UK to Change Eligibility to Give Blood, Meaning More People From LGBT+ Communities Can Donate

As reported in previous Letters to Branches, it is long established CWU Conference policy to support the promotion of organ and blood donation. Following which the Union has become a registered partner of the NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) organisation, promoting donation, supporting annual organ and blood donation weeks and supporting campaigns for positive changes.

We previously reported in LTB 262/20 the good news around the law change regarding organ donation in England and Scotland, similar to the change previously made in Wales which means that all adults would hence forth be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have ‘opted-out’ rather than the previous requirement to ‘opt-in’ to being a donor. This change is warmly welcomed by NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) who said that the change will lead to more lives being saved through organ donation.

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) have contacted the Union and other supporters today to inform us that from 14 June all blood, plasma and platelet donors will be asked about recent sexual behaviours using the newly re-named Donation Safety Check form, currently known as the Donor Health Check.  All donors regardless of gender will be asked the same sexual behaviour questions, meaning more people from LGBT+ communities will be eligible to donate, marking a historic move to make blood donation more inclusive without affecting safety.

NHSBT say that changes will mean that eligibility to donate will be based on a more individualised assessment rather than on a risk assigned to a group or population, and deferrals will be based on behaviours evidenced to be at a higher risk of sexual infection. The process of giving blood will not change. Donors will no longer be asked if they are a man who has had sex with another man. Instead, any individual who attends to give blood – regardless of gender – will be asked if they have had sex and, if so, about recent sexual behaviours.

The ‘Terrence Higgins Trust’ has strongly welcomed the change in a statement issued today, stating that “It’s great to see these changes to blood donation eligibility being brought in from June. THT have always been clear that the safety of the blood supply is the priority here. This change to a more individualised risk assessment is in line with the latest scientific evidence while also allowing as many people as possible to safely donate blood”.

(NOTE: Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns about and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health).

Whilst NHSBT have had to reduce the intensity of their public information campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic, they remain firmly committed to publicising the donation rule change. They inform us that they are in the process of planning the next phase of the campaign and publicity.

NHSBT have thanked supporters including the CWU and requested that supporting organisations including the CWU help in communicating the message to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the change and understand the vitally important need for life-saving organ and blood donation.

At the same time NHSBT seek to reassure people that it is still their choice whether or not to be a blood and/or organ donor. People’s faith, beliefs and culture will always continue to be respected by NHSBT and CWU.

To read further information on the 14 June changes visit: https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/fair-steering-group/

To obtain further general information, go to the NHSBT Website at:  www.nhsbt.nhs.uk

Information Telephone Line. Any member wishing to speak to somebody about their choices can call a dedicated line:0300 303 2094

Previous LTBs issued on Blood and Organ Donation:  LTB 262/20, 561/19, 387/19, 358/19, 269/19, 178/19, 084/19, 475/18, 454/18, 503/17.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 226/21 – UK to Change Eligibility to Give Blood, Meaning More People From LGBT+ Communities Can Donate

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ROYAL MAIL: MDEC TRANSFORMATION – PATHWAY TO CHANGE AGREEMENT

Further to LTB 156/21 dated 9^th April.

Following the National Agreement reached with MDEC management with regards to The Pathway to Change Agreement, we have continued our discussions in relation to the preference exercise for the MDEC units at Farnworth, Plymouth and Stoke.  As a result, three Joint Statements have been agreed for each of these units on Preference Exercise Outcomes and Next Steps which are attached to this LTB for your reference.

The preference exercise has been conducted fully in line with MTSF principles and every effort will be made to explore reasonable opportunities to find alternative roles for our members within Royal Mail that require redeployment.

For our members who have elected to take voluntary redundancy, they have been provided with an indicative estimate of their lump sum and a formal offer is expected to be made within the next week.  I am also pleased to report we have received confirmation from Kevin Thompson, Head of Pipeline Performance and CI, that for those members who wish to take a redundancy package in accordance with MTSF, they will see the value of their compensation monies improved to fully take account of the planned bonus consolidation of £60 per month due to be included with July’s salaries (backdated to 1st April 2021).  The reassurance provided by Kevin Thompson will no doubt be welcomed by our members who are considering VR as an option.  Accordingly, Branches and MDEC Representatives are encouraged to bring this development to the attention of the members concerned.

