CWU Conferences 2017
The date and venue for next year’s General and Industrial Conferences are as follows:
23rd – 27th April 2017

Conferences will be held at the Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth.
Further details will be issued regarding the timetable of the relevant conferences.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Chris Tapper in the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7331 or email ctapper@cwu.org
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 650/16 – CWU Conferences 2017

HSE Health and Safety Event 9th November
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
The Health and Safety Executive (H.S.E) Footwear, Leather, Textiles and Clothing Health and Safety Committee FLTC-HSC) are organising a special Health and Safety Event on 9th November 2016 at the SATRA Technology Centre, Kettering, Northamptonshire. 
The event focuses on occupational ill health and features:-
An interactive session on musculoskeletal disorders,

Presentations on:-  
Ergonomics

Mental Health First Aid

REACH

Health and Safety training

Spaces are limited, so please email applications to attend info@uklf.org to book your place. The event costs £48, including VAT. 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 649/16 HSE Health and Safety Event 9th November 2016

JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING MAIL CENTRE WORKPLAN & SEASONAL PLANS
FOR THE PROCESSING FUNCTION
 
Dear Colleagues
Branches and representatives will be aware that issues in respect of Mail Centre Workplan (the advancement of 2c) and Seasonal Plans in relation to the Processing function have come to the fore in recent months, which have resulted in the department making representation to the business at National level.
Following productive discussions with the business the department has now achieved a Joint Statement which confirms that:
The CWU have not agreed any change to the Workplan for 2c or Tracked items (other than the bespoke Amazon arrangements)

That any future proposals for change to Workplan will be subject to discussion and agreement at National level prior to any activity in the field.

That the Seasonal Plans have been separated from the longer term discussions.

That any Seasonal Plans agreed will expire no later than the 17th January 2017 when current processing arrangements will resume, unless any revised position has been agreed and communicated as a result of the National discussions.

It is recognised that the pending strand activity on Future Design/Pipeline will have a bearing on Workplan in the longer term.

The Joint Statement has been endorsed by the Postal Executive and a copy is attached for your information.
The department hopes that the clarification provided in the attached Joint Statement will be welcomed by Branches, representatives and members and that engagement may now take place locally in relation to the Seasonal Plan arrangements.
Branches and representatives are requested to notify the department immediately if there are any attempts by management to breach the commitments contained in the attached Joint Statement.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 722.01
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
 
JOINT STATEMENT
REGARDING MAIL CENTRE WORKPLAN & SEASONAL PLANS
FOR THE
PROCESSING FUNCTION
 
Recent developments have highlighted that issues exist in relation to the current status of Mail Centre Workplan and Processing Seasonal Plans. It has therefore been agreed to issue this Joint Statement to provide the following clarification:
 
Royal Mail and the CWU have not currently agreed any change to existing Mail Centre Workplan for 2c or Tracked items (other than those Amazon Tracked 24 Direct Injection changes covered by the updated 2015 JS on Amazon Bulk Sort).

 
National discussions are however currently taking place in regard to Mail Centre Workplan arrangements. These discussions will assess resourcing requirements to smooth the traffic profile in order to protect our network and RDCs, improve the flow of mail throughout the pipeline and provide excellent Quality of Service while maintaining meaningful workload and earnings packages across all shifts.

 
These discussions are in addition to pending National discussions in relation to future vision, which may influence Mail Centre Workplan arrangements going forward.

 
Any long term proposals for change to Mail Centre Workplan will remain the subject of discussions at National level, with any agreed mutual interest outcome jointly communicated prior to any local discussions on deployment.  

 
Notwithstanding the above it is also recognised that the increase in the Tracked 24/48 product has operational implications which are particularly prevalent during the peak season. Therefore in order to support the operation and maintain QofS during this particularly busy time the following has been agreed:
 
Any proposed temporary Seasonal Plans in relation to Processing, which have been designed to relieve pressure within the RDC Network during peak, should be progressed as part of the Seasonal Plan discussions at each site.  

 
Any temporary Seasonal Plans agreed in relation to the Processing function will run with immediate effect and will cease by 17th January 2017.

 
The current agreed arrangements for Processing will resume on the cessation of the temporary Seasonal Plans. Should the abovementioned Mail Centre Workplan discussions be concluded prior to this date this will be jointly communicated to allow the relevant local discussions to take place in line with the IR Framework to facilitate any agreed changes.

 
We believe that the above information now provides the required clarification to enable local discussions to take place in relation to the Seasonal Plans for Processing and would request that the relevant engagement now takes place.  
 
