CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 31st January 2018

The CWU Retired Members Conference will be held on Wednesday 31st January 2018 at the Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T 6AQ.

a) Delegates

Only Branches with Retired members Sections are entitled to send Delegates.

Branch delegate entitlement to this Conference as agreed by the NEC is as follows:

Number of Retired Members

Delegate entitlement1-249

1250-499

2500 and above

3

Retired Members Regional Committee Secretaries shall attend the Retired Members conference with the right to speak and move motions on behalf of their Retired Members Regional Committee but not to vote. Funding for Retired Members Regional Committee Secretaries to attend Retired Members Conference shall be from the General Fund.

In order that we can cater for any delegate with special needs such as seating, etc., it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Friday 5th January 2018.

b) Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the attached template. Confirmation of receipt of motion will be sent to branches within 72 hours. Should confirmation not be received within this time branches are asked to contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting the Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

Branches, Regions and the Advisory Committee are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Each Retired Members Regional Committee is entitled to submit one Motion to the Retired Members Conference.

The Retired Members Advisory Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the Conference, standing in their name.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 19th December 2017.  Anything received after this date will not be accepted. All sections of the form must be completed.

If Motions are being sent electronically they will only be accepted to the above email address.

As with previous Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be 2 sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that the Retired Members’ Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit 2 motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be in this category, they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

The 2 motions for submission to the General Conference agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the 2 motions will be held at the Conference.

1 c) Election of Delegates to General Conference

As you will know, the Retired Members’ Conference will select two delegates to represent the Retired Members to attend General Conference 2018.

The Standing Orders for the Retired Members’ Conference will advise a ballot to select these two delegates will be conducted during Conference itself.

Additionally, individuals must be willing to accept nomination, and must have the nomination of their own branch and/or the Retired Members’ Advisory Committee, to be eligible.

The exception to this are members of the Retired Members’ Advisory Committee themselves who may be proposed for these positions but need to have the nomination of the Retired Members’ Advisory Committee and/or any Regional Committee.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Chris Tapper either by post to head office or by email to Conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB587

Retired Lists for 2018

RM Guidance 18

RM Motion 18

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Unite Letter To Members

30th October 2017

Unite Members Issues With Pay, Pensions et al

Dear Colleague,

When I wrote to you on the 19th of September I set out a summary on a range of areas of concern that we had raised with the company. Unite national representatives then met with the chief operating officer and the group HR director on the 28th September when a full and frank exchange of views took place. Subsequently the business sent a formal letter of response, (6th October) giving it’s considered views on the points we had raised. Many of the points in response were disappointing and negative. Indeed there was no real signal of any intention to take positive steps to resolve these issues.

Royal Mail did comment to more strategic discussions with Unite but also indicated that it was keen to reduce the cost of redundancy, presumably by reducing the terms on offer to all including those currently contained in the MTFS agreement. Members will recall that since Royal Mail gave notice of removing these terms from non operational managers on the 19th September 2005, redundancy compensation, at the maximum, has gone from equivalent to 2 years pay to one year plus 13 weeks for non ops managers. Similarly there was no real commitment given to take managers off delivery. In fact they seem to expect managers to do this themselves through self led training interventions.

This is compounded by the fact that this is of course at the time of EMC is being rolled out which is becoming clear that members have difficulty in preparing for because of the other operational challenges and pressures they face. Similarly Royal mail failed to respond positively on the cover manager remuneration issue that has been rumbling on for over 12 months now.

Members will be aware that Unite has rejected the pensions position put by the company and is currently exploring the proposal put forward by the CWU. We will be circulating a flyer specifically on the pensions position soon which will remind members that pension provision would be reduced by 33% for a member aged 40 and for a member aged 50 this would be a reduction of 25%.

In respect of pay the company has indicated it is willing to continue talks but questioned whether this will happen before discussions taking place elsewhere are concluded. It has not given any positive indication that it will improve its current closed offfer, which has been rejected by the negotiators. At a time when inflation is 3.9% the employer expects Unite to be positive about an offer that is more than 2% than the inflation rate. We have made it clear that a decent increase is necessary for a number of reasons including that in reality pay over the last few years have either risen less than inflation or been lower than the going rate in the company. Fro example in 2015 we agreed 1.6% when RPI was 0.8% but our colleagues in the CWU achieved 2.8% as the company did not exercise the re-opening clause. In 2016 inflation was at 2% and we received, as the second part of the 2-year deal, 1.3% but the company refused to reopen discussion even though the rate was outside of the tolerance we had agreed.

