How Safe Is Your Home?

Today more than twice as many people die in trips and falls at home than in car crashes according to a recent RoSPA charity report. With the summer months upon us, spring cleaners and DIY enthusiasts set about jobs around the home and garden, clearing and climbing can increase the risk of home injuries. More accidents happen in the home than anywhere else and as thousands of people prepare to clear out the old and bring in the new, simple chores can lead to falls, injuries and poisonings and as a result people not able to work, some with long term consequences.
The Facts:
5,000 people die in accidents at home every year.

Deaths at home have risen by 50% over the last 25 years.

The biggest killer at home is falls. The next largest categories are poisoning and obstruction of the airway.

2.7 million people in the UK are injured in a home accident and attend Accident and Emergency every year and 250,000 of those are injured doing DIY, maintenance or gardening at home.

76,000 children under the age of 14 are admitted to hospital for treatment following accidents in and around the home every year of which over 40% are under 5 years of age.

7,000 people were admitted to hospital after accidents involving a fall on or off a ladder, while nearly 4,000 were admitted following accidents involving furniture, according to latest annual NHS figures.

Today homes are far more dangerous than the roads and twice as many people die in trips and falls than in car crashes.

How safe is your home?
Everyone thinks that they are safe at home but they are not. The home is where the most accidents occur and when they do it happens very quickly. It only takes a blink of an eye to slip down the stairs or start a fire by leaving an unattended pan in the kitchen or flammable items near a heat source. Every year in the UK there are more than 2.7 million accidents in the home where people turn up to Accident and Emergency departments for treatment.
What could kill or injure you?
Reading these figures might make you think about your own home safety. By being aware of the main areas where accidents can happen, you can do everything possible to avoid them. Check out the list below and ask yourself, how many of these things are you doing to stay safe?
Staying Safe at Home:
Lighting Your Home for Safety

• A well-lit home is a safer home. Light not only keeps burglars away, but it can help prevent trips and falls that can cause serious injury. 

• Illuminate your work – kitchen worktops, writing desks, workbenches, garage, basement and utility room. 

• Stairways – all stairs, landings, and entries, inside and out, should be well lit. Install a light switch at the top and bottom of each indoor staircase.

• Outside – light your front door and patio or front step.

• Light switches – Make sure everyone can reach and turn them on and off easily.

• Don’t try to do your own electrical work – get a professional.
Avoiding Falls

• Secure down rugs and carpets.

• Safety-Proof Stairs – stairs inside and out should have good handrails.

• Tidy up clutter from the stairs and walkways. 

• For young children install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

• Keep halls and stairs well lit.

• Use a mat in slippery areas, e.g., shower.

• Don’t climb on chairs, use a step ladder and wear sensible shoes.
Make Windows Safe

• Many young children as well as adults are killed and injured in falls from upstairs windows. Get experts with proper access equipment to undertake maintenance, cleaning and repairs. 

• Install childproof window locks with quick-release mechanisms (in case of fire) on upper floor windows. 

• Keep furniture away from windows, especially in children’s room, and always watch children around windows.
Electrical Safety

• Don’t use appliances with a worn or damaged flex.

• Get appliances checked regularly.

• Never overload an electrical socket.

• Use a Residual Current Device (RCD) for the whole house.

• Don’t try to do your own electrical work – get a professional.
Safety with Medication and Cleaners

• Put medicines in lockable cabinets away from children.

• Keep medicines and cleaners in their original containers, clearly labelled.

• Put chemicals used for cleaning, the garden or DIY out of reach.
Fire Safety

• Fit and check smoke alarms on each floor.

• Service gas appliances annually.

• Never leave a pan unattended in the kitchen. Use an electric deep fat fryer.
Heating and Cooking

• Check boiler and gas appliances – beware of second-hand bargains.

• Be aware when cooking – pan handles, hot water.

• Make sure sharp knives are out of reach.
Gas Safety – Carbon Monoxide

• Avoid the risk of carbon monoxide gas poisoning! – a gas that you can’t see, smell or taste – you might not know it’s there but it’s released when faulty appliances start leaking. 

