CWU Conference 2017 – General Conference Agenda Pad
Branches would wish to know that the 2017 General Conference Agenda Pad has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.cwu.org/media/9529/general-conference-agenda-2017.pdf 
A pdf. copy has also been attached. Hard copies of the agenda are in the process of being printed and will be distributed to branches when completed.
Any enquiries to this Letter to Branches should be addressed to conferences@cwu.org or call 020 8971 7256.
Yours sincerely
 
 
A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 148/17 – CWU Conference 2017 – General Conference Agenda Pad

General Conference Agenda Pad

UNI ICTS EUROPA CONFERENCE – 2017
Further to LTB 085/17 dated 14th February 2017, please see below the result of the ballot that closed on 7th March 2017. 
TELECOMS & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY
2 Lay Members to be Elected
Jamie George
Central Counties & Thames Valley
7293
 
Adam Gibbins
Somerset Devon & Cornwall
29148
*Elected
Tony Gilkes
Capital
28356
*Elected
Please find attached a copy of the branch breakdown for this ballot.
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
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 144/17 – UNI ICTS Europa Conference 2017

UNI ICTS Returns Spreadsheet

Royal Mail Group SHE/CWU Joint Regional FFG Events 7th, 8th & 9th March (This Week) Final Reminder:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues, 
Further to LTBs 083/17 and 097/17, this is to remind you that the Royal Mail Group SHE Team/ASRS Regional Joint Meeting Events take place this week as follows and all CWU ASRS are invited to attend from all parts of the group and all functions.‎ I wish to ensure maximum attendance. 
A number of important and informative presentations and briefing sessions on key health, safety and work environment subjects have been put on the agenda and there is an ‘Open Forum Session’ for ASRS to raise any issues of concern or questions with RMG SHE Director Dr. Shaun Davis and his top team.
Please make every effort to attend.
Dates and Venues: 
West Region

Tuesday 7th March – 10:30am – 14:45pm

North West Midlands MC, 1 Sun Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1AA
North Region 

Wednesday 8th March – 10:00am – 14:00pm

Steve Gelder Room, Tyneside MC, Lindisfarne House, Earlsway, Gateshead NE11 OYY
East Region

Thursday 9th March – 10:00am – 13:15pm

Stevenage Delivery Office, Six Barrows, London Road, Stevenage SG1 1AA
I look forward to seeing you all at the events.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB141/17 Royal Mail Group SHE/CWU Joint Regional FFG Events 7th, 8th & 9th March (This Week) Final Reminder

18TH MARCH 2017 – UNITED NATIONS ANTI-RACISM DAY: NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION 
The 18th of March 2017 is the United Nations Anti-Racism Day. 
As you will be aware the CWU has a long and proud history of campaigning on anti-racism and that is why we are supporting a national demonstration that will be held as part of a co-ordinated international day of marches against racism that will mark UN Anti-Racism Day. 
Following the EU referendum the UK has witnessed a huge spike in hate crime and as a result this march will bring together politicians, trade unions, faith, migrant and community groups along with people from all walks of life together in a powerful united statement showing the depth of opposition to racism, Islamophobia & anti-Semitism and support for diversity in our society. 
The march will assemble in London at 12 (noon) Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA. Please see below details of transport arrangements being made across the country to enable people to attend this important event. 
It is important that we support an event that seeks to send a message that says, as attacks on workers and our communities’ increase we will not stand by while racists try to divide us in making society a better and safer place for all to live. 
Any enquiries on the above LTB should be directed to gsoffice@cwu.org 
Yours sincerely  
 
Dave Ward Tony Kearns
General Secretary Senior Deputy General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1: LTB 140/17 United Nations Anti-Racism Day

