Election of:

• Royal Mail Divisional Representative Northern Ireland – 2022
• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives (Substitute) Northern Ireland – 2022
• Royal Mail Divisional Chair Northern Ireland – 2022
• Royal Mail Divisional Representatives (Substitute) Scotland – 2022

Further to LTB 166/22 dated 7^th April 2022 at the close of nominations at 14:00 on 21^st April 2022, the following were received:

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVE – NORTHERN IRELAND Fra MartinNorthern Ireland Combined*Elected

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVE SUBSTITUTE – NORTHERN IRELAND Gary HannawayNorthern Ireland West*Elected

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL CHAIR – NORTHERN IRELAND Colm McAuleyNorthern Ireland Combined*Elected

ROYAL MAIL DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVE SUBSTITUTE – SCOTLAND Gary ClarkScotland No 2BALLOT REQUIREDBrian DonaghyGlasgow District Amal George RossGrampian & Shetland Amal 

The timetable for the above ballot will be notified to branches 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,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

22LTB186

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POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE 2021/22 – STRIKE DATE TUESDAY 3^RD MAY

Branches are advised we have written directly to our Post Office members at their home addresses with regards to the strike date on 3^rdMay (attached).  Obviously we have encouraged members to support the one day strike to send an exceptionally strong message to Nick Read, CEO that a decent and fair agreement is required in respect of the pay dispute for 2021.  Also, pay for 2022 needs to be resolved.

The strike date has also been communicated to our members across social media and a web article was published:

Post Office strike – all out on 3rd May

 A Facebook session took place on 20^th April with Chris Webb, Head of Communications, Engagement and Media and the recording of this event can be accessed via the following link:

 The strike has also been picked up by the press and media (example below in the link to The Independent) and there is an article in the spring edition of The Voice:

https://www.independent.co.uk/business/post-office-workers-to-strike-over-pay-b2061582.html

Click to access 6687-The-Voice-Spring-2022-low-res.pdf

If members have any questions regarding the strike they are advised to contact their Rep.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

22LTB189 Post Office – Pay Dispute 2021-22 – Strike Date Tuesday 3rd May

Attachment 1 to 22LTB189

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CWU Conference 2022 – Telecom and Financial Services Standing Order Report No.2

 Please find attached the following:

• TFS SOC Report Supplementary No.2

Branches are reminded that credentials and voting cards and any further Standing Orders Reports will be available to pick up from the registration desk in the Windsor Hall Foyer in the Bournemouth International Centre from 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm on Saturday 23^rd April 2022.

Branches are also reminded that speakers cards need to be completed and returned prior to conference to enable the information to be input onto the system.

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

22LTB188 – Telecom and Financial Services Standing Orders Report No.2

TFSE 2022 – SOR No.2

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TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH MEMBERS IN RIVUS FLEET SOLUTIONS

Dear Colleague

Rivus Fleet Solutions Branch Forum / Consultative Committee Meeting – 11 May, CWU HQ

At the last Rivus Fleet Solutions Consultative Committee, branches indicated that they would prefer the next meeting to take place face to face in CWU headquarters.

The next Consultative Committee will therefore take place on 11 May at 11am at CWU HQ.

Please be reminded that those branches with members employed by Rivus Fleet Solutions will be eligible to send one delegate to the Consultative Committee. Delegates should be preferably employed by Rivus Fleet Solutions and given the developing situation on BT Pay, we would expect branches to send Rivus employees as a first preference. Delegates employed by Rivus Fleet Solutions should ensure that their release is agreed with their line manager. The cost of the branch delegates attending this meeting will be borne by the branches.

Please provide any agenda items and the name of the person attending to Julie Quaife on jquaife@cwu.org so that visitors’ security passes can be prepared in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Eldred
Assistant Secretary

LTB 185.2022

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NHS issues urgent warning to all current and former cigarette smokers as the new ‘Targeted Lung Health Check Programme’ is launched

The NHS has issued an urgent ‘cancer warning’ to all current and former cigarette smokers and urged them to get checked!

