REPORTING ON CWU EU REFERENDUM EXPENDITURE 
Earlier this year the CWU registered with the Electoral Commission as a Campaigner ‘to Remain’ in the EU Referendum. This was a legal requirement for any organisation campaigning to remain or leave the EU who intended to spend in excess of £10,000 on their campaigns. 
Following CWU Conference, we issued LTB324/16 which explained the activities planned by the CWU and to make branches aware of the legal requirements with which the union had to comply. We stated that any spending by the CWU in campaigning on the EU Referendum would need to be reported by the union centrally to the Electoral Commission. 
We asked branches to contact us in advance of any campaign activities that they wished to undertake, to ensure compliance with the legal restrictions. 
The Union is now required to report to the Electoral Commission, so we would therefore be grateful if branches could forward to the General Secretary’s office details of any branch monies spent on the CWU EU Referendum Campaign. This should include a breakdown of each amount and the exact item (i.e. leaflets, badges, postage etc). 
This information should be submitted to gsoffice@cwu.org by 7th September 2016. 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – LTB 502/16: Reporting on CWU EU Referendum Expenditure

CWU Equality Conferences 2016
The CWU Equality Conferences will be held this year at the Mercure Leicester The Grand Hotel, Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6ES on the following dates:
Black Workers Conference – Tuesday 11th October 2016

Disability Conference – Wednesday 12th October 2016

Women’s Conference – Tuesday 8th November 2016

LGBT Conference – Wednesday 9th November 2016

 
Social Event
All those attending the conferences will be invited to a social event and further details will be circulated to delegates nearer the time.
Accommodation
The hotel are holding a number of rooms on a “first come, first serve” basis. The rates are as follows:
Single occupancy charged @ £105, bed and breakfast
This is pre-payable at the time of booking and is non-refundable, non-transferable. Bookings can be made by calling reservations on 0844 815 9012 choosing option 3 “events” and quoting the following references:
 
Black Workers Conference/Disability Conference – Ref ACCO101016
Women’s Conference/LGBT Conference – Ref ACCO071116
 
Crèche
If anyone requires a crèche, could you please email conferences@cwu.org as quickly as possible with details and for what conference in order that arrangements can be made.
Prayer Room
Please email conferences@cwu.org as soon as possible if a delegate requires a prayer room so that arrangements can be made for a quiet room to be made available. Please state the conference that the facility will be required.
Signer Requests
If anyone needs a signer please email conferences@cwu.org as soon as possible stating the conference the delegate will be attending.
Further information will be issued regarding online registration in due course.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven in the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department by email to conferences@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
 
 
A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 501/16 – CWU Equality Conferences 2016

CWU Disability Conference – Wednesday 12th October 2016
The CWU Disability Conference will be held on Wednesday 12th October 2016 at the Mercure Leicester, The Grand Hotel, Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6ES
Creche Facilities/Prayer Rooms/Seating
In order that we can cater for any delegate(s) with special needs such as seating, it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Tuesday 22nd September 2016.
Crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise the SDGS Department in writing, by return, but no later than Tuesday 22nd September 2016 if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children, together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities to those delegates who have not informed us in advance.
Motions
Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the template attached. Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.
The Disability Advisory Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the conference standing in their name.
Each Regional Equality Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Disability Conference.
Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 22nd September 2016. All sections of the form must be completed.
Branches and the Advisory Committee are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.
As with previous Equality Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be two sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.
Branches will be aware that with the carriage of Composite Rule Amendment 126 at General Conference 2013, the Disability Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit two motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference and one motion to the Postal Group and Telecoms Industry Conferences. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be considered for General Conference they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.
As with previous Equality Conferences, the motions for submission to the General Conference, Postal Group and Telecoms Industry agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the motions will be held at the Conference and further information will be contained within the conference standing orders.
Please note that all correspondence must be sent to conferences@cwu.org and no other personal email address.
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
 
 
A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 500/16 – CWU Disability Conference – Wednesday 12th October 2016

Guidance Notes – Disability Conference

Motion Form – Disability Conference

BAME OFFICERS SEMINAR – CANCELLATION

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to inform branches that the BAME Officers Seminar which was scheduled to take place on Monday, 5th September 2016, has now been cancelled.

There has been a very low level of interest expressed, therefore the seminar will no longer be held.