Attachment 2: Transport Arrangements

HSE Guide – Risk Assessment, A Brief Guide to Controlling Risks in the Workplace (INDG163) 
To: All Branches 
Dear Colleagues, 
The HSE Risk Assessment leaflet INDG163 ‘Risk Assessment, a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace’, is a revised updated version of leaflets first produced back in 1992. The summary guidance’ aims to help you identify, assess and control health and safety risks associated with workplace hazards – the guidance replaces the very well know and widely used ‘Five Steps to Risk Assessment’. 
This leaflet is mainly aimed at employers, managers, safety advisors and others with responsibility for health and safety, and will also be useful to TU Safety Representatives. 
The new guidance makes clear that significant findings need to be recorded and emphasises the importance of controlling the risks identified. The guidance states that employers should identify the hazards, think about who might be harmed, evaluate the risks, record significant findings and review the risk assessments periodically. 
If the ‘Five steps to risk assessment’ has been used in the past to carry out or review risk assessment that’s fine. Employers must review risk assessment if they are no longer valid or if there are any significant changes or if there have been any accidents or near misses. 
As part of managing the health and safety of any organisation or business, employers and managers must control the risks in the workplace. To do this they need to think about what might cause harm to the workforce and others, including visitors, the public etc and decide whether reasonable and suitable steps are being taken to prevent harm. This is what risk assessment is and it is something all employers are required by law to carry out and record it. Only very small employers of five employees or fewer don’t have to write anything down. 
A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork, but it is about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in the workplace or workplaces and a workplace is any place where a worker works or frequents during the course of their employment, including out on the streets where our Outdoor working members go. Risk assessment help managers decide whether the organisation has adequately covered all that needs to be considered. 
When undertaking Risk Assessments, employers and managers need tp think about how accidents and ill health could happen and concentrate on real risks – those that are most likely and which will cause the most harm – then consult Safety Reps and Experts if need be to ensure the Risk assessments are got right, producing Safe Working Methods and Systems. 
For some risks, other regulations require particular control measures. The risk assessment can help identify where to look in respect of certain risks and the particular control measures in more detail. These specific control measures can then be considered as part of, or an extension of, generic overall risk assessments. 
A pdf copy version of HSG(INDG163) is attached. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 139/17 HSE Guide – Risk Assessment, A Brief Guide to Controlling Risks in the Workplace (INDG163)

HSE Guide (INDG163)

HSE Guide – Managing for Health and Safety (HSG65)  
To: All Branches 
Dear Colleagues, 
First published in 1991, this is the third edition and 14 re-prints of the HSE’s over-arching guide on the essential philosophy of good health and safety, what it means, how to achieve it and how to maintain it. 
Previously entitled ‘Successful health and safety management’ and now ‘Managing for health and Safety’ – HSG965 was prepared by HSE as a practical guide for directors, managers, health and safety professionals and Safety Representatives who want to improve health and safety in their organisation. 
This book is mainly for leaders, owners, trustees and line managers. It will particularly help those who need to put in place or oversee their organisation’s health and safety arrangements. The advice will also help workers and Safety Representatives, as well as health and safety practitioners and training providers. 
Organisations have a legal duty to put in place suitable arrangements to manage for health and safety. This book provides a framework to help do that effectively, in a way that the organisation can tailor to its own circumstances. In implementing the arrangements, management should consult with TU Safety Representatives. The framework described in this book is universal but how far action is needed will depend on the size and nature of the organisation, and the risks from its activities, products or services. 
Its simple message is that organisations need to manage health and safety with the same degree of expertise and to the same standards as other core business activities, if they are to effectively control risks and prevent harm to people. 
This book describes the principles and management practices which provide the basis of effective health and safety management. It sets out the issues which need to be addressed, and can be used for developing improvement programmes, self-audit or self-assessment. 
This latest edition of one of HSE’s most popular guides is being circulated for the information and use of CWU Health and Safety Reps, in the build-up to the consultation and launch of the new HSE Strategy and Sector Plans. 
HSG(65) is basically what the HSE measures the performance of leaders, owners and line managers against, and therefore it will be of particular importance and help to those who need to put in place or oversee their organisation’s health and safety arrangements and those monitoring it. 
The advice will also help workers and Safety Representatives, to Inspect, monitor and audit the Safety Performance and risk control measure of employers. HSG(65) is therefore also useful to health and safety practitioners and training providers. 
The guidance explains the “Plan, Do, Check, Act” approach and shows how it can help achieve a balance between the systems and behavioural aspects of management. It also treats health and safety management as an integral part of good management generally, rather than as a stand-alone system. HSE has moved away from using the “POPMAR (Policy, Organising, Planning, Measuring performance, Auditing and Review)” model of managing health and safety over to the ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ approach. 
Plan, Do, Check, Act  
Plan – Determine your policy/Plan for implementation. Define and communicate acceptable performance and resources needed. Identify and assess risks/Identify controls/Record and maintain process safety knowledge.

