Election of CWU Regional Secretaries 2017 
Further to LTB 120/17 dated 28th February 2017.
The purpose of this LTB is to inform branches that notification has been received today from Craig Anderson of Scotland No. 1 Branch advising of his withdrawal from the position of CWU Regional Secretary – Scotland Region – 2017.
Accordingly due to the above withdrawal the ballot will now consist of the following 2 candidates:
John Brown Glasgow & District Amal  
Tony Sneddon Scotland No. 5
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 130/17 – Election of CWU Regional Secretaries 2017

2017 National Youth Education Event, 13 October – 15 October 
This is to inform branches that this year’s National Youth Education Event has been confirmed to take place over the weekend of Friday, 13 October to Sunday, 15 October and will take place at The Radisson Blu Hotel in Liverpool. 
The event brings together young (under the age of 30) activists over the course of a weekend in which they gain knowledge, skills and confidence about their role in the union and the union’s work in general. 
The event will start at 6pm on Friday 13 October and will end at lunchtime on Sunday 15 October. A timetable will be issued nearer the time. 
The cost to send a delegate will be £280. This cost, will include two nights’ accommodation and all meals. This figure, of course, excludes travelling and for further information relating to expenses please find attached LTB 787/15. 
It should be noted that late cancellations will have to be covered by the branch – so if a delegate is not able to attend and has to cancel we would appreciate at least 1 weeks’ notice. Exceptional circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. 
This is an important event and Branches are encouraged to consider sending delegates. 
Please find attached an application form that participants should complete and get signed off by the branch; this should then be sent to Jo Thair at CWU Head Office either by post or by email to jthair@cwu.org. 
Branches are thanked in anticipation of their assistance and any queries on this LTB should be directed to jthair@cwu.org. 
Yours sincerely 
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 129/17 – 2017 National Youth Education Event, 13 October – 15 October

NYEE17 Application Form

Last Chance to Book! Doglaw for Professionals 2017 Update on Dangerous Dogs Seminar – London 6th March 2017:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
This is a final opportunity to book places on the ‘Doglaw for Professionals 2017 Update on Dangerous Dogs Seminar’ which will take place in London on 6th March at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, 4 Battersea Park Road, London SW8 4AA. Registration and coffee will be from 9.30am with the seminar commencing at 10.00am and due to finish around 1.00pm.
The Seminar is organised by Trevor Cooper of Cooper & Co Solicitors. Trevor is one of the UK’s top Dangerous Dogs Law Lawyers and is Legal Advisor to the Dogs Trust. These seminars are highly recommended by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department.
‎The 2016-17 series of Seminars organised by Doglaw are coming to an end with the London Seminar being the final event and they will not be run again so if you can attend next Monday and don’t want to miss out then get yourself booked in. 
A number of ASRs and Branch Officers have attended the events across the country during this and previous series of seminars and the feedback has been 100% positive.
These popular seminars for professionals are half day talks concentrating on ‘dangerous dog’ offences and the legislation dealing with such attacks and prosecutions. These half day seminars are attended by Police Officers, Dog Wardens, Lawyers and others involved in dealing with Dog Control and Dog Law. The seminars are highly recommended to CWU Representatives wanting to learn more about the Law in this area following the changes achieved by the CWU ‘Bite-Back’ Campaign of course. These Seminars cover subject matter including:-
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014

Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (which applies to any dog that is dangerously out of control), including the extension of the Act and defences

The operation of the new ‘Householder Case’ defence and when it may be applicable

Increased prison sentences where a victim is injured or dies

New offence if a dog attacks an assistance dog

Addition of a ‘fit and proper person test’

The ‘Robinson-Pierre’ ruling and consider its impact on cases

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) (the law that deals with pit bull terrier type and other banned dogs)

The Index of Exempted Dogs

The ‘fit and proper person’ test

The ‘Sandhu’ ruling and its impact on changing keepership of a registered dog

The Dogs Act 1871 and does it have any future?

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 and how does it fit in with the new changes?

