HEAD OF LEGAL SERVICES: TONY RUPA

We wanted to take this opportunity to inform Branches that Tony Rupa, Head of Legal Services left employment with the Union on Friday the 19^th April 2024.

We will find the most suitable occasion to mark Tony’s long and loyal service to the members not only in his role of Head and Legal Services but in his numerous previous roles on the NEC, North West Regional Secretary and Office of the Greater Manchester Amalgamated Branch.

Branches will be aware that we have outlined the current position we face with Unionline and as we work through resolving these issues, Ray Ellis will temporarily take responsibility as we transition to a new approach on our Legal Services work.  With the creation of the Central Services Department and through the restructure of the Unionline issues we will put in place a new management structure to ensure the service we provide to members is maintained.

We will keep Branches up to date on these issues as they develop.  In the meantime, we are sure that Branches will want to join with us in thanking Tony for his service to our members, for his dedicated contribution to our union and in wishing him a happy and long retirement.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward                                                   

General Secretary   

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 141/24 – HEAD OF LEGAL SERVICES – TONY RUPA

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Telecoms & Financial Services Department and Union Restructure – Health & Safety

In relation to the overarching proposals relating to Health & Safety to be debated at Annual Conference 2024, it should be noted that the T&FS Executive have had full responsibility for Health and Safety within our sector for some time, and therefore it is currently integrated in our industrial structures.  

Currently TFS Assistant Secretaries with responsibility for companies other than BT already take on responsibility for health and safety in conjunction with reps within those companies. In BT we have a Health and Safety Coordinator in each region, who interface with both the employer and the CWU National Teams. They also have responsibility to coordinate with Branches and USRs within their region.

The TFS Department’s primary aim has always been to maintain and improve coordination between the TFS Executive and all structures of the CWU, to ensure excellent provision of health and safety representation for our members.  As part of the re-structuring of the Union, we are committed to improve on this and intend to review the current provision to ensure we are succeeding in our objective.  This will include how Health and Safety Representatives can be more involved in industrial matters as well as interfacing with CWU central services, with issues such as regulative and legislative changes. 

We recognise the expertise that our USRs have to offer and will therefore engage in a consultation exercise with our branch and regional safety representatives prior to any decision on future changes in the T&FS Department’s approach to Health and Safety. 

We are absolutely committed to working with Health and Safety Representatives to ensure they can fulfill their role in the most effective manner and in the interests of ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing our members.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Kerr

DGST&FS

LTB 137/24 – TFS Health and Safety

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CWU Solidarity with Gaza

Branches will be aware of the Hamas terror attack on October 7th and the subsequent war on Gaza, which has now killed over 33,000 people- most of them civilians.

The CWU released a statement in October 2023 but we have recently updated our statement, which you can read in full on our website. We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire and we condemn any incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia, including the Islamophobic rhetoric used by senior Tory politicians in recent weeks.

Trade unions and their members have a long history of standing side-by-side with oppressed people and of defending the right to protest against apartheid and genocide. Part of the CWU’s ethos recognises the fact that the political and the industrial are intertwined and that our solidarity should always reach beyond the workplace.

We therefore encourage all members to get involved in calling for a ceasefire, by attending the national demonstrations, by getting involved in local aid initiatives or donating to organisations like the PSC, Medical Aid for Palestinians or Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

You can find out more information about the national demonstrations organised by the PSC here. We encourage members to join the ‘trade union bloc’ of the march, where many of our members have been marching in recent months.

Finally, we will be holding a Palestine Solidarity event at CWU Conference on Sunday the 21st of April, after Conference business has concluded.

Please circulate this information to members and if you have any further questions, please contact dward@cwu.org

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Ward

General Secretary

CWU Solidarity with Gaza

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Postal Department & Industrial Executive Restructure – Health & Safety

As part of the overarching proposals relating to Health & Safety to be debated at Annual Conference 2024, the Postal Executive (PE) fully accepts the need and requirement to integrate Health and Safety matters and all associated ‘mainstream activities into the Postal Constituency. The principle aim is to maintain and improve coordination between the Postal Executive and all structures of the CWU to ensure health and safety is given the profile and respect it deserves.

As such, subject to the decisions taken at Annual Conference, the PE have agreed that the policy for the integration of Health and Safety will fall to each of the Assistant Secretaries who will take the lead on each of the following areas:Outdoor Department·       Delivery 

·       Collections

·       CleanersIndoor Department·       Parcelforce 

·       Logistics

·       Distribution

·       Processing (PCL Hubs, Mail Centres, RDCs, WBCs, Air Hubs)

·       International

·       EurestC&CH Department·       POL 

·       Admin

·       LAs

·       MDEC & Customer Experience

·       HR

·       Finance, Stamps & CollectiblesPTCS Department·       Fleet & Engineering 

·       RMPFSLPFW·       Already x4 ASRs in place that cover RegionsPOL/Capita·       IR structures already in place that include Health &Safety

Each of the above Departments would seek to ensure that the relevant Area Safety Rep(s) are co-opted to work with each Assistant Secretary and take the lead on the areas within their responsibilities, as well as in discussions with the employer in relation to those functions and report back to the relevant Assistant Secretary. This role could, where appropriate, include integrated IR/Safety roles for some of the functions outlined.