Do – Profile risks/Organise for health and safety/Implement your plan. Implement and manage control measures

Check – Measure performance (monitor before events, investigate after events). Measure and review performance/Learn from measurements and findings of investigations

Act – Review performance/Act on lessons learned
This third edition has advice on:

The core elements of managing for health and safety

Deciding if what needs to be done – is being done

Delivering effective arrangements

Useful resourcesThe revised HSG(65) guidance builds on the practical advice in the HSE publication “The Health and Safety Toolbox – How to Control Risks At Work””[8], which helps employers identify, assess and control common risks in the workplace.
A pdf copy version of HSG(65) is attached.

Yours sincerely 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 137/17 HSE Guide Managing for Health and Safety (HSG65)

HSE Guide (HSG65)

Royal Mail CDV Van Gunpoint Hijacking in Hull Today:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
A number of enquiries and reports are being received by the Health, Safety & Environment Department at CWU/HQ in relation to an incident which occurred this morning involving a CWU Member and Royal Mail Postman whilst driving a Royal Mail Car Derived Van CDV in the Hull area.
The member who parks his Royal Mail Van at home under the authorised official ‘vehicle overnight retention’ arrangements was driving to his empty Royal Mail Fiat CD Van to work at the Saxon Way Delivery Office in Hessle near Hull when the road was blocked by a third party vehicle, from which emerged two masked gunmen who held him at gunpoint and took a mobile phone and personal belongings from him before making off in the Royal Mail Van which was subsequently abandoned a short distance away where a further carjacking incident occurred and subsequently a series of further similar carjacking crimes occurred in the area and it is believed those responsible went on to commit further similar crimes. During one such incident later in the day a man was apprehended by the crew of a Refuse Collection Truck who were near the scene.
The member has been assisted during the day by both Royal Mail Management, the Royal Mail Occupational Health Service and CWU Officials from the Branch, namely the Area Delivery Rep and Area Safety Rep who have provided support and assistance. I am pleased to say that despite suffering a shocking, traumatic experience our member is unharmed and is also being assisted by family members with whom he will be staying tonight.
A Police and Royal Mail Security Investigation is underway. The Royal Mail vehicle has been recovered and is being subjected to a forensic examination along with other evidence recovered.
The CWU through our local Official will be giving every assistance and will be involved in a post incident Security and Safety Review.
A Humberside Police statement said that Police are currently responding to a number of aggravated vehicle thefts in the Hull, Hessle and Hendon areas this morning.
Royal Mail Security personnel will be visiting the Saxon Way Delivery Office in Hessle tomorrow morning to brief the Delivery Office workforce and give safety and security advice. CWU Branch Area Officials will be present.
Will all those making enquiries please accept this as a formal response.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB135/17 Royal Mail CDV Van Gunpoint Hijacking in Hull Today:

HSE Asbestos Survey Guide HSG264 & HSE Managing Asbestos in Buildings Guide INDG223 
To: All Branches 
Dear Colleagues, 
HSE Asbestos Survey Guide:

For the information of all Health and Safety Representatives the Health, Safety & Environment Department is circulating two important HSE documents for information and reference purposes, following a number of recent enquiries in relation to the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 connected to Asbestos Surveys and Managing Asbestos in Buildings (the Legal Duty to Manage). 
The HSE published the Asbestos Survey Guide HSG264 to replace MDHS 100 in 2010 and updated the Guide in 2012 when the Regulations were revised and updated. A pdf copy is attached. 
This is a new-style guide which is a heavily illustrated publication, replacing and expanding on previous documents and covers surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials. 
It is aimed both at people carrying out asbestos surveys and people with specific responsibilities for managing asbestos in Workplaces or non-domestic premises under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, as well as others commissioning asbestos surveys, such as social housing providers. 
The guidance expands on previous editions, in that it covers competence and quality assurance as well as surveys, including: survey planning, carrying out surveys, the survey report and the dutyholder’s use of the survey information. Some specific changes include: Renaming of survey types. Types 1 & 2 are now known as ‘management’ surveys and Type 3 known as ‘pre-demolition and refurbishment surveys’. Also increased, is the details on these survey types and when they should be commissioned.  
Competency is strengthened. This document expressly states that organisations with UKAS accreditation to ISO17020 and individuals with ABICS accreditation should be used, plus surveys should be carried out by BOHS P402 qualified people, with at least 6 months experience (which is currently a UKAS and ABICS requirement). Union Safety Reps will find this useful when it comes to ensuring that the employer is using a competent service to provide their Asbestos survey. For example, further information is contained on employing competent surveyors without any conflict of interest i.e. surveying companies, and highlights risks, such as work at height which should only be carried out by 2-man survey teams, rather than individuals. 
The guidance is more user-focussed and explains surveys to those commissioning them, rather than just the surveyor. 
Contents of the Guide:

