Election of:     Parcelforce Worldwide Substitute Regional Organiser – & Regional Chairs

Further to LTB 085/24 dated 28^th February 2024 at the close of nominations on the 14^thMarch 2024,  the following have been received.

SOUTH CENTRAL WALES & SOUTH WEST REGION

Substitute Regional OrganiserGary CooperSouth East No 5(Ballot Required)Darryl MorrellBournemouth & Dorset Amal Paul PhillipsGwent Amal 

REGIONAL CHAIR

Central RegionRazor TuckerBirmingham & District Amal*Elected

Northern Region No Nomination Received 

 The timetable for the ballot is as follows:-

Ballot Papers despatched :        27^th March 2024

Ballot Closes:                            17^th April 2024

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 109/24

View Online

CWU RESTRUCTURING – NEC RULE CHANGES SUBMITTED TO THE RULES REVISION CONFERENCE 2024

Further to LTB 093/24 circulated on 8 March 2024 that contained the policy papers as agreed by the NEC, Branches and Regions will be aware that in order to enact these policies the appropriate rule changes now have to be submitted to the Rules Revision Conference.

Please find attached respective rule changes that the NEC have agreed to submit to the Rules Conference.  In addition, the NEC agreed a further rule change (also attached) relating to a previous NEC policy to oppose all forms of sexual harassment.

It will be our intention to arrange a National Zoom Briefing for Branch and Regional Secretaries next week to discuss the policy papers, proposed rule changes and clarify any questions arising from these.

During the briefing we will explain in more detail the proposed Branch Rebate change and the associated financial issues arising from this. The details for the briefing will be sent out before the end of the week.

Finally, we will bring forward, in due course, a presentation and paper on a new Recruitment and Organising strategy.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s office jdunn@cwu.org/ Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Office sdgs@cwu.org .

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary                                                              

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

---

APPENDIX A

After current rule 2.1.4 insert new rule 2.1.5 to be worded as follows: 

“To actively oppose all forms of sexual harassment” 

Delete current Rule 7.1.1 and replace with:

There shall be 8 Regional Committees established. Regional Committee areas, and the allocation of Branches to them, shall be determined by General Conference. Where the NEC and the Branches concerned agree, changes may be made without reference to General Conference. Where agreement cannot be reached a report shall be made to General Conference.   The CWU Regional Structure will be subject to review by the NEC.

Add at the end of current rule 7.1.6.1 the following:

In the North West/Northern Ireland Region there shall be an additional position of Regional Assistant Secretary Northern Ireland.

Delete current rule 7.1.8 and replace with:

8. Election Procedures

The elections for the Regional Committee Officer positions and the Regional Executive Committee positions will be elected by Branches within the Regions on a one union basis.

The election for the Regional Secretary will be on an individual member ballot of all members in the Region. The election period will be for two years. The successful candidate shall be the person who receives the highest number of votes cast.

The election for the Regional Assistant Secretary Northern Ireland will be on an individual member ballot of all members in Northern Ireland. The successful candidate shall be the person who receives the highest number of votes cast.

Elections for the Regional Chair, Assistant Secretary, Financial Secretary and all Executive Committee positions will be conducted at the Regional AGM.   The Regional Secretary will be the returning officer for these elections.  All Branches shall be eligible to vote and will be allocated to vote in accordance with their membership size at the time of the elections.   The successful candidate(s) will be the individual(s) who receive the highest number of votes cast.

Delete Rule 8.1.3 and replace with:

3. The NEC shall comprise 24 members:

a. President and Vice President, but their inclusion shall not increase the numbers from their originating Constituencies.

b. 10 lay members elected biennially by and from the Postal Constituency and 1 of whom shall be the Chair of the Postal Constituency. All of whom shall automatically be members of the Postal Industrial Executive.  At least 2 lay members must be women.   At least 1 lay member must be BAME.

c. 7 lay members elected biennially by and from the Telecom and Financial Services Constituency and 1 of whom shall be the Chair of the TFS Constituency. All of whom shall automatically be members of the Telecoms and Financial Services Industrial Executive.  At least 2 lay members must be women.  At least 1 lay member must be BAME.

d. 2 lay Young Workers members elected biennially who must be 29 or under at the time of the election. 1 of whom will be elected by and from the Postal Constituency and 1 of whom shall be elected by and from the Telecoms and Financial Services Constituency.

e. 1 lay Retired Member elected biennially by all members of the retired sector.