In addition, it is the intention that the above ASRs will attend the Senior Field Officials’ Briefings as required by the Assistant Secretaries (1 in PFW would take the lead) and report on any related subject matters. Furthermore, activity will take place on reviewing the field structures to ensure Health and Safety is integrated into the mainstream Divisional, Parcels Regional Committee and Engineering and Fleet Territorial Meetings.

In outlining the above approach and policy we want to demonstrate to our Area Safety Representatives that the Postal Department has taken this matter seriously and that going forward we will seek to ensure that there is more involvement from Health and Safety Representatives on industrial matters.

Whilst the above principles have been agreed, this will continue to be work in progress and subject to review as to what needs to be factored in to future ways of working/ linked into any changes in Central Services, including the possible appointment of a Health & Safety expert whom the Assistant Secretary can liaise with to ensure we finalise the interfaces at stage 3 level of the SHE Dispute Resolution Process.

A meeting with all of the CWU Area Health & Safety Representatives at Postal Conference will be arranged to update colleagues on the content of this LTB and a small working group will be formed to work with PE members to produce a set of recommendations to finalise the above principles and ensure we have proper engagement with all Health and Safety Representatives on a quarterly basis.

In closing, on behalf of the Postal Executive we would like to thank Dave Joyce for the incredible service he has given to the Union and more importantly for ensuring that the Health, Safety and wellbeing of our members has been at the forefront throughout his distinguished career. I am sure conference will also pay tribute to Dave in due course.

Any enquiries to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGSP department via hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch

Assistant Secretary

Bobby Weatherall

A/Assistant Secretary

LTB_Postal Department Health & Safety Update                                        

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UPDATE ON IDS TAKEOVER BID

The news of a takeover bid for Royal Mail Group (IDS) by Daniel Kretinsky is another very significant moment.

It is now clear the bid, made by Kretinsky-owned EP Group, was put to the Royal Mail Board on 9th April and subsequently rejected on 11th April.

The Royal Mail Board have labelled the offer as ‘opportunistic’, while the bidders point to the lack of progress in several areas in the company and a willingness to engage with all stakeholders, including the CWU.

The truth is handing over the ownership of one of the UK’s most important institutions to a foreign equity investor cannot be right. The vulnerability of Royal Mail Group to this type of bid is a clear demonstration of how privatisation has failed. However, we must be equally clear that the direction of the current Royal Mail board remains unacceptable.

Royal Mail needs a new ownership and governance model that builds a postal service for the workers and customers- not one solely focused on shareholder payouts, driving down the service and the terms and conditions of postal workers.

The CWU will be campaigning publicly and politically to deliver this change of direction for Royal Mail. The Labour Party has already committed to a comprehensive regulatory review of the sector and to exploring new models of corporate governance for Royal Mail. We have subsequently engaged the Labour Party and will meet formally with them in the coming weeks to develop their position and seriously explore the alternatives to the current model. We will also remind Labour of their official Conference policy to renationalise Royal Mail.

In addition, we will be writing to the Government to express our concerns and seek assurances regarding any interventions they may make, given that scrutiny is clearly required for a takeover bid of this nature.

We have also made contact with Royal Mail at the most senior level.

We are seeking assurances from all concerned stakeholders in this process, regardless of the ownership of the company. Aside from the obvious assurance of the security of postal workers’ jobs, another reassurance we are seeking is that the pension surplus, related to the new pension system being introduced in June, will not be taken by the company or any stakeholder and instead, will be used to invest in the service and workforce. We will continue to meet with the company and relevant stakeholders to ensure any outcome provides the best possible future for postal workers.

By law, EP Group now has until the 15th of May to launch a formal offer or withdraw from the process. We will keep members updated with any developments related to this matter.

We recognise this is another challenging moment and one that follows on from a huge dispute with the employer and a continually difficult workplace environment. That being said, this must also be seen as an opportunity for the voice of postal workers to be heard. We now have the Ofcom report on the future of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and the takeover bid raising awareness of the challenges facing the UK’s postal service and the workforce.

We can assure members that in an election year, we will maximise every opportunity possible to apply pressure to all political parties and the employer on the future of Royal Mail.