• To keep your home safe, you need to get your gas appliances checked once a year and install an easy to fit, wireless, carbon monoxide alarm with a long-life guaranteed battery. 

• Low exposure to the gas can cause long-term health damage, and high levels of exposure can be fatal. 

• Every year, around 50 people die in the UK from carbon monoxide poisoning and many more fall sick.
DlY and Garden Safety

• Don’t tackle jobs unless you have the knowledge and ability.

• Wear appropriate clothing.

• Stop and disconnect all electrical appliances before working on them.

• Use a Residual Current Device (RCD).

• Working at height with ladders are jobs best left to professional experts.
Yours sincerely

  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
· Attachment 1 – 16LTB274 How Safe Is Your Home.docx

CWU Youth – Introductory Letter to New Young Members 
Dear Colleagues, 
A couple of years ago the Youth Committee made the decision to try and contact new young members as and when they first join the union to introduce them to the youth structure of the union. This was conveyed to branches at the time, but it has become apparent that some branches – possibly due to the passage of time and personnel changes – were unaware of this practice. 
This LTB is to therefore bring branches up to speed on this and give you sight of the latest correspondence that is used to make contact with the new younger members. A copy of this is attached for your information. 
You will see that it is in an interactive format that enables the recipient to easily connect with the union via a number of headings and links and will hopefully encourage them to become more involved in the union in some way. 
If branches have any queries or concerns please do get in touch with me via my office at CWU headquarters. 
Yours sincerely,
 
Simon Sapper

National Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 269/16 – CWU Youth – Introductory Letter to New Young Members

New Joiners Letter Template

Future of Romec: Joint Statement

Dear Colleagues

Following confirmation that Royal Mail acquired ENGIE’s stake in Romec on 31st March, the attached joint statement outlining the agreed way forward in Romec has been produced and is being circulated to Romec members today.

In addition, it has been agreed that the current barriers on transfer between Romec and Royal Mail will be removed. From 1st April 2016 any employee of Romec taking up a role within RMG will retain continuity of service (and the same will apply for any Royal Mail employee transferring into Romec). This will mean that Romec members of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) will be able to remain members of the scheme following transfer.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB regarding Romec Engineers should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 335.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB regarding Romec Cleaners should be addressed to the Outdoor Department, quoting reference 120.

Yours sincerely,

Ray Ellis Bob Gibson

Assistant Secretary

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE FUTURE BY ROYAL MAIL, ROMEC, UNITE & CWU

Following the ratification by Unite and CWU members in Romec of the Agreement on the Future Provision of Facilities Management Services to Royal Mail, we are pleased to say thaton 31 March 2016 Royal MailGroup acquired the 49 per cent of facilities manager Romec Limited (Romec) that it does not already own from ENGIE (formerly Cofely Workplace Limited). This follows a strategic review into the future of the joint venture (JV).Under the terms of the transaction,Romec is now a fully owned company within Royal Mail Group. This will allow the complex governance arrangements of Romec to be simplified, provide for a better fit with Royal Mail’s own priorities and opportunities to look afresh at how certain activities are conducted in order to ensure that they are as efficient as possible. The transaction means that the provisions of theagreement will now come into effect.

The joint working group that has been meeting since early 2015 to discuss the future ownership of Romec will continue in being with a new remit to oversee the implementation of the agreement. The same principles of cooperation and engagement that led to a successful outcome to the earlier talks will apply. It will be called the Forward Together Group and will continue to have the advice and support of Peter Thompson as an external member. We will provide updates of outputs from the group from time to time. Normal arrangements for consultation and negotiation within Romec over day to day matters will continue as usual.

One of the priorities for the Forward Together Group is to look at the issues and areas of Romec identified in the agreement for further review, and these reviews are commencing. They cover the non -core areas of Romec, step change improvements in engineering efficiencyand also new approaches to industrial and employee relations. The intention of the reviews is to shape the development of Romec in a way that takes full account of input from the unions about the future before decisions are made that impact on Romec employees.

As always, there will be some changes going forward, but the priority will be to ensure that these are managed in a way that takes full account of input from trades union partners and which manages the people impact of change as fairly as possible. In the meantime the day to day management of Romec under Keith Gawthorn as MD remains unchanged.