Any queries in relation to this LTB should be sent to Lea Sheridan lsheridan@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 225/21 – Royal Mail – MDEC Transformation – Pathway To Change Agreement

Attachment 1 to 21LTB225 – Joint Statement Farnworth

Attachment 2 to 21LTB225 – Joint Statement Plymouth

Attachment 3 to 21LTB225 – Joint Statement Stoke

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POST OFFICE: DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION SCHEME (RMPP) – HISTORICAL ERRORS MADE BY POST OFFICE

Branches and our Post Office members are advised of a serious matter that has been brought to our attention by Post Office.  This issue is specifically in regards to the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme (Royal Mail Pension Plan – RMPP) which closed in March 2017 and there is absolutely no impact on the Defined Contribution pension scheme administered by Scottish Widows.

Overview

Post Office has, for a number of years, incorrectly calculated how some pay and/or allowances should count towards the pension members have built up in the RMPP.  Therefore, Post Office has provided some incorrect pay information to the Pensions Service Centre (PSC) where the pension scheme is administered.  We understand that extensive work has been undertaken over the course of the last year by Post Office to analyse the cause of these errors, for what duration this has occurred for and exactly who is impacted (as this does not affect all members of the RMPP).  This analysis is still ongoing and we are advised it is not completed as the errors potentially go back a number of years.

It is essential that no RMPP scheme member panics or worries about this unfortunate situation as we have absolute commitments from Post Office and the RMPP Trustee that ultimately nobody will receive a pension less than they are entitled to.  However, both CWU and Unite have pressed Post Office into being open and transparent with scheme members about these mistakes they have made and consequently they are communicating on the basis of letting members know what has happened and crucially what they are doing to rectify these problems.  In this regard, the following communications (attached to this LTB for your information) are being sent to RMPP scheme members over the coming days:

• Post Office communication via a “One Update” from Angela Williams, Interim Group Chief People Officer
• RMPP Trustee communication (to home addresses)
• Joint CWU/Unite letter

To understand this position better, it is imperative that our members in the RMPP read all three of these letters together.

Who is Going to Pay for These Errors?

In our opinion the answer is simple – Post Office has made these errors and is culpable and therefore should pay to rectify the problem by using its own money to pay for the mistakes.

Hands off our Members’ Pension Surplus

Post Office is currently putting forward the position that it needs to find out exactly how much it is going to cost to put right these mistakes before making any decisions.  We believe this is completely irrelevant.  This is money the company should have paid in contributions to the scheme for our members over the years and hasn’t.  Both CWU and Unite have made it clear to Post Office that under no circumstances should the pension “surplus” be used to rectify these errors as in our view the surplus is the members’ money, ring-fenced for distribution to the members at a time and via a method agreed by the Trustee.

As outlined in the attached Joint letter to members, CWU and Unite are calling upon Nick Read to face up to his responsibilities by committing Post Office to augment the scheme to pay for the errors it made.  I’m certain that anything less would be unacceptable to our members.

If Branches receive enquires from Post Office members in relation to this LTB, please redirect these to lsheridan@cwu.org

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 223/21 – Post Office – Defined Benefit Pension Scheme (RMPP) – Historical Errors Made By Post Office

Attachment 1: to 21LTB223

Attachment 2: to 21LTB223

Attachment 3: to 21LTB223

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Post Office Ltd – Coronavirus / Covid-19 – ‘LFD’ Rapid Workforce Testing Programme:

Background

Further to LTBs 102, 183, 188, 190 and 197/21 reporting on the agreed introduction of Workforce Covid-19/Coronavirus testing in Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail, Parcelforce, RMSS, RMPFS, RMF, RME, RMI, RMCE etc) to help reduce the spread of virus, I’m pleased to report that Post Office Ltd (POL) are also joining the government backed scheme.

