Royal Mail Road Traffic Accident/Collision Procedure

Branches will be aware we have been in negotiations with Royal Mail to introduce a new agreement for road traffic accidents / collisions which will replace the current agreement.

We have now concluded a negotiator’s agreement. For a number of reasons, the negotiations have taken longer than we expected, however we wanted to ensure we concluded the best agreement we could through negotiation and not allow frustrations to get in the way.

Our concerns over the current process have been well documented with our primary concern being Royal Mail moving to the Conduct Code too early in the accident investigation instead of the remedial/re-training approach.

This procedure is clearer and less ambiguous for those unfortunate occasions when our members are involved in an accident/collision.

The shared principles emphasise the joint commitment to:

• Keeping drivers driving
• Safety
• A detailed investigation
• Training
• Improving driving standards

This is a very welcome move away from the blame and punishment approach Royal Mail have adopted through the current process.

We believe our Branches and Representatives will welcome this new agreement. The new agreement simplifies the process and includes:

• The definition of a road traffic accident / collision
• Acceptance accidents can and will happen
• Full involvement of CWU Area Safety Representatives
• Explaining precautionary removal from driving is not a standard or punitive approach
• Ensuring vehicles involved in accidents / collisions will be presented to the Fleet workshop to be checked to see whether there was any contributing factor to the accident
• Clarity of when and at what point in the agreement the conduct code can be used
• A precise stepped approach to conclude the investigation into the road traffic accident / collision before moving to conduct, if appropriate
• A number of supportive interventions
• Our members being able to request temporary reassignment to non-driving duties after an accident

The agreement will now be the subject of a branch ballot. In advance of the ballot it will be our intention to hold a National Briefing on the agreement, further details of the briefings will be published to branches in due course.

Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to:

PTCS department quoting ref 320e-mail address khay@cwu.org or;
Outdoor department quoting ref 300 e-mail address outdoorsecretary@cwu.org
National & Area Distribution department quoting ref 202.11email address dwyatt@cwu.org

Yours sincerely                                               
Carl Maden                                                
Assistant Secretary  

Yours sincerely  
Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary   

Yours sincerely 
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 395/21

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ONLINE EVENT FOR CWU BRANCHES – NINA TURNER

We are pleased to announce that on Tuesday 28th September at 6:30pm, the CWU will be hosting an online discussion between General Secretary Dave Ward and the US politician Nina Turner. Branches and representatives will also have the chance to put questions directly to Nina.

The CWU has been instrumental in organising Nina’s first official visit to Britain, where she will visit Labour Party conference and speak at the Tribune Rally on Monday 27th. Nina has agreed to undertake a number of CWU engagements and we felt it was important for Branches to have the opportunity to engage directly with such a high profile figure.

Nina has served as a City Councillor and a State Senator in her home state of Ohio and was a senior national figure in both of the Bernie Sanders presidential nomination campaigns.

She is also the leader of Our Revolution, a grassroots organisation campaigning to overturn corporate influence in American politics and to put more trade unionists and progressives into national political positions.

As a union, we are very happy that as a result of our work with Tribune, members will have an exclusive opportunity to engage with one of America’s most important progressive figures. 

We hope it will be a unique and inspiring opportunity for members and branches to engage with someone who has been vital in fighting for a pro-working class agenda in America.

You can see an example of her powerful speaking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXF5lb_2Tj4&t=50s&ab_channel=wwwMOXNEWScom

You can register for the session via this link https://cwu-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqduypqTItG9enjCqkaGsoHyf0DTWENIi-

We urge all Branches to be represented on the call and look forward to seeing you on the 28^th.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 409/21 – ONLINE EVENT FOR CWU BRANCHES – NINA TURNER

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Royal Mail Fleet Vehicle Replacement Plan Update

Branches will recall LTB 509/19 advising the Joint Statement on Optimise Prime – Road to Zero Emissions.  The whole issue of pollution and the impact on health, the environment and global warming have been increasingly coming into focus and continues to hold the international centre of attention.

As previously reported, Royal Mail Fleet have secured increased funding for new vehicles in their 5-year plan which is higher than normally provided. The clear intention of Fleet will be to address the rise in Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and increased costs of vehicle access across the UK. Royal Mail continues to be involved in what is considered the world’s biggest trial of commercial EVs that brings together leading companies in Hitachi technology giants, UK electricity distribution partners and key household operators Centrica, Uber and Royal Mail.

The purpose of the trial in 2019 was to understand what impact a mass migration of EVs will have on the grid infrastructure and its capacity, including software management utilising a smart charging interface and management tool. The consortium-led trial covers the following streams; Public Charging, Home Based Charging and Depot Based Charging. Royal Mail will participate in the Depot Based Charging.  The key data that Royal Mail requires to be provided daily from the Electric vehicles is the battery state of charge and fluctuations in the current draw along with distance travelled for the route to build the smart charging depot optimisation tool. A number of various EVs are now deployed into the fleet which include Mercedes eVitos, Peugeot Experts & Partners, Renault Kangoo’s and Nissan. Royal Mail will obtain the daily battery life status and current draw profile to enable Hitachi to build the smart charging depot tool.

For this project, the data from these vehicles will be recorded and shared with drivers if required, for coaching purposes only. As such, the Joint Statement reaffirms driver performance data will continue to remain confidential to the individual and will not be displayed on notice boards or in league tables, nor will it form part of performance management. It is also reaffirmed that this technology is not being deployed for use as a disciplinary tool or a source of information to be used in conduct cases.

The key benefits to Royal Mail include fuel savings, reduction in vehicle maintenance costs, avoidance of Congestion Zone and Clean Air Zone Charge as well as road tax and first registration fees. Such benefits may lead to increased opportunities for final mile consolidation in Clean Air Zones to secure additional revenues from parcels. The garage network in Fleet will become the first UK network of scale to offer EV services which will include full exposure to the technical learning and the potential for further commercial opportunities.

Branches are reminded that as further EVs are deployed, they will be part of the yearly activity associated with the vehicle replacement plan alongside diesel and petrol vehicles.  Whilst the ongoing EV replacement is considered as Business As Usual (BAU) there remains an absolute need for full CWU IR and ASR involvement to determine and agree safe installation of charging posts in all new sites including all relevant documentation, Risk Assessments and subsequent Safe System of Works. There is an additional 3,000 new EVs to be deployed into the Light Commercial Vehicle fleet (LCV) across 29 sites, of which 11 are considered as a priority.  Branches within these localities will of course be invited to attend scoping sessions to address any such concern in advance of the new EV arrival which is scheduled to be completed by March 2022.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 300, email address: njones@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch 

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 407/21 – Royal Mail Fleet Vehicle Replacement Plan Update

Att: Copy of Phase 1a prepeak EV sites with reserves

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Election of: Capita Territorial and Substitute Territorial Representatives (TVL Contract) – 2021

Further to LTB 362/21 dated 1^stSeptember 2021, please find detailed below the results of the ballot.

NORTHERN TERRITORYCapita RepresentativeBryan Cossar48*ElectedRobert Ferrier12Spoilt Ballot Papers-no vote0Spoilt Ballot Papers0Total Ballot Papers Received60Total Ballot Papers Dispatched108Capita Substitute RepresentativeGraham Pllu25Wilhelmus Van Mierlo32*ElectedSpoilt Ballot Papers-no vote3Spoilt Ballot Papers0Total Ballot Papers Received60Total Ballot Papers Dispatched108

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 408/21

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A great session on pensions tonight with DGSP Terry Pullinger.

Share these links for catch up.

Facebook https://fb.watch/8bfgiFwgpU/

Twitter https://twitter.com/cwunews/status/1440722524900192262?s=21

YouTube https://youtu.be/oUcDiiUlWCM

CWUandProud

Affiliate – the CWU App: Download Now

Following your feedback we are delighted to today launch a new App for members and the wider trade union movement. You will now be able to access the best of our online communications in one place. No more searching Facebook for videos, Soundcloud for podcasts or Twitter for statements. 