The support of everyone in Romec over the difficult period of uncertainty about the future of the company is well understood and appreciated. This is now a new chapter in Romec’s history and we jointly intend to help shape it together, with your continued support.

21 April 2016

 

National Hazards Conference 2016 – Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July 2016, at Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire: “Building Resistance to Support Safety Reps”
To: All CWU Branches 

        All CWU Regional H&S Forums

        All CWU Safety Reps
Dear Colleagues,
The 27th National Hazards Conference takes place at Keele University, from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July 2016 and the CWU is once again pleased to be supporting and sponsoring this unique and popular event for Trade Union Safety Representatives.
Hazards Conference is the UK’s biggest and best educational and organising event for trade union safety reps and activists. Consisting of a mixture of plenary sessions, meetings and a comprehensive workshop programme. It gives delegates the opportunity to exchange experience and information with, and learn from, safety reps and activists from other unions, sectors and jobs across the UK. 

Tory government attacks Trade Unions’ capacity to protect members and defend our hard-won health and safety standards continue with the (anti) Trade Union Bill, more cuts to HSE/LA enforcement and regulation, cuts to public services, privatisation and job losses. This leads to increased working hours, and demands, stress and worsening health and safety. Employers are using the crisis to intensify work, increase monitoring and job insecurity and manage by stress. They undermine collective preventative measures and union organisation by using individual ’well-being champions’ and resilience training.   

In March, the HSE launched its new 5-year “Help GB Work Well” Strategy. The CWU was actively involved in the consultation, voicing the Union’s concerns and key issues both at the Stakeholders consultation meetings and in written submissions calling for a focus on key union safety concerns, stronger enforcement and use of new court penalties for safety offences but none of these points were picked up and the Union continues to have very serious concerns over the fact that the Strategy lacks a pro-active approach and is backed by a HSE that has had its teeth pulled by the anti-health and safety Tory government, through several rounds of severe budget cuts plus direct interference in its Field Force Inspection and Enforcement policies with diktats to take a ‘softly, softly’ approach. The Strategy offers no enforcement, no ambitious campaigns to tackle stress, MSDs, cancer, or other work factors that are making workers ill and killing people.
We know we cannot rely on the law, on employers or enforcers but must instead build on our own organisation and strength. The Hazards 2016 Conference will examine the implications of the changes and discuss how we can organise better at all levels. How can we get a more radical approach that puts decent jobs with good health and safety at the centre of decent lives for all, on the political agenda? Hazards Conference will look at how we can educate, organise and agitate inside and outside the workplace, locally, regionally and nationally to support union safety reps and workers to resist employers’ attacks on our lives and health. 

 

The booking form is up on Hazards Campaign website now: http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/?page_id=139
Also on Hazards Campaign website http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/ sign up for updates on right hand side.
Hazards 2016 Workshops, Seminars & Meetings:
This year the organisers are changing the format a little to provide a more coherent, comprehensive and intensive programme for safety reps. The opening plenary session with keynote speakers is on Friday evening and the closing plenary is on Sunday morning. There is no Saturday plenary. Saturday is a day for workshops, seminars and meetings ending with Fringe Meetings. The final plenary on Sunday will pull it all together and send Safety Reps off with more tools in the kit. This year the workshops, seminars and meetings are themed to provide a concentrated examination of all the key issues. Read the form carefully before you fill it in. Contact the organisers if you need help or further information.
There are three Themes to choose from with 5 workshops in each Theme. Two weeks before Hazards conference begins, the organisers will send delegates a list of Fringe Meeting topics to select from with final joining instructions, and delegates can then sign up for the Fringe Meetings at registration. Delegates will be posted the programme and more details to supplement the brief outline on the attached registration form and at: http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk
Below are the outline details of the Conference keynote and workshop sessions:-
Hazards Conference Keynote Meetings
1. Improving Support for Safety Reps
Identifying weaknesses in current support systems for safety reps, in workplaces and unions. What local networks exist, what works best to build resistance and active support networks for action?
2. Karoshi/Karojisatu – Death/Suicide due to work
The most extreme response to poor work conditions is being worked to death (Karoshi) or driven to suicide by excessive workloads/hours, stress, bullying (Karojisatsu). How do we establish the extent of this and deal with it?
3. UK and global threats to health & safety organisation
Discussion of threats to H&S in the UK, in Europe and globally. Discussing how to develop appropriate action at different levels from workplace to national/global campaigns to protect and improve our H&S.
Hazards Conference Workshops (Select two plus one reserve from your chosen theme)
Theme 1 Workplace organisation
01 Reps’ functions and employers’ duties