As part of a new ‘Targeted Lung Health Check Programme’ initiative NHS chiefs are urging people to take up invitations for lung cancer check-ups after hundreds were diagnosed with the disease in mobile trucks.

NHS mobile teams have so far diagnosed 600 people with the Lung Cancer disease in travelling trucks which have been visiting community sites across the UK like supermarkets and sports centres piloting the new drive.

It comes as new figures show that only just over a third (35%) of patients go to their lung health check when invited by the NHS.

The ‘NHS Warning’ states that those most at risk of lung cancer, like former and current smokers, are invited for a lung “MOT” in the mobile trucks.

A further 20 NHS lung truck sites are due to go live shortly with the capacity to invite 750,000 more people at increased risk for a check, in an effort to catch thousands more cancers at an early stage.

The NHS state that these lung checks can save lives – by going out into the communities, more people are being found who would not otherwise have realised they have lung cancer. Hundreds have already been diagnosed and hundreds of thousands due to be invited for a check-up.

Lung cancer can often be hard to detect at an early stage and so these checks, close to people’s homes, show how the NHS is taking action to find more people with cancer.

Catching cancer early is key to being able to treat it effectively and the health service is urging people to go and get a check for lung cancer in community testing sites, known as the ‘Targeted Lung Health Check Programme.’

The NHS state that people diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive than those whose cancer is caught late.

The mobile teams have so far diagnosed 600 people with the disease in their travelling trucks up and down the country.

Am I eligible for a lunch cancer check?

The NHS is inviting those most at risk of lung cancer to the check-ups and these people include current and ex-smokers.

The NHS state that since the initiative was recently launched, 77% found to have lung cancer were caught at either stage one or two, giving patients a better chance of survival.

Despite this, the NHS has been forced to urge at-risk patients to come forward for their checks. Their data says that only 35% of patients go to their lung check when invited by the NHS.

Smokers or former smokers between 55 and 74 are invited to speak to a healthcare professional for a scan.

Where can I get the NHS lung cancer check?

For those invited, the NHS lung trucks are conveniently located at “community sites including supermarket car parks, sports and shopping centres”.

Around 1.5 million people will be invited to attend by 2024-2025, though this shouldn’t stop people from going to their doctor if they have concerns.

The NHS advise that people with concerns and those with worrying symptoms or those who have been coughing for three weeks or more, should contact their GP and get checked out.

What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

• Coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away.
• Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing..
• Shortness of breath.
• Coughing up blood or rust-coloured sputum (spit or phlegm).
• Feeling very tired or weak all the time.
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss with no known cause.
• Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back

Attachment:
Spot Lung Cancer Early – Cancer Research UK Leaflet

Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

22LTB184 NHS issues urgent warning to all current and former cigarette smokers as the new Targeted Lung Health Check Programme is launched

Spot Lung Cancer Early – Cancer Research UK Leaflet

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Re: Royal Mail Group Tyre Safety Campaign – “Tyre Safety – Why Risk It” – “Don’t Chance It – Check It” and “ACT – Air Pressure, Condition & Tread”:

Introduction:

Royal Mail Group have launched a major Tyre Safety and driver awareness raising initiative following a series of visits and spot checks at Delivery Offices where a number of tyres in a clearly ‘dangerous’ and illegal condition were discovered. See attached two example images of illegal tyres discovered on in-service vans at two delivery offices.

On further investigation, it was found that Royal Mail Fleet Workshops are currently removing and replacing a significant number of illegal tyres from Royal Mail vehicles, with examples of tyres worn until there is no remaining tread and the steel wires and textile cords are exposed.

The clear conclusion drawn from this is that firstly, driver pre-use safety checks are not taking place in a number of Offices and secondly, Managers (PiCs) are also not undertaking checks either.