See attached booking form or you can call 01277 811988 to secure a place. The cost is £75 including VAT, Refreshments, Certificate of Attendance and Handouts. The seminars represent good value for money.
Further information:
Cooper & Co Solicitors (Doglaw)

Canterbury Innovation Centre

University Road

Canterbury 

Kent

Tel: 01277811988

Email Tracy@Doglaw.co.uk
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB128/17 Last Chance to Book! Doglaw for Professionals 2017 Update on Dangerous Dogs Seminar – London 6th March 2017

Attachment 2 – Doglaw-for-Professionals-2017-Update-on-Dangerous-Dogs

Workers Memorial Day 2017 – Friday 28 April 2017 “Good Health & Safety For Workers”
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
As Branches, Health and Safety Reps and Regional Health and Safety Forums will know, the Union has for the last four years commemorated Workers Memorial Day (WMD) at ‎ Annual Conference as WMD fell during Conference Week after the move of Conference to April. 
This year WMD occurs on the Friday of the week, a day after Conference closes. Therefore those participating and supporting WMD events around the UK will need to note this and make local arrangements to attend the many events taking place across the UK. 
Once again CWU will continue its support of this important commemorative day in the calendar and would urge CWU Branches, Reps and Regions to give their support to local and Regional WMD events.
The purpose behind Workers’ Memorial Day has always been to “Remember the Dead and Fight for the Living” and the TUC, the Hazards Campaign and all the nation’s Unions will be focusing on both areas, by considering memorial and health and safety events to commemorate the day and remember all those killed at work or through work but at the same time ensuring that we continue to do all we can to make sure such tragedies are not repeated.
That can best be done by building trade union organisations, recruiting members, pressing employers to invoke better health and safety standards and risk controls and campaigning for stricter enforcement by the HSE and Local Authorities with higher Court penalties for those employers and bosses breaching health & safety laws.
Workers Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government.
In 2017 the theme for the day is “Good Health and Safety For All Workers” and will focus on inequalities in occupational health and the role Unions play in narrowing the inequalities gap. 
The TUC wants to focus on the hidden and new GIG economies, the risks faced by migrant workers and the issues of gender and class.
The TUC is compiling a list of WMD events taking place across the country and the list will be updated over the coming weeks and circulated in due course. Some of these events will also feature a minute’s silence at noon, or a suitable time. Most will be on Friday 28th April and some will take place on the weekend of 29th/30th April.
What CWU Reps can do:
Find out what is happening in your area on 28 April. Check with other Unions, Local Authorities, local Trades Councils, Health and Safety Campaign Groups, Hazards Campaign, the TUC Website WMD page and a general website search for events and activities which can signpost Reps to events they may be unaware of.
Regional Health and Safety Forums may wish to organise their own event and activities on the day which can be a commemorative rally, a workplace meeting or just a small get-together and invite other Unions. Organise a minute’s silence in workplaces on the day.
Ask the local Council, or any other public body, to fly official flags at half-mast on the day. 
Remember that the day is officially recognised by the UK Government. That Official recognition was given by Parliament under the Blair Labour Government.
Arrange an event such as planting a memorial tree in a public place, putting up a plaque, dedicating a sculpture, a piece of art, or a bench, to remember workers who have been killed at the workplace or in the community.
If those planning any events for the day want to raise awareness about Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, then it is important you consider how you can best use local media both before and on the Day.
Ask local religious centres to include Workers’ Memorial Day in their worship on the day;
Distribute purple ‘forget-me-not’ ribbons, the symbol of Workers Memorial Day;
If those organising an event for Workers Memorial Day would like it displayed on TUC WMD Webpage please email through the details to healthandsafety@tuc.org.uk
For resources on Workers Memorial day including ribbons and car stickers please contact the Greater Manchester Hazards centre at: mail@gmhazards.org.uk.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 

LTB127/17 Workers Memorial Day 2017 – Friday 28 April 2017 

Attachment 2 – Provisional List of WMD Events

 Motion 50: Enforcing the Agenda for Growth Agreement

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

The following Motion was carried at last year’s Annual Conference:

 

“Conference notes the consistent and often deliberate failure of Royal Mail and Parcelforce to adopt the practices and spirit of the Agenda for Growth, Stability and Long Term Success Agreement, in particular, but not limited to, recruitment and resourcing, day to day operations and working relationships with managers and CWU Representatives.

 

By refusing to operate within the terms and scope of Agenda for Growth Agreement and/or other national agreements, Royal Mail and Parcelforce are causing our members severe stress and ill health in the workplace, failing to secure industrial stability, long term growth and efficiency in operations, and above all, may be, acting illegally.

 

The Postal Executive is therefore instructed to launch a legal challenge against Royal Mail Group for breaching the terms of the legally binding contract Royal Mail Group has with the CWU starting with a test case at either Unit or Area level to demonstrate the potential success and set a precedent ahead of a national claim.

 

The Postal Executive is instructed accordingly.”

 

The Postal Executive subsequently endorsed a report from the DGS(P) on how best to progress the terms of the motion and I was asked to lead on the issue.  

