Amazon Fined £65,000 plus £60,000 Costs for Trying to Ship Dangerous Goods by Air via Royal Mail
To: All Branches
 
Dear Colleagues, 
Online retailer Amazon UK Services Ltd has been fined £65,000 and ordered to pay legal costs of £60,000 to the CAA at Southwark Crown Court last week after being found guilty of attempting to ship dangerous goods by air on passenger planes, including lithium-ion batteries and aerosols in breach of the Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 2002. The retailer was found to have breached UK civil aviation rules in respect for four offences of “causing dangerous goods to be delivered for carriage in an aircraft.” 
The offending items included Lithium-ion batteries for mobile phones or tablets, as well as cans of aerosol deodorant and hair spray, were sent via Royal Mail and were destined to be shipped on a mixture of domestic and international flights between January 2014 and June 2015.
Each item was intercepted by staff working for Royal Mail during routine screening, before they could be transported by Air. 
The Prosecution told the Court that under the certain circumstances Lithium-ion batteries, even if new and undamaged, could overheat, potentially causing burns, explosion or a fire, which could be catastrophic on an Aircraft. 
The Civil Aviation Authority has warned that the UK will take a hard line on shipping goods of this nature on passenger aircraft adding that around the world, retailers and online traders must comply with international restrictions, which prohibit the shipping of dangerous goods on passenger aircraft, which pose a flight safety risk. Whenever issues are identified the CAA works with companies to make sure those issues are addressed, however, if improvements are not made, the CAA will not hesitate to enforce the law in order to protect the travelling public. The safety of aviation and the public is paramount and the CAA will continue to work closely with retailers and online traders to ensure they understand the regulations and have robust processes in place so their items can be shipped safely. 
The jury reportedly failed to reach a decision on a further six charges due to the detailed Technical nature of charges. The Judge decided that these will remain on file should Amazon come before the Courts again on similar charges.
Following sentencing, Amazon said that it was constantly working to further improve and will continue to work with the CAA in this area. 
However in June it was announced in the USA that Amazon had repeatedly been accused of breaching regulations and is facing a $350,000 (£247,000) fine for allegedly shipping hazardous chemicals that injured delivery workers in America. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed the fine, accusing the firm of breaching rules by sending a corrosive drain cleaner by air. Nine UPS employees complained of burns after handling the package after the substance leaked, the authority said. Amazon said it would work with the FAA to improve its processes. According to the US authority, Amazon sent a package containing a one-gallon container of the corrosive drain cleaner called “AMAZING! LIQUID FIRE” from Kentucky to Colorado via UPS in October 2014. While being transported, some of the Liquid Fire leaked through the fibreboard box. Nine UPS employees who came into contact with the box reported chemical burns and were treated with a chemical wash, the FAA said. It accused Amazon of failing to package the shipment properly and said the box did not have the correct labelling or documentation and said the firm’s staff who handled it were not properly trained. Amazon has a history of violating the Hazardous Materials Regulations. From February 2013 to September 2015 alone, Amazon was found to have violated the Hazardous Materials Regulations 24 times. The FAA is continuing to investigate Amazon’s compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations applicable to air transportation, it said. The FAA has sought a total of nearly $1.3m in fines as a result of those instances. In at least 15, hazardous material leaked, the FAA said in its notice of violation. It was not clear how many times Amazon had paid fines or admitted responsibility because the FAA does not announce fines of less than $50,000, a spokesman for the authority told Reuters. The company did pay $91,000 in April 2014 for an incident the previous year in which its employees improperly shipped flammable liquid adhesive. 
FedEx employees in Boulder discovered a gallon container of adhesive was leaking, not properly labelled and without proper shipping papers, the FAA said. 
Amazon the company will continue to work with the FAA in this area.
The Royal Mail Group National Dangerous Goods Manager has paid tribute to the thorough and meticulous work of the Royal Mail Screeners and CWU members working at the Royal Mail Air Hubs for doing their job in removing and reporting these items. The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department equally applauds the CWU members involved for eliminating the danger which is for them their everyday job and nothing out of the ordinary. 
However, Amazon’s irresponsible and unsafe organisation has clearly been presenting a risk to aircraft passengers both in the UK and USA and profit clearly comes before safety. In 2015 Amazon UK Services had a turnover of £1 billion in the UK, with a profit of £38 million. In the USA Amazon is the leading e-retailer with more than $107 billion U.S. dollars in net sales and is one of the most valuable retailers in the world.  
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 580/16 Amazon Fined £65,000 plus £60,000 Costs for Trying to Ship Dangerous Goods by Air via Royal Mail

 

 

CWU DEATH GRANT

 

 

 

As a CWU member your next of kin, friend or charity is entitled to a payment from CWU Headquarters of £758 in the event of your death.

