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LEGAL SERVICES EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL FEES
Branches will be aware of the recent decision made by the Supreme Court to abolish Employment Tribunal Fees and Employment Appeal Tribunal Fees and rule that the fee regime is unlawful. In simple terms the judgment means that no one should have been asked to pay fees to enter the tribunal process and those that did are entitled to be refunded from the Government.
The decision has thrown up a number of issues which centres around individuals who were disadvantaged, insofar, as they did not make an application to the Tribunal as a result of the fees and in some cases had their claims struck out because the fees were not paid on time.
At this point in time we are seeking further clarification as to whether these Tribunal cases can be re-submitted but as of yet no information is forthcoming.
In relation to the funding of the fees, you will be aware that the CWU agreed to underwrite our members’ fees, some of which were paid direct by the member and others were paid by the Branch on behalf of the member and were subsequently refunded by CWU Headquarters.
It will be our intention to seek to recover these payments, as and when the refund process has been published.
In the meantime members should be advised that they can apply to submit an Employment Tribunal once they have gone through the early conciliation process with ACAS, without the need to submit any payments and the Employment Tribunal website has been amended accordingly.
Further information will be provided to Branches in due course.
Yours sincerely
 
Tony Rupa
Head of Legal Services
Email Attachments – Click to download

LTB451/17 – LEGAL SERVICES EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL FEES

NHS “Cover Up, Mate” Sun Safety Campaign Launched As Skin Cancer In Men Continues To Rise:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
A new NHS awareness campaign has been launched in the South of England to encourage Outdoor Workers and men in particular who work outdoors to protect themselves from the sun, thereby reducing their risk of contracting skin cancer. The CWU has joined up with the NHS to support and promote the “Cover Up, Mate” Campaign messages.
Outdoor Workers who spend long periods of time outside are again being urged to protect themselves against the sun this summer amid a rise in the number of people being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Outdoor Workers are being targeted by NHS England South’s “Cover Up, Mate” campaign because of their prolonged exposure to the sun – and men are a particular focus because research indicates that they are much less likely than women to cover up and to slap on the ‘Sunscreen’.
NHS England South Medical Director, Nigel Acheson, stated recently that you can’t feel UV radiation, so it’s very easy to get sunburnt in the UK, even when it’s not particularly warm. But sunburn causes skin cancer so it’s important people take more care, especially men and those who work outside. They need to use Sunscreen with a good level of UV-A protection and apply it generously on all exposed skin.
Latest statistics from UK Charity ‘Cancer Research’ show that since the late 1970s, skin cancer incidence rates have more than quadrupled (360% increase) in the UK. The increase is larger in males where rates have increased more than six-fold (544% increase), than in females where rates have more than tripled (263% increase).
Latest statistics from Public Health England show that in the South West there was a 32% rise in incidences of malignant melanoma between 2009 and 2014, from 1,444 cases to 1,906 cases. There was also a 14.5% rise in mortality from malignant melanoma, from 248 deaths in 2009 to 284 deaths in 2014.
In the South East there was a 33% rise in incidences of malignant melanoma between 2009 and 2014, from 2,002 cases to 2,661 cases. There was also a 20% rise in mortality from malignant melanoma, from 349 deaths in 2009 to 420 deaths in 2014.
Many local areas across the south have higher rates of malignant melanoma than the national average.
Being outdoors is clearly crucial for Postal Workers, BT Workers and others, and for people who take part in a lot of outdoor sport, but there are simple steps that can be taken to lower the risk of skin cancer and be sun safe.
Men in particular need to take much more care. They need to cover up and importantly use at least factor 30 sunscreen and apply it generously on all exposed skin – not forgetting their necks, ears and bald patches!
Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer which can develop slowly over time. So while sunburn might feel better in a few days, it may have done long term damage which could be fatal.
People often want to brush things off and just get on with the job, but there are times when that kind of resilience can come back and bite you and this is one of those.
We owe it to ourselves and our families to take the risk of skin cancer seriously and above all if we are bothered by something to not dismiss it, but get it checked out. It’s vital that Postal Workers in particular as well as outdoor BT Engineers get sun-smart and take steps to protect their skin – such as using sun cream and preferably covering-up by wearing a long-sleeved shirt and a hat as issued by the employers. All these measures can help to prevent sunburn in the first place and avoid the UV damage that can lead to skin cancer over time.
The UK Met Office have stated that UV levels are usually highest between May and September, when there is often less ozone high up in the atmosphere to absorb the UV. Clouds don't always stop UV rays, and unlike the sun's warmth, it's difficult to know when they may be harming you. Burning just once every two years can triple your risk of skin cancer. So it's important to keep an eye on our UV forecast so you know when it's essential to protect your skin and eyes from damage.
Top sun-safe skin-smart tips include:-
• Cover-up.
• Use at least factor 30 sunscreen in the sun and use plenty of it.
• Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin – don’t forget your neck and ears and your head if you have thinning or no hair.
• Wear sunglasses and a hat.
• Take particular care if have fair skin, moles or freckles, red or fair hair, or light-coloured eyes.
• Also – drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and heat-related illness.
NHS/CWU ‘Cover-Up-Mate’ Poster (See pdf copy attached)
Would Branches and Health and Safety Reps use the attached poster to run local awareness raising campaigns amongst members to get the message out loud and clear about this very serious risk. Further copies of the Posters can be ordered from CWU/HQ.
When ordering further Poster copies – send orders to:-
Debby Akerman Print Services Manager
Email dakerman@cwu.org
Direct line 020 8971 7218
Communication Workers Union Headquarters
150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX
Price per hundred:-
100 A3 posters: £14.00
100 A4 posters: £7.00
100 postcards: £2.75
Plus P&P
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download