Introduction; Competence and quality assurance procedures; Asbestos surveys; Survey planning; Carrying out the survey; Survey report; Dutyholder’s use of survey information. Supporting the main body of the guide are 8 Appendixes.
Surveys

The main purpose of an asbestos survey is to make the duty holder and others aware of the locations of asbestos within a building to ensure the safety of employees, contractors and the general public as part of the Duty Holder’s Risk Management Strategy.  
There are two types of survey for asbestos containing material (ACM’s) and the Duty Holder, building owner, employer and surveyor need to be clear on the type of survey needed, where the survey is needed, and what records should result.  
Management Surveys

This survey is to identify areas of asbestos within a building. This is a non-intrusive survey, which allows the surveyor to visualise areas of asbestos and sample them for analysis. This is the basis for a risk based plan of management, identifying areas that may be a problem during occupancy, including installation of services and maintenance. Once a survey has been undertaken it does not need repeating, but as part of the on-going asbestos management plan there is a requirement to monitor the condition of any ACMs present. Re-inspection surveys are required periodically. 
Refurbishment/Demolition Survey

This is required prior to any major refurbishment or demolition works commencing. It is a fully intrusive survey requiring full access to all areas of a building, including service areas. The surveyor will remove areas of ceilings, walls, floors etc to enable him to map and sample areas which may contain asbestos. The samples will then be analysed and a plan made for removal of the asbestos prior to refurbishment or demolition. In both types of survey, a hard report including analysis should be produced. The report will map out the areas of concern and give a plan of action for the client to follow. 
What is an Asbestos Management Plan? A written document detailing the measures which are being taken to manage the risk from asbestos containing materials which have been identified in a building. 
Managing Asbestos Guide:

This guidance is for, anyone who is responsible for maintenance and repairs in a building, which may contain asbestos. The ‘duty to manage’ asbestos is included in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Who is a ‘dutyholder’ in Law:
The person who owns the building;

The person responsible through a contract or tenancy agreement;

The person who has control of the building but no formal contract or agreement; or

In a multi-occupancy building, the owner and person with responsibility for maintenance and repairs for the whole building. 

What buildings are affected?
All non-domestic buildings, whatever the type of business.

The common areas of domestic buildings, eg halls, stairwells, lift shafts, roof spaces.

All other domestic properties are not affected by the duty to manage.

Anyone who is not the dutyholder but has information about the building, must co-operate with the dutyholder, e.g. leaseholders must allow managing Agents access for inspection.

Why manage asbestos? 

Asbestos is a serious health risk and breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to deadly asbestos-related diseases. Past asbestos exposure kills around 5000 people a year in the UK. There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease, varying from 15 to 60 years. Exposure must therefore be prevented. Any buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000 may contain asbestos which by law must be managed, contained and not disturbed or completely removed by experts. 
Where is asbestos found in buildings? 

Asbestos was used in many parts of buildings and the guide points out common locations where asbestos can be found. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Off
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 132/17 HSE Asbestos Survey Guide HSG264 & HSE Managing Asbestos in Buildings Guide INDG223

Managing Asbestos in Buildings

Asbestos Survey Guide

Branch Political Officers Report for Branch Committee Meeting 28th February 2017 

BREXIT

The House of Lords are now debating the Bill for Britain to leave the EU, this amended document will then be sent back to the House of Commons for a final vote, then the Government can enact article 50 and start the negations to leave.

 

National NHS Demonstration

This will take place on Saturday 4th March in London, the CWU Nationally are requesting that branches send delegations to the Demo, it starts at midday in Tavestock Square and ends at Parliament Square.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayoral Election

Labour Party members in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have chosen Kevin Price their candidate for the election in May, Kevin is the Deputy Leader of Cambridge City Council and a lifelong member of Unite.

I have written to Kevin on behalf of Eastern Number Five Branch offering him whatever help he needs during his campaign, as Kevin’s campaign area takes in for CWU branches, North East Anglia, East Midlands from the T&FS constituency and Eastern 4 and Ourselves from Postal, I will be looking to hold a joint meeting with Kevin sometime soon.