The Branch currently pays an addition £238 on top of this. This is a tax free cash payment and does not form part of any estate.

 

You need to make sure that you have the person/charity registered on the database with the branch or it may not be possible to pay this money.

 

To update your records please contact the Branch Secretary at branch.secretary@cwue5.org or telephone 01733 382512, who will be able to send the paperwork to your home address.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda Hill

Branch Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

BRANCH BENEVOLENT FUND

 

 

This fund provided by Eastern 5 Branch exists to provide assistance to members whilst on long term sick leave. Payments are subject to being a CWU member for a minimum of 3months. Payments are as follows;

 

• £25.00 after 16 weeks continuous sick leave,
• £75.00 on reaching 32 weeks continuous sick leave,
• £100.00 on reaching 52 weeks continuous sick leave.

 

Please note that back payments cannot be made.

 

Please contact the Branch Secretary at branch.secretary@cwue5.org or telephone 01733 382512, who will be able to send the paperwork to your home address.

 

 

 

 

Amanda Hill

Branch Secretary

FREE CWU MEMBERSHIP

 

 

Did you know that if you enter into less than full pay on your contracted hours i.e. when you have been off sick for 6 months or on extended maternity leave, you are entitled to FREE CWU membership? This covers members on long term sick and/or maternity leave.

 

If you think you are entitled to FREE CWU membership due to the reasons stated above, but are currently paying membership subscriptions please contact the Branch Secretary at branch.secretary@cwue5.org or telephone 01733 382512 who will make necessary arrangements to rectify this.

 

Please note that in instances where membership subscriptions have been paid whilst on long term sick or maternity absence this cannot be refunded.

 

 

Amanda Hill

Branch Secretary

SABATICAL LEAVE

 

 

Any member who takes Sabatical Leave will automatically have their CWU Membership stopped once their pay is stopped.

 

To continue your CWU Membership you will need to amend your payment to pay via Direct Debit.

 

If you are taking a sabbatical and wish to remain a CWU member please contact the Branch Secretary at branch.secretary@cwue5.org telephone 01733 382512, who will be able to send the paperwork to your home address.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda Hill

Branch Secretary

As October is approaching we are reminding Branches of the national ‘Stoptober campaign’ promoted by Public Health England.  
Public Health England have provided 100 of Royal Mail Group’s largest sites with campaign promotional material on which aims to get Smokers to give up for 28 days during the October Campaign Month. Those who can achieve that target will be 5 times more likely to quit permanently. 
Giving up smoking is not easy, but the benefits are huge: 
» Save Money – You’ll have much more cash in your pocket. If you smoke a packet a day, you could save around £250 each month!
» Boost your health – No matter how long you’ve Smoked for, quitting can help improve your health straight away.
»Quit for your family – You’re more likely to live longer and have more energy for quality time with your children, family and friends. 
If you don’t smoke, why not try and support and reassure someone who does, remind them of the benefits of giving up.  
If you need support to stop smoking there is lots of guidance on the ‘Stoptober’ Website at: http://www.nhs.uk/OneYou/Stoptober and the RMG ‘Feeling First Class’ Website at: http://www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk. The guidance includes advice on how to suppress the triggers that make you want to smoke and handle cravings.
For more information on wellbeing why not take a look at the ‘Feeling First Class’ Website at; http://www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk (Use the code FFC1 to sign up). The CWU Health Safety and Environment Department are encouraging RMG employee CWU members to ‘Sign-Up’ as a “FFG” Website member in order to utilise all the on-line Health Tools and utilise the full benefits available. 
There are also lots of ideas for ways to support giving up smoking on the Stoptober web page. Visit the following Link:- http://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/stoptober/home.
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 573/16 ‘Stoptober’ Campaign 2016 – Helping Smokers Quit!

ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2016 
CWU Youth Committee

Further to LTB 551/16 dated 16th September 2016, please find below ballot results for the above named Delegations.
CWU YOUTH COMMITTEE – POSTAL CONSTITUENCY 
EASTERN REGION
Matthew Bellamy
Eastern No 5
20,811
 
Laura Snell  
Eastern No 4  
61,551
*Elected
SOUTH WEST REGION
Michael Goozee
Wessex South Central
42,617
*Elected
William Hunt  
Gloucestershire Amal
35,994
 

CWU YOUTH COMMITTEE – TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY
MIDLAND REGION
Daniel Coles
East Midlands
31,456
*Elected
Jaime Monsma
Midland No 1  
4,261
 
LONDON REGION
Christopher Gadeke
Capital
33,457
*Elected
William Murray
Greater London Combined
9,530
 
The branch analysis for the above ballot results are attached to this LTB.
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 579/16 – Election of National Representative Positions 2016 – CWU Youth Committee

Branch Analysis Spreadsheet

The Allan St. John Holt Memorial Health & Safety Lecture – Tuesday 18th October, 4pm, at Phoenix Centre, Royal Mail Mount Pleasant, Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DG:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
As many CWU Area Safety Reps will know, the late Allan St. John Holt, was the former Royal Mail Group Head of Safety who died in service on 3 May 2007. He was a popular man, well respected by all who knew him and he devoted his life to improving the safety and health of people at work. He made a massive contribution to the subject and was the author the NEBOSH training course book, ‘Principles of health and safety at work’ – an obligatory text for many students which helped thousands of Safety Professionals, Managers and Safety Reps alike whilst studying for NEBOSH qualifications. Allan was awarded the OBE and RoSPA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2007. Allan was strongly supportive of the principle of Employers working with Trade Unions and their Safety Representatives to improve standards in the workplace and he gave great encouragement to all involved in safety and health.
As a fitting way of commemorating his life and work, Royal Mail Group together with RoSPA host an annual memorial lecture to provide a platform for challenge and debate and to stimulate fresh thinking about how to further reduce work related accidents and ill health.

This year’s Allan St John Holt OBE Memorial Lecture will be held on Tuesday 18 October 2016 at 4pm at the Phoenix Centre, Royal Mail Mount Pleasant, Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DG. The event is free of charge to attend.
The 2016 Lecture will be given by Paul Farmer CBE – Chief Executive Officer of Mind, the leading mental health charity working in England and Wales since May 2006. Paul is Chair of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), the leading voice of the UK’s charity and social enterprise sector. Paul is also a trustee at Lloyds Bank Foundation which invests in charities supporting people to break out of disadvantage at critical points in their lives. Paul is Chair of the NHS England Mental Health Taskforce – bringing together health and care leaders and experts in the field, including people using services, to lead a programme of work to create a mental health Five Year Forward View for the NHS in England. Paul has an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of East London, is an Honorary Fellow of St. Peter’s College Oxford and The Royal College of Psychiatrists, and was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours 2016.
The lecture entitled “Taking care of Business” will ask the question. ‘How can good practice be embedded? Where does mental health sit in relation to Health and Safety, diversity and equality and boardroom leadership? What does good practice look like and what role should employers play in the future?’
Past Lectures
• 2015 – Geoffrey Podger CB – “Health and safety: is Britain going backwards?” 

• 2014 – Dr Clifford Mann – “The need for joined up working across Government to promote accident prevention in order to reduce pressure on the NHS”

• 2013 – Professor Richard Parish – “Building safe communities: enhancing the business contribution” Improving the Public’s Health

• 2012 – Professor Ragnar Löfstedt – “Towards a risk intelligent society.” Reclaiming health and safety for all: an independent review of health and safety legislation.

• 2011 – Rear Admiral Paul Thomas – “Engineering A Safer Future”

• 2010 – Sir Bill Callaghan –”Risk, Regulation and Rationality”

• 2009 – Lawrence Waterman –”Motes, beams and sensible safety: taking personal responsibility for professional advice?”