The Retired Members NEC representative shall not be entitled to vote on issues that are Financial, Rule, Constitutional or issues that could be considered to have an industrial context except where they apply only to Retired Members.

f. 4 lay Equality members elected biennially by all members of union, except the Retired Members for each of the following equality strands

Women

LGBT+

BAME

Disability

To delete current rule 8.5 and replace with:

5. Postal Executive (PE)

1. The PE shall be responsible for occupational and conditions of service issues for all Postal and related employers where the Union is recognised and shall ensure appropriate business co-ordinating committees exist below national level in all Royal Mail and other postal businesses. Such organisation shall only be altered by decision of a Conference or ballot of the relevant membership.

2. Members of the PE shall deputise for the Assistant Secretaries Postal in their absence/unavailability in dealing with the employer within their remit.

3.a)     The PE shall consist of 14 lay members elected biennially by and taken from the Postal Constituency and 1 of whom shall be the Postal Constituency Chair, 10 shall be the NEC Postal Constituency Representatives, 4 shall be elected by and from the Postal Constituency

b) The DGS(P) and the Assistant Secretaries who deal with postal issues, but without voting rights.

4. The Chair of the PE shall be elected biennially by and taken from members of the Postal Constituency by a simple majority of those members entitled to vote.

5. Any member of the Postal Constituency shall be eligible for nomination to the position of Chair.

6. The position of Chair shall not increase the number of biennially elected members.

 To delete current rule 8.6 and replace with: 

6. Telecoms and Financial Services Executive (T&FSE)

1.          The T&FSE shall be responsible for:

a)    Occupational and conditions of service issues for all   telecommunications, information technology financial services and related employers where the Union is recognised.

2.          a)   The T&FSE shall consist of 15 lay members elected biennially by and
taken from members of the Telecoms and Financial Services

Constituency 7 of whom shall be the TFS NEC members

b)    The DGS (T&FS) and the Assistant Secretaries who deal with

Telecoms and Financial Services issues, but without voting rights.

3.     The Chair of the T&FSE shall be elected biennially by and taken from members of the T&FS Constituency by a simple majority of those members entitled to vote.

4.     Any member of the T&FS Constituency shall be eligible for nomination to the Chair.

5.     The position of Chair shall not increase the number of biennially elected TFSE members.

6.     The T&FSE shall be empowered to establish sub-committees, as it considers necessary for the efficient conduct of its business.

7.     The structure and the procedural rules of these other sub-committees shall be contained in regulations, which shall be published to Branches.

Delete current Rule 8.12.1 and replace with:

The CWU Young Workers Committee shall consist of 2 members of the NEC who shall be the nationally elected Young Workers members of the NEC and 2 lay members elected biennially from each of the CWU regions, with 1 being from the TFS Constituency and 1 from the Postal Constituency and two lay members elected by and from the UTAW Branch.

All candidates shall be aged 29 or under at the time of election.

Delete current Rule 9.6.3.a in its entirety and renumber the remainder of rule 9.6 accordingly.

Delete current Rule 9.6.3.b in its entirety and renumber the remainder of rule 9.6 accordingly.Amend Rule 9.6.4 to be worded as follows:

There shall be the following Industrial Officers:

a)    4 Assistant Secretaries elected every five years by the Postal Constituency

b)   The Assistant Secretaries to the T&FS IndustryDelete current rule 10.1 and replace with: 

1.General

1. There shall be a biennial Conference of the Union held at a date determined by the NEC every two years to debate and determine matters of policy.

The normal length of the Biennial Conference shall be 5 days comprising of 2 days General / Rules Conference and an Equality day and 2 days allocated to the Postal and TFS Industrial Conferences.