Deborah Rodger Davie Robertson
National Head of Processing Performance Assistant Secretary
Royal Mail CWU
 
Date: 2nd November 2016
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 647/16 – JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING MAIL CENTRE WORKPLAN & SEASONAL PLANS FOR THE PROCESSING FUNCTION

Young Trade Unionists’ May Day Brigade: Thursday 27 April – Tuesday 9 May 2017 
Attached to this LTB are the details of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign Young Trade Unionists’ Mayday visit to Cuba from 27 April to 9 May 2017.  
The costs associated with the visit amount to approximately £1,599.00 excluding travel to and from the departure airport which is likely to be London Heathrow. It is possible that the price may change due to flight surcharges. 
All CWU members aged from 18-35 are eligible to apply. Unfortunately, CWU Headquarters is unable to assist in the cost of the trip. Therefore, those who apply and are granted a place on the delegation must meet the cost in other ways. In the past, successful applicants have been partly self-funded and partly supported by their branch. Individuals will of course have to ensure that they have adequate leave (either unpaid or normal) to enable them to participate. 
Anyone wishing to be considered should complete the attached application form and return it to Cuba Solidarity (address on the attachment) with a copy forwarded to the General Secretary’s office at CWU headquarters, preferably by email to gsoffice@cwu.org. Any enquiries on this matter should also be directed to this address. 
A report by Jack England, branch youth officer of the Great Western branch who participated in the 2016 Mayday Brigade can be found here: 
http://www.cwuyouth.org/blogs/2016/may/25/cwus-jack-englands-trip-to-cuba-a-life-changing-experience/
Yours sincerely,
Simon Sapper

National Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTb 648/16 – Young Trade Unionists’ May Day Brigade: Thursday 27 April – Tuesday 9 May 2017

Attachment: Application Form

CWU LGBT Conference : Policy & Speakers
 
Please find below Policy and Speakers on Motions at the CWU LGBT Conference:
 
Motion 1
Support
Ian Ward
Motion 2
Support
Merlin Reader
Motion 3
Remit/Oppose
John Monk
Motion 4
Support
Sally Wilson to Move
Tara Morgan to Second
Motion 5
Support
Teresa Clark
Motion 6
Support
Jason Reynolds to Move
Seconder :
Motion 7
Support
Jean Sharrocks
Motion 8
Remit/Oppose
Ian Ward
Motion 9
Support
Merlin Reader
Motion 10
Support
John Monk
Motion 11
Support
William Byrne
Motion 12
Support
Tara Morgan
Motion 13
Support
 
Motion 14
Support
Teresa Clark
Motion 15
Support
Sally Wilson
Motion 16
Support
Merlin Reader
Motion 17
Support
 
Motion 18
Support
 
Motion 19
Support
 
 
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
 
Linda Roy
Assistant Secretary
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 645/16 – CWU LGBT Conference : Policy & Speakers

CWU Women’s Conference : Policy & Speakers
 
Please find below Policy and Speakers on Motions at the CWU Women’s Conference:
 
Motion 1
Support
 
Motion 2
Support
Jacky Moorey
Motion 3
Support
Karen Bosson
Motion 4
Support
 
Motion 5
Support
 
Motion 6
Support
Sally Wilson
Motion 7
Support
 
Motion 8
Support
Morag Rose
Motion 9
Support
Kath Kelly
Motion 10
Support
 
Motion 11
Support
 
Motion 12
Support
Vivian Holding
Motion 13
Support
Karen
Motion 14
Support
Kath Kelly
Motion 15
Remit/Oppose
Vicky Turner
Motion 16
Support
Sally Wilson
Motion 17
Support
Trish Vollans
Motion 18
Support
 
Motion 19
Support
 
Motion 20
Oppose
Kath Kelly
Motion 21
Support
 
Motion 22
Support
Trish Vollans
Motion 23
Support
 
Motion 24
Support
 
 
Yours sincerely
 
Linda Roy
Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 644/16 – CWU Women’s Conference : Policy & Speakers

POST OFFICE: THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY AND PENSIONS – UPDATE AND NATIONAL BRIEFING MONDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
 
Dear Colleagues
Further to LTB 627/16 dated 24th October. Branches and members will be aware that further strike action took place on Monday 31st October, which was well supported. We would like to thank Members, Branches, Regional Secretaries and all other Representatives for supporting this important strike and their help in organising local picket lines and attending events to make yesterday a resounding success.
Thanks also go to the Communications Department for their help in organising the publicity stunt in Westminster and Moorgate. The event involved a “funeral procession” carrying coffins representing what could be the death of the Post Office as we know it, should management continue with their managed decline strategy of job cuts, privatisation of Crown Branches and the closure of Supply Chain/Admin units. The procession began at the offices of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in Westminster, where the Minister responsible for Post Offices, Greg Clark MP is based. CWU Representatives and members then made their way to the Post Office’s Headquarters in Moorgate, gaining considerable attention from the media and the public. Representatives from Unite were also in attendance at the event.
Full details, including photographs from the day, can be accessed by using the following link:
http://www.cwu.org/media/news/2016/october/31/dave-ward-we-ll-escalate-po-action-in-run-up-to-xmas/
In addition, thanks go to everyone who Tweeted using #PeoplesPost on the day of the strike. The “twitterstorm” reached over 2 million accounts, bringing our serious concerns over the Future of the Post Office to the attention of MPs, the media, the general public and Paula Vennells, Chief Executive, the Post Office. Significant press and media coverage was also achieved on the day. Please visit the CWU facebook page for all links to the press stories and a speech by Dave Ward, GS, outside BEIS.
https://www.facebook.com/ThecommunicationsUnion/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf
 
