RE-LAUNCH OF THE VOICE

The autumn issue of The Voice will see a full re-launch of the publication. We are moving away from a news focused strategy. In the world of constant 24/7 news, social media and video, any attempts to match this in print have become outdated.

We do however firmly believe an opportunity exists to produce a well read and important print magazine as a union.

With this in mind we will re-launch completely with more member-led publication including features from the workplace, branches and regions. We will still bring you news but to a much reduced level. We will see no reduction in our industrial and workplace coverage – it will just be brought to you in a more strategic and thought provoking way.

We will also use this opportunity to continue to promote our equality, education, young workers and retired member’s activities.

Additionally, we are delighted to confirm that alongside the new magazine we will cease the use of plastic postage wrapping and introduce a new compostable cover.

Finally, we have decided the stars of our first cover should be you – our reps and members. Whether at work or retired we want you to send us your selfies via WhatsApp to 07907 502190. Please get this message out there as far and wide as possible as we are looking for hundreds of images.

The Voice has a huge tradition in the union and rightly so. It is time to review its purpose and direction. We look forward to sharing the new edition with you in late September. If you have any thoughts or ideas we should consider please get in touch.

All enquiries on this LTB should be directed to our Publications Editor Karl Stewart kstewart@cwu.org

Kind regards

Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media

19LTB 441-19 – RE-LAUNCH OF THE VOICE

KELLY MARY FAUVRELLE – APPEAL FUND

Further to LTB 425/19, which explained we would be setting up an Appeal Fund to provide a lasting memorial for Kelly and her son and to support the family and organisations campaigning against knife crime. It has become clear that in addition to the online ‘Just Giving’ page, which is going very well, a number of workplaces have held bucket collections.

Therefore, in conjunction with the Croydon & Sutton branch, we have agreed to set up a separate CWU Fund for the Appeal which will allow branches to transfer workplace collections once they have been deposited into their accounts.

The details of the Account for the Fund are as follows:

Name of Account: CWU General Fund 

Account Number: 33019822 

Sort Code: 60-83-01

Please can all branches ensure that when transferring money that the reference used for any payments is shown as ‘Kelly Mary Fauvrelle fund’. Additionally, if Branches are sending in cheques please make sure that the above reference (‘Kelly Mary Fauvrelle fund’) is written on the back of the cheque.

We have also received requests from a number of members for a national workplace bucket collection day and we can confirm that this will take place on Tuesday 23rd July 2019. We would be grateful if branches who have not already done so, consider organising participation in CWU workplaces across the UK. Finally, we would like to place on record our thanks to CWU members and the public for their outpouring of support following these tragic events. Our Croydon branch is in contact with the family and we know your thoughts and support is really appreciated by the family and our members in the Croydon office. 

We will keep you informed of progress with the Appeal Fund in due course.

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

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

19LTB437 – Kelly Mary Fauvrelle – Appeal Fund

MEMBER NOMINATED TRUSTEE – ROYAL MAIL DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN

The Trustees of the Royal Mail Defined Contribution Plan (RMDCP) are legally responsible for ensuring that the RMDCP is run properly. The board comprises seven trustees, of whom;

• one is an independent Chair appointed by Royal Mail Group with the agreement of the unions,
• three are nominated by or on behalf of the membership (two through the CWU process and one through the CMA process), and
• three are nominated by Royal Mail Group.

Both of the member-nominated positions through the CWU process have become vacant and so nominations are now being sought. Nominations can be from any individual who is a current member of the RMDCP, irrespective of Union membership.  A self-nomination form is attached which once completed should be returned to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s department at CWU HQ, by 15^thAugust 2019.

All Candidates will be required to submit a 200-word (maximum) statement supporting their candidature for election to the position when returning their nomination forms.

Individuals wishing to understand the role of a trustee can visit the Pensions Regulator’s website and read the ‘Guide for New Trustees’ and the ‘Trustee Toolkit’ and review the first two e-learning modules for more information.

Upon receipt of a nomination, an information pack will be dispatched to the individual who has submitted the nomination. The pack will contain information on the role and responsibilities of a Trustee, a detailed job description and a personal specification for a potential Trustee.

Prior to a ballot taking place all candidates who have submitted a fully completed nomination form will be required to attend a half-day pre-election familiarisation seminar in London on 22^nd August 2019, which will be organised by the Secretary to the Trustee.  At this stage candidates will be asked to re-confirm that their names should be added to the ballot paper and will also be given the opportunity to make any textual changes to their supporting statement.

If there are more than two valid nominations, a ballot will be held of all individuals who are employee members of RMDCP and who are employed in CWU represented grades, irrespective of Union Membership. The ballot will be conducted by the distribution of ballot papers direct to individual home addresses.  Completed ballot papers must then be returned in the envelope that will accompany the ballot paper to ERS who have been appointed as Independent Scrutineer for the purposes of this election.  The two candidates who receive the most votes in the ballot will be selected as the CWU MNTs.

If there are two nominations forthcoming then those nominees will be deemed to be selected without the need for a ballot.

If there is only one nomination forthcoming then that nominee will be deemed to be selected without the need for a ballot and the nomination and selection process will be re-run no more than three years later.

If there are no nominations at all, the nomination and selection process will be re-run no more than three years later.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary department for the attention of Peter Metcalfe.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

19LTB439

Nomination Form 2019

CWU Accounts 2018 

Further to LTB 226/19 and 257/19, please find attached the Financial Statement required by Section 32A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended, for the period 1^st January – 31^st December 2018.

Please can you ensure that this information is brought to the attention of the members of your Branch.

Also attached are the details of the monies that make up Branch Funds.  The attached document lists each Branch with the brought forward balance from 2017 and the closing balance for 2018.  This demonstrates the movement in each account for the financial year 2018.