• 2008 – John Rimington CB –”Health and Safety – Past, Present and Future”
Those wishing to attend the Allan St John Holt 2016 Memorial lecture should contact Nick Burns Tel: 07801091380 Email: nicholas.burns@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB578/16 The Allan St. John Holt Memorial H&S Lecture

 
AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE AND THE CWU IN REGARD TO THE USE OF THE BACKTRACK DEVICE
Dear Colleagues
Branches are informed that in 2014 the department agreed a Terms of Reference with Parcelforce Worldwide which enabled trial activity to take place in relation to a sensing device called ‘Backtrack’.
The ‘Backtrack’ system is in effect a posture monitoring device that has been developed to help reduce and prevent manual handling injuries and to assist with the rehabilitation of individuals that are suffering as a result of such occurrences. 
The ‘Backtrack’ device is a small postural monitoring data collection device which is worn on the user’s hip, i.e. fitted to a belt around the waist that records the persons’ movements during the working day. The device has a “vibration” function which alerts the user when their handling technique is poor, i.e. incorrect lifting of items or jumping down to exit a vehicle and any such alerts are recorded by the device.
The recorded data in relation to the “vibration” activations is downloaded at the end of each shift by connecting to a laptop and provides an overview of how often undue stress is being put on the persons back, which provides them with the opportunity to carry out remedial action at an early stage.
Feedback received from the trial activity at the time confirmed that the device could be of benefit to our members in regard to the above and that additionally the device could also be utilised for new inductees as a training aid in the correct manual handling techniques to be used.
Parcelforce Worldwide have now acquired 200 devices which they would like to deploy in order to realise the benefits that could be achieved for the business and their employees/our members. 
Discussions have therefore been taking place in relation to a final agreement to enable the deployment activity to commence, which have resulted in the attached agreement being concluded.
Branches and representatives will note that:
Where the availability of devices permit, the use of devices will be mandatory for new starters during their induction training.

‘Backtrack’ devices should be used on a voluntary basis as part of the medical rehabilitation process following a manual handling related accident/injury.

Backtrack’ devices should be used on a voluntary basis as part of the on-going process to identify opportunities for improvement and maintaining safe posture during handling activities.

Any individual data gathered from the device will remain personal to the individual and only used in line with the agreement for the reduction of risk of injury and to improve/ensure handling competency.

This device is not being introduced as, or will be used as, a disciplinary or attendance tool. It will not be used to entrap people or for day to day performance management processes. Equally, it will not be used to enhance the ability of managers, or the evidence available, to take disciplinary action.

The approach is intended to be as supportive as possible for Parcelforce employees. There is absolutely no intention by PFW to use this project or the remedial action in any punitive way and it will be delivered in a ‘Blame-Free’ culture.

The initiative is designed to help prevent and avoid accidents and injuries; it is not in any way about identifying liability.

Both parties agree that the whole approach to this activity should be a positive experience for the individual. Support and the opportunity to identify development areas will be provided through positive help, coaching and encouragement via local Managers, CWU Representatives and Depot Trainers.

All relevant Health & Safety consultation in relation to the ‘Backtrack’ device has been concluded.
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: 014.10
 
Yours sincerely
 
Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 574/16 – AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARCELFORCE WORLDWIDE AND THE CWU IN REGARD TO THE USE OF THE BACKTRACK DEVICE

Attachment 1 – Agreement between Parcelforce Worldwide and the CWU in Regard to the Use of the Backtrack Device

CWU BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE – FUNDRAISING EVENT MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2016 
We have been contacted by the Chair of the CWU Race Advisory Committee to seek support from branches for the Fundraising event prior to the CWU Black Workers Conference due to be held at the Mercure Hotel, Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6ES on Tuesday 11th October 2016.
You will see from Amarjite Singh’s letter that the focus of the social evening will be to raise money for a number of causes including CWUHA, Last Drop and Show Racism the Red Card.
It is hoped that, as in previous years, branches can make a contribution to this. Those branches wishing to do so, should contact Linda Roy by email lroy@cwu.org or directly on 0208 971 7238.
The details of the Black Workers Fundraising Social event is as follows:-
Date: Monday 10th October 2016

Venue: The Barley Mow

Address: 149, Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FE

Time: 8.00pm onwards

If you have any enquiries in relation to this LTB, these should be addressed to the Equal Opportunities Department by emailing eotemp@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 : LTB 577/16 – CWU Black Workers Fundraising Event

Attachment 2: Letter from RAC Chair

Re: National Joint RMG/Unions – “Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Community Event” (Formerly Fixed Focus & Grow and Drains-Up Events) – Tues 18 October 2016 at the Phoenix Centre, Mount Pleasant, London – 10am – 3.15pm:
To: All Postal Branches

All RMG based Area Health and Safety Reps 

All Regional Health and Safety Forums
Dear colleagues,
This is to confirm the date for the National Joint RMG/Unions “SHE Community Event” For Area Safety Representatives (ASRs) (Formerly known as ‘Fixed Focus & Grow’ and before that ‘Drains-Up’ Events) which was finalised by the Royal Mail Group SHE Team this week.
The event will take place on Tuesday 18 October 2016 at the Phoenix Centre, Mount Pleasant, London. The final Agenda is attached.
The event usually takes place during European Health and Safety Week but it was not possible to secure the venue and European Health and Safety Week 2016 falls a week later than previous years and is Monday 24 – Sunday 30 October 2016 – and the theme is “Healthy Workplaces For All Ages!”
This national joint event involves both the Royal Mail Group Safety Health and Environment Team members and both CWU and Unite/CMA Area Health and Safety Reps attending where various updates and presentations will be given and there will be an opportunity during the event for ASRs to raise any issues, complaints or questions they wish raise with the RMG SHE ‘top team’ or to put forward suggestions or ideas on a “nothing ruled out” open basis.
The arrangements and Agenda have been finalised today with RMG Organisers along with details of the annual Allan St. John Holt Memorial Health and Safety Lecture which will again follow the National Joint RMG SHE/Unions ASRs Fixed Health & Safety Event.
The Allan St. John Holt Memorial Lecture will commence at 4pm and the guest speaker this year is Paul Farmer CBE the Chief Executive Officer of ‘MIND’ the Mental Health Charity. Those wishing to attend the lecture should apply directly by contacting Nick Burns Tel: 07801091380 Email: nicholas.burns@royalmail.com
Applications to attend will, as in past years, be submitted en-bloc by the CWU Regional Health and Safety Forum Secretaries (or alternatively the Chair or Assistant Secretary on his/her behalf) by completing the attached form and returning it to the Health, Safety & Environment Department by Monday 10th October 2016 at the latest in order that places can be allocated. There will be a limit on places available due to the Venue capacity but as in past years, efforts will be made to accommodate all ASRs applying to attend, so please return the form as soon as possible.
Completed application forms should be returned to: Louise Pietrzykowska (lpietrzykowska@cwu.org) or Laura Hance (lhance@cwu.org) in the Health, Safety & Environment Department.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB576/16

Attachment 2 – SHE Agenda

Attachment 3 – ASR Application Form

MR TIM O’REILLY – CAPITAL BRANCH OFFICER
I am sorry to have to advise branches that Mr Tim O’Reilly a long-standing Branch Officer in the CWU Capital Branch has recently passed away.
Tim O’Reilly joined the CWU in 1987 and was a branch officer for almost 25 years before his retirement in October 2015. Throughout his career with the NCU and CWU he was an Assistant Secretary in the West End Branch and then following a merger with other branches in London became an officer of the new Capital Branch. During the 1990’s he was a delegate and representative on the London-wide Building Services Co-ordinating Committee.
Tim became more involved in representing members personally on case work – a job he very much enjoyed. During this time he also completed a CWU sponsored degree in Employment Law and the Branch and London benefitted very much from the wide knowledge he obtained during his studies.
He also became the Branch Education officer and ULR lead. He successfully established a branch and union sponsored training centre in central London where members could benefit from externally run education courses.
The Capital Branch has advised us of the funeral details as follows:-
DATE: Tuesday 4th October 2016

TIME: 1.45pm

LOCATION: Streatham Vale Cemetery

ADDRESS: Rowan Road, Streatham Vale, London, SW16 5JG

(Closest stations are: Streatham Common, then 60 or 118 bus – Mitcham Eastfields, then either buses 152 or 463)
Tim O’Reilly showed great dedication to his members over many years and we know that he will be missed by many friends and colleagues in the union. At this very sad time, our thoughts are with his close family and his dear partner Evelyn. I will on behalf of the CWU convey our deepest sympathy and condolences to them.
If you have any enquiries in relation to this LTB, these should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS1.1/LTB 575/16.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 575/16 – MR TIM O’REILLY – CAPITAL BRANCH OFFICER