Press Release from the Labour Party Press Office
A positive and supportive press release was published on 30th October by the Labour Party Press Office with regards to our strike. Gill Furniss MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Steel, Postal Affairs, and Consumer Protection, said:
“With branches closing, thousands of job losses and real uncertainty for the future, the Government has to take responsibility and set out a proper strategy for the future of the Post Office. It was the Government that split the Post Office from Royal Mail which is now paying out hundreds of millions of pounds in dividends – what we are seeing is a crisis of this Government’s own making. 
“The public and businesses which rely on the Post Office have a right to expect more than a programme of managed decline. We are calling for a new strategy to grow revenues and its services as a matter of urgency. The Post Office has been and should be a key part of our infrastructure but it cannot survive relentless cost-cutting.”
Early Day Motion – EDM 571
EDM 571 – Future of the Post Office has now been signed by 43 MPs. Branches are urged to write to their MPs if they haven’t done so already and encourage them to sign EDM 571. The model letter (also associated with LTB 624/16) is attached once again to assist you in this regard. 
National Briefing Monday 14th November
We will be holding a National Briefing of Representatives to provide an update on the current situation in regards to the following:
New vision for the Future of the Post Office

Pensions

Crown Office Network (franchising)

Major Challenges Facing Supply Chain

The Following Representatives are invited to attend:
Branch Secretaries (with Post Office members)

Regional Secretaries

CViT/Cash Centre Unit Reps (if the Unit Rep is not available, the Deputy Rep is invited)

Post Office Territorial Reps

Post Office Supply Chain Area Reps (including Deputy Area Reps)

Post Office Area Reps (including Deputy Area Reps)

Regional Health & Safety Reps

The details of the Representatives’ Briefing are as follows:
 
Monday 14th November
1.30pm – 3.30pm
 
Indian YMCA
41 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 6AQ
 
As this briefing will be focussed on how to resolve this serious Industrial Relations matter, paid release from duty should be provided by the Post Office for CViT/Cash Centre Unit Reps.
It should be noted at the time of publication of this LTB, we have not been invited to attend any further talks at ACAS.
Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
 
 
Andy Furey Terry Pullinger Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal) General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 634/16 – POST OFFICE: THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY AND PENSIONS – UPDATE AND NATIONAL BRIEFING MONDAY 14TH NOVEMBER

Attachment 1 to LTB643-16 – Model letter for EDM 571 November 2016

Election of National Representative Positions – Vacant Positions (2016)
CWU YOUTH COMMITTEE 

The NEC has agreed the election arrangements for the filling of the vacant positions for the above National Representatives. Accordingly please find enclosed the regulations, nomination forms & consent forms for these elections.
The details of the vacant positions are as follows:
Postal Constituency
North East Region
Wales Region
London Region
Telecoms & Financial Services Constituency
North West Region
Scotland Region
 
The Timetable for the above elections is as follows:
Nominations open: 1st November 2016

Nominations close: 15th November 2016 (14:00)
Despatch ballot papers: 18th November 2016 
Ballot closes: 2nd December 2016 (14:00)
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 641/16 – Election of National Representative Positions – Vacant Positions (2016) – CWU Youth Committee

CWU Youth Committee – Election Regulations

Nomination Form – Postal Constituency

Nomination Form – TFS Constituency

Biographical Details & Consent Form

PTUCTOM BROWNING MEETING 2016
Thursday 24 November at 19:30 – 21:30

Venue: Centre 68, Westgate Church, Westgate, Peterborough 
Speakers on:

The Housing Crisis (Axe the Housing Act – TBC)

St Michael’s Gate (TBC)
The Crisis in the NHS (Jo Rust, UNISON – TBC)

The Junior Doctors (TBC)
Trade Unions & Young Members (Steven Warwick, SERTUC Young Members – TBC)
If you would like a campaign stall at this meeting please contact peterboroughtuc@gmail.com. This is an open meeting and anybody can attend so please advertise far and wide and encourage people to attend. More information will be posted on the PTUC Facebook page and website.