2. The General Conference is the supreme authority of the Union on matters of

common policy whilst it is in session. The main role of the NEC is to carry out

the instructions of the General Conference. To this end the supreme authority is

vested in the NEC between General Conferences. Decisions taken and policies

determined by the NEC are ultimately subject to ratification by General

Conference.

3. The procedures for promoting policy in the TUC, and the wider labour movement,

and associated delegations will be the responsibility of the NEC.

4. There shall also be the following Conferences held each year:

a) Retired Members

b) Young Workers

Add new Rule 10.5 to be worded as follows:

Special Reports

The NEC shall be entitled to submit a Special Report before the Conference covering major strategic issues. The Report will be open to motions to amend from Branches and Regions and any other relevant bodies entitled to submit motions to amend.

Add new Rule 10.8.8 to be worded as follows:

The T&FSE will be entitled to submit a Special Report covering major strategic issues that will be open to motions to amend submitted from the relevant bodies entitled to submit motions to amend

Add new Rule to follow Rule 10.10 to be worded as follows:

Special Reports

The Postal Executive will be entitled to submit a Special Report covering major strategic issues. The Report will be open to motions to amend from Branches and Business Co-ordinating Committees.

To delete current rule 11.6.1 and replace with:

1. From 1 September 2024 each Branch shall receive monthly 23% of its Branch membership income received by CWU HQs General Fund excluding Retired Members. Each Branch shall be responsible for its own funds for meeting the following expenses;a. All Conference expenses including subsistence, travel and loss of pay;
   b. Regional and Industrial based Committee expenses including travel and subsistence;
   c. Travel and subsistence for all education courses;
   d. Travel and subsistence for national briefings;
   e. Visits to HQ requested by the Branch

Delete current rule 11.6.2 and replace with:

From 1 September 2024 each Branch shall receive a rebate for its Retired Members Section of 23% of all income received by CWU HQ from the contribution of the Branch Retired Members. Such rebates shall only be paid to the Branch on formation of a Retired Members Section.

LTB 108/24 – CWU RESTRUCTURING NEC RULE CHANGES SUBMITTED TO THE RULES REVISION CONFERENCE 2024

View Online

FURTHER DEPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FOR PARCEL SORTING MACHINES WITHIN THE MAIL CENTRE ESTATE/RDC ESTATE

Branches and representatives will be aware that a Terms of Reference was agreed in 2018 covering the deployment of 20 Parcel Sorting Machines (PSM) across 16 Mail Centres (LTB 355/18 refers). Subsequently, in August 2021 Phase 2A of the deployment was progressed, which involved the deployment of a further 4 PSMs (LTB 359/21 refers), followed by Phase 2B in November 2021 that deployed a further 9 Solystic PSMs (LTB 461/21 refers).

Royal Mail are now ready to deploy a further roll out of 3 PSMs with the supplier, Solystic, within the Mail Centre estate, which will be known as Phase 2D and Royal Mail have confirmed that the deployment activity will be progressed in line with the agreed Terms of Reference, which is attached for ease of reference. In addition, also attached are the WTLL documents the business have prepared.

The precise deployment dates to each site will be kept under review as the rollout progresses, however this being said, the business hope to deploy all 3 machines by the end of October this year. The following 3 Mail Centres will receive a Phase 2D Parcel Sorting Machine (in planned deployment order):

1. Leeds Mail Centre
2. Plymouth Mail Centre
3. Exeter Mail Centre

In the 3 plants affected above, the interim arrangements to allow the builds and the impacts of this build will have to be factored into the Realignment activity.

The 2018 TOR covering the deployment of the PSMs into the operation, which covers training, rotations, selection processes and staffing levels remains unchanged and is attached in the Joint Statement. However, this PSM has a lower throughput and will require one less operator at the induct area to run the machine, which means the following staffing levels will be required:

• 5 x Induct Operators (the other machines have 6)
• 2 x York Tippers
• 2 x Porters
• I x Eject/Reject

The CWU will continue to be fully involved in the deployment activity and monitoring in line with the 2018 agreement.