Notwithstanding the above points we have also seen the recent developments where Royal Mail is adopting a heavy handed approach to Unite members in requiring them to provide information to allow for what they say is planning for Christmas but it is clear in reality this is to prepare for any industrial action. Royal Mail expects its managers to do the work of those taking part in the legal and official action. Unite alternatively adopts the view that it is not reasonable and will be advising members to work normally. However Royal Mail has made it clear that it will expect our members to do the work of others. This is not acceptable to us and we are taking legal advice. It is possible that we will have no alternative than to undertake an industrial action ballot on a range of issues particularly if the company continues to adopt the aggressive approach of putting Unite members in an invidious position by requiring them to complete a skills register and to do the work of those on strike should that go ahead. The facts cannot be ignored the way in which the company has presented this has been of a bullying nature. To adopt an approach that relentlessly pushes people via email to provide their own information is just not acceptable.

Many of the individual items mentioned above; pay, pensions, redundancy terms, are each of such significance and importance that we must defend these. However when taking all of these points together on a cumulative basis it is clear that we have a need and an obligation to take the most appropriate action will allow for positive outcomes. The issues exacerbated by the unacceptable and inappropriate behaviors in the workplace demonstrated by the employer are those that are most concern to Unite members and we need to respond strongly and clearly to protect the position of members. We may need to call upon your support and given the severity of the situation I am sure you will give it.

As a company Royal Mail has been reasonably successful. Over the last 3 years it has made operating profits of £411 million in 2017. £417 million in 2016 and £470 million in 2015. Since privatisation we have seen something like £600 million plus go out of the company to shareholders. At the same time we have experienced the constant attack jobs and members being put under all sorts of pressure. Clearly I argue that this is a direct result of the privatisation of Royal Mail and it’s priority now being “shareholder value” at the expense of employee’s well being. This situation is also compounded by the lack of any clear strategy to grow the company and thereby the reliance on cost cutting to balance the books. This is the main game in town and one, which is negative at the expense of employees. We must not allow our concerns and opposition to this to go unnoticed by the company. If ever there was a time for action it is now. Accordingly and given the desperate situation that members are facing Unite senior representatives have been called together later this week in order to consider the situation on this range of important issues and to decide on the union’s response. Following this meeting a further update will be provided.

Yours Sincerely

Brian Scott

CMA Officer

Royal Mail Fleet Safety Alert – Engine Bay Fires on Fiat Doblo Vans (CDVs)

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Fleet has issued a “Mandatory” National Safety Alert Number: Log0006. A copy is attached for the urgent attention of all ASRS and WSRs .

This mandatory Royal Mail Fleet Safety Alert must be actioned by managers and a record kept on local files.

The Safety message is for: ALL MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO DRIVE/INSPECT VEHICLES

Background and Facts:

In recent weeks, there have been two engine fires in Fiat Doblo vans.

Following investigation of other similar vans, it has become evident that some drivers are storing soiled, oily rags and tissues within the engine compartments to use each time they carry out vehicle fluid checks during pre-use.

The investigation by RM Fleet Engineers determined that the practice of storing soiled, oily rags under the bonnet, within the vehicle engine compartment created a significant risk of causing an engine compartment fire and therefore this practice is unsafe and must cease immediately as this has led to two fires and could cause more!

Managers will be briefing all staff and Van drivers on the Safety Alert and recording the briefings via signed for WTLL sessions and daily huddles, utilising the attached Safety Alert.

Royal Mail has requested the support of the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department through CWU ASRS and WSR to raise awareness of this issue throughout the operation, getting the message to members who drive vans for Royal Mail. You support and assistance would therefore be appreciated, working with the RMG Safety Advisors and Operational Managers.

The message is “Never store any items within the vehicle engine compartment”.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB586 Royal Mail Fleet Safety Alert – Engine Bay Fires on Fiat Doblo Vans (CDVs)

Safety Alert – Engine bay fires – Storing items in engine bays

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CWU Humanitarian Aid Appeal – Union Learning Reps Networking Event
(Imperial Hotel, Blackpool 8/9th November 2017)

Branches will be aware of the excellent work of CWU Humanitarian Aid (CWUHA) in Eastern Europe, Africa, Syria and closer to home in the UK.

CWUHA have arranged for a stall to be situated at the CWU Union Learning Representatives Networking Event to be held in a week at the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool.

The attached appeal is self-explanatory and it would be very much appreciated if Branches could support their delegates who are attending the event to donate some of the items listed.

People can drop the items off at the CWUHA stall and may even get the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the Leader of the Labour Party!

Queries relating to this LTB can be raised with Lee Wakeman (lwakeman@cwu.org) in the first instance.