Employers try to restrict statutory functions of safety reps, fail to observe their duties to permit time-off, provide facilities & other assistance to enable safety reps’ to function effectively. What must they do, how do we insist they do it?
02 Safety committees: what do we need?
What sort of safety committees do we need to meet our real needs & not allow employers to marginalise H&S issues into a toothless body? Should H&S be part of the main bargaining agenda? What are the key issues for unions?
03 Recruiting safety reps and improving workplace health & safety organisation
Examination of methods we can use to revitalise our branch/workplace organisation to recruit more safety reps.
04 Role of the enforcer
Government restrictions on enforcement have limited what inspectors can do. There are fewer HSE and local authority staff, fewer proactive inspections. What can they still do & how do we get help from inspectors when we need it?
05 Inspections
The workshop focuses on preparing for regular workplace inspections; explains the resources and tools you need, plus checklist development; recording & reporting the results of the inspection and follow-up action.
Seminar 1: Sharing experiences of workplace organisation and good practice
How well do we use statutory functions/employers’ duties in SRSC Regs to organise and make work safe? Learning from best practice and developing new health and safety organising ideas.
Theme 2 Dealing with risks
06 Identifying Hazards/Risk, Hierarchy of control
Risk assessment is the statutory foundation for employer working practices, but many still do poorly. We explain employer’s duties, how to carry out risk assessment, the hierarchy of control and failures. How do we ensure safety reps play an effective role?
07 Identifying and dealing with Stress risk factors
HSE stress management standards (SMS) and toolkit form the basis for risk assessment. This is a critical view of the SMS, how should they be used by employers and reps; how effective controls can be put in place; what reps should do when employers fail to act.
08 Fire risk assessments
Fire service enforcers are tough on employer failures to assess fire risks. What are the standards employers must meet? What guidance is available? How can we get employers to improve their performance to ensure safety at work?
09 Finding out what harms us
This workshop will look at the key steps for finding out what harms us and give you the tools to do this. For example, surveys, body mapping, questionnaires, assessing injury/absence figures.
10 Investigating incidents and injuries
Good investigation ensures problems are identified and further harm is prevented. This workshop will look at the key steps for incident investigation, and give you the tools you need to undertake this function effectively.
Seminar 2: Sharing experiences of making the case for dealing with what harms us
Sharing experience on how we make good case for tackling the hazards and risks they present to our health & safety, building better TU organisation. What works, what is best practice?
Theme 3 Employers offensive/workplace tyranny
11 Management by stress
The managerial offensive expands to push workers to the limit in all kinds of ways across all sectors. We will identify the different elements, map the interactions, & the effects on workers’ health.
12 Punitive sickness absence management
Absence management procedures should support sick & injured workers not penalise them. We need good recovery and rehabilitation procedures. Is the ’ Fit for Work’ service good for us?
13 Resisting resilience and individual wellbeing schemes
Resilience and, individual wellbeing, counselling & other schemes divert attention from collective preventative action. How do we re-focus on prevention & ensure reps are not diverted?
14 Behavioural Safety
STOP programme, Golden Rules and ‘Procedure for Corrective Actions, is all management speak for ‘blame the worker’. This Behavioural Strategy (BS) is a real threat to our survival. How do we recognise and resist it?
15 Excessive workloads
UK workers work the longest hours in Europe, & workload levels continue to increase. How can safety reps use stress standards & other tools, to monitor & control risks & unhealthy workloads? Will the enforcers help?
Seminar 3: Sharing experiences of prioritising action against employers offensive
Disentangling the elements of employers’ offensive, discussing how we prioritise the main threats and share experiences of tackling them using health & safety organisation.
How to apply for Hazards 2016
See attached Registration Form. The closing date for applications is Friday 8th July 2016
Choose a Theme, then chose 2 workshops plus a reserve workshop within that Theme. You will be automatically allocated to the relevant Seminar and Theme Meeting. Arrange your delegate fee, complete the registration form, and send it to Hazards together with your cheque payable to Hazards 2016
Notification
Hazards will acknowledge your application within a few days of receiving it. If applicants don’t hear from the organisers within two weeks of sending in their form, contact the organisers (contact details below).
Conference timings and registration
Hazards opening plenary starts at 7.30 pm on Friday 29th July, and conference ends at 12.30pm on Sunday 31st July, followed by packed lunch. Delegate registration is from 1pm – 9pm on Friday 29th July, and between 7.30 – 9.00 on Saturday morning, 30th July.
For more information, clarification or queries, contact:-
Hazards 2015 