The Phase 2D deployment will take the number of PSMs across the Mail Centre Network to 36. Royal Mail have not indicated that this is an end state number and further deployment activity may take place in the future, given that the previous commitment was to introduce Automation at all current Mail Centre sites.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: shayman@cwu.org quoting reference: 732.01.

or

Bobby Weatherall, Acting Assistant Secretary email: khay@cwu.org or hmaughan@cwu.orgquoting reference 520.

Yours sincerely,

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

Bobby Weatherall
Acting Assistant Secretary

107-24 – PSM Deployment Phase 2D – 14.03.24

137 – FINAL – TOR FOR THE DEPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FOR PSM WITHIN THE MAIL CENTRE

PSM WTLL initial briefing Exeter

PSM WTLL initial briefing Leeds

PSM WTLL initial briefing Plymouth

View Online

PUBLICATION OF NEC POLICY PAPERS FOR THE SPECIAL CWU RESTRUCTURING CONFERENCE – 21^ST APRIL 2024

All Branches will be aware that LTB 015/24 confirmed the NEC had agreed the following guiding principles for the CWU restructuring programme:

1. An overall headcount reduction and cost savings in the National Executive.
2. An overall headcount reduction and cost savings in the Postal Executive.
3. An overall headcount reduction and cost savings in the Telecoms and Financial Services Executive.
4. An overall reduction in the cost and number of CWU Regions.
5. A material reduction in the current rate of Branch rebate.
6. A restructuring of our approach to Health, Safety and the Environment.
7. A restructuring of our approach to Legal Services and involvement in Unionline.

Further to this, LTB 040/24 published a document that was presented to the National Briefing on 30^thJanuary 2024.  This document set out very clearly both the areas where policy papers would be drawn up in relation to the guiding principles, whilst also sharing the initial thinking that would shape the content of each policy paper.

During the National Briefing the GS and SDGS presented each proposed policy area and talked through the likely content and the rationale for the subsequent policy papers.

Since then further work has been undertaken and as a result a series of policy papers were presented yesterday to the NEC and endorsed for publication to CWU Branches.

We would point out there are 3 additional papers from the original guiding principles, these are as follows:

• A proposal to change our conference arrangements.
• A proposal to change the structure of the National Young Workers Committee.
• A proposal that confirms the approach we will take to phase 2 of the restructuring programme.

There should be no surprises in the content of any of these policy papers.  They not only reflect the guiding principles previously agreed by the NEC, but also reflect most of the thinking shared with Branches at the National Briefing.  The exception to this is a new proposal on Branch rebates, which has been formulated following feedback from our Regions and Branches.

The policy papers presented to the Special Restructuring Conference in April, are attached.  These present clear choices for Branches on phase 1 of our programme.

Next Steps

There will be a wider report published to Branches next week which will also include the following:

• A financial report that will again set out the challenges facing the union and also the savings we expect to make from the changes we are proposing in phase 1.
• A paper setting out a new recruitment and organising strategy (this will be presented to the NEC next Wednesday).
• The actual rule changes that flow from the policy papers.
• A full explanation on the significant contribution CWU Headquarters are making to the Restructuring Programme.
• An update to Branches on other aspects of the unions work in preparation for phase 2.

Branches will have the opportunity to place motions against the policy papers and the SOC will publish an LTB explaining the approach to this next week.

Finally, we will be holding a session with Branch Secretaries in advance of the conference to go through in more detail the new Branch Rebate proposal.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s office jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General

LTB 093/24 – PUBLICATION OF NEC POLICY PAPERS FOR THE SPECIAL CWU RESTRUCTURING CONFERENCE 21ST APRIL 2024

CWU Restructuring Policy Documents

View Online

UN Anti-Racism Day – Stop The Hate Demonstrations

Branches should note that the next UN Anti-Racism Day rallies organised by the TUC and Stand 
Up To Racism are taking place on Saturday 16th March 2024 in London and Glasgow, with the 
Cardiff rally the following day.

Please note that the meeting point for this Saturday will be different from previous years. 
We will be meeting from Midday onwards outside the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street,
London SW1P 4DF. The nearest underground stations are St. James Park and Victoria.

The CWU are committed to combating racism and fascism and our union has had fantastic support 
at past events. We hope we can again demonstrate our solidarity as part of a global day of antiracist protest. 

You can find out more information about the demonstrations here.

Any queries relating to this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org 

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward 
General Secretary

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 106/24 – UN Anti-Racism Day – Stop The Hate Demonstrations

View Online

POST OFFICE: UPDATED FLEXIBLE WORKING POLICY IN LINE WITH NEW LEGISLATION

Branches are advised that Post Office is updating its Flexible Working (FW) policy in line with new legislation coming in from 6^thApril 2024 in relation to making statutory FW requests.

Following discussions with Post Office management, the improvements below will be reflected in the “Flexible Working” policy (attached):

• Members have the right to make a statutory FW request from day 1 of employment, rather than after 26 weeks’ service
• Employers must make a final decision on a FW request (including appeal) within 2 months, rather than 3 months
• Members will be able to make 2 statutory FW requests in a 12 month period, rather than 1
• Members no longer have to explain how they think a FW request may affect their employer or explain how they would deal with the change
• Managers can’t automatically reject a request and must discuss this with the member via a formal meeting, which Post Office already had built as part of process.

It has been agreed the above changes will be introduced on Thursday 14^th Marchrather than waiting until 6th April.

Branches are urged to bring this LTB to the attention of our Post Office members.  If any issues are experienced with FW requests, members should contact their CWU Representative.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 105/24 – Post Office – Updated Flexible Working Policy in Line with New Legislation

View Online

• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives – 2024
• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives (Substitute) – 2024
• Royal Mail Divisional Chair – 2024

Election of:

• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives – 2024
• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives (Substitute) – 2024
• Royal Mail Divisional Chair – 2024 

Further to LTB 082/24 dated 27^th February 2024 at the close of nominations at 14:00 on 13^th March, the following were received:

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES  

ANGLIAKevin MartinEssex Amal*ElectedAdam MitchellSuffolk Amal*Elected

LONDONStephen BeadleSouth East London Postal & Counters*ElectedMark DolanNorth/North West London*Elected

MIDLANDSimon EdmundsNottingham & District Amal*ElectedPaul KennedyBirmingham District Amal*Elected

NORTH EASTBrett GirouxNewcastle Amal*ElectedSteve WarrenSouth Yorks & District Amal*Elected

NORTH WALES/NORTH WESTLenny CrookNorth Lancs & Cumbria*ElectedPaul DugdaleNorth West Central Amal*Elected

 NORTHERN IRELANDGarry HannawayNorthern Ireland West(Ballot Required)Fra MartinNorthern Ireland Postal Amal

SCOTLANDTam DewarGlasgow District Amal*ElectedGeorge RossGrampian & Shetland Amal*Elected

SOUTH CENTRAL Dermot FullerSouth West No 7*ElectedPaul GarrawaySouth Central Postal*Elected

SOUTH EASTDavid BennettSouth East No 5*ElectedAlasdair MacLeodCroydon & Sutton Amal*Elected

SOUTH WEST/SOUTH WALES Ralph FerrettPlymouth & East Cornwall*ElectedAndy NashBristol & District Amal*Elected

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES (SUBSTITUTES)

ANGLIA Trevor WilliamsonEastern No 3*Elected

LONDONJohn SimkinsLondon Phoenix*Elected

MIDLAND Steve Blower   Nottingham District Amal*Elected

NORTH EAST Steve SheldonSouth Yorkshire & District*Elected

NORTH WALES/NORTH WEST Wayne BowkerNorth West No 1(Ballot Required)Ian CorrinGreater Mersey Amal Peter KellyShropshire & Mid Wales 

NORTHERN IRELANDGary HannawayNorthern Ireland West(Ballot Required)Graham SpenceNorthern Ireland Postal 