Introduction

Post Office Ltd have now also made a successful application and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has sanctioned POL joining the ‘workplace collect Lateral Flow Device (LFD) Test Kit/testing initiative. This will provide members not displaying any symptoms (either asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic), who are unable to work from home and especially in areas where infection rates, connected to new variants, are increasing, with an opportunity to collect free LFD Test Kits at the workplace or from the POL Swindon Stock Centre, enabling members to self-test conveniently, in the privacy of their own home.

POL are jointly with CWU and Unite/CMA supporting the government drive to increase workforce testing as part of the overall government drive to detect Coronavirus (Covid-19) in workers who are not showing symptoms.

POL Pilot

To ensure the process works and the controls are met, POL have conducted a brief trial/pilot in six POL Directly Managed Branch Offices and three POL Supply Chain Centres as well as with 270 field operations employees who are visiting multi sites as part of the job. Early feedback suggests the trial/pilot has been successful and POL are now rolling out the offer of free LFD Test Kits to all employees who are unable to work from home, especially in areas of the country where there are concerns regarding an increasing rate of infection.

Roll Out 

POL is now going to offer to provide test kits to all employees who are unable to work from home, so that will include all DMBs and Supply Chain sites and all field colleagues who are visiting branches. Line managers will now offer members the opportunity to be participate in the scheme and will be providing members with free test kits.

DHSC Testing Process and Controls

Prior to distributing LFD Test Kits to members who opt to participate in this initiative, there are a number of controls that need to be put in place due to governance terms and conditions of the scheme. These include training of the managers involved in the process and a requirement to capture data and serial numbers of test kits that are provided for use at home. Once employees have read the privacy notice and provided consent, they will be supplied with a guide on how to use the LFD Test Kits and also details on how to register so as to log test results through the self-test LFD Test portal www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.

CWU strongly supports the scheme and encourages members to opt in to testing and to register their results as this will help the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to assess infection and testing trends across the UK and enable decisions to be made regarding future Covid controls and restrictions.

Getting a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) Rapid Test

In the meantime all members can still order kits for home use through the Universal scheme for the general public at: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Everyone is now able to access these free, regular, rapid coronavirus LFD test kits for themselves and their families to use twice a week, following the government announcement. Now free rapid testing is on offer, people are encouraged to take regular tests to help prevent outbreaks and reclaim a more normal way of life.

Getting a rapid test is quick and convenient. Over 100,000 employers (including Royal Mail Group and POL) have registered their interest to provide rapid tests to their employees, and the offer of free testing is being expanded to companies with over 10 workers. LFD Test Kits can be obtained through:

• Workplace testing programmes (as with RMG and POL)
• An on-line home ordering service, which allows people to order LFD test kits to be delivered to their home
• Community testing, offered by all local authorities
• Collection from PCR Test Centres (during specific test collection times)
• Testing on-site at Schools and Colleges
• ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service through which People can collect a box of 7 rapid tests to use twice a week at home.

1 in 3 People Show No Symptoms

One in three people with COVID-19 do not experience or show any symptoms and may be spreading the virus unwittingly. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately and avoid spreading the virus and infecting others.

Lateral Flow Device (LFD) Rapid Test Accuracy

Since rapid LFD testing was introduced, over 120,000 positive Covid-19 cases that would not have been found otherwise have already been identified by LFDs. By making rapid tests available to everyone, more cases will be detected, breaking chains of transmission, avoiding infections and saving lives.

Recent analysis from NHS Test and Trace shows that for every 1,000 lateral flow tests carried out, there is less than 1 false positive result. LFDs detect cases with high levels of virus and are very effective in finding people who don’t have symptoms but are very likely to transmit the disease.

The rapid Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test is a very simple process which is undertaken in the privacy of your own home and provides a result in half an hour.

In Summary

Alongside the rollout of the vaccine, regular testing is going to be an essential part of cutting infection rates and easing lockdown restrictions as it will help us quickly suppress the spread of variants. Through new testing technology, positive cases of virus variants of concern are being detected faster than ever before. More people getting a