budget. This is a very strange reason to do so as they have always been responsible for its own spending and profit. As part of this he has decided that even though the employer stays the same (Royal Mail Group) all the staff now must have their contracts TUPE’d (Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of employment) so does not seem bad really does it? Well yes it does because as part of being TUPE’d over after 12 months he can then go for an ETO (Economical Technical or Organisational change) in short it would not be too difficult for someone like Rico to find an excuse to enforce this. So where does that leave you? Well basically you have a new contract of employment, new terms and conditions new pay rate and overtime rate, holiday sick pay etc etc etc.
OK so now I can hear some of you saying “it’s ok it’s only Parcelforce I’m alright, and to be fair if you do not work for Parcelforce you are right, until he decides to say, “OK that worked well now lets have a look at deliveries and processing and look logistics is doing rather nicely aren’t they” and before you know it we are all LTD companies of Royal Mail Group and all have nice new contracts that leave us worse of financially than we are before. And now look what comes next, as we are all little companies owned by Royal Mail, we are ripe to sell off to the highest bidder, I am sure you will all be happy working for Amazon or Eddie Stobart and deliveries franchised off to Hermes. This would however make a small fortune for the shareholders!
All of this with no Universal Service Obligation would mean us all on lower income with worsening terms and conditions potentially no sick pay and no job security, a basic pension and no chance of earning a living wage
So, what can I do? I hear you ask, well this is what you can do, VOTE YES to support your union in the upcoming ballot. Support your union leaders by giving them a huge amount of support and bargaining ability with a maximum YES vote as close to 100% as we can
If it is necessary, I will be taking industrial action to secure my job my future and the future of all our CWU members and I ask you to do the same. We may suffer a short-term loss, but it is better than a long-term loss with no future
So, all I ask is that you support your union and vote yes on the 24th September and show Rico you are willing to stand up for your right to a future
Thank you for taking the time to read this
Simon Maxwell
HP Section Secretary
CWU South Central Postal Branch
Dispute Daily – over 600 meetings on National Gate Meeting Day. Incredible.
Dispute Daily – over 600 meetings on National Gate Meeting Day. Incredible. Thanks everyone so much. Let’s bring this home.
Apologies for the Offices we missed out There were just so many.
#WeRiseAgain
UK Suicide Rates Rise by 11.8% to Highest Level Since 2002 – Office for National Statistics (ONS) Report Published
UK Suicide Rates Rise by 11.8% to Highest Level Since 2002 – Office for National Statistics (ONS) Report Published:
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have this week published data for 2018 which shows that the rate of suicides in the UK has risen sharply to its highest level since 2002 and this is the first rise in numbers since 2013. The overall increase reversed a trend of continuous decline since 2013. In 2018, a total of 6,507 suicides were registered in the UK, 686 more deaths than in 2017 when there were 5,821 deaths (11.8% increase).
The official figures show a worrying, sharp 11.8% increase which translates to 11.2 deaths from suicide per 100,000 people – up from 10.1 in 2017.
The official figures show that men account for three-quarters of the number of people who took their own lives last year with 17.2 deaths from suicide per 100,000, up from 15.5 per 100,000 in 2017.
Those men in their late 40s remain the age group with the highest suicide rate at 27.1 per 100,000.
Of particular concern is the increase in the rates of young people aged from 10 to 24 killing themselves, which saw a significant rise with the overall rate for that age group reaching a 19-year high with 730 deaths. The rate for young girls and women reached an all-time high. Young men aged 20-24 saw significant increases. The rate among 20 to 24-year-old males leaped 31% to 16.9 per 100,000, from 12.9 a year earlier. Among females aged 10 to 24, despite a low number of suicides overall, the rate rose to its highest level, 3.3 per 100,000.
Across the UK Scotland had the highest suicide rate with 16.1 deaths per 100,000 people (784 deaths), followed by Wales with 12.8 per 100,000 (349 deaths) and England the lowest with 10.3 deaths per 100,000 (5,021 deaths). The rates for Northern Ireland will be published by the ONS later this year.
Outside of Scotland, the area with the highest suicide rate for men was the north-east, with 20.4 per 100,000 taking their own lives and for women it was Wales that had the highest rate, at 6.9 per 100,000. London and the south-east had the lowest rates for both men and women.
The all-time peak in the suicide rate is was in the 1980s.
Attachments:
- Suicides in the UK 2018 Registrations Statistics Report (ONS)
- Suicides by Gender & Age Group Summary (ONS)
Note:
- World Suicide Prevention Day is on 10th September 2019.