The App is free for all members and you can download it by simply searching for ‘Affiliate the CWU App’ in your App Store or via the links below. 

App Store for Apple devices

Google Play Store for Android devices

Please note, the app download and sign up process must be completed on your phone and not on a desktop computer. To access a download guide and further information on your system requirements for download, please visit: www.cwu.org/affiliate

It is absolutely crucial that as many members as possible download and use the App. We’ll have exclusive content, polls, podcast, videos and articles in the coming weeks. 

Download it now and ask your colleagues to do the same. If you have any issues with the downloading process simply email mmurray@cwu.org and we will help you out. 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement & Media

Postal Apprentices – CWU Membership/Recruitment & Subscription Rates

Branches will be aware from the contents of LTB 401/21 circulated on 20^th September 2021 that the initial tranche of Postal Apprentices have started their employment and can now be recruited to/or join the CWU.

It was previously reported that the usual subscription rates that are applicable to adult recruits 18 years of age and above will apply to Postal Apprentices but that in respect of the rates for the 16/17-year-old age group, the Union are currently working with Royal Mail Group to update the PSP System to accommodate the new subscription rates for our younger colleagues. These discussions have also involved the Membership Department at CWU Headquarters.

It has now been confirmed that as an interim solution from Monday 27^th September 2021 and whilst Royal Mail Group update the PSP system, an additional column will be added to the file that is supplied to the Royal Mail Group processing team in order to identify those who are 16 and 17 years old and set the membership rate as outlined below which was agreed in consultation with the SDGS Department:

• All 16 year olds who Opt IN to the Levy Plan 6 pay £1.57 per week (Those who Opt OUT of the Levy will pay £1.37 per week).
• All 17 year olds who Opt IN to the Levy Plan 5 pay £1.93 per week (Those who Opt OUT of the Levy will pay £1.73 per week).

This will replace the need for a direct debit form to be completed and provides the method for ensuring that those aged 16 and 17 can join the CWU and pay their subscriptions through deduction at source.

In closing I would like to place on record my thanks and appreciation to both Matt Edwards and Laura Wright in the CWU Headquarters Membership Department for their help and assistance in resolving this matter.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 406/21 – Postal Apprentices – CWU Membership Recruitment Subscription Rates

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LACEY AND JOHN PAUL BENNETT DONATION FUND

We are writing to advise Branches of the tragic and very sad news reported in the media of the death of Lacey and John Paul Bennett whose father Jason Bennett is a CWU member employed at the Sheffield City Delivery Office. Lacey and John Paul’s mother Terri Harris and Connie Gent, a friend of Lacey, were also tragic victims.

In conjunction with the South Yorkshire & District Amal Branch, CWU HQ have set up an appeal fund where Branches can make a donation. This appeal is to assist the family and Jason at this very difficult time.

Donations from branches should be made via a bank transfer to the CWU’s General Fund, please ensure that the following reference is used with the donation “LACEY AND JOHN PAUL BENNETT DONATION”.

Any enquiries on the above should be address to jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward                                                   

General Secretary           

LTB 405/21 – LACEY AND JOHN PAUL BENNETT DONATION FUND                          

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RMPFS IR Framework Agreement – Ballot Result

Further to LTB 365/21 dated 3rd September 2021 at the close of the ballot on 21st September the following result was declared:

95 Ballot papers issued
42 ballot papers returned

Total possible votes 1413

Total Votes in favour of the agreement    685

Total votes against the agreement 0

Thank you to all Branches that took part in the ballot.

Next Steps
A timetable will be set in due course for the nomination process for individuals to fill the roles and any consequential elections which need to take place to enable the implementation of the new RMPFS I.R. Framework.

Any enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS/Outdoor Departments, quoting reference number 301/120.12, email: khay@cwu.org or outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely                                               
Carl Maden                                                    
Assistant Secretary              

Yours sincerely
Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

LTB 403/21

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