SHE Huddle/Staff Briefing – RMTV, Screens, Intranet, Slides and Comms:

Find attached a Royal Mail Group SHE Huddle/Staff Briefing which has been prepared with the involvement and under the direction of the RMG National Road Safety Manager and RMG Global Director of Safety and Health which is being released and circulated this week.

Supporting the SHE Huddle/Staff Briefing are two slides (copies attached) which will be repeatedly shown on the Royal Mail Group screens, RMG intranet and the RMG ‘workplace’ social media site. There will additionally will be a slot on RMTV to increase coverage of this campaign with communications going out over the next two weeks.

Full involvement and support of CWU ASRs and WSRs: 

In the SHE Huddle/Staff Briefing document, it’s suggested that Unit Managers/PiCs (Person in Control) might deliver the SHE Huddle in the yard and check some fleet vehicles tyres whilst they are delivering the briefing to drivers.  The RMG National Road Safety Manager and RMG Global Director of Safety and Health have specifically requested the full involvement and support of CWU ASRs and WSRs at the Offices in their Branch area, ensuring that these vital messages are delivered to our members who are Drivers for Royal Mail, Parcelforce, RMSS, RMP&FS etc. ASRs are asked to check that all Offices have delivered the Staff Briefing and displayed the attached information.

 Life-threatening risk:

With a greater likelihood of losing road grip or traction, greater stopping distances and an increased risk of life-threatening things like loss of control, aquaplaning and blowouts, nothing is more dangerous than driving with worn-out tyres. By doing so, drivers put themselves and others at risk. There’s also the risk of prosecution and serious penalties. ‘Check the tyres on your van every day’ is the clear message both RMG and the CWU want to get across to all drivers – it’s so very important. Whenever significant tread wear, cuts or lumps, bulges or cracks etc are spotted, drivers should immediately report it and don’t drive a vehicle with unsafe worn or damaged tyres – get them replaced. So, as far as tyres go, there is no doubt that it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Drivers Pre-Use Daily Vehicle Checks – “MANDATORY REQUIREMENT” – We need every driver to do the right thing:

Tyres are an integral part of all drivers daily vehicle safety checks, and it is a ‘mandatory requirement’ that every tyre on every vehicle is checked every day before it is driven.

The campaign message is; “Don’t Chance It, Check It.” Vehicle pre-use safety checks and wearing a seatbelt whilst driving are the essential basics for keeping safe on the road. We need every driver doing the right thing, every day. Tyres are the part of a vehicle that keeps it attached to the road. Ensuring that they are well maintained is essential to ensure that they perform properly and keep our drivers and other road users safe.

Royal Mail Group policy requires that drivers complete a visual check of their vehicle every day before use. This includes checking the tyres. Checking for any damage and feeling the tyre marker bars within the tread. If the tread is level with the marker then the tyre is below the legal limit and needs changing.

On a weekly basis, drivers should also measure the depth of tread across the width of the tyre and check that the tyre is correctly inflated. On RM Operational vehicles the tyre pressure is marked on the wheel arch of the vehicle. It can also be found on plates inside the doors, or in vehicle handbook. If the tread is 2mm or below, then it must be changed.

Time is allowed in drivers duties for these pre-use safety checks to be completed.

Never Drive a Vehicle with defective tyres 

Managers Key Actions:

The message to all Managers/PiCs is that tyres are an integral part of their staff, driver team’s daily vehicle checks, and it is a mandatory requirement that every tyre on every vehicle is checked every day before it is driven. When making sure vehicle checks are being completed at the site, managers have been asked to physically check at least one vehicle per week to ensure that vehicle check records accurately reflect the condition of the vehicle. In deliveries, managers should use the vehicle checks dashboard or check vehicle log-books to ensure that all drivers are completing vehicle checks and to see which vehicles have been/have not been checked, taking prompt action to correct this if they aren’t.  Managers are asked to deliver the attached huddle/briefing in the yard and complete checks of some vehicle tyres with the drivers. Managers must ensure that worn tyres are changed in a timely fashion and that any defects found are reported to the RM Fleet Customer Service number. For any tyre work and to replace worn or damaged tyres, call the RM Fleet Customer Service Number: 0345 266 0005.

What can be done to improve road safety? – “ACT”

Ensuring the tyres of all RMG vehicles are well maintained is essential to ensure that they perform properly and most importantly, keep drivers and other road users safe.

Managers should remember to“ACT” and encourage drivers to “ACT” as follows:-

• Air Pressure – ensure that tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.
• Condition – ensure there is no damage, lumps, bulges, cuts or cracks.
• Tread – the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm for car/van tyres and 1.0 mm for HGV.  Royal Mail Group policy is to change tyres at 2.0mm to ensure that RMG vehicles never drop below the legal minimum.

 Did you know? 

• Excessively worn tyresincrease stopping distances, particularly in the wet and increase the risk of a ‘blow-out’ which can result in loss of control and lead to a serious collision.
• Driving with illegal tyres risks serious injury or even fatality to the driver or other road users.
• Incorrectly inflated tyres will provide less grip, will wear quickly and unevenly, and will reduce fuel economy.
• Damaged tyres with lumps, bulges, cuts or cracks, can result in ‘blow-outs’ where the tyre fails catastrophically and without warning.
• Low tread reduces grip and increases stopping distances, particularly in the wet.

Illegal, damaged, or under-inflated tyres are the most common vehicle defect and contribute to around 200 deaths and 1200 serious road traffic accidents in the UK each year. 

Drivers Legal Responsibility and Prosecution Risks:

Drivers are personally responsible for the condition of the tyres on the Royal Mail vehicles they are driving whilst on the road. Driving with illegal tyres can result in the driver receiving a fine of up to £2500 and 3 penalty points, Per Tyre! – Would all ASRs and WSRs get this message across to all our Driving Members! Many think that Royal Mail will solely be held responsible when it’s not the case!

Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety and Environment Officer

LTB 183-22 Royal Mail Group Tyre Safety Campaign Tyre Safety – Why Risk It Dont Chance It Check It and ACT – Air Pressure Condition Tread (002)

SHE Huddle FY22 019 Tyres

Example Images of Illegal tyres found on Royal Mail Vans at difference D.._

Are your Tyres ready for action

Know your tyre tread depth 

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June 18^th TUC Rally – Mobilisation Resources

You will be aware from previous communications of the importance of every branch starting to mobilise on a large scale for the TUC demonstration in London on June 18^th.

We will be emphasising just how crucial this is to the overall direction of the union at our Annual Conference next week.

We have also committed to producing a significant level of resource and merchandise to promote the event. Again, we will go through this at our Conference.

We do however recognise that some branches have already commenced work to book coaches and mobilise members and on that basis, we have put together a landing page on the CWU website where branches will be able to download our resources easily.

This page will become more populated in the coming weeks but for now, please make use of the posters and graphics and use them to make members, reps, family, and friends aware of the demonstration.

Link to site https://www.cwu.org/new-deal-for-workers-rally

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

22LTB182 June 18th TUC Rally – Mobilisation Resources

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POST OFFICE: PAY DISPUTE 2021/22 – OFFICIAL STRIKE TUESDAY 3^RD MAY

Further to LTB 177/22 dated 19^thApril.

Following enquiries from our Supply Chain Unit Reps, I wish to provide clarification of the arrangements for the planned strike for Tuesday 3^rd May and in particular for our members who work nights.

The letter to Post Office in respect of the strike notification contained the following regarding the exact timings of the strike action:

• The strike will cover all duties (for the entire duration of the scheduled duty) commencing at or after 00.01 on Tuesday 3rd May 2022 and before 23.59 on Tuesday 3rd May 2022.

Therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, the strike is not a midnight to midnight strike on Tuesday 3^rd.  In essence, the strike applies to all shifts (the entire duration) that commenceon Tuesday 3^rd, irrespective of whether they cross over to the following day.  This means some night members will be on strike into the early hours of Wednesday 4^th May.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

22LTB180 Post Office – Pay Dispute 2021-22 – Official Strike Tuesday 3rd May

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Renewed and Refocused CWU Exchange Mentoring – Invite to become a CWU Mentor

I’m pleased to inform you that the Equality, Education and Development department have recently renewed its CWU Exchange Mentoring Scheme.

The renewed scheme focuses on a one union approach and has purposely been structured to allow mentors and mentees the ability to balance busy work schedules and properly plan for mentoring initiatives, with easy to use guides, template diary logs, quarterly feedback questionnaires and the offer of additional support (where needed) to aid with the process.

With the use of Zoom and online facilities now being utilised on a daily basis new avenues to aid the process and create a better working relationship between mentor & those being mentored have transpired.

To ensure that the new scheme is a success and to enhance our pool of mentors we would encourage experienced activists to apply to become mentors.  

How do I apply?

Experienced activists who are interested in becoming a CWU mentor will need to apply by completing the attached application.  Please give us as much information as possible and submit your application by Monday 16^thMay 2022.  We will ask potential mentees to apply via a similar application process in due course detailing their experience to date and letting us know what they are looking for in a mentor. 

How will we select the CWU Exchange Mentors?

A National Steering Group will shortlist the successful candidates based on the following criteria:

CWU mentors must have

• At least 5 years’ experience within the CWU at a senior level at Branch, National, Regional or IR level
• Excellent communications skills including public speaking
• A demonstrable commitment to developing new activists
• An understanding of the role of mentoring within a trade union
• Ability to commit specified time to the mentoring role
• It will be desirable but not essential to have experience of delivering training, workshops, briefings etc. to other representatives or in the wider labour movement.

What training will be provided?

All successful candidates that meet with the mentor criteria will be invited to attend a two day course.

All training will be delivered by suitably qualified tutors. The course content has been designed to upskill successful candidates by delivering the following aims:

• To develop mentoring skills
• To understand roles and responsibilities within the mentoring partnership
• To understand and apply mentoring skills in line with ethical standards
• To understand and apply the processes and policies of delivering mentoring according to the CWU exchange scheme framework

Selection and matching of Mentees and Mentors

The National Steering group will be responsible for short listing mentors and potential mentees and for matching them with one of our trained mentors.  This will be based on geography, particular areas of interest, constituency, and what they are seeking from the mentoring process.

If you are interested in becoming a CWU Mentor, please submit a completed application by Monday 16^th May 2022.

You can access the electronic application form here

A copy of the mentoring guidance pack can be found attached for further information of the renewed scheme

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

22LTB 179 – Renewed and refocused CWU Exchange Mentoring – Invite to become a CWU Mentor

06630 CWU mentoring guidance pack

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CWU Consolidated Accounts 2021

Further to LTB 164/22 dated 6^th April 2022 which invited questions to the 2021 CWU Accounts, at the closing time the following questions had been submitted by Harrow and District Amal Branch.

Q1.  Does the CWU continue to benefit from a separate commission stream from PREMEX and if so where is this shown in the CWU accounts and what is this commission for?

No, the CWU does not “continue to benefit from a separate commission stream from PREMEX”, therefore it does not show in the CWU Accounts.

Q2.  The Branch understands that PREMEX supplies Unionline with medical reports for personal injury claims. Are the CWU and GMB 100% responsible for the cost of these reports and what is the current outstanding running total for these medical report costs?

PREMEX are commissioned to supply medical reports on certain cases within Unionline. The GMB and CWU are not directly responsible for these costs as these costs form part of the accounts produced by Unionline.  As such this is not a question to the CWU Accounts.

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

22LTB178

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