c/o Greater Manchester Hazards Centre 

Windrush Millennium Centre 

70 Alexandra Road

Manchester M16 7WD 

Telephone: 0161 636 7557 

Fax: 0161 636 7556 

email: hazconf@gmhazards.org.uk
So there’s a lot to find out, discuss and debate, and a lot to do to defend health and safety and safe workplaces and our union organisation. Attend the Hazards Conference to hear and learn more about the problems we face and what needs to be done.
Full details are contained in the attached pdf Conference registration form. Hard Copies will be distributed to Branches and Regional Health and Safety Forums.

 

For more conference event information about the programme visit the 2016 Hazards Conference pages on the Hazards Campaign website at:
http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk
For clarification or queries, contact Hazards at: telephone 0161 636 7557/7558 

or e-mail: hazconf@gmhazards.org.uk
Yours sincerely

  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
· Attachment 1 – 16LTB261 National Hazards Conference 2016.docx
· Attachment 2 – Hazards Conference Booking Form 2016.pdf

DWP Appoints Martin Temple as the New Chair of HSE:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Further to LTB 246/16, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed Martin Temple as Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Board, replacing Judith Hackitt as the outgoing Chair. In a bizarre game of ‘musical chairs’ Hackitt takes over Temple’s old job, replacing him as Chair of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation on 4 April. ‘EEF, the Manufacturers Organisation’ was formerly the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF) which rebranded itself in 2003.
Martin Temple CBE
Martin Temple CBE, served over 17 years as Director General and then Chairman of the EEF. He’s served on a number of boards in the public and charity sector before joining EEF, he held senior roles in the UK Steel industry as well as being Chairman of the 600 Group, the last surviving British-owned machine tool company. He is currently: Chairman of the Design Council, a non-executive director of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Council member of the University of Warwick and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Warwick Business School. He has previously worked with HSE, having led an independent triennial review of the Health and Safety Executive in 2014. Martin Temple will take up the HSE role from 1 May 2016. A decision on the new board members is expected shortly.
Dame Judith Hackitt
Judith Hackitt stepped down at the end of March, after 8 years at the HSE and began her new post as Chair of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation on 4 April. George Brechin (former chief executive of NHS Fife) is serving as short-term interim chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following Judith Hackitt’s departure until Martin Temple takes up the post at the beginning of May. Judith Hackitt succeeded Sir Bill Callaghan as Chair of the HSE (HSC), on 1st October 2007, appointed by the Brown Labour Government for a period of five years and was re-appointed by the Cameron/Clegg Conservative/Lib.Dem Coalition Government in 2012 to serve for three and a half years. Both Bill Callaghan and Judith Hackitt have been guest speakers at CWU Conference Health and Safety Fringe Meetings.
HSE CEO, Chair and Board
The two key positions in the HSE are the Chief Executive and Chair. Dr Richard Judge was appointed HSE Chief Executive on 10 November 2014. He was previously Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service and has no background in Health and Safety. He is a Chartered Engineer and previously had a career in science and technology, the nuclear industry, rail and environmental sectors.
Along with the Chair and Chief Executive, HSE has seven board members: Nick Baldwin, Jonathan Baume, Isobel Garner, Martyn Thomas, Sir Paul Kenny, Frances Outram, and Sarah Pinch.
More HSE Cuts
The Tory government, through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced further cuts to the HSE’s annual budget over the next four years. The budget will be reduced by 12% by the year 2019-2020 bringing the total reduction in budget since 2009-2010 to 46%. In 2019/20, the HSE will receive £123.4 million. In 2009/10 it received £231 million.
With those sorts of figures, it seems perhaps appropriate that the government has appointed a CEO from the Insolvency Service where he dealt with bankruptcy.
HSE Role
HSE is the national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent death, injury and ill health in Great Britain’s workplaces.
It does so:
• through research

• by providing information and advice

• by promoting training

• by producing new or revised regulations and codes of practice

• by working with local authority partners 

• through inspection, investigation and law enforcement
Yours sincerely

  

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
· Attachment 1 – 16LTB262 DWP Appoints Martin Temple as the New Chair of HSE.docx

2016 CWU Conference Joint Health and Safety, Equality, and Youth Departments Fringe Meeting Report – “Time to Change”. “Mental health problems affect one in four people. It’s time to end the stigma and find solutions.”
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Over one hundred and seventy Communication Workers Union delegates and visitors packed the CWU Joint Equality, Health and Safety and CWU Youth Fringe Meeting at the CWU’s annual conference in Bournemouth on Monday 25th April 2016.
Linda Roy, CWU National Equality Officer, opened the meeting and welcomed the Guest Speaker – Sarah Restall, Employer Manager for Time to Change – a campaign to end the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health problems face in England.
Simon Sapper, CWU Youth Officer, spoke about stigma and discrimination of mental health and during his speech quoted Hubert H. Humphrey who said: “It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”
Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety and Environment Officer, praised the collaborative approach of the three departments in the CWU on the first ever joint fringe meeting on the subject of work-related stress and mental health, which for Unions and their members is now a huge issue which the Health, Safety and Environment Department has been concentrating a lot of effort pursuing the strategy set out in Motion 37 (2015). Dave said that Stress, Anxiety and Work-related Mental ill-health is a growing problem. Huge increases in suicide and a similar huge increase in numbers on anti-depressant drugs make this a big issue for Trade Unions and the CWU is at the apex of the drive for action to tackle the problems of:-
stigma

lack of support for victims

awareness raising

Dave quoted the Royal College of Psychiatrists who report that:-
Anxiety will affect 10% of the population

Bipolar Disorder will affect 1 in 100

1 in 150 girls under 15 will be anorexic

20% of the population will become depressed

OCD will affect 2%

Personality Disorder will affect 1 in 10

Schizophrenia will affect 1 in 100

1 in 4 will experience mental health problems – moving towards 1 in 3

Dave reminded the delegates to refer to LTBs 58/16, 59/16, 64/16, 66/16 and in particular 166/16.
Dave Joyce concluded that the CWU has worked with leading Mental Health Charities ‘MIND’ and ‘Re-Think Mental Health’ who together launched “Time To Change” and confirmed the CWU’s support for “Time to Change.” He said the CWU has signed the “Time To Change” Pledge Charter with both Royal Mail and with BT and CWU has supported “Time To Talk” Day.
Linda Roy introduced Sarah Restall who explained that Time to Change is run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, with funding from the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund.
Sarah Restall said we all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. It exists on a spectrum and people can move up and down from good to poor for any number of reasons. And it’s important we take care of both to promote our overall wellbeing. We can all get mental health problems too. Actually, she said, they might be more common than you think. One in four of us will be affected by a mental health problem in any given year. They are as real as a broken arm, and they can have a greater effect on everyday life – even though there isn’t a sling or plaster cast to show for it. By 2020, depression will be the second most common cause of ill health worldwide. And yet it remains one of the biggest taboos in society today.
Sarah then went on to explain that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year, 1 in 6 workers is dealing with anxiety, depression or stress and research shows that work tends to be the most stressful factor in people’s lives. 40% of employers view workers with mental health problems as a ‘significant risk’ – mental health is a concern.
Sarah went on to say that Mental health problems among workers cost the UK economy between £70–£100 billion per year, or 4.5 per cent of GDP, eight in ten employers have no mental health policy to help staff sustain good mental health and while stress has forced 1 in 5 workers to call in sick, 95% gave a different reason to their boss. Sarah said that managers want to do more to improve staff mental wellbeing but they need more training and guidance. She said that staff would feel more loyal and committed if their employer took action on staff wellbeing.
Sarah said that a major cause of stigma and prejudice is that people don’t talk about it. She said that 9 out of 10 people who experience mental health problems say they face stigma and discrimination as a result and that 60% of people said that stigma and discrimination are as damaging as or more damaging than the symptoms of their mental health problem. 35% of respondents said that stigma had made them give up on their ambitions, hopes and dreams for their life and 27% said stigma had made them want to give up on life.
Sarah said that 98 Employee Champions signed up to share their lived experiences and help support others in their workplace and said the organisation have worked with 60 Pledge Alumni to help them continue and develop their work including: Everton FC. Anglican water, Deloitte, Mars, Royal Mail, TFL, O2, L&G, Imperial College, Bank of England and Pepsi Cola.
A short Q and A session discussed the issues raised by the presentation and questions were answered by Sarah and Dave Joyce.
Linda Roy thanked everyone who attended the meeting particularly Sarah Restall for her excellent presentation.
Yours sincerely                            
                      