SCOTLANDJohn KiddScotland No 2*Elected

SOUTH CENTRAL Darren ButcherSouth East No 5*Elected

SOUTH EAST Stephen WiselySouth & East Thames Amal*Elected

SOUTH WEST/SOUTH WALES Stephen CoombesWestern Counties*Elected

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL CHAIR

ANGLIA Tom WalkerNorthern Home Counties Postal*Elected

LONDONJohn MensahNorth/North West London*Elected

MIDLANDLiam KavanaghSouth Midlands Postal*Elected

NORTH EASTGraham CloughSouth Yorkshire & District Amal*Elected

NORTH WALES/NORTH WESTPeter KellyShropshire & Mid Wales*Elected

NORTHERN IRELANDColm McAuleyNorthern Ireland Postal Amal*Elected

SCOTLANDJim McKechnieGlasgow & District Amal*Elected

SOUTH CENTRAL Stewart HardieWessex South Central*Elected

SOUTH EAST Angela WhitterCroydon & Sutton Amal*Elected

SOUTH WEST/SOUTH WALES Paul WottonWestern Counties*Elected

The timetable for the above elections are as follows:

Ballot Papers dispatched:                     21 March 2024

Ballot Close:                                         11 April 2024  (first post)

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 104/24

View Online

Driver Fatigue and Road Accidents – RMG SHE Huddle FY24 012 – Drivers Briefing and Communications Campaign 

Introduction

This week the RMG SHE Team and RMG National Road Safety Managers are launching the latest Road Safety Huddle/Briefing and Communications Campaign, focusing on Driver Fatigue – Driving Tired, Drowsy, Stressed, Eye Health and Fitness to Drive.

The Royal Mail Group Safety Health & Environment Team and the RMG Road Safety Managers welcome CWU/HQ and CWU ASR/WSR support and assistance in cascading this campaign.

The attached SHE Huddle briefing information will all be communicated out across Royal Mail Group (RM, PFWW and RMSS etc.) this week 11 – 16 March 2024, supported by the RMG Plasma Screen message, and additionally supported by this CWU LTB and the attached ’Think’ downloadable poster, ‘THINK/RSSB’ 27 Page Guide booklet and ‘THINK’ quick reference ‘Fact Sheet’. The information should be widely circulated and displayed on safety notice boards. Further copies can be printed by branches and regions locally. There are also the two links to effective, hard hitting videos on the subject matter, to help get the messages across to the workforce and to support the initiative.

The SHE ‘Huddle’ Campaign objectives are

• To highlight these important road and driver health and safety issues and dangers of driving fatigued, tired, drowsy and stressed.
• To raise awareness and encourage, coach and support drivers to adopt safe driving habits.
• To discuss with drivers the risk of driving tired or stressed.
• Area Safety Reps to focus on the subject matter, carry out safety spot checks and ensure managers have delivered the Safety Huddle Briefing.

Driver Fatigue is a Serious Problem

Fatigue is a major contributory factor in crashes in the UK, with too little sleep radically affecting driver attention, awareness, reaction time and ability to control the vehicle.

Driver fatigue is a serious problem resulting in many thousands of road accidents each year. It is not possible to calculate the exact number of sleep related accidents but research shows that driver fatigue may be a contributory factor in up to 20% of road accidents, and up to one quarter of fatal and serious accidents.

These types of crashes are about 50% more likely to result in death or serious injury as they tend to be high speed impacts because a driver who has fallen asleep cannot brake or swerve to avoid or reduce the impact.

About 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles, drivers, often in the largest vehicles on our roads that can cause the most harm in a crash.

Sleepiness reduces reaction time (a critical element of safe driving). It also reduces vigilance, alertness and concentration so that the ability to perform attention-based activities (such as driving) is impaired. The speed at which information is processed is also reduced by sleepiness. The quality of decision-making may also be affected.

Experts tell us that it is clear that drivers are aware when they are feeling sleepy, and so make a conscious decision about whether to continue driving or to stop for a rest. It may be that those who persist in driving underestimate the risk of actually falling asleep while driving. Or it may be that some drivers choose to ignore the risks (in the way that drink drivers do). Studies have shown that drivers don’t fall asleep without warning. Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have often tried to fight off drowsiness by opening a window, or by turning up the radio. This doesn’t work for long.