Finally, we will be holding a live session with CWU members on this matter in the next couple of weeks. We will confirm the date and time shortly.

If you have any further queries, please contact the General Secretary’s Office at jdunn@cwu.org

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

24LTB136 UPDATE ON IDS TAKEOVER BID

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International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD), Sunday 28 April 2024 – TUC List of events:

Every year more workers are killed and injured at work than in wars. Most are injured, disabled or killed in tragic ‘accidents’ or by industrial diseases. These events and incidents occur because employers decided that workers’ safety and wellbeing just wasn’t that important a priority.

International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on Sunday 28 April commemorates those workers.

We are calling upon CWU Branches, Regions, Reps and Members to please support local WMD events and come together to remember those who have lost their lives to work, been injured or disabled and to renew our trade union commitment to fight for the safety and health of the living and make workplaces and working methods safer.

CWU 2024 International Workers Day Poster

See attached.

TUC List of WMD Local Events

The TUC has published the details of a list of local events across England and Wales in the following towns and cities:

• Barking (Essex),
• Barnsley,
• Barrow,
• Bexhill (Sussex),
• Bolton (2 Events),
• Birmingham,
• Cardiff,
• Carlisle,
• Chelmsford (Essex), * (Dave Joyce Speaker – See attached)
• Corby,
• Crewe,
• Coventry.
• Gateshead,
• Glossop,
• Hartlepool (2 events),
• Hebden Bridge
• Ivybridge
• Leytonstone (London),
• Liverpool (2 Events),
• Manchester (2 Events)
• Milton Keynes,
• Oldham,
• Preston,
• Portsmouth,
• Rochester (Kent),
• Rochdale,
• St Helens,
• Salford,
• Solihull,
• Sunderland,
• Stockport,
• Stratford (London),
• Wolverhampton,
• Waltham Forest (London),

The details, times and directions are at this link;

https://www.tuc.org.uk/international-workers-memorial-day-events

Scottish TUC List of Local Events

The STUC has published the details of a list of local events across Scotland in the following towns and cities:

• Irvine,
• Aberdeen (3 Events),
• Alloa,
• Bathgate,
• Greenock,
• Inverness,
• Kirkwall,
• Stirling,
• Alexandria,
• Clydebank,
• Falkirk,
• Glasgow,
• Kilmarnock,
• Kirkcaldy,
• Bonnyrigg,
• Coatbridge,
• Dundee,
• Edinburgh,
• Forfar,
• Hamilton,
• Paisley,
• Renfrew.

The details, times and directions are at this link;

https://www.stuc.org.uk/about-iwmd/

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) WMD Event

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) will mark International Workers’ Memorial Day with a wreath laying ceremony on Thursday 25 April at 1.00pm at the IWMD Commemorative Tree in the grounds of Parliament Buildings, just before the security hut as you come down from the main car park, Stormont Estate, Stormont Ct, Belfast BT4 3LP. Further details; Tel: 02890 246898Email: info@ictuni.net

Note:

The lists above are not exhaustive and many more events will take place on WMD which are not listed. Therefore, please make enquiries with local Trades Councils and other Trade Unions, Local Authorities, Hazards and other Campaign organisations to find out if they are organising an event that hasn’t been added to the lists and which Branches and Reps can support.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 133/24 – International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD), Sunday 28 April 2024 – TUC List of events

Att: Chelmsford International Workers Memorial Day 2024

Att: Workers Memorial Day Poster

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UPDATE ON IDS TAKEOVER BID

The news of a takeover bid for Royal Mail Group (IDS) by Daniel Kretinsky is another very significant moment.

It is now clear the bid, made by Kretinsky-owned EP Group, was put to the Royal Mail Board on 9th April and subsequently rejected on 11th April.

The Royal Mail Board have labelled the offer as ‘opportunistic’, while the bidders point to the lack of progress in several areas in the company and a willingness to engage with all stakeholders, including the CWU.

The truth is handing over the ownership of one of the UK’s most important institutions to a foreign equity investor cannot be right. The vulnerability of Royal Mail Group to this type of bid is a clear demonstration of how privatisation has failed. However, we must be equally clear that the direction of the current Royal Mail board remains unacceptable.

Royal Mail needs a new ownership and governance model that builds a postal service for the workers and customers- not one solely focused on shareholder payouts, driving down the service and the terms and conditions of postal workers.

The CWU will be campaigning publicly and politically to deliver this change of direction for Royal Mail. The Labour Party has already committed to a comprehensive regulatory review of the sector and to exploring new models of corporate governance for Royal Mail. We have subsequently engaged the Labour Party and will meet formally with them in the coming weeks to develop their position and seriously explore the alternatives to the current model. We will also remind Labour of their official Conference policy to renationalise Royal Mail.