If you have any questions in relation to this LTB please contact the department.
Yours Sincerely,
LINDA ROY
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 498/16 – BAME OFFICERS SEMINAR – CANCELLATION

LAST CALL – FOR THE LEVEL 3 AWARD IN EDUCATION & TRAINING FOR ULRS
Dear Colleagues,
Please note that the deadline for applications has now been extended to Thursday 25 August 2016.
Further to LTB 453/16 and 481/16 Branches are reminded that there are places still available for the Level 3 award in Education & Training for ULRs.
The CWU will be running two Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) courses for CWU ULRs which have been arranged by the Education and Training Department with external funding. (This is the replacement for the PTLLS course that many ULRs will have done in the past). The courses will be a mixture of taught and distance learning and will be delivered via Ruskin College in Oxford. There are no qualifications required apart from being a trained ULR.
The first course will be for those who are already at a Level 3 study stage and a second course has been arranged for students who will receive additional training to prepare them for this level of study. In particular this will look at providing more experience with writing essays, referencing etc. to ensure that ULRs have the best opportunity to complete the course. We should stress that the bridging course has been developed to help because of previous experiences of distance learning which did not always provide enough support and led to ULRs sometimes not completing the programme.
The dates for the courses are as follows and the student would need to commit to attend all sessions.
• Level 3 AET Group 1 – Those who will comfortably work at L3
29 – 30 September 20’16 – 2 days residential at Ruskin College

3 – 4 November 2016 – 2 days residential at Ruskin

18 January 2017 1 day Portfolio completion at Ruskin

All interspersed with distance learning.
• Level 3 AET Group 2 – those who will receive pre-course training in study and research skills.
12 – 16 September 2016 – 5 day Bridging Course

22 – 23 November 2016 – 2 days residential at Ruskin College

26 – 27 January 2017 – 2 days Residential at Ruskin College

23 March 2017 -1 day Portfolio Completion at Ruskin College

All interspersed with distance learning
Despite the fact that we have negotiated a good rate for the course tuition and accommodation this will involve a lot of financial and personal commitment by the Union along with the ULRs, their Branch and their employer however it will provide our ULRs with a very valuable qualification for themselves and the CWU.
The application process will entail submitting either an essay, report or project. This can be one that the ULR has done previously or one specifically for the purposes of the application. The ULR should also outline how they would plan to use the Level 3 qualification in their Branch and Region to assist learning for members and activists.
Please return this completed application and monitoring form to the Education and Training Department by Thursday 25 August 2016. It can be emailed to learn@cwu.org or posted to AET Application, Education and Training, CWU, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX

And the application should also be signed off by the Branch Secretary to show the Branch’s support.
Funding

The course and overnight accommodation at Ruskin will be funded by the Education and Training Department via funding from the Union Learning Fund. Travel as well as lunch and evening meals will need to be paid for by the ULR’s Branch.

Release

Release for this course is covered under the ACAS guidelines for Union Learning Reps and attracts paid release.
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Neil Coleby or Michelle Simpson by telephoning 07801 364088 (Neil) or 020 8971 7340 (Michelle) or by email to learn@cwu.org 
Yours sincerely,
 
TRISH LAVELLE

Head of Education & Training
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 479/16 – LAST CALL – FOR THE LEVEL 3 AWARD IN EDUCATION & TRAINING FOR ULRS

Application Form

Union Learning Representatives Recruitment
Dear Colleagues,
The Education & Training Department are mounting a drive to recruit more Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) – particularly in branches that do not already have one.
As well as organising vital learning opportunities for members, ULRs are performing an increasingly important role in activist training. It has been observed that where ULRs are working within their branches to plan activist training those branches are generally training more new reps, this in turn aids with succession planning and building healthy, active and sustainable branch structures.
Furthermore, as the government’s savage cuts to FE funding have forced us to restructure our courses – and as we embrace the flexibility that e-learning can offer, especially for those with caring responsibilities, we increasingly need ULRs on the ground to organise access to computers and support those who are new to online learning.
All of this means there has never been a more important time for branches to ensure they have a ULR. There is a ULR course running at Alvescot Lodge week commencing the 19th September 2016 and we are also able to organise training locally or regionally if there are enough students to make it viable.
Please contact the Education & Training Department via email at learn@cwu.org for more information. Alternatively you can find out more about the ULR role via Communique magazine which is archived on the CWU website here http://www.cwu.org/education/communiqu%C3%A9-magazine/or in the ULR section of the website here http://www.cwu.org/education/union-learning-representatives/ or alternatively you can sign up to the ULR Essentials area of Left Click.
Yours sincerely,
 