Dave Joyce Linda Roy

National Health, Simon Sapper National Equal

Safety & Environment Officer National Youth Officer Opportunities Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
Attachment 1 – 16LTB267 2016 CWU Conference Joint Health and Safety, Equality, and Youth Departments Fringe Meeting Report.docx

Attachment 2 – CWU H&S YOUTH EQUALITY.pptx

POST OFFICE: EMERGENCY MOTION E3 – FUTURE VISION OF THE POST OFFICE
Dear Colleagues
Branches will be aware of the many serious issues facing our members working for the Post Office. These include the following:
Pensions – Post Office proposal to close the DB pension scheme

Crown Office Network – Post Office franchising/closure programme

Crown Office pay

Major challenges facing Supply Chain (refer to LTB 247 dated 19th April)

As a consequence of the above, an Emergency Motion was submitted by the Postal Executive to our Annual Conference to establish policy to create a vision for the future of the Post Office. Coupled with this was the key objective of negotiating an “Overarching Agreement” to cover these major issues.
Emergency Motion E3 was heard at our Postal Industry conference on Tuesday 26th April. A strong and emotive debate ensued and the motion was passed unanimously. I therefore wrote to Paula Vennells, Chief Executive, on Wednesday 27th April urging her to:
“authorise your senior team to enter into exploratory talks with the shared aim of reaching a holistic agreement covering all matters raised in the Emergency Motion”.
My letter to Paula Vennells, which contains Emergency Motion E3, is attached to this LTB for your information.
I trust Ms Vennells agrees it is in the interest of both parties to immediately begin negotiations to secure an agreement which incorporates a “Vision” for growth, whilst providing a long-term future for the Post Office and its hard working loyal employees. 
Crown Office Pay
Following the close of conference, correspondence was received from John Whitefoot, Head of Industrial Relations, offering dates to meet to discuss our Crown Office members’ pay claim. Contained within this letter was confirmation that Roger Gale, Crown General Manager “…is now in a position to table a formal pay offer…”.
Accordingly, I am pleased to report the first formal pay meeting will be held next Friday 6th May. It should be noted our pay claim, on behalf of the Postal Executive, was submitted on 6th January and it has taken the Post Office some four months to offer the first meeting date. It can only be hoped the Post office is now in a position to treat seriously our very modest pay claim that in essence is simply seeking parity with our Admin & Supply Chain members’ pay agreement which was 1.9% from April 2016.
Whilst it is our clear objective to reach an overarching agreement covering all the serious issues facing our members, this does not preclude us from concluding a pay agreement for our Crown members as a standalone issue. This of course assumes that sufficient and quick progress can be made arising from next week’s pay negotiations.
Following the pay negotiation on Friday 6th May, we will be providing an update to our statutory Postal Executive meeting on Tuesday 10th May and any developments arising from this meeting will be reported.
In closing, please can Branches as a matter of urgency bring our policy decisions (E3) and the associated development (pay meeting) to the attention of our members employed in the Post Office.
Yours sincerely
 