- The Samaritans 2019 Annual Suicide Statistics Report will be published on 10th September 2019.
Members in Distress:-
In the UK the Samaritans can be contacted as follows:
Tel: 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Suicides By Gender Age Group Summary – ONS
Suicides in the UK 2018 Registrations – ONS
Royal Mail Electric Vans Introduction/Deployment Update – Part of The 2019/20 Vehicle Replacement Plan
Royal Mail Electric Vans Introduction/Deployment Update – Part of The 2019/20 Vehicle Replacement Plan
LTBs 106/18 and 215/18 detailed the first 3-phase deployment of 100 Peugeot Partner L2 Electric Vans by Royal Mail Group Fleet to 17 pilot Delivery Office locations in various parts of the country.
As previously reported in LTBs 454/17 and 535/17, 106/2018, 215/2018, RMG, recognise the need to respond positively to the Government’s much-anticipated Clean Air, Environmental Plan and the need to reduce carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and diesel particulate emissions from all forms of road transport. There is a need to comply with the introduction of major city Low Emission Zones initially and then secondly prepare for the Government announced petrol and diesel engine vehicles ban due in 2040 (2032 in Scotland). This all comes amid the rising levels of pollution posing a major risk to public health. As previously reported, the UK Government is now bound to implement new measures to cut toxic air quickly after two court rulings that the current UK plans are so poor they are illegal. London’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) will come into force from April 8, imposing daily tolls of £12.50 per day for affected cars and vans, and £100 for lorries. Birmingham, Derby and Newcastle are planning their own ULEZ schemes with others to follow. Since 2015, more than 60 local authorities have been ordered to tackle illegal levels of air pollution, which is why many of these are planning to introduce clean air zones. A new report from Public Health England, an arm of the Department of Health, has recommended that every council considers setting up such a zone to improve air quality.
RMG’s 2018 purchase agreement for the first 100 Peugeot Partner L2 Electric Vans represented one of the biggest single purchases of electric vehicles to be used commercially in the UK to date. This was the first batch of Light Commercial Electric Vans, introduced over 3 phases with another 193 electric vans now imminently to be introduced this year as the fleet transitions over coming years away from the internal combustion engine powered diesel and petrol vehicles. The electric vans will certainly help Royal Mail to significantly reduce the environmental impact of its delivery fleet. The technical and safety feature details of the vans, along with training details for drivers and fleet technicians was reported in earlier LTBs and further training will be provided as more electric vehicles are introduced. The new electric vehicles are part of a £90m overall investment in new vehicles in 2019/20.
| New Electric Vehicles | ||||
| Office | Peugeot Partner | Mercedes
E-Vito |
LDV | Total Electric Vehicles |
| East London DO Whitechapel | 6 | 20 | 26 | |
| North London DO Islington | 6 | 12 | 18 | |
| Dartford DO | 10 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| West London MPU
Premier Park |
32 | 10 | 42 | |
| Mount Pleasant MC/DO | 0 | 87 | 87 | |
| Bexleyheath DO | 6 | |||
| Total | 60 | 130 | 3 | 193 |
| 100 Electric Peugeot Partners previously entered service in 2018 adding to the 2 original trial vehicles. These were deployed at: Derby DO, Camden DO, Whitechapel DO, Bexleyheath DO, SW London DO, Hockley DO, Cardiff DO, Nottingham South DO, Belfast DO, Harehills DO, Edinburgh Dell DO, Orpington DO, Dartford MPU, Islington DO, Bristol South DO, Hythe DO, Southwark DO and WLLC MPU. |
Grand Total Electric Vehicles 295 |
|||
CWU ASRs will be consulted and fully involved in determining the safe installation and location of electric vehicle charging, Risk Assessments and Safe System of Work.
Other related LTBs and Reports:-
- LTB 289/19 – Independent Committee on Climate Change (ICCC) Report Calling on UK Government To End its Contribution to Global Warming with New Target of Net Zero Emissions by 2050.
- LTB351/19 – National Clean Air Day – Thursday, 20 June 2019.
- LTB 436/19 – Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) Charter & New TUCAN Guidance Published.
- LTB 198/19 – New Royal Mail Peugeot Partner Vans with New Range of Extended Safety Features.
Attachments
- Clean Air Zones UK Map
- Details of UK Clean Air Zones
- Clean Air Zones Exempt Vehicles
Electric Vehicle AVAS Safety Systems – (Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems)
A separate LTB is being issued on AVAS systems which are noise generating safety systems which now have to be fitted to ‘silent’ electric vehicles by law.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Clean air zones – Exempt Vehicles
Details of Clean air zones and low emission zones
Cancellation Notification: Postal Organising/Recruitment Seminar/Workshop 9th October 2019
Cancellation Notification: Postal Organising/Recruitment Seminar/Workshop 9th October 2019
Further to LTB 467/19 regarding the above, circulated on 1st August 2019.
Due to the current ongoing dispute with Royal Mail Group and the Industrial Action ballot timetable circulated in LTB 524/19, the Postal Organising/Recruitment Seminar/Workshop scheduled to take place on Wednesday 9th October 2019 in Liverpool has been cancelled.
I am sure Branches will understand the reason and logic of why the decision has been taken to cancel this event and I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause however you can be assured that this important event will be rearranged as soon as possible.
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
THE BIGGEST UNION MEETING OF ALL TIME – FACEBOOK LIVE Q&A WITH DAVE WARD & TERRY PULLINGER – PLEASE SHARE #WeRiseAgain 🦁
THE WHOLE OF THE Q&A TONIGHT
What an amazing session. Please share it as widely as possible #WeRiseAgain
Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation – Motion 17 (2018)
Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older – CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation – Motion 17 (2018)
In recent years the safety of older tyres on heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches has become a matter of increasing concern.
In September 2012, a catastrophic failure of a 19-year-old tyre, fitted to the steered axle of a large coach, led to the loss of three lives. The accident investigator concluded that the tyre failure was as a direct result of its age.
In June 2017, the family of Michael Molloy from Liverpool, one of those killed, launched what became a widely supported campaign, the “Tyred” Campaign and campaigned unceasingly for a ban on the use of older tyres on buses and coaches. Public support has been overwhelming.
In September 2017, a truck travelling on the M5 suffered a tyre blow-out, crossed the central reservation and collided with oncoming traffic. Five lives were lost in that accident. The Coroner concluded at the inquest, held in February 2019, that the crash was a result of the tyre failure, noting that the tyre was 18 years old and had suffered structural deterioration due to its age.
In both collisions, the age of the tyres fitted to the steered axles was considered to have contributed to their failure.
Since 2013, the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has published roadworthiness guidance to advise against the use of tyres aged more than 10 years on buses, coaches and heavy good vehicles except on a rear axle as part of a twin wheel arrangement. However there was no legal requirement to comply.
In 2018, the Government commissioned research with an aim to establish the effect age has on the integrity of road vehicle tyres. As part of this research, the UK’s TRL Ltd worked with a leading laboratory in the United States to carry out testing and analysis. Collectively, this research evidence concluded that age does affect tyre performance and safety.
In February 2019, the Government, via the DfT published proposals to deal with this threat to road safety, announcing an intention to consult on the proposals to legislate against the use of tyres aged 10 years or older on heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses and would additionally consider extending the same requirements to taxis and private hire vehicles.
In June this year, the Public Consultation was launched with the Government stating that they believed the changes being consulted on would save lives with the consultation submissions closing date being on 1 September.
Attached is the response of the CWU to the Department for Transport’s consultation on banning tyres aged 10 years and older. In line with CWU Conference Policy established with the carriage of Motion 17 (2018) we have supported the “Tyred” Campaign and as such welcomed and strongly supported the Government’s proposals in general as well as suggesting that the proposals could have gone further. We have additionally called for tough enforcement and penalties for offenders, along with sufficient resources in respect of Police officers and DfT Inspectors.
The vehicles included in the proposals are heavy goods vehicles, heavy trailers, buses, coaches and minibuses. The DfT is also seeking evidence on whether to introduce a similar maximum age for tyres fitted to taxis and private hire vehicles which we support.
Attachments:
- CWU Response to the Department for Transport’s Consultation on Banning Tyres Aged 10 Years and Older.
- Motion 17(2018).
- Images – The Shredded 19-year-old-tyre which blew out in the coach crash which killed Michael Molloy plus Michael with Mother Frances who led the “Tyred” Campaign.The CWU congratulates Frances Molloy and her family and close supporters in bringing the ‘Tyred’ campaign to this stage.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
1 Shredded Tyre – Michael Franes Molloy
DfT Consultation on Banning Tyres 10 Years and Older – CWU Response (Sep.._
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 