Eastern No 5 Branch

SPECIAL NOTICE

OFFICIAL INDUSTRIAL ACTION PROCESSING FUNCTION

A 48-hour official industrial action strike has been called by the union from 11.00am Thursday 19th October to 11.00am Saturday 21st October. This means if your duty on Thursday starts before 11.00 am then you should perform the whole of the duty. If your duty starts at 11.00am or after on Thursday you will be expected take industrial action until 11.00am Saturday. If your duty STARTS at 11.00am or after on Saturday you will be expected perform your duty. If you have a duty or scheduled attendance on the Sunday you will expected to perform it.

All members of the CWU, both Part-time & Full-time are expected to take industrial action (including acting managers-see below). Non-members can also withdraw their labour. Remember non-members, it’s your pay, pensions, T&C’s and duty structures that will be affected to.

Those CWU members who are acting managers must decide on their principles & conscience, on if you cross a picket line or not.

Brian Scott (Unite CMA Officer, Managers Rep) has written to his manager members in Royal Mail and instructed them and I quote, “Given the result of the ballot announced by the CWU we have also advised Royal Mail that Unite members should be expected to work normally and not be required to do the work of those employees participating in a legitimate strike should that happen.”

This clearly shows that Unite support the legitimacy of the ballot. Unite members too, must remember their pay & pensions are also affected by the RMG board.

Every member, including reps, who take part in the Industrial Action will lose pay!

The myth that reps do not lose pay during Industrial Action, is simply a lie.

Nobody wants to lose money by taking industrial action but we must stand up for our rights, pay, terms & conditions and pensions. There will always be winners and losers when taking industrial action some will lose more money than others but if further industrial action is taken you would normally see a reverse of that. My advice to members is to perform overtime prior to industrial action to make your money up.

YOU ARE THE UNION SUPPORT YOURSELVES, STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

EJ Orviss

Area Processing Representative

Area.processing@cwue5.org

Date 9th October 2017

TUC/CWU National Health & Safety Inspection Day – Wednesday of European Health & Safety Week – 25 October 2017 – TUC/CWU Guidance and Royal Mail Support:

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The TUC National Inspection Day traditionally falls on the Wednesday of each European Health and Safety Week and the CWU with Royal Mail Group endorsement will be supporting the initiative again in 2017 and the Health, Safety and Environment Department want all CWU Safety Reps carrying out Safety Inspections that day, engaging Safety Managers and Operational Managers and of course CWU Members, in the process. Remember! The law empowers Safety Reps with the legal right to carry out inspections and the law defines a ‘Workplace as any place or places where a worker works or is likely to work or frequent during the course of their duties’ – this can be a building, yard, customer’s premises or out on the street where outdoor workers visit, perform work or go on their delivery/collection rounds!

The Key Dates are:-

• European Health and Safety Week 23-29 October 2017.

• National Inspection Day Wednesday 25 October 2017. This year, the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department is once again encouraging CWU Safety Reps to specifically consider Health and Safety Inspections at higher risk workplaces or areas or functions or specific jobs and consider whether the workplace is healthy and safe for all.
With the working population ageing, this year’s European Health and Safety Week will focus on healthy workplaces for all ages as in 2016 as part of a 2-year campaign.
The TUC/CWU National Inspection Day is also an ideal time to discuss key health and safety issues with members.
Safety Rep workplace health and safety inspections don’t just have to focus on the tangible hard hazards such as slip and trip risks, fire risks, and work stations. They can also focus on intangible hazards and solutions that don’t have a physical presence, including shift work, job rotation, specific tasks, working environment and flexible working.
So during this European Health and Safety Week and National Inspection Day, CWU HQ is encouraging branches and their Safety Reps to ask members about their experiences at work

and how these might be improved. So please carry out an inspection this forthcoming National Inspection Day!

The TUC designated National Inspection Day aims to encourage Safety Reps to conduct a workplace health and safety inspection. Remember, workplaces with active Safety Reps are twice as safe as those without.

Carrying out an inspection will enable Safety Reps to:

• Raise awareness of the issues;

• Identify issues that need to be raised with the employer;

• Raise the profile of their role;

• Meet members, hear their concerns, and ask if they would like to get more involved, maybe by becoming a safety rep; and

• Meet non-members, as issues they have or raise may present opportunities for recruitment.

• Offer members the opportunity to speak to a Union Safety Rep in private for a confidential chat. TUC & CWU Guides will be of assistance to Safety Reps. See Attached:-

• TUC’s Workplace Safety Rep Inspection guide

• CWU Health & Safety Inspections Guide For Safety Reps

SRSC Regulations 1977 Brown Book TUC 2015 Version The guides are also useful tools for Safety Reps.

Health and Safety – Why Inspect?

The CWU believes that health and safety in the workplace is an issue for everyone. Every year, thousands of people suffer accidents and ill-health at work – most of which could be avoided. Look at the statistics below. Inspections are a way of identifying dangers, hazards and risks in order to control or eliminate them and so avoid accidents and injuries.

Key Annual Figures 2015/16

144 workers killed at work.

72,702 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR.

621,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey.

1.3 million working people were suffering from a work-related illness.

2,515 Mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures.

0.5 Million workers suffering work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

0.5 million workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety.

30.4 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury.

11,403 Prohibition & Improvement Notices issued by all enforcing bodies.

£14.1 Billion is the estimated cost to UK society of Workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) from current working conditions.