Signs of fatigue

Research shows normal sleep does not occur without warning, and most people recognise symptoms but underestimate the dangers of continuing to drive. Warning signs include:

• Increased difficulty concentrating;
• Yawning;
• Heavy eyelids;
• Eyes starting to ‘roll’;
• Neck muscles relaxing, making the head droop;
• ‘Microsleep’ occurs when someone nods off for a few seconds without realising or remembering it, known as head-nodding. This occurs when drivers are tired but trying to stay awake. A ‘THINK’ survey found one in three (31%) UK drivers surveyed admit having experienced a microsleep at the wheel. The driver may feel like they’ve just briefly nodded their head, but they have actually been asleep. In six seconds, a vehicle being driven at 70mph travels about 200 metres!

The key facts 

• Research suggests that almost 20%, 1 in 5 of crashes resulting in death on major roads are sleep or fatigue-related.
• Sleep-related accidents are more likely than others to result in a fatality or serious injury.
• Peak times for accidents are in the early hours between 2am and 6am and after lunch 2pm and 4pm.
• About 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles, drivers, often in the largest vehicles on our roads that can cause the most harm in a crash.
• Research has shown motorways and dual carriageways are the most common roads for sleep-related crashes, due to the monotonous road environment and lack of interruptions or driver stimulation.

Crashes caused by tired drivers are most likely to happen: 

• On long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways.
• After having less sleep than normal.
• After drinking alcohol – (remembering the morning after effect).
• If taking medicines that cause drowsiness.
• After long working hours or on journeys home after long shifts, especially night shifts.

‘THINK!’, ‘Brake’ and ‘RoSPA’ Advice:

• Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours.
• Don’t start a long trip if you’re already tired.
• Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start a long drive.
• Try to avoid long trips between midnight and 6am when you’re likely to feel sleepy anyway.
• If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop – not the hard shoulder of a motorway. Drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest or nap for 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in.
• Remember, the only real cure for sleepiness is proper sleep. A caffeine drink or a nap is a short-term solution that will only allow you to keep driving for a short time.

Watch These Two Hard Hitting Driver Fatigue Accident Videos:

THINK! ‘Don’t drive tired videos are at these links:

• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZ_so_4c7U

and

• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zVVvSaRSrZE

ASR Involvement, Activities and Inspections:

• ASRs to carry out the following activities during this Road Safety Huddle Communication Campaign in order to help to raise awareness and the profile of this important issue.
• ASRs to ensure they record Safety Inspections using the agreed reporting processes.

Remind Drivers that it’s vitally important that they should always:

• Try to ensure they are well rested and feeling fit and healthy before driving.
• Not take medication which advises against driving before starting long journeys.
• Make sure they take their rest breaks.
• Take extra care when driving at night, especially between 2am and 6am and when driving between 2pm and 4pm(especially after having eaten a significant meal).
• Avoid drinking any alcohol and remember the morning after effect.
• If feeling sleepy or drowsy during a journey, take a break, grab a coffee and if need be take a short nap.
• Have regular eye tests or arrange a test if they’ve noticed any problems with their eye sight, (do the self-test of reading a number plate from 20 metres).
• If they have stress issues, request a stress risk assessment and request ‘Feeling First Class’ support.
• Make sure they are aware of health conditions that may impair their driving and if unsure consult their GP.
• If they take any medication that may be affecting their ability to drive, speak to their GP.
• If they have a sleep disorder which may put them at higher risk, discuss it with their GP.

Ask Front Line Managers:

• Have they delivered the Huddle to all employees/drivers?
• Have staff seen the plasma screen message, poster, fact sheet?

Legislation on fatigue – Police investigations and penalties for killing someone due to fatigue-related driving

A tired driver who kills someone can be charged with death by dangerous driving (if the nature of their driving was perceived to be dangerous) or death by careless driving (a lesser charge for less dangerous driving). The maximum penalty for death by dangerous driving is 14 years imprisonment and the maximum penalty for death by careless driving is five years. The difference between ‘careless’ and ‘dangerous’ driving in the eyes of the law is slight and subjective: it’s the difference between someone’s driving falling below or well below what is expected of a careful and competent driver.