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

19LTB438

2018 Statement 32a (Final) (Signed)

2018 Branch Funds Year End Figures

Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) Charter & New TUCAN Guidance Published

As reported in LTB No. 035/2019 on 21 January 2019, earlier this year, the Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) was launched as part of the Hazards Campaign and linked to the Greener Jobs Alliance (GJC), working to generate worker/Trade Union awareness and a TU voice to be prominent in the public debate on this issue.

The adoption of a ‘TUCAN charter’ provided a set of demands for Unions to prioritise in campaigns at local, regional, national and international level. The network also supports the development of resources like pollution checklists for health, safety and environment reps who want to monitor the level of risk to their members. It promotes best practice case studies and training that unions can use to raise awareness.

The ‘TUCAN Charter’:-

• Introduce a new Clean Air Act that enshrines the right to breathe clean air.
• Update Health and Safety Law (such as COSHH).
• Ensure effective enforcement.
• Involve the workforce.
• Protect jobs.
• Rapidly expand clean and inexpensive public transport systems alongside investment in active transport to increase levels of cycling and walking.

There is rightly a public outcry about air pollution as a public health emergency. But it is also an occupational health emergency. Having decent work means being able to breathe clean air at work. The reality for most workers is that the air they are exposed to at work and on the way to work is polluted wherever they are working. There is very little acknowledgement of this in most government and local authority clean air policies. 36,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, according to a government report. Outdoor workers have been ignored for too long as the pollution crisis deepens. Government strategy however has been essentially to ‘kick the can down the road’ by delaying vital measures or passing it over to local authorities to sort out.

The ‘ClientEarth‘ charity consisting of lawyers and environmental experts who are fighting against climate change and to protect nature and the environment won two major court cases against the government for its environmental failures. In November 2016 the organisation won a High Court case against the government over its failure to tackle illegal air pollution across the UK and bring the UK into compliance with the law. The case is the second the government has lost on its failure to clean up air pollution in two years. In April 2015, ‘ClientEarth’ won a Supreme Court ruling against the government which ordered ministers to come up with a plan to bring air pollution down within legal limits as soon as possible. Those plans were so poor that ‘ClientEarth’ took the government back to the High Court in a Judicial Review and won again.

Concerns continue to grow about air pollution and occupational health as much air pollution is caused by work-related activities.

Please find attached a copy of the Guidance on Air pollution for Union Reps developed by ‘TUCAN’ as a starting point for Union Reps and members to discuss air pollution at work. The Guidance can be further developed as a ‘template’ and can be amended by individual Unions if/as necessary.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB436 Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) Charter & New TUCAN Guidance Published

Guidance on Air Pollution for Union Reps

Air Pollution and Outdoor Workers: British Safety Council (BSC) – ‘Time To Breathe Campaign’ – ‘Free’ Air Pollution Webinar – Weds 31 July 2019, 11:30am – 12:30pm (Everybody has a right to clean air. At a time where 36,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, the increased risk to outdoor workers is being ignored).

In March the British Safety Council (BSC) launched their ‘Time to Breathe’ campaign, the principles of which the CWU fully supports. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the implications of ambient air pollution on the health of outdoor workers.

36,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, according to a government report. Outdoor workers have been ignored for too long as the pollution crisis deepens. Workers have a right to clean air. ‘Time to Breathe’ calls on employers, policy-makers and regulators to start taking seriously the risk of ambient air pollution to the health of outdoor workers.

BSC are hosting a ‘Free’ webinar, “Air Pollution and Outdoor Workers” on Wednesday 31^st July. Experts from the British Safety Council, King’s College London and the British Heart Foundation will all be participating. The webinar will offer invaluable advice on how employers can mitigate the risk of ambient air pollution to their outdoor workers. Safety Reps are free to participate.

The webinar will take place from 11:30am to 12:30pm on Wednesday 31 July 2019.

Register for the BSC webinar ‘Air Pollution and Outdoor Workers: Cutting Through the Inertia’ to learn more about the implications of ambient air pollution on the health of outdoor workers.

Webinar details:

• Wednesday 31 July 2019
• 11:30am – 12.30pm (BST)

Speakers:-

• Rebecca Elliott, Senior Policy Officer at the British Heart Foundation, 

• Andrew Grieve, Senior Air Quality Analyst at King’s College London and 

• Matthew Holder, Head of Campaigns and Engagement at the British Safety Council. They’ll provide invaluable advice on what employers can do to mitigate the risk of ambient air pollution to their outdoor workers.

Register at:https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6824596505304544524

Time to Breathe Air Pollution Campaign

Outdoor workers in their thousands include Postal and Telecoms workers, drivers, utility workers, street cleaners, refuse workers, traffic police, couriers, construction workers, maintenance workers, newspaper sellers, gardeners, teachers, security guards etc., many working on busy roads.

Time to Breathe is calling for:

• Employers to take ambient air pollution seriously and protect their outdoor workers from the worst levels of toxic air.
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to recognise exposure to ambient air pollution as an occupational health issue and adopt a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) for Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions (DEEE).
• Improvements to pollution monitoring across the UK so that all regions have the same accuracy as London for emissions data.
• The UK to adopt World Health Organisation (WHO) exposure limits for the main pollutants of nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and ozone.
• Everyone to reduce their pollution footprint. Let’s use clean energy, cycle and walk more to reduce emissions.
• Workers and trade unions to raise this issue with their employers and show the evidence about the risks.

Time to Breathe Campaign Resources:https://www.britsafe.org/campaigns-policy/time-to-breathe-air-pollution-campaign/downloads/

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB435 Air Pollution and Outdoor Workers British Safety Council (BSC) – ‘Time To Breathe Campaign’ – ‘Free’ Air Pollution Webinar

Air Pollution Webinar