See Attached HSE Statistics Poster 2015-16

Royal Mail has endorsed the TUC/CWU National Health and Safety Inspection Day on Wednesday 25 October 2017.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB538 TUC CWU National Health & Safety Inspection Day Wednesday of European Health & Safety Week 25 October 2017 TUC CWU Guidance and Royal Mail Support

Health And Safety Inspections Guide For Safety Representatives

HSE Safety Statistics 2015-16

SRSC Regulations 77 (Brown Book TUC 2015 Version)

TUC Worplace Safety Inspection Guide

View Online

Manpower Campaign – Close the Gap – Campaign update including Petition & Poster

Further to LTB 492/2017 dated 8 September which informed branches of the intention of the CWU to mount a national campaign on the issue of low pay for our Manpower members working in BT. Please read the latest update.

Campaign Pack

The campaign pack is in the process of being published and will be circulated to branches shortly. An LTB will also be published with all inserts in electronic format.

Campaign Webpage

Please find attached the link to the campaign page which will provide up to date information of the campaign, including video updates. We would like the branch to promote the webpage URL as much as possible, particularly to the membership.

https://www.cwu.org/campaign/close-the-gap/

Petition & Poster

The campaign petition is officially launched today and a video is available on the CWU website. Branches should circulate the petition amongst the membership as widely as possible for members to sign. A URL link to the petition is attached and can also be downloaded via the campaign webpage. A campaign poster has been designed and copies will be sent to you to promote the signing of the petition. The poster is also available to download from the website and is attached in pdf format.

In order to generate social media interest, branches are encouraged to use the poster when the branch representatives or members sign the petition and wherever possible to take a picture holding the poster so that this can then be posted on social media using the hashtag #CloseTheGap

All signed petitions should be returned to Head Office addressed to Linda Massey, CWU Head Office, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 IRX

http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petition-with-header-v2-with-return-address.pdf

 

The Voice – Campaign feature

Please find attached a pdf version of the latest campaign feature article that can be used to raise awareness and can be circulated amongst the membership.

Any queries should be addressed to Sally Bridge sabridge@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

 

Sally Bridge

National Officer

531.2017

LTB 531.2017 Attachment 1

LTB 531.2017 Attachment 2

LTB 531.2017 Attachment 3

 

View Online

 

Royal Mail Group – Launch of New 5-Year Mental Health Strategy – October Activity – World Mental Health Day 10th October 2017:

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB508/17 dated 18th September 2017, Royal Mail Group’s Head of Health has confirmed details of the high profile launch of the new RMG Mental Health Strategy, October activities in conjunction with World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2017.

• Manager E-learning module soft launch (full launch January 2018).

• RM Courier content.

• A new pocket ‘Z card’ distributed to all staff on how to access Mental Health support.

• Highlighting of the new, forthcoming ‘Mental Health Ambassador’ Programme Pilot (subject to RMG OLF approval).

• Mental Health Postmark. Further reports will be published in due course.

Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
17LTB533 Royal Mail Group – Launch of New 5-Year Mental Health Strategy – October Activity – World Mental Health Day 10th October 2017

 

View Online

WE HAVE SERVED NOTICE ON ROYAL MAIL FOR STRIKE ACTION

The Communication Workers Union has today served notice on Royal Mail Group for the 48 hour strike beginning at 11:00 on Thursday 19th October. This will involve 111,000 postal workers.

This action follows the historical 89.1 yes vote on a 73.7% turnout announced by the union on Thursday.

Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Terry Pullinger said: “It is highly disappointing that after 18 months of negotiations including external mediation that we have reached this point. Royal Mail Group management have clearly moved away from the spirit and intent of our agreements and the empty promises of privatisation, and have suffered a huge vote of no confidence from their employees and CWU members as a consequence.

“People are extremely angry and will now express that by overwhelmingly supporting this strike action in order to shift Royal Mail Group from their entrenched position, protect themselves and this great public service”

General Secretary Dave Ward said: “This is a watershed dispute that will determine not only our member’s pensions, jobs and pay but also the future of the service.

“Postal workers delivered a massive yes vote for strike action and we are determined to take whatever steps are necessary to deliver an agreement that will protect and enhance our member’s terms and conditions and improve the range of services on offer to customers.

“As well as this call to action, the CWU will now launch a major campaign to gain public and political support for postal workers. This is your service. We must work together to save it.”

CWU Disability Conference Agenda Pad – Wednesday 18th October 2017

Branches would wish to know that the agenda for the forthcoming CWU Disability Conference being held in Bristol on Wednesday 18th October 2017 has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the link below:

https://www.cwu.org/conference/disability-conference/

Hard copies of the agenda will be sent to Branch addresses of everyone that has registered using the online registration system.

Credential cards for delegates/visitors and voting cards for this conference will be issued on the morning of the conference at registration.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by telephoning 020 8971 7256 or by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB529

View Online

 

CWU Black Workers Conference Agenda Pad – Tuesday 17th October 2017

Branches would wish to know that the agenda for the forthcoming CWU Black Workers Conference being held in Bristol on Tuesday 17th October 2017 has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the link below:

https://www.cwu.org/conference/black-workers-conference/

Hard copies of the agenda will be sent to Branch addresses of everyone that has registered using the online registration system.

Credential cards for delegates/visitors and voting cards for this conference will be issued on the morning of the conference at registration.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by telephoning 020 8971 7256 or by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB528

View Online