Commercial Vehicle Legislation

In the UK companies operating fleets of vehicles have a legal duty of care to ‘ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work’ and are responsible for what might happen if this is not done. This ‘applies to all on-the-road work activities as to all work activities’. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) employers must assess the risks involved in staff use of the road for work and put in place all reasonably practical measures to manage driver fatigue. Employers need to assess which drivers and journeys are at risk and set schedules that do not require drivers to exceed recommended working limits and driver hours laws.  Professional drivers of goods and passenger road vehicles must comply with the UK and EU Drivers Hours Rules or regulations which limit time at the wheel and specify that drivers must legally take breaks. Heavy commercial vehicles have a tachograph, which records how long they have been driving and breaks taken. This information, along with any available telematics information from event data recorders, can be studied by Police if the vehicle is involved in a crash. Light Commercial Van Drivers are covered by the GB Domestics Drivers Hours Rules and Limits. These rules restrict a driving day to ten hours with a 30-minute break after 5.5 hours’ driving, or 45 minutes taken at times within an 8.5 hour driving shift. If a driver works for longer than 8 hours and 30 minutes, they must take an extra break of at least 30 minutes, in addition to ​the 45 minutes. ​

Thank you for your support.

Attachments:

• RMG SHE Huddle FY24 012 Driver Fatigue Briefing.
• Campaign RMG Plasma Screen Slide.
• ‘THINK’ Tiredness Kills Poster.
• Driving for Work: Managing Fatigue Risks – A Guide for Road Vehicle Drivers and their Managers ‘THINK’ & ‘RSSB’.
• ‘THINK’ “Driving While Tired” Factsheet.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[This LTB has been compiled in conjunction with ‘Think’, ‘Brake’, ‘RoSPA’ and the ‘DfT’ and is being issued in conjunction with the Joint Royal Mail Group/CWU Road Safety Huddle/Campaign Week, March 2024.]

24LTB102 Driver Fatigue and Road Accidents – RMG SHE Huddle FY24 012 – Drivers Briefing and Communications Campaign

SHE Huddle FY24 012 Driver Fatigue

Driver Fatigue Tiredness Kills

Tiredness Kills Poster (THINK)

Driving for Work Managing Fatigue Risks Guide (Think RSSB)

THINK! Advice – Driving When Tired – Factsheet

View Online

CWU Annual Conference 2024 – Telecom and Financial Services Conference Agenda Pad

Branches would wish to know that the 2024 Telecom and Financial Services Agenda Pad has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the following link:

Click to access TFS-AGENDA-2024.pdf

A Pdf. copy has also been attached.    Hard copies of the agenda are in the process of being printed and will be distributed to branches when completed.

Any enquiries to this Letter to Branches should be addressed to conferences@cwu.org or call 020 8971 7256.

Yours sincerely

A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB101 – CWU Annual Conference 2024 – TFS Agenda Pad

TFS AGENDA 2024

View Online

Equality, Education & Development Website Goes Live

The purpose of this LTB is to advise branches that the upgraded Equality, Education & Development website has now gone live.

This site integrates our Left Click e-learning platform with the old Education & Training website which has now been expanded to cover the merged remit of Equality, Education & Development, including the provision of a searchable electronic equality library as required by General Conference Motion 42/2022.

The site includes information and resources for members, reps and branches covering;

• All equality strands
• The CWU Reps training programme
• Lifelong Learning courses for members
• Development tools such as CWU Unlock & CWU Mentoring Scheme
• A news hub covering all aspects of the department

It can be accessed directly at: https://education.cwu.org or via the My CWU tab at www.cwu.org

By utilising the existing education website we have been able to expand our online presence while making a year on year saving. In addition all documents and resources being made available online reduce both printing costs and our environmental impact. We envisage that the range of content will continue to grow over the coming months.

The old Left Click site will close at the end of March and all user accounts will close also at this time.  

Any queries relating to this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org         

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 103/24 – Equality Education Development Website Goes Live

View Online