Attachment 1 – LTB450/17 NHS “Cover Up, Mate” Sun Safety Campaign Launched As Skin Cancer In Men Continues To Rise:

Attachment 2 – cwu-0539217-NHS-cover-campaign-v4

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS – ONLINE SERVICES – IMPORTANT INFORMATION
LTB 289/17 informed branches of our intention to alter the Integra system to enable Branch Secretaries and designated OLS users the ability to alter member’s workplaces within their own branch.
Following extensive testing both in the back office and in a live environment, we can confirm that the system has been updated and designated users can now alter a member’s workplace within their own area. We have attached a training document to assist branches with this task.
To be very clear Branch Secretaries and designated users will not be able to alter workplaces outside of their own area, the current procedure of contacting membership records department will still apply.
The system will be live as from Tuesday 8th August 2017. 
Any problems or concerns should be addressed to Matt Edwards in the Membership Department on 020 8971 7260 or email address medwards@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
 
TONY KEARNS
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download

LTB 446/17 – Membership Records – Online Services – Important Information

OLS – Updating a Members Workplace

Peterborough Mail Centre Delivery gate meeting over local issues well presented by Sub Area Delivery Rep Lee Walsh. Lee also gave a four pillars update.

CWU 2018 Diary
 
Dear Colleague
We are taking orders for CWU 2018 diaries and have attached a diary order form for your use.
This year, we are completely revamping the design and layout of our diaries to give them a fresh new look.
The CWU pocket diary is still priced at only £1.50 and the A5 desk diary is priced at just £2.50. 
We also continue to offer branches bulk discount on pocket diaries only on orders of 1,000 or more for £1.20 per diary.
We are no longer taking orders for personalised diaries but branches can continue to order unaltered diaries and should return their completed order form by no later than Friday 25 August. Diaries will be dispatched from week commencing Monday 11th September 2017 for unaltered diaries and from week commencing 2 October for personalised diaries which have been ordered previously.
All completed order forms must be returned to Marcia Murray in the communications department and all enquiries should be addressed to mmurray@cwu.org
 
Kind regards,
 
Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media
Email Attachments – Click to download

LTB 444/17 – CWU 2018 Diary

Attachment 1 – Diary order form

HAZARDS CAMPAIGN LAUNCH E-POSTCARD CAMPAIGN: TELL THERESA MAY “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues, 
To coincide with this year's national Hazards Conference which concluded on Sunday (28-30 July) the Hazards Campaign has launched a Postcard Campaign to tell the Prime Minister Teresa May that “Enough is Enough.” 
As the nation watched in horror as fire ripped through Grenfell Tower, questions about government culpability were being asked. The Conservatives have continually undermined and discarded health and safety legislation including critical fire, building, product, environmental and workplace safety protections and have imposed huge cuts on the HSE and Fire Service as well as imposed heavy restrictions on their ability to Inspect Workplaces and Residences and limited their enforcement activities against companies and organisations as part of their obsession with "Removing Red-Tape" and "Removing Burdens on Business" initiatives. 
The result of what's become known as the Tories "Light-Touch Regulation and Enforcement" has been criminal disregard for human life which ultimately has resulted in a huge loss of human life and will cost the UK Taxpayers £Millions of pounds to put right. So much for penny-pinching cuts and savings to put more money into the pockets of the rich business owners and share owners. They've been left with blood on their hands. 
The Trade Unions, TUC, Hazards Campaign, Families Against Corporate Killers(FACK) and others have been continually warning the government repeatedly that its ideological obsession with cutting "Red Tape" is a deadly mistake, leading to more injuries and deaths and here we are! After the Grenfell Tower disaster the Hazards Campaign has said: “Enough is Enough. Stop undermining the safety laws that protect us all – "at work, at home and in public!” Please support the Postcard Campaign and get as many sent in as possible please. The Health Safety & Environment Department will be circulating printed 'hard copy' Postcards to Regional Health and Safety Forums to get Safety Reps to post to 10 Downing Street and 'E-Postcards' can be sent via this link:
Click here to send the Prime Minister the Enough is enough e-postcard 
[http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/postcard] 
A copy of the Postcard is attached. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 443/17 HAZARDS CAMPAIGN LAUNCH E-POSTCARD CAMPAIGN: TELL THERESA MAY “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”
Postcard