UNITE AGAINST FASCISM (UAF) – NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2016
We are writing to advise Branches that the UAF National Conference 2016 shall be taking place as follows:
Date: Saturday 6th February 2016

Venue: NUT HQ, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, LONDON WC1H 9BD
Time: Registration from 9.30 am

Tickets: £12 or £6 for concessions
The UAF has been at the heart of campaigning against the Far Right and the CWU has, for many years, enjoyed a close working relationship with our UAF colleagues.
In keeping with previous traditions, we would encourage CWU Branches and Regions to ensure this event is given positive exposure and that members are encouraged to participate accordingly.
The CWU is committed to supporting initiatives and campaigns to highlight the threat of the Far Right and we wish UAF every success at their forthcoming national conference.
Yours sincerely
  
Dave Ward        Linda Roy                 
General Secretary        Assistant Secretary

CWU & Liberty – an invitation to affiliate 
CWU has for many years been an affiliate and strong supporter of Liberty, the pressure group that campaigns for civil liberties and human rights. The organisation consistently punches well above its weight and the Liberty Director, Shami Chakrabarti is recognised as one of the most important women in British politics. Her address to the TUC Congress last September was a powerful defence of the integral role trade unions play in ensuring human rights’ values are upheld. 
As well as being affiliated nationally, the CWU has representation on the Liberty’s policy council in the form of National Officer, Simon Sapper. A number of branches either are or have been affiliated as well. At one point there were nearly 30 branches affiliated, but currently the number is rather less than that. 
Liberty and the trade union movement are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in terms of action on the Trade Union Bill as that very damaging piece of legislation enters the House of Lords. 
However, there is a common cause between our two organisations on others issues as well: ranging from the disproportionate and ill-regulated proposals for the bulk collection of personal data and intrusive personal surveillance contained in the Regulatory Powers Bill (otherwise known as the “Snoopers’ Charter”). And the Conservative Government’s stated desire to do away with the Human Rights Act that guarantees so many of the freedoms we take for granted. 
I am therefore pleased to attach correspondence jointly signed by myself and Shami asking branches to consider affiliating (or re-affiliating) to Liberty. Full details are in the attachment which I hope will receive a positive and widespread response. 
Yours sincerely
  
Dave Ward

General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 024/16 Affiliation to Liberty

Attachment 1 – Letter to CWU Final 15.01.16 (Liberty)

Attachment 2 – Liberty Affiliate Form – Join

RE: National Romec Briefing
In consultation with the DGS(P) department we are holding a National Briefing on Romec issues on:
 
Thursday, 21 January 2016
11.00 am
Main Meeting Room
Birimingham & District Branch Office
47 Summer Lane, Hockley, Birmingham B19 3TH
 
Tea and coffees to be served on arrival.
Representatives invited to attend are:
Romec National Representatives

Romec Regional Cleaning Representatives

Romec Regional Engineering Representatives

1 Delegate to attend per Branch

We can confirm that release for representatives to attend this Briefing has been cleared by Romec. In the event there are any difficulties encountered then please bring it to the attention of your respective Romec Representative in the first instance, who will make the necessary representation accordingly.
Travel and subsistence costs associated with attendance at the Briefing will be in line with the instructions and advice issued in LTB 506/04.
Any enquiries relating to this LTB should be addressed to the Outdoor department, quoting reference 120. Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org or PTCS department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/335. Email address: djeffery@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
 
Ray Ellis, Bob Gibson,
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary
         
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 022/2016 – National Romec Briefing

RE: Future of Romec: Acquisition by Royal Mail
We are pleased to report that following a lengthy and thorough review process, reported in LTBs 078/15, 193/15, 338/15 and 462/2015, Royal Mail has confirmed its intention to become the sole owner of Romec, bringing to an end the joint venture which was originally set up in October 2002 and establishing Romec as a wholly owned subsidiary company within the Royal Mail Group.
A joint statement from Royal Mail, CWU and Unite is attached, together with an internal announcement being made to Romec employees today.
As reported in LTB 078/2015 issued in February 2015, Royal Mail’s agreement to a proposal from CWU to establish an independently chaired joint review of the future provision of facilities management services came against the background of Royal Mail’s stated preferred option to outsource FM work by disposing of its majority shareholding in Romec to its joint venture partner Cofely. We are pleased to say that Royal Mail engaged positively in the review, which was independently chaired by Peter Thompson, and on the basis of a careful consideration of the needs of the business Royal Mail has taken the decision to insource, rather than outsource this work.
A key element of the review is the attached “Agreement on the future provision of Facilities Management services to Royal Mail”. This agreement will be the subject of an individual member ballot of CWU members in Romec following a national briefing which will take place on Thursday 21st January 2016 details of which will be notified separately.
The agreement, with a brief paragraph by paragraph of summary is attached. Key elements are:
 Terms and conditions for existing staff are unchanged
There are limited changes to terms and conditions for new starters

The agreement includes a 3 year pay deal providing an increase of 4.57% in basic pay over 3 years

There is a commitment to the creation of a new employee relations culture including establishment of a national consultative forum.

The agreement takes forward the approach adopted in the review of the Future of Romec by committing all parties to joint working to deliver the measures necessary to make Romec a success as part of Royal Mail Group

We would wish to thank Branches and Representatives in both Romec and Royal Mail for their support in the campaign to bring Romec in-house which played a significant part in establishing the review process.
Any enquiries for engineers and admin grades should be addressed to PTCS department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/335.
Email address: djeffery@cwu.org
Any enquiries for Cleaning grades should be addressed to the Outdoor department, quoting reference 120. Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
 
Ray Ellis Bob Gibson           
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary 
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 021/2016 – Future of Romec: Acquisition by Royal Mail

Att 1 – Joint Statement

Att 2 – Agreement on the future provision of Facilities Management Services to Royal Mail

Att 3 – FPOFMS Negotiators Agreement

Future of Romec: Acquisition by Royal Mail
We are pleased to report that following a lengthy and thorough review process, reported in LTBs 078/15, 193/15, 338/15 and 462/2015, Royal Mail has confirmed its intention to become the sole owner of Romec, bringing to an end the joint venture which was originally set up in October 2002 and establishing Romec as a wholly owned subsidiary company within the Royal Mail Group.
A joint statement from Royal Mail, CWU and Unite is attached, together with an internal announcement being made to Romec employees today.
As reported in LTB 078/2015 issued in February 2015, Royal Mail’s agreement to a proposal from CWU to establish an independently chaired joint review of the future provision of facilities management services came against the background of Royal Mail’s stated preferred option to outsource FM work by disposing of its majority shareholding in Romec to its joint venture partner Cofely. We are pleased to say that Royal Mail engaged positively in the review, which was independently chaired by Peter Thompson, and on the basis of a careful consideration of the needs of the business Royal Mail has taken the decision to insource, rather than outsource this work.
A key element of the review is the attached “Agreement on the future provision of Facilities Management services to Royal Mail”. This agreement will be the subject of an individual member ballot of CWU members in Romec following a national briefing which will take place on Thursday 21st January 2016 details of which will be notified separately.
The agreement, with a brief paragraph by paragraph of summary is attached. Key elements are:
• Terms and conditions for existing staff are unchanged

• There are limited changes to terms and conditions for new starters

• The agreement includes a 3 year pay deal providing an increase of 4.57% in basic pay over 3 years

• There is a commitment to the creation of a new employee relations culture including establishment of a national consultative forum.

• The agreement takes forward the approach adopted in the review of the Future of Romec by committing all parties to joint working to deliver the measures necessary to make Romec a success as part of Royal Mail Group
We would wish to thank Branches and Representatives in both Romec and Royal Mail for their support in the campaign to bring Romec in-house which played a significant part in establishing the review process.
Any enquiries for engineers and admin grades should be addressed to PTCS department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/335.

Email address: djeffery@cwu.org
Any enquiries for Cleaning grades should be addressed to the Outdoor department, quoting reference 120. Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Ray Ellis Bob Gibson

Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

RETIRED MEMBERS CONFERENCE 2016 – PRE-CONFERENCE GET TOGETHER
 
The Retired Members Advisory Committee would like to invite all delegates, observers and visitors to a pre-conference get together. This will take place at the Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street (Major Street Entrance), Manchester, M1 6DD on Wednesday 20th January 2016 from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm.
The Retired Members Advisory Committee look forward to seeing you there.  
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Chris Tapper either by post to head office or by email to Conferences@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
 
 
A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

ROYAL MAIL – HR SERVICES: Customer Perception Incentive Scheme (CPSI) – QUARTER 3
I would like to advise Branches that our members working in Royal Mail HR Services have achieved a score of 50 in the CPSI Survey against the target of 50. As a consequence, all members will receive the full Quarter 3 (October – December) payment of £250 (pro-rata for part-timers) with January salaries. It has been an extremely busy quarter with additional work and I would like to congratulate members for achieving the target despite the heavy workload.
Total Payment of £750 to date this Financial Year
This payment means that members will have received the full potential of £750 for the first 3 periods 2015/16, having exceeded the quarterly targets. Hopefully this trend will continue and a further £250 will be paid following Quarter 4.
If you have any questions in relation to this LTB, please contact Lea Sheridan – lsheridan@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
 
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary
 
Email Attachments – Click to download
http://www.cwu.org/file-display-page?key=585992b6-564b-47e0-b21b-b1c7720d04f7

Rule Book 
Further to LTB 434/15, Branches are advised that there were minor formatting errors in the numbering sequential that had an impact on a small number of rules in the Rule Book posted on the website on 2nd July 2015.
The correct version has been posted on the website and can be accessed using the following link  

Click to access cwu__1437987851_Rule_Book_-_June_2015.pdf

If you have any problems downloading a copy of the Rule Book from the website please contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256 or by e-mail to aniven@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 009/15 – Rule Book

Attachment 1: Rule Book Updated June 2015