 

CWU Eastern Regional Political Committee

The last meeting of the Eastern Region was held on Friday 17th February 2017, unfortunately I was unable to attend due to Annual Leave, but I was re-elected as Chair of the Committee and I submitted the following report to the meeting.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayoral Election

Labour Party members in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have chosen Kevin Price their candidate for the election in May, Kevin is the Deputy Leader of Cambridge City Council and a lifelong member of Unite.

I have written to Kevin on behalf of Eastern Number Five Branch offering him whatever help he needs during his campaign.

St Michael’s Gate Campaign The campaign to save the residents of St Michael’s Gate in the city from eviction from their homes by the property firm Steff & Phillips, hit the BBC last week with it featuring on Inside Out.

The Tory controlled Peterborough City Council (PCC) have sold the 74 houses on St Micheals Gate to Steff & Phillips. In return Steff & Phillips have started the eviction process making whole families homeless, they are then charging PCC, £3 million over the next 3 years to use the properties as overnight accommodation for the homeless.

The residents that are being evicted are long term tenants on the street with many having lived there for over 20 years, they are being offered temporary accommodation by PCC, but in Travelodge’s, and cities and towns miles away from their families and more importantly their places of work.This has left many homeless and now jobless, the whole process is a farce the Tory MP has raised the question in the house, the Local paper is running a campaign against PCC.      

Last week, Two St Michael’s Gate residents faced with losing their home have earned a reprieve from a county court judge after doubts were raised about the eviction process, guaranteed at least another fortnight at their home after an accelerated possession order for their home was adjourned.

 

Deputy District Judge Waring said she had not seen any evidence that the landlords had complied with the correct eviction regulations, and she wanted to know why the name of the landlord on the residents’ tenancy agreement was different to the name of the claimant in the court hearing.

The possession order was issued by Paul Simon Magic Homes, the landlord of the property. However, no representative from the firm was in court.

The managing agent for the property is Stef & Philips which has been orchestrating the evictions of more than 70 people and their families from the St Michael’s Gate estate in Parnwell, leading to huge anger in the city.

The vacant properties are currently being filled by Peterborough City Council with the city’s homeless under a deal which will cost the authority nearly £1 million a year for three years.

Judge Waring said during the hearing that it was “not clear” whether Paul Simon Magic Homes had complied with eviction regulations laid down in the Deregulation Act 2015.

CWU Midlands Political Committee

The next meeting will take place this Thursday 2nd March 2017, in Nottingham, I only received notification of this meeting on Friday so will not be attending.

CLP Affiliations

Following the 2016 Branch AGM the affiliation payments from the branch to the CLP’s within the branch were posted out, as with previous years some remained uncashed, this year I have contacted East Midlands Regional Labour Office, and East of England Labour to ask for an updated list of CLP contacts. This is proving somewhat difficult due to data protection but I will continue to get the information we need.

Peterborough Labour Party Executive Committee

I have been offered a place on the Executive behalf of the Eastern Number Five Branch, which I have accepted this is something that the branch has never been offered and it gives us a say on how the Party in Peterborough is run.

The committee meets one a month on a Monday Evening so it will be at no cost to the branch, the last meeting was last night 27th February, but due to family commitments I could not attend.

East of England Labour Party Regional Board

The next meeting of the Regional Board will take place on Sunday 5th March 2017 in Harlow, the date has been set for this year’s Regional Conference, it will be held on 17-19 November 2017 at the Marriott Hotel, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire- Hinchingbrooke Business Park, Kingfisher Way, Huntingdon, PE29 6FL.

Peterborough Trades Union Council

The last meeting of PTUC was held on Thursday 23rd February and was the Annual General Meeting, I was re elected as Vice President a copy of the Secretary’s Annual Report to the meeting is attached to this report.

Plans are now being finalised for the PTUC Women’s Festival on Saturday 4th March, Posters and Flyers sponsored by CWU Eastern 5 have been distributed.

Kings Lynn & District Trades Council

They have been actively campaigning against NHS cuts and will be sending a coach to the National Demonstration this Saturday, the next meeting of the council is Monday 6th March, once I receive a report from them I will circulate it.

Wisbech March & District Trades Council  

The Trades Council are also sending a delegation to London for the NHS Demo, attached to this report and circulated to branch committee on Friday is a copy of the Trades Council Newsletter.

Andy Beeby

Branch Political Officer