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
· LTB 264/16 Post Office: Emergency Motion E3 – Future Vision of The Post Office
· Attachment 1 to LTB264/16 – Letter to Paula Vennells

Mr Terry Pullinger – Deputy General Secretary (Postal) 
It is with regret that we have to inform colleagues that Terry suffered a heart attack on Monday afternoon. We can however confirm that he has successfully undergone surgery and is responding well to treatment.
Terry’s family are keeping the Union advised of his progress and it goes without saying that the Union will provide Terry and his family with all necessary support and assistance to aid his recovery.
Terry’s family have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time but we will ensure colleagues are kept updated on Terry’s progress.
We are sure that the thoughts of the whole of the Union including the staff at CWU Headquarters will be with Terry and his family at this time and send their best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.
Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

POST OFFICE: CROWN OFFICE NETWORK – WHSMITH FRANCHISING & HOSTING UPDATE 

Dear Colleagues

 

Further to LTB 236/16 dated 14th April, which advised Branches that as part of the new ten year agreement with WHSmith, 61 Crowns would be either franchised to (privatised) or “hosted” by (remain as a Crown Office) WHSmith stores.

 

Two announcements have been made subsequently on 19th April and 3rd May impacting on the following Crowns:  

 

• Crowns to be Franchised – of the original 39 Crowns listed in LTB030/16, 6 Crowns have so far been announced for franchising; these are as follows:

 

Beckenham​Halifax

Beeston​Honiton

Bury St Edmunds​Paisley

 

The total number of CWU grades impacted by the franchising of the above 6 Crowns is 56 (plus 7 managers). TUPE regulations apply as this is a TUPE transfer, and the consultation process will last for a minimum of 90 days. The Post Office is working towards a transfer date to WHSmith of between 1st and 31st August for Beckenham, Beeston, Honiton and Paisley. For Halifax, the transfer date is between 1st and 30th September and Bury St Edmunds it is between 1st and 30th November.

 

• Crowns to be “Hosted” (“concessions”) – of the approximate 30 Crowns planned for “hosting”, 8 have been announced so far as follows:

 

Barnstaple​Harrow

Castle Mall (Norwich)​Maidstone

Chorley​Stevenage

Darley St (Bradford)​Wrexham

​

The total number of CWU grade jobs impacted by the move to a “hosted” Crown above is 87 (plus 19 managers and Mortgage Specialists) who will retain Post Office employment. The relocation date for Castle Mall, Chorley, Darley St, Maidstone and Wrexham is planned for August. For Barnstaple, Harrow and Stevenage, it is September.

 

With the relocations (“hostings”), there is also a local public consultation which will last for 6 weeks and this is carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice for changes to the network as agreed between the Post Office and Citizens Advice (the statutory Consumer Watchdog).

 

Current Position

 

We have now had two announcements for 14 out of the 61 Crowns due to be franchised / hosted to WHSmith. So there are another 47 Crowns which are in limbo waiting for news from the Post Office. Presumably as 14 Crowns have been announced via two separate announcements, the remainder will continue with this trend and be advised on a piecemeal basis.

 

Additionally, there are approximately 9 Crowns out of the 39 originally announced which are planned to be franchised to an alternative retail partner.

 

I am bound to say, the way the Post Office is drip feeding its changes to our members is without compassion as our members don’t know from one week to another whether they are going to be part of the “hosting” group or not. Also, our members are fearful of management arriving at the Team Talk on a Tuesday morning to deliver bad news. Clearly this is a tactical position to dilute opposition and any public outcry.  

 

Campaigning Against Franchising Continues

 

Branches are urged, if they have not already done so, to immediately instigate local community led campaigns in order to place as much pressure on the Post Office as possible so that we can do everything feasible to retain our Crown Offices. In addition to the campaigns previously reported in LTB236, there is a public meeting in Paisley on Friday 13th May which Mhairi Black MP from the SNP and myself will be addressing.

 

Further developments will be reported once the Post Office has advised us of further plans.

 

If you have any questions in relation to this LTB, please contact Lea Sheridan – lsheridan@cwu.org.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary