Air conditioning is a system within a vehicle that allows the driver to cool the interior air of the vehicle in hot weather, providing for a cooler and more comfortable environment for the driver and occupants.
Because the UK has had a temperate climate in the past, many fleet operators have thought that air-conditioning in their vans and trucks would be a rarely-used luxury and not worth any extra costs. But climate change and the recent very hot summers, including this week’s record-breaking heatwave reaching 40C/104F means the benefits of air conditioning are now generally accepted and appreciated.
The safety aspect of air conditioning is often overlooked but is very important. Air conditioning provides efficient cool air in the summer and in winter it can provide warm, dehumidified air – quickly helping demist steamed-up windows. Also the cleaner, fresher air (with lower humidity) can enhance driver awareness and help prevent drowsiness.
As well as filtering out pollutants and airborne particles, air conditioning keeps the atmosphere in the vehicle cleaner and can also help alleviate the seasonal symptoms of hay fever and not forgetting – air conditioning can provide a more pleasant and odour-free environment for both driver and passengers.
Discussions have taken place this week with Royal Mail Group Fleet regarding the air conditioning systems in the RMG Fleet and the present position is as follows:
All 17t vehicles and above, including MU’s, etc., have air conditioning fitted as standard.
All new electric vehicles have air conditioning fitted.
All older small diesel light commercial vehicles (vans) do not have air conditioning (there may be the odd exception).
All 7.5t distribution fleet vehicles do not have air conditioning (there may be the odd exception).
Royal Mail Fleet have agreed that the move to electric vehicles will now see air conditioning as standard on most of the small fleet and RMG Fleet will now amend the procurement specification to also include air conditioning in the standard specification when purchasing all vehicles, if it isn’t a standard specification on the models concerned.
RMG Fleet will amend the standard specification for all 7.5t distribution fleet vehicles to have air conditioning going forward.
Attachment:
Confirmation letter from Paul Fletcher Head of Fleet Engineering, Supply & Lifecycle dated 18 July 2022
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
On 18th July Ofcom published a statement setting out its decisions on the regulation of postal services from 2022 to 2027. This follows a review process that began with an initial ‘Call for Inputs’ in March 2021 and then a consultation on Ofcom’s proposals in December 2021, as reported on under LTB 293/21 and LTB 542/21. The CWU made a submission to each stage of Ofcom’s review, both of which can be found on the CWU’s website and on Ofcom’s website (links to these are included below).
The CWU Research Department has produced an initial summary and brief analysis of Ofcom’s statement, as set out below.
Statement summary
Ofcom’s statement says that broadly the current postal regulatory framework is working well, allowing the postal market to meet the needs of its users. Consequently, Ofcom has decided that a root-and-branch review of the frameworkis not necessary, and so it will continue the current approach.
Ofcom’s statement is in line with its proposals as reported on in December 2021 under LTB 542/21. In brief, Ofcom has made the following decisions on the regulatory framework for post:
Maintain the current overall framework, including price caps on basic universal services and quality of service standards.
Introduce new targeted consumer protections, requiring parcel operators to have policies and procedures for the fair and appropriate treatment of disabled consumers. Ofcom will also issue new guidance for parcel operators on complaints handling.
Continue to ensure that Royal Mail has commercial flexibility so that it can meet the challenges of providing a financially sustainable universal service.
Require Royal Mail to provide Ofcom with a view of the financial sustainability of the universal serviceover a longer period than currently requirede. five years rather than the current three year period.
Require Royal Mail to provide and publish a five-year view of its efficiency expectations and reportagainst actual performance. This includes a high level overview of its efficiency ambitions and an insight into the expected operational efficiency of frontline staff. Ofcom has decided that it would not be appropriate or proportionate to impose price controls or set efficiency targets for Royal Mail.
Provide a stable regulatory framework, to support investment by all postal operators and ensure Royal Mail competes on a level playing field. This includes not extending access regulation into the parcels market, and not requiring tracking in the Universal Service Obligation (USO), as Ofcom considers that doing so could be damaging to competition.
Main CWU concerns
Labour standards in parcels
It is very disappointing that Ofcom has not proposed any measures in response to the CWU’s call for regulation to address the exploitation of workers in the unregulated parcels sector. We argued that Ofcom has a role to play in this given the connection between employment standards and service quality. We said that Ofcom should start by levelling the playing field on mail integrity and consumer protection, whilst also pushing for more powers and duties on labour standards.
Ofcom’s statement says “In response to CWU’s comment concerning the employment models of parcel operators,Ofcom does not regulate parcel operators’ employment models, and this extends to RoyalMail also. We note that CWU would like Ofcom to push for more powers from theGovernment to regulate parcel operators in order to improve quality of service and protectparcel workers.”
Whilst Ofcom notes the CWU’s point on pushing for more powers in this area, they make no further comment on this and there is no commitment to take this forward.
Consumer protection in parcels
It is a concern that Ofcom has decided not to extend mail integrity requirements to all parcel operators other than Royal Mail, which the CWU argued would help to improve quality of service standards. It is also disappointing that Ofcom has only decided to issue guidance for parcel operators other than Royal Mail on complaints handling, as opposed to new rules. The CWU said that voluntary guidance is not sufficient and that rules are needed for all operators to ensure that customer complaints are handled effectively and to provide proper redress for customers when things go wrong. In addition, whilst Ofcom will introduce a new condition for parcel operators to have policies in place for consumers with a disability, unfortunately it will not set minimum requirements on this as called for by the CWU.
Tracking on universal service products
It is disappointing that Ofcom has decided not to allow Royal Mail to offer tracking on universal service products. Ofcom has concluded that extending regulation to include tracking on First and Second Class USO parcel services could harm the further development of competition in the C2X (Consumer to Anywhere) segment. However, as the CWU and Royal Mail have argued, the C2X market is already highly competitive.
Royal Mail has released a statement on Ofcom’s decision on this issue, saying that tracking should be a feature of a modern postal Universal Service in 2022, and urging Ofcom to reconsider its decision.
Welcome decisions
Although there are some clear areas of concern for the CWU, Ofcom has also made some decisions we can welcome, including:
Not to reintroduce price controls or binding efficiency targets on Royal Mail, which we argued would threaten the future financial sustainability of the USO.
Not to extend access regulation to small parcels or other bulk letter services (e.g. business reply mail), which we argued would adversely impact Royal Mail’s revenues and the security of the universal service.
To maintain the requirements on Royal Mail to provide USO services for parcels weighing up to 20kgwhich we said is important in meeting the needs of citizens and consumers.
We will be doing some further analysis on Ofcom’s statement to help inform our next steps in making representations to Ofcom and influencing postal regulation in the interests of our members.
Ofcom’s Review of Postal Regulation Statement, consultation documents and all stakeholder responses, including the CWU’s responses, can be found here:
We have today served notice on Royal Mail Group for a second national ballot on change. Papers will land from next Thursday. That means we have one week to meet every member.
This is a challenge like no other but if any union can do it then it’s us.
Message from Ricky McAulay – CWU Announces Ballot Result
Today the CWU informed us of the result of their ballot, and we are disappointed the vote was in favour of strike action.
The business is at a crossroads. Now is not the right time for the uncertainty and damage that industrial action would bring. Now is the time to agree on a deal that includes the changes we need to set us up for tomorrow, not just today.
Operations Development Director Ricky McAulay has an important message for colleagues, following the result of the CWU’s ballot:
‘Today the CWU informed us of the result of their ballot, and we are disappointed the vote was in favour of strike action.
We offered a deal worth up to 5.5% for CWU grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years, which the CWU rejected. We can only fund this offer by making the changes that will pay for it and ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry.
Despite nearly three months of talks, the CWU have not engaged in any meaningful discussion on the changes we need to make to adapt. Ensuring we can change, at pace, is the route to protecting well-paid, permanent, jobs long term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay and terms and conditions.
That is in the interest of Royal Mail and all its employees.
We have asked CWU for further talks, and are hopeful that continuing our talks on change will lead to an agreement that avoids detrimental industrial action.
Industrial action on this scale will be incredibly damaging for Royal Mail.
The business is at a crossroads. We are operating in a challenging business environment with high inflation, supply chain disruption and changing customer preferences. We have to change, and change now.
Now is not the right time for the uncertainty industrial action will bring. Now is the time to agree on a deal that includes the changes we need to set us up for tomorrow, not just today.
We remain committed to working with the CWU to grow this great business and ensure long term job security for us all.’
2022 Dispute Relating to CWU Pay Claim for CWU Represented Grades Employed by Royal Mail Group Consisting of Royal Mail, Parcelforce and Fleet
Please find attached a copy of the declaration of the result for the recent industrial action ballot of the above CWU members employed by Royal Mail Group.
The current legislation requires the union to provide all persons entitled to vote in the ballot and the relevant employers “as soon as is reasonably practicable” after holding of the ballot the following information:
The number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot.
The number of votes cast in the ballot.
The number of individuals answering “Yes” to the question, or as the case may be, to each question.
The number of individuals answering “No” to the question, or as the case may be, to each question.
The number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned.
Whether or not the number of votes cast in the ballot is at least 50% of the number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot.
Therefore the ballot result meets the required threshold.
Accordingly you must now take immediate steps to publicise the result to all relevant members, however it is essential that any communications regarding the result must as a minimum contain the information as detailed at items a) to f) inclusively above.
Branches are also reminded that only the National Executive Council has the authority to instruct members to take industrial action.
Further information regarding the next steps of the dispute will be circulated by the DGS (Postal) in due course.
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,Terry PullingerTony KearnsDave WardDeputy General Secretary Postal Senior Deputy General SecretaryGeneral Secretary
Re: Severe Heat Red Weather Warning – RMP&FS Workforce:
This is a further update to LTBs 311/22, 310/22, 308/22, 306/22, 305/22 226/22 and 213/22.
Over the weekend and earlier this morning discussions have taken place with the RMG Interim Global Safety Director and RMP&FS senior Directors and Managers regarding the impact of the Met Office Red Warning hot weather alert on the RMP&FS workforce and services provided by RMP&FS across Royal Mail Group.
Further to the communication issued yesterday, Sunday 17 July 2022, an additional communication Was issued earlier today with the following key points communicated to all RMP&FS workers:-
A Met Office red weather warning indicates that ‘dangerous weather is expected’ and that workers should take action to keep themselves and others safe from its impact.
RMP&FS puts the safety of their people first and the Health and Safety team has been working in consultation with the CWU on a risk assessment that takes into account the Met Office advice.
For any geographical area that has a Red weather warning, the Met Office website should be checked and during the time that the hourly temperature indicates Red (35 degrees C or above) all outdoor operational activity must be suspended.
For an Amber warning, suspension decisions should be reviewedand decided upon locally through the PFSL Risk Assessment
For those areas impacted by weather warnings, once the temperature reaches 35 degrees C or above(forecasted 1pm) employees must stop work immediately and contact their line manager.
Employees should ensure they have plenty of water with them when travelling, these costs can be reimbursed via business expenses
If outdoors, employees should ensure they apply a high factor sunscreen at regular intervals during the day, cover up and wear a wide-brimmed hat
The Met Office weather warnings will be monitored every hour during the day via Met Office Website (Weather and climate change – Met Office) and any updates will be communicated
All RMP&FS workers should return to their office if at any time they feel unwell due to the heat and intense sunlight.
See attached:
RMG/RMPFS Managers Red Weather Warning Update Communication dated 17 July 2022 and additional communication dated 18 July 2022 – issued by Stuart Davies Director of Property & Facilities Solutions Ltd (PFSL) and Phil Graham RMG Interim Safety Director
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Re: Severe Heat Red Weather Warning – Distribution and Collections Drivers:
This is a further update to LTBs 310/22, 308/22, 306/22, 305/22 226/22 and 213/22.
This LTB should be read in conjunction with LTB 310/22 and the attachment to that LTB.
Following a number of enquiries from ASRs and Branches regarding Collections and Distributions Drivers, the issue was subject to further discussions this morning with Royal Mail Directors and from there a further additional message has now been issued to All managers from the Operations Director Ricky McAulay and Safety Director Phil Graham (see copy attached).
Further to the previous message to all Managers regarding the Met Office’s red weather warning, in place for Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July, the additional message issued today to Managers confirms that the guidance issued applies to all staff – and includes all collections and distribution drivers (including drivers of 7.5 tonne trucks).
Managers should check the Met Office website and recall all colleagues including drivers to the office if the temperature reaches 35 degrees C or above.
Drivers should return to their base as soon as possible, and be given further guidance based on the Severe Weather Risk Assessment which should be undertaken in consultation with CWU ASRs and WSRs.
Managers have been told to work with the affected workforce and CWU Safety Reps in periods of high temperatures and allow staff to make personal judgements throughout the day.
All workers should be advised to cover up, drink plenty of water, take breaks in the shade, apply sunscreen – and return to the office if at any time they feel unwell due to the heat and intense sunlight.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 