 

Advice has been sought which reaffirms earlier legal advice the Union received on enforcing the Agenda for Growth Agreement. This distinguishes between:

 

1) The protections that can be enforced directly by applying to the court for an injunction. These relate to:

 

• Royal Mail’s obligation to remain an end to end service provider;

• prohibition against outsourcing or selling off parts of the business;

• prohibition against franchising and use of zero hours contracts;

• worsening existing terms and conditions without the Union’s agreement;

• continued recognition of the CWU.  

 

If the Union believes that the company are in breach of any of these terms, or is about to breach them, the remedy is to apply to the court for an injunction.

 

2)​The protections that have to go through the legally binding Achieving Local ​Agreements process which cover a range of issues relating essentially to the ​maintenance of good industrial relations. In terms of the Achieving Local Agreements ​process, a number of things should be noted:

 

• the most important provision of the Achieving Local Agreements process is the duty to maintain the status quo until the dispute has gone through the procedure;

• it is easier to get a court order to stop the employer doing something than to make them take positive action;

• the Union will be expected to give the company an opportunity to get its house in order before going to court so we would need to write to royal Mail at national level demanding corrective action be taken within a specified period before going to court.

 

Clearly, if the union is to pursue any “test cases” these will have to be chosen carefully.

 

Advice suggests that we would need to identify specific instances where Royal Mail:  

 

• proposes to employ a temporary or casual employee where there is no genuine short-term need;

• proposes to employ agency staff to cover work which could be covered by additional hours by existing staff;

• proposes to employ a temporary employee on a fixed-term contract exceeding 2 years without the Union’s agreement;

• refuses to convert temporary employment to permanent where there is no good reason for refusing;

• refuses to increase part-time employees’ hours to fit actual hours of work, where there is no good reason for refusing.  

 

Of these the refusal to convert a temporary post to permanent and a refusal to increase part-timers’ hours are more difficult bearing in mind that it is easier to obtain an order to stop something happening rather than make something positive happen.

 

If we are able to identify a suitable test case, the process to start the case is that the Area Rep should trigger the Achieving Local Agreements process straight away by serving formal notice of the disagreement and attempting to agree a statement of what the disagreement is about with his or her opposite number.

 

At the same time the Area Rep should specify clearly what the current Agreements say and tell the Manager that he or she is required to maintain the status quo until the disagreement has been resolved. If the Manager will not do so, the Area Rep should refer the dispute straight away to the Divisional Rep who should make the same point to his or her opposite number. If there is still a failure to commit to maintain the status quo a formal letter threatening to take the issue to the court should be sent.

 

It is not sufficient to refer to general failures to follow agreements around recruitment and resourcing and day-to-day operations. It is necessary to show specific examples of where management are acting in breach of the Agreement.  

 

The objective is, of course, to ensure that agreements are properly applied, rather than to take legal action. Reps and Branches are asked to monitor resourcing carefully, challenged specific breaches of Agenda for Growth promptly and Divisional Reps should advise CWU Head Office promptly of any failure to commit to maintaining status quo provisions where the union believes breach of the agreement is likely to take place.

 

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 002. Email address: djeffery@cwu.org

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

 

Ray Ellis

Assistant Secretary

MAJOR EVENT AT CWU CONFERENCE
 
Following on from the success of #JC4PM at CWU Conference 2016, we have plans to hold another major event this year. This will take place on Tuesday 25th April at the BIC, Bournemouth, commencing at 7:30pm.
 
Once again, we will be opening the doors to CWU members and the public to attend. As with last year we have secured some excellent political speakers, comedians and musical talent. The evening will be themed around the future world of work and taking back control of our services and workplaces.
 
Further details of both the line-up and ticket details will be shared in the coming days and weeks.
 
I would ask that all branches make attending and promoting this event a priority commitment ahead of Annual Conference.
 
Any enquiries on the above LTB should be directed to Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 125/15 – MAJOR EVENT AT CWU CONFERENCE

Sun Exposure At Work Could Lead To One Skin Cancer Death A Week – New British Journal Of Cancer/Imperial College London Report Findings Published:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Working outdoors in the sun could lead to one death and around five new cases of melanoma skin cancer a week, according to new research by Imperial College London published in the British Journal of Cancer recently.
Researchers, based at Imperial College London, estimated that there are 48 deaths and 241 cases of melanoma skin cancer each year in Britain caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun at work. 
Dr. Lesley Rushton, lead researcher from Imperial College London, stated that ‘It’s been shown previously that people often don’t understand the risks of damage caused by sun in the UK. But this research shows that people don’t have to work in the Mediterranean or a traditionally sunny country for the sun to damage your skin. It’s important to get to know what your skin is normally like, and to tell your doctor if you notice any changes to how your skin looks or feels. Skin cancer can appear as a new mole or mark, or it can be a change to something you’ve had for a while. Now that we have a clearer picture of the extent of the damage caused, employers need to make sure they take sun exposure at work seriously and work out how to reduce it.’ 
The researchers looked at the risk of developing skin cancer for outdoor workers using information from international studies, and the proportion of workers potentially exposed to sun from British data sources. These figures were then used to estimate the number of people who might have developed skin cancer due to work related exposure using a mathematical model. 
Sarah Williams, Cancer Research UK’s health information manager, commented that ‘these figures reveal the risk that some people might face from too much sun exposure whilst working. We all need some sun for healthy bones, but too much can increase the risk of skin cancer, and the risk can be higher for some people. Generally, the best ways for people to protect their skin is to spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, and cover up with clothing. Also use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and four or more stars on the parts of the body you can’t cover, like face and hands. She called for more research into the issue.
Construction workers had the highest number of deaths – 44% of deaths, followed by agriculture workers – 23% of deaths. Defense workers, Police and Armed forces – 10% of deaths.
Graham Parker, President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, stated that ‘This important research was commissioned by IOSH for the Solar phase of our ‘No Time to Lose’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness of cancer caused by work. We’re delighted to see it published in the British Journal of Cancer. The campaign encourages businesses to do what they can to reduce risks and one way to do this is to develop ‘Sun Safety Strategies.’ He added that IOSH had worked with forward-thinking companies, such as Royal Mail Group, which signed up to our pledge to help prevent occupational cancer. Royal Mail put in place a sun safety strategy which includes providing wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved tops and trousers as part of its uniform. It encourages its workers to cover up during the higher UV months. He added that using high-factor sunscreen is helpful but should not be relied on as the only barrier to the harmful rays.’ 
The study was funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
The Health, Safety & Environment Department has again raised the free provision of Sunscreen with Royal Mail Group following publication of this Report.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB124/17 Sun Exposure At Work Could Lead To One Skin Cancer Death A Week

SOCIAL MEDIA – SNAPCHAT 
 
Dear Colleagues,
 
As part of our overall approach to improving communications and finding different ways to engage with the membership, we have today launched two new snapchat accounts for the National Union and the General Secretary.
 
To connect with the CWU account add CWUNews
 
To connect with the GS account add DaveWardGS
 
We also plan to have our own snapchat filter in place for CWU Conference.
 
Please share this information with members in your branch areas.
 
Any enquiries to this LTB should be directed to Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org
 
Kind regards
 

Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 122/15 SOCIAL MEDIA – SNAPCHAT

Election of: 
CWU Senior Deputy General Secretary 

CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (CCH) 

CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (OUTDOOR)

Nominations for the above positions closed at 14:00 on 28th February 2017.
Please find below a list of accepted nominations and respective nominating branches. 
 
CWU SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY 
Tony Kearns CWU Officers Branch (*ELECTED)
Nominating Branches:
Algus National
Glasgow & District Amal
Birmingham District Amal
Glasgow & Motherwell
Birmingham, Black Country & Worcester
Gloucestershire Amal
Bootle IPSL
Great Western
Bournemouth & Dorset Amal
Greater London Combined
Bristol & District Amal
Greater Manchester
Capital
Greater Mersey & South West Lancashire
Central Counties & Thames Valley
Harrow & District
Cleveland Amal
Hull & East Ridings Amal
Colchester & District
Isle of Man (Postal)
Cornwall Amal
Jersey
Coventry
Kent Invicta
CWU Officers Branch
Kingston Area
Darwen Capita
Leeds No. 1 Amal
Derbyshire
Leicester & Midshires
Doncaster & District
Leicestershire
Durham County Amal
Lincolnshire & South Yorks
East London Postal
London Parcels Stations Amal
East Midlands
London Postal Engineering
Eastern No. 3
London Regional Motor Transport
Eastern No. 4
London South West (Postal)
Eastern No. 5
Manchester Combined
Eastern No. 6
Meridian
Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders
Mersey
Essex Amal
Mid Wales, The Marches & North Staffs
CWU SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY – Cont.
Tony Kearns CWU Officers Branch  
Nominating Branches:
Midland No. 1
Somerset, Devon & Cornwall
Midland No. 7
South & East Thames Amal
Newcastle Amal
South Central Postal
North Anglia
South East Anglia
North East
South East London Postal & Counters
North Lancs & Cumbria
South East No. 5
North Wales & Marches
South East Wales Amal
North West No. 1
South London, Surrey & North Hampshire
Northern Home Counties Postal
South Midlands Postal
Northern Ireland Combined
South Wales
Northern Ireland East
South West No. 7
Northern Ireland Telecom
South West Wales Amal
Northern Ireland West
South Yorkshire
Northern/North West London
South Yorkshire & District Amal
Nottingham & District Amal
Southdowns, Weald & Rother
Plymouth & East Cornwall
Tyne & Wear Clerical
Portsmouth & District
Wessex South Central
Portsmouth, West Sussex & IOW
West London Postal
Romford Amal
West Yorkshire
Scotland MT
Western Counties
Scotland No. 1
Wolverhampton District Amal
Scotland No. 2
Worcester & Hereford Amal
Scotland No. 5
York & District Amal
Shropshire & Mid Wales
 

CWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSTAL (CCH) 
Andy Furey CWU Officers Branch (*ELECTED) 
Nominating Branches: 
Bournemouth & Dorset Amal
Midland No. 7
Cleveland Amal
Newcastle Amal
Colchester & District
North Lancs & Cumbria
Cornwall Amal
North Wales & Marches
CWU Officers
Northern Ireland Combined
Darwen Capita
Northern Ireland East
Durham County Amal
Northern Ireland Telecom
East London Postal
Northern Ireland West
Eastern No. 4
Northern/North West London
Eastern No. 6
Plymouth & East Cornwall
Glasgow & District Amal
Portsmouth & District
Gloucestershire Amal
Romford Amal
Hull & East Ridings Amal
Scotland No. 5
Kent Invicta
Shropshire & Mid Wales
Kingston Area
South East Anglia
Leeds No. 1 Amal
South Wales
London 7
South West Wales Amal
London Parcels Stations Amal
South Yorkshire & District Amal
London Phoenix
Worcester & Hereford Amal
London Regional Motor Transport
 
 
CWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSTAL (OUTDOOR) 
Mark Baulch East London Postal (*ELECTED) 
Nominating Branches: 
Birmingham District Amal
North Wales & Marches
Bristol & District Amal
North West Central Amal
Cleveland Amal
North West No. 1
Colchester & District
Northern Home Counties Postal
Cornwall Amal
Northern Ireland Combined
Darwen Capita
Northern Ireland East
Derbyshire
Northern Ireland Telecom
Doncaster & District
Northern Ireland West
Durham County Amal
Nothern/North West London
East London Postal
Nottingham & District Amal
Eastern No. 3
Plymouth & East Cornwall
Eastern No. 4
Portsmouth & District
Eastern No. 5
Romford Amal
Eastern No. 6
Scotland MT
Gloucestershire Amal
Scotland No. 5
Greater Manchester
Shropshire & Mid Wales
Greater Mersey & South West Lancashire
Somerset, Devon & Cornwall
Harrow & District
South & East Thames Amal
Hull & East Ridings Amal
South Central Postal
Jersey
South East Anglia
Kent Invicta
South East London Postal & Counters
Kingston Area
South East Wales Amal
Leeds No. 1
South Midlands Postal
London 7
South Wales
London Parcels Stations Amal
South West Wales Amal
London Phoenix
South Yorkshire & District
London Regional Motor Transport
Southdowns, Weald & Rother
London South West (Postal)
West London Postal
Midland No. 1
Western Counties
Midland No. 7
Wolverhampton District Amal
Newcastle Amal
Worcester & Hereford Amal
North Lancs & Cumbria
York & District Amal
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be directed to Senior Deputy General Secretary for the attention of Peter Metcalfe on 0208 971 7368, or pmetcalfe@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
 
TONY KEARNS
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download
– Election of: CWU Senior Deputy General Secretary, CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (CCH) & CWU Assistant Secretary Postal (OUTDOOR)

OUR NHS MARCH – Saturday 4th March 2017 
Earlier this month, we issued LTB 087/17 which gave details of the important OUR NHS March and Rally which takes place on Saturday 4th March 2017. 
We are writing again to encourage as many CWU branches as possible to be in attendance at this event. We have been asked to assemble, within the ‘Trade Union block’ at Tavistock Square in good time for the commencement of the march to Parliament which will lead off at midday. The CWU position will be identified clearly by the presence of our giant balloons. 
DATE: Saturday 4th March 2017

TIME: 12 noon

ASSEMBLE: Tavistock Square, (Trade Union Block) London, WC1 (nearest Tubes:

Russell Square / Euston)

MARCH: Through London to Parliament

Given recent press coverage and the heightening risk to the future of our NHS, it really is important that CWU members and activists get involved in this demonstration and show our solidarity and support for the NHS and for the members and unions working in the Health and Care Sector. 
The link below gives further information on the plans for the day: 
http://www.ournhs.info/
Any further enquiries regarding this LTB119/17 should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS1.1 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1: LTB 119/17