In addition, we will be writing to the Government to express our concerns and seek assurances regarding any interventions they may make, given that scrutiny is clearly required for a takeover bid of this nature.

We have also made contact with Royal Mail at the most senior level.

We are seeking assurances from all concerned stakeholders in this process, regardless of the ownership of the company. Aside from the obvious assurance of the security of postal workers’ jobs, another reassurance we are seeking is that the pension surplus, related to the new pension system being introduced in June, will not be taken by the company or any stakeholder and instead, will be used to invest in the service and workforce. We will continue to meet with the company and relevant stakeholders to ensure any outcome provides the best possible future for postal workers.

By law, EP Group now has until the 15th of May to launch a formal offer or withdraw from the process. We will keep members updated with any developments related to this matter.

We recognise this is another challenging moment and one that follows on from a huge dispute with the employer and a continually difficult workplace environment. That being said, this must also be seen as an opportunity for the voice of postal workers to be heard. We now have the Ofcom report on the future of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and the takeover bid raising awareness of the challenges facing the UK’s postal service and the workforce.

We can assure members that in an election year, we will maximise every opportunity possible to apply pressure to all political parties and the employer on the future of Royal Mail.

Finally, we will be holding a live session with CWU members on this matter in the next couple of weeks. We will confirm the date and time shortly.

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

DO NOT REPLY 🛑

CWU ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024

Branches are reminded that credentials and voting cards and any further Standing Order Reports will be available to pick up from the registration desk in the Windsor Hall Foyer at the Bournemouth International Centre from 3.00pm – 6.00pm on Saturday 20^thApril 2024.

Hard copies of the Restructuring agenda will be available for collection for branch delegations on Saturday.   Rules agenda and Postal Agendas will be available for collection on Sunday.  Branches will need to print copies if they require additional copies.

Branches are also reminded that speakers cards that have not been sent in will need to be brought to the conference for them to be uploaded on the system prior to the conference.

Branches will wish to know that we are holding a New Delegates Briefing which will be held in the Windsor Hall from 6pm on Saturday 20^th April for anyone that has never been to conference before.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven or sent to aniven@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 135/24 – CWU ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024

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CWU 2025 Diary 

We are now taking orders for CWU 2025 diaries. Please find attached diary order form.

We continue to offer branches personalised diaries at no extra cost. Branches can personalise an area on the front cover of the CWU pocket diary and also have the option to have a personalised page (printed on one side only) which will be inserted near the front of the pocket diary.

The CWU pocket diary is priced at £2.00 and the A5 desk diary is priced at £4.00. We continue to offer branches bulk discount but only on non personalised pocket diaries on orders of 1,000 or more for £1.50 per diary.

Please note bulk discount does not apply to personalised orders.

Branches ordering unaltered diaries should return their completed order form by no later than Friday 20^th September.

Personalised branch diary orders only

Branch personalised diary orders must be returned by no later than Friday 17th May. On receipt of your order form, you will be emailed the appropriate template(s), ensure to include your email address as this is where your template(s) will be sent with further information.

Complete your template(s) as soon as possible and note the return deadline is Friday 7th June.Due to strict deadlines any orders or proofs received after the dates provided may not be processed.

If you would like to use the content from your 2024 diary template(s) and there are no changes, please let me know.

Orders will be based on the following: 

Minimum order to personalise front cover: 250 units
Minimum order to insert page: 500 units
Minimum order to personalise front cover and insert page: 500 units

All completed order forms and enquiries on this LTB should be sent to Marcia Murray by email mmurray@cwu.org

The diaries will be dispatched from w/c Monday 23^rd September 2024.

Kind regards,

Marcia Murray
Communications Department

24LTB134 CWU 2025 Diary

DIARY-ORDER-FORM(3)

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CWU REPS POLO SHIRTS

We are now in a position to take orders from branches for our new CWU Reps polo shirts.

The garments are available in both navy and CWU pink. They are also available in both men’s and women’s fits.

We would actively encourage branches to purchase these tops for representatives across your branch areas.

Each top has an embroidered CWU Reps logo and a QR code which directs people straight to the Join CWU web page. We believe this makes it very simple for reps to assist prospective members in joining the CWU, alongside increasing the visibility of the union.

The final cost of each top will be dependent on the size of the overall order we submit to the suppliers. We are expecting the cost to fall between £10-12 per top.

Branches wishing to order the polo shirts should email Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org – setting out the size of your orders, size and fit requirements and colour preferences.

We ask that branches do this before the close of play on Friday 10th May. We will then submit the final order to our suppliers. Once the first major order is out of the way, we will set up an ongoing process.

Images of the tops can be found via this link https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rep-T.png

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

24LTB132 CWU REPS POLO SHIRTS

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