Trish Lavelle

Head of Education & Training
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 497/16 – Union Learning Representatives Recruitment

POST OFFICE: INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT RESULT-THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY AND PENSIONS
Dear Colleagues
 
83% Vote Yes to take strike action
 
Ballot Result
Yes Votes
1,459
83.2%
No Votes
295
16.8%
Spoilt papers
 
3
Turnout
 
50.3%
Associated with this LTB is a copy of the ballot result from Electoral Reform Services
 
We are pleased that our members working in the Post Office have returned a good Yes vote to take strike action over THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY AND PENSIONS. Clearly many members are feeling extremely vulnerable in respect of job security and are dismayed by the scale of the detriment linked to the proposed closure of the DB scheme.
This ballot result is being sent direct to all of our members via a home mailing. However Branches are still encouraged to bring the ballot result to the attention of all our members directly in the workplace. Branches are advised that the statutory 28 days for the life of the ballot expires on Thursday 15th September, therefore in the absence of an agreed way forward strike action will need to be taken by this date.
We wish to thank all Representatives, Branches, Area & Territorial Representatives and Postal Executive members for their efforts in arranging and attending members’ meetings in order to ensure that our members were aware of the reasons for voting Yes for strike action.
Our objective going forward is to reach a fair and reasonable agreement therefore we will be writing to Paula Vennells, Chief Executive, urging her to authorise a negotiating team led by a senior Director to enter into talks as a priority . It is essential the Post Office provides formal confirmation that they are prepared to enter into meaningful negotiations.
 
Finally attached to this LTB is a copy of the Union’s press release regarding the ballot result.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Andy Furey Terry Pullinger Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal) General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 494/16 – POST OFFICE: INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT RESULT-THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE, JOB SECURITY AND PENSIONS

Attachment 1 to LTB 494-16 G2551_THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE

Attachment 2 to LTB 494-16 Post Office press release 19th August

JOINT STATEMENT (ADDENDUM) BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE CUSTOMER PRESENTATION STRATEGY – DEPLOYMENT OF OUTWARD VIRTUAL MAIL PIECE TAGGING (VMT) TO MAIL CENTRES WITH TOP2000 
Dear Colleagues,
 
Branches and representatives will be aware that upgrade activity to the TOP2000 (FSM) estate has been taking place. 
Following trial activity two elements in relation to the activity have already been endorsed by the Postal Executive and have now been deployed. These were Dynamic Tray Allocation (DTA) and Multi Mode Feeder (MMF) and were communicated to Branches via LTB 050/15 and LTB 415/15 respectively. 
For the information of Branches the DTA upgrade has improved the efficiency of the TOP2000, without increasing the amount of machinable traffic. The MMF upgrade has increased the number of machinable items by around 30% by enabling the processing of plastic wrapped items on the TOP2000. 
In addition to the above trial activity for a software upgrade in regard to Virtual Mail Piece Tagging (VMT) has also been taking place. The VMT software upgrade will not further increase the number of machinable items but allows improved automation of unwrapped and plastic wrapped addressed items and responds to customer concerns that printed barcodes on self-adhesive labels obscures their artwork and important information, i.e. promotional offers, contact details etc. 
A separate Joint Statement was agreed in April 2016 to enable the deployment of the VMT in relation to the Inward operation (LTB 202/16 refers). That Joint Statement also outlined that trial activity was to take place in relation to the Outward operation, which if successful was to be agreed as an Addendum. 
The introduction of VMT will allow for a digital image of the customer’s item to be captured and used in the automation process, rather than the adhesive labels that are currently applied. 
The Outward VMT upgrade to the TOP2000 enables the efficient and consistent tagging and processing of Outward mail from one Mail Centre to another where both are equipped with a TOP2000 large letter machine*. This enables VMT to be used for all types of mail processed by any TOP2000 at any time and on any work plan, sorted into trays. 
*Where mail leaves a Mail Centre without a TOP2000 and arrives at a TOP2000 equipped Mail Centre, VMT will process that mail as new Inward mail, as is the case currently but using the established Inward VMT process to complete sortation”. 
The trial activity in relation to the Outward operation has now concluded and attached for the information of Branches and representatives is a Joint Statement that has been agreed to enable deployment of the software upgrade. In line with the previous Joint Statement for the Inward deployment the attached provides for the full involvement of the CWU and Annexes which outline the schedule of works and arrangements for any diversions that may be required while the upgrade activity takes place. 
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the relevant Officer: 
Industrial Issues: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 712.05
Engineering Issues: Ray Ellis, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: djeffery@cwu.org 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
Davie Robertson Ray Ellis  
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB: 493/16 – JOINT STATEMENT (ADDENDUM) BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU

Attachment 1 – JS Deployment of Outword Virtual Mail Piece Tagging to Mail Centres with Top2000

Health and Safety Update Conference 2016 – A One-day Conference on Tuesday 4 October 2016, 9.30am to 3.30pm – Organised by The Institute of Employment Rights(IER) at the Conference Room, Jack Jones House, Unite the Union, N.W. Regional Office, 1 Islington, Liverpool L3 8EG: 
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
The Health, Safety & Environment Department has been notified of two one-day Health and Safety Conferences being organised by the IER which we are pleased to support and bring to the attention of Branches, Health and Safety Reps and Regional Health and Safety Forums.
Two separate LTBs are being issued on the London and Liverpool events.
About the conference 

Since the coming to power of the Conservative led Coalition government in 2010 the myths that workplace health and safety is only about red tape and is a barrier to productivity have been officially promulgated. Pro-business newspapers have in turn reinforced these messages in order to manufacture consent for an agenda involving the downgrading of health and safety regulation, with all that this means for worker protection and well-being. Concrete actions have also been taken to support this deregulatory and anti-worker agenda. HSE resources have been cut, workplace inspections slashed across much of the economy, important regulatory provisions have been repealed, and worker access to compensation for employer generated health and safety harms reduced. This is despite the unacceptable levels of work-related harm that continues to be experienced by workers as they go about the task of earning a living. It is also despite the continuing expansion of more precarious and insecure forms of employment which means that growing numbers of workers are working in contexts where risks to their health and safety are likely to be poorly managed. At this conference expert speakers from trade unions, academia and the legal profession provide an update on these problematic developments while also highlighting what can be done to reverse their harmful effects. More specifically, those attending will hear contributions covering such issues as the nature of HSE’s new strategy for workplace health and safety, how post-2010 governments have acted to reduce workplace inspections, worker experiences of pursuing claims for compensation, recent legislative changes, how other European countries approach the issue of health and safety inspection as well as workplace inspection, and developments in the construction industry relating to worker engagement and mental health.
Programme (Liverpool)

09:30 Registration 

09:50 Welcome from the Chair Carolyn Jones, Director IER 

10:00 The HSE & Trade Unions Robert Baughan, Unison 

10:30 H&S, challenges and opportunities in the workplace Susan Murray, Unite 

11:00 Questions and discussion 

11:15 Break 

11:30 Small Claims Big Impact Phillip Liptrot, Thompsons Solicitors 

12:00 Will there be any health, safety or justice at work by 2020? Hilda Palmer, Hazards 

12:30 Q&A 

12:45 LUNCH 

13:45 Labour inspection and OSH in Europe and UK Professor David Walters, Cardiff University 

14:15 Making ‘Better Regulation’: the assault on health and safety protection Steve Tombs, Open University 

14:45 Worker Engagement, Health and Mental Health in Construction Peter Wilson, UCATT 

15:15 Questions and discussion 

15:30 Close
Cost

£75 for IER Subscribers (CWU is an IER Subscriber). £90 Trade Unions and £220 Commercial Organisations. Those paying by invoice will pay £80/£100/£240 respectively. Payment can be made by cheque, credit card or PayPal.
Further Information From:

James Harrison

National Coordinator

Institute of Employment Rights

4th Floor Jack Jones House

1 Islington

Liverpool L3 8EG

Tel: 0151 207 5265

Email: office@ier.org.uk

Flyer/Application Form

See attached Official Flyer/Application Form.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB491 IER Health and Safety Update Conference 2016 – Liverpool.docx

Attachment 2 – IER HS Update Conference 04.10.16 Liverpool Flyer.pdf