Yours sincerely,

Trish Lavelle

Head of Education & Training

CWU Humanitarian Aid Appeal – ULR Networking Event 8-9 Nov 17

CWUHA A6 2pp

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Branch Political Officers Report for Branch Committee Meeting 24th October 2017

CWU Four Pillars Campaign

As reported in my report to the September meeting, the campaign is now turning political, Fiona Onasayna MP for Peterborough wrote to Moya Greene on behalf of the branch in September and is still awaiting a reply.

On 6th October I wrote to all the Conservative MP’s within the branch please see attached letter, as of today 24th October, the only reply that has been received is an acknowledgment slip from John Hayes in South Holland & The Deepings.

My letter has now been used as a template for the whole of the Eastern Region, and I am currently working on one for the members to send to their MP.

East of England Trade Union Liaison Organisation (TULO)

TULO is an organisation where all Labour Party affiliated Trade Unions, come together and work with the Labour Party at Regional and Local Level.

Over the past year Paul Moffat, CWU Regional Secretary and Myself, as Regional Chair, have been working closely with Jo Cox National TULO and the Labour Party Regional Office, to make TULO fit for purpose.

On Monday 9th October 2017 the first regional TULO meeting of unions for over a year was held in the East of England Labour Party Office in Harlow.

The meeting agreed that Vaughn West from the GMB would be the Secretary and Paul Moffat CWU would be Chair, the meeting also set dates for the coming year, the next meeting will be at Labour Party Eastern Regional Conference in Huntingdon in November and then two weeks before the Labour Regional Board meeting so that we can submit motions and reports to the Board.

Hopefully this will be a new dawn for TULO in the East and the unions and Labour can join up and work together politically.

Peterborough Trades Union Council (PTUC)

I attended the Executive meeting of PTUC on Thursday 11th November and the Full meeting on Thursday 19th October, both meetings were held at Unite Offices in Church Walk at 1900.

At both meetings I gave a full update on the Four Pillars Campaign and the Full Committee posed for photographs, with the I SUPPORT MY POSTAL WORKER posters, I shared these on social media.

We have the full support of PTUC and some delegates have already downloaded and displayed the poster in their house windows.

Also discussed at length at both meetings was the proposed English Defence League (EDL) march and demonstration in Peterborough on Saturday 24th October.

PTUC organised a counter protest with the help of Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and most of the meeting was understandably given over to the organising of the event.

Russian Revolution to celebrate the revolution PTUC are holding a public meeting on Saturday 11th November 2017 at the Broadway Theatre, this event will start at 1600 with speakers, giving talks on Greece, Turkey and of course the Russian Revolution.

There will be live music from 1900, entry to this event is FREE , there will be a bar serving real ale sadly that’s not free, The CWU have been offered a stall to handout information on our dispute.

Kings Lynn & District Trades Council  

A March and Rally has been organised by the Trades Council and Unison for Saturday 28th October Britain Needs a Pay Rise, please see attached poster and minutes from the last meeting.

Wisbech, March & District Trades Council

Please see attached newsletter from the Trades Council.

Peterborough Constituency Labour Party

The CLP continue to hold street stalls every other Saturday in Bridge Street outside the Red Labour gazebo can be found outside W H Smiths, the next stall should be this Saturday, if you are in town call in and have a chat.

Peterborough CLP TULO as the CLP TULO Officer, I have now been able to get a near full list of union branches within Peterborough, and I am in the process of organising what will be a historic meeting, of Peterborough Trade Unions and Peterborough’s Labour MP. This will be the first of its kind for over 12 years, it will be one delegate per Union plus one Regional Official.

South & East Branch of the CLP held a fund-raising dinner on Friday 20th October with the quest speaker Jon Ashworth Shadow Health Secretary.

North & Rural Branch Due to family commitments the branch secretary has all but stood down, so the branch has a stand in secretary Caroline Earle, Caroline is trying to organise the AGM for November and organise a Christmas Social. Once I have details of these events I will circulate them.

South West Norfolk Constituency Labour Party

SWN CLP covers Downham Market and Swaffham, the CLP have contacted me and said that the Downham Market branch has passed a motion to support Postal workers in any way they can during our dispute with the business.

The same motion was going to be put at the Swaffham meeting, they have given me the dates for the forthcoming meetings and invited the branch to speak at the s

Huntingdon Constituency Labour Party  

Darrell Herd CWU Representative at St Neots has taken over as the TULO Officer for the CLP, and has agreed to send me reports and updates from the meetings, Darrell has found the same problems I have found in Peterborough, there are little, or no records of affiliated unions so is having to start from nothing. I have offered Darrell and the CLP help if they need it.

Model CLP Motion

CWU Headquarters issued last night a model motion for branches to move at CLP meetings, on the Four Pillars Campaign, I will send this to the CLP’s within the branch and ask them to carry the motion.

I will move it at Peterborough CLP this Friday.

South East Regional TUC (SERTUC)

Paul Moffat CWU Eastern Regional Secretary and Myself as CWU Eastern Regional Chair attended SERTUC on Saturday 21st October, the meeting was held at Congress House London with a 1000 start.

We had presentations from

Norfolk Branch of Unison Police Staff on the decision by Norfolk Police to axe all PCSO’s by next March, this is to save money.

Helen Mercer from People v PFI who gave a very comprehensive report on PFI.

Dr Francisco Dominguez from the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign gave an update on what is happening in Venezuela.

We then had a speaker called Tom Holliday who is a young person taking strike action against McDonalds, Tom told us that there are 85,000 people employed by the company on zero-hour contracts and minimum wage.

He explained that the company are using bullying tactics in stores where the workers are union members, they are not allowed to speak to a union member, mention the words zero-hour, minimum wage even in conversations with customers. If court, they face disciplinary action.

As he finished his speech he received a standing ovation back to his seat.

Paul Moffat gave SERTUC an update on our dispute, we have the backing of every Trade Union in the South and East.

Andy Beeby

Branch Political Officer

Royal Mail Lampeter DO (SA Postcode Area) – Death of A Postman Staff Member Due To Legionnaires Disease

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The Health, Safety and Environment Department has received a number of enquiries regarding the above and this report is to update Branches and deal with any further enquiries and concerns that may exist.

The Health, Safety and Environment Department has been dealing with the matter in direct dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Director of Safety, Compliance & Sustainability (Property & Facilities), the Royal Mail Group Head of Health and Wellbeing and the Assistant Director for Environmental Services at Ceredigion County Council. Locally the CWU Deputy ASR has been fully involved and working with the Royal Mail Group’s Area Safety Health and Environment Advisor. The Health, Safety and Environment Department can advise and confirm the very sad news that one of our Postmen employed at Lampeter Delivery Office in the Swansea Postcode Area has died from Legionnaires Disease. The individual was a new employee who showed flu like symptoms a few weeks ago, before being diagnosed as having Legionnaires Disease from which he subsequently died. Upon diagnosis, the Delivery Unit received a formal visit from the Local Authority Environmental Health Officer who undertook an Inspection of Royal Mail’s Legionella management records on the Compliance Records Database and the health and Safety Enforcing Authority Officer was satisfied with the information presented and had no concerns with Royal Mail’s policy, health and safety standards and approach to Legionella management on the site or the monthly temperature readings taken of the building’s water systems. As a matter of course Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions have taken samples which are being tested in the laboratory and have also heat treated the DO building’s water system. In response to our requests, the Royal Mail Head of Health and Wellbeing has offered the full support of the Feeling First Class service to the Lampeter DO staff of an on-site occupational health advisor and counsellor to answer any questions and also provide counselling support plus the Director Compliance & Sustainability Royal Mail Group Property and Facilities Solutions has offered the RMPFS the support of the national Legionella lead to go down to the Delivery

Office to discuss any concerns or worries the staff may have. The H&S Dept has been contacted by the head of the multiagency Incident Management Team investigating this tragic case of Legionnaires Disease. (NHS Wales/Public Health Wales/Ceredigion County Council). They advised that the investigation is ongoing, and no written report is available at this point in time. However, no connection between the infection and this Royal Mail workplace have been identified. Colleagues from Ceredigion County Council visited the premises to assure the Incident Management Team that there was no risk to employees or the public from your member’s workplace. Appropriate legionella risk assessments and control measures are in place for the Royal Mail premises.

Legionnaires Disease is a serious Lung Infection caused by Legionella Bacteria. Initially flu-like symptoms are experienced which subsequently worsen. It is normally caught by breathing in small, tiny droplets of contaminated water. Although rare, it can come from contaminated water systems, tanks, showers, sprinkler systems, spas etc. The best way to prevent an outbreak of legionnaire’s disease is to ensure that any water system is maintained to conform to relevant health and safety regulations. The infection isn’t contagious and can’t be spread from person to person. Legionnaires Disease in the UK is rare with only a small number of cases annually occurring. Many arise from overseas travel to countries where health and safety contamination controls and sanitation standards are poor. Those with underlying or pre-existing lung conditions or a weakened immune system are more susceptible to infection. Legionnaires Disease is treated with Antibiotics and 90% of people with Legionnaires Disease make a full recovery.

For more information, go to the following link on the NHS Website https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Legionnaires-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB584 Royal Mail Lampeter DO (SA Postcode Area) – Death of A Postman Staff Member Due To Legionnaires Disease

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