UNI EUROPA YOUTH CONFERENCE 2019

Further to LTB 487/19 dated 13^th August 2019, please see below ballot result for the UNI Europa Youth Conference which closed on the 30^th August 2019.

Postal Constituency 

1 Lay Member

Please find attached a branch analysis of the ballot results.

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.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

19LTB523

Ballot Returns

BT Hybrid Pension – One Month to Decide – Deadline 30^th September

 The BT Hybrid Pension Scheme (BTHS) has been open since April. Those eligible now only have only until 30^th September to decide whether or not to join.

 To help draw attention to this deadline the CWU has today:

• Emailed and texted all those members we believe were previously a member of Section B or C of the BT Pension Scheme. A copy is attached below.
• Launched a new CWU podcast via social media

https://soundcloud.com/the-cwu/the-u-word-bt-hybrid-pension-scheme-special

Eligible members have to make an individual decision about whether to join before the end of September. This is an important decision that could have wide ranging implications.

 Those eligible to join are strongly advised to:

•  Listen to a webinar provided by Wealth at Work.
•  Take part in a 1-2-1 session provided by Wealth at Work in work time.

Member Queries and Financial Advice

Members who have questions about the BTHS should contact Wealth at Work in the first instance. Wealth at Work can be contacted via 0800 083 5056, or www.bt-hybridpension.com/bt or bt-hybridpension@wealthatwork.co.uk

The CWU is legally prohibited from giving financial advice. If members are unsure which pension option to take then they are strongly advised to take independent financial advice.

All CWU members are entitled to a no obligation initial financial consultation with Lighthouse Financial Advice. Further information on this option is available on the CWU website at www.cwu.org/my-union/member-benefits/ . Please note that sign in to the CWU site is required to access details.

Yours sincerely

Nigel Cotgrove

Assistant Secretary

LTB 522.2019

LTB 522.2019 Attachment 1

SUSPENSION OF PARLIAMENT – NATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS

Colleagues will be aware that since the decision by the Government to stop Parliament sitting for a five week period from early September, a number of protests have taken place around the country to oppose what is considered an attack on the democracy of the country.

The voices of opposition to the actions of the Government and the participants in the demonstrations come from across the political spectrum including those on both sides of the remain versus leave debate.

For the CWU this is not simply about stopping a no deal Brexit that would hit working people hardest. It is about an unelected Prime Minister avoiding accountability in a serious attack upon our democracy.

We have campaigned consistently for a General Election to begin to reverse the attacks on working people, particularly through the Government’s austerity measures and to bring about a transformative political agenda with the election of a Labour Government.

We have supported vocally and physically countless demonstrations against this Government austerity agenda and we believe it right to support demonstrations that rally against the undemocratic processes of this Government as part of our call for a General Election.

The Peoples Assembly are calling for a demonstration in London next Tuesday evening and a number of demonstrations are being called around the country this Saturday (details below).

• Aberdeen, 12 noon at the Castlegate.
• Birmingham, 1 pm on Victoria Square by the Council House.
• Bournemouth, 11 am, Bournemouth Square.
• Brighton, 12 noon, The Level BN1 4ZN.
• Bristol, 12 noon, College Green.
• Cambridge, 12 noon, outside The Guildhall, Market Square.
• Dundee, 2 pm, City Square.
• Exeter, 11 am, Bedford Square.
• Glasgow, 2 pm, George Square.
• Leeds, 11 am, Town Hall.
• Liverpool, 12 noon, St George’s Hall.
• London, 12 noon, Downing Street.
• Leamington Spa, 12 noon in the Pump Room Gardens.
• Manchester, 12 noon, Cathedral Gardens.
• Newcastle, 12 noon, Grey’s Monument.
• Norwich, 2 pm outside City Hall.
• Nottingham,  11 am, Brian Clough Statue close to Old Market Square.
• Oxford, 11 am, Broad Street outside Balliol College.
• Plymouth, 11am, Armada Dial.
• Southampton, 12 noon, Guildhall Square.
• Sheffield, 11 am, Town Hall.
• Swansea, 12 noon, Big Screen at Castle Square.
• Swindon, 11 am, 29 Wood St.
• York, 12 noon, St Helen’s Square.

Events are fast moving on this subject and although these events are called at short notice we support the calls being made to stop this attack on our democracy and encourage as many Branches, reps and members to support these demonstrations where possible.

As this important matter develops we will update branches further on our position and what actions we believe we should take to further our demands for a General Election.

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

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns

Acting General Secretary 

19LTB521 Suspension of Parliament – National Demonstrations

TUC Briefing for Trade Union Health and Safety Reps – Friday 27 September 2019 – Congress House London – Theme: ‘Respiratory Health – a Workplace Issue’

The TUC London, East & South East Region have announced that they are hosting a ‘free to attend’ briefing for Trade Union Health and Safety Reps on Friday 27 September 2019 at the TUC HQ, Congress House, London. This is an annual event hosted by the Region with all TUC affiliated Trade Unions Health and Safety Reps invited to attend. Pre-Registration is required.  Lunch will be provided.

• The central theme for this year is respiratory health, and asbestos past, present and future will feature.
• This is an event for trade union health and safety reps and trade unionists interested in campaigning on health, safety and wellbeing issues at work or in the community.
• Agenda and Guest Speakers to be confirmed, but will include presentations by the HSE, a law firm that represents TU personal injury cases, Hazards Campaign and the Trade Union Clean Air Network(TUCAN).
• Venue: TUC Congress House, Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS
• Free event.
• Please Register by Email to: jowilliams@tuc.org.uk – or by Telephone: 020 7467 1218.
• Check in on the day plus tea/coffee from 9.45am and the event starts at 10.15.
• Lunch provided

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB520 TUC Briefing for Trade Union Health and Safety Reps – Friday 27 September 2019

Average Pay on Annual Leave – Royal Mail Group (Holiday Pay)

Further to LTB 421/19, it is evident that a great deal of work is taking place in Branches to maximise the number of holiday pay claims that members are registering with ACAS.

In order to assist Branches in maintaining this momentum, the attached poster has been produced.  The poster should be circulated to as many Representatives and members as possible and displayed on CWU noticeboards in all units/offices.

The Department are still in dialogue with the business concerning a collective national agreement and are currently in the process of arranging further meetings.

It has however come to our attention that some members may be losing out in terms of the settlement figure they are due as they may have taken additional annual leave between lodging the ACAS claim and agreeing the draft COT 3 terms.  Paragraph two of the COT3 form indeed states “The respondent agrees to pay the claimant £×××× in respect of ALL periods of annual leave taken up to the date of this agreement”.

Branches are therefore advised that prior to a member agreeing draft terms and then signing the COT3 settlement, they should be asked if they have taken additional leave since the ACAS process was instigated.

If this is the case and a member has taken further leave since the claim was initially instigated (as part of their first 20 days) ACAS must be advised accordingly and asked for a recalculation to be completed to include the latest period(s) of annual leave.  This will therefore ensure that members are not disadvantaged.

In closing, I would like to thank Branches for your continued efforts in processing these claims that continue to grow on a daily basis.  The Postal Executive remains committed to concluding an acceptable collective national agreement and your work is helping to achieve this aim.

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)

19LTB519 Average Pay on Annual Leave – Royal Mail Group (Holiday Pay)

06262-holiday-pay-poster-v3