GDPR – British Airways Data Breach

Branches maybe aware of the recent media coverage regarding British Airways facing a record fine of £183 million for a breach of its security system that took place last year. The breach resulted in the personal data of 500,000 BA customers being stolen. In addition Marriot Hotels faces a £99.2 million fine after hackers stole personal details of over 339 million customers. In the case of BA the ICO has stated that it is the largest penalty it has ever awarded and the first to be made public under the new rules.

Significant in the statement made by the ICO were the comments that “People’s personal data is just that; personal. When an organisation fails to protect it from loss, damage or theft, it is more than inconvenience.  That’s why the law is clear.  When you are entrusted with personal data you must look after it.  Those that don’t will face scrutiny from my office to check they have taken appropriate steps to protect fundamental privacy rights.”

As previously reported, penalties imposed by the ICO has increased to a maximum penalty of 4% of the organisation or company’s turnover. It is clear now that after a settling in period the ICO is starting to act and to act with purpose. The threats posed by the ICO are self evidently real and as such we must fully understand and appreciate the impact that such actions i.e. a fine would have in the event that such a fine was imposed on the CWU.

If a potential fine of the CWU was in line with the BA fine, this would amount to a sum of money in the region of £435K-£450K.

The penalty fine is divided up between other European Data Authorities while the money that comes to the ICO goes directly to the Treasury.  Therefore as a trade union we should be mindful about what level of “leniency” would be shown by the ICO to a trade union when the money would be handed directly to the Govt Treasury.

It is therefore both timely and extremely important to remind branches of their obligations to ensure any data they hold within their possession is properly secured.  If branches are unsure as to the protocol when mailing out correspondence to members, they should contact CWU headquarters and seek advice for our Data Protection Officer, Denis Lenihan (dlenihan@cwu.org). However, the advice that was contained in LTBs 227/18 and 310/18 still stands and must be implemented and respected at all times, a copy of those LTBs are attached.

Any further enquiries to the LTB should be addressed to the SDGS’ department (sdgs@cwu.org).

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 434.19 – GDPR – British Airways Data Breach

18LTB227
18LTB310

  BRANCHES WITH MEMBERS EMPLOYED BY PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE   (INCLUDING RMSS) 

Dear Colleague,

Election of: Parcelforce Worldwide Area Health & Safety Representative/Substitute Area Health & Safety Representative 2019

Further to LTB 406/19 dated 2^nd July 2019. Branches were notified that a ballot is required for the following position.

AREA HEALTH & SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE

The ballot timetable for this election has now been agreed and is as follows:-

Despatch ballot papers                 17 July 2019

Ballot Closes                                      7^th August 2019 (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.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

19LTB432 – Election of Parcelforce Worldwide Area Health and Safety Representative and Substitute Area Health and Safety Representative 2019

LABOUR PARTY POST BANK EVENT – 23^RD JULY, 6-8PM, WILSON ROOM, PORTCULLIS HOUSE WESTMINSTER

As branches will recall, earlier this year the Labour Party published a detailed report that setting out its proposals for a Post Bank, alongside a range of other policies on public sector banking.

The report was commissioned by the CWU in order to develop and promote the pledge to establish a Post Bank that we secured Labour’s 2017 manifesto and is available here: http://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Building-a-new-public-banking-ecosystem.pdf

Setting up a Post Bank has long been a key policy for the union and the purpose of this LTB is to invite branches to an event on the report, taking place in Westminster on 23^rd July, from 6-8pm in the Wilson Room in Portcullis House.

The event will be chaired by Rebecca Long-Bailey MP (Shadow Secretary of State for BEIS) and John McDonnell will be speaking about the proposals along with Laurie MacFarlane, one of the authors of the report.

We would encourage branches to attend the event to hear about Labour’s plans for a Post Bank and our campaign to secure the future of the Post Office and support the postal industry. A map for Portcullis House is available here at the following link:

https://www.parliament.uk/documents/facilities/maps/colmap.pdf– members attending will need to go through airport style security at the entrance.

Any queries on the contents of this LTB should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org and we hope to see you there.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

19LTB431 Labour Party Post Bank Event 23rd July

RE: Engineering Technician Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on Parcel Sorting and Conveyor Machines

Please find attached a Joint Statement signed by James Baker (Chief Engineer at Royal Mail) and Dave Joyce (National Health, Safety and Environment Officer) on use of PPE when working on PSM and conveyor machines. Although this is a health and safety matter the Joint Statement also deals with the issue of compliance, with potential use of the Conduct Code where this is persistent. In my view this is therefore an issue proper for consideration by the Postal Executive.

A number of safety issues specific to these machines have been identified by members and representatives and provision and use of appropriate protective equipment and clothing is appropriate.

The non-compliance section proposes a “tiered” approach based on discussion to reinforce the need to wear PPE before any potential conduct code action may be contemplated. It is also clear that any application of the Conduct Code should be as a last resort and with a view to achieving compliance rather than punitive in nature.

Any enquiries should be addressed to PTCS department, quoting reference PTC/RH/kh/120. Email address: khawkins@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis
Assistant Secretary

19LTB429 Engineering Technician Personal Protective Equipment

429.Att

Royal Mail Fleet – Next Steps

Following the rejection of the negotiators’ agreement between Royal Mail and CWU a series of meetings have taken place to determine next steps.

It has been agreed that the 2% pay increase will flow through to shift and senior technician allowances, backdated to 1st April 2019. It is expected that the increase, with back pay, will be implemented before the end of the month. 

The CWU has pressed for immediate implementation of the first one hour reduction in working time in recognition of the ongoing co-operation in change by Fleet Motor Transport Grades, with full backdating to 1st October 2018. 

Our understanding following the most recent meeting last week was that Royal Mail was prepared to implement the one hour reduction in working time but were unwilling to agree backdating. However subsequent correspondence from the business has indicated that it is not in fact prepared to implement the one hour reduction without further conditions. The Union is seeking an urgent meeting to clarify and resolve the issue and a further report will be issued following that meeting.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 201 email address: khawkins@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis

Assistant Secretary

19LTB427

KELLY MARY FAUVRELLE

Following the horrific murder of Kelly Mary Fauvrelle, a postwoman from Croydon, the CWU has launched an appeal fund to provide a lasting memorial for Kelly and to support the family with the funeral costs.

This is being done in conjunction with our Croydon and Sutton Branch and we will liaise with the family to ensure we respect their wishes.

Donations can be made on the following link:-

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kellymary

Any money left over will go to support campaigns, events and organisations that stand against knife crime.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB please forward to gsoffice@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

19LTB425 Kelly Mary Fauvrelle

GLYN MASON FORMER BRANCH SECRETARY KINGSTON AREA BRANCH 

It is with regret that I write to inform you that Glyn Mason, former Kingston Area Branch Secretary passed away recently.

Glyn was a Gold Badge holder and worked tirelessly on behalf of the CWU and its members from 1968 as a Branch Secretary and Area Representative until his retirement in 2004.  Glyn continued as the Kingston Area Branch Retired Members’ Secretary until 2017.

Our thoughts are of course with Glyn’s family and friends at this sad time and on behalf of the CWU, I convey our deepest sympathy and condolences.  He will be sorely missed by members, colleagues and friends within the union and the wider labour movement.

For those who wish to attend, the funeral will take place on Monday 22^nd July  at Kingston Crematorium, Bonner Hill Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3EZ, at 3 p.m.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB please forward to gsoffice@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

424-19 Glyn Mason Former Branch Secretary Kingston Area Branch

Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay

Further to LTB 416/19 regarding the issue of average pay on annual leave.

Branches will be aware that the Department has been exchanging correspondence with Royal Mail Group concerning the wording of Paragraph 2 of the COT3 legal documentation. Our concern centred on the fact that the initial wording may have resulted in members not receiving back pay in the event of a collective national agreement being concluded. Following various drafts and after consultation with the Union’s Legal Advisor, I am pleased to announce that the following words have now been agreed:

“For the avoidance of doubt the terms of this agreement do not preclude the claimant from receiving the benefit of any deal reached nationally between the Company and CWU on holiday pay with respect to any holiday taken after the date of the national agreement. In the event that the Company and CWU enter into a national agreement which includes payments to employees in respect of the period prior to the Company’s payroll systems being updated to allow for future holiday pay to include payments reflecting regular overtime, any payment to the claimant will be pro-rated or reduced to extent that it is necessary so that the claimant does not recover payment twice for the same holiday.”

I can confirm that the Department has notified ACAS and Unionline of the above. This should now ensure that those claims where the monetary offer has been agreed by individual members (subject to acceptable terms and conditions) can be progressed.

Once again I would like to thank all Branches for their ongoing efforts in relation to this whole matter and for assisting with the ever increasing number of cases.

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

Yours sincerely,

Ray Ellis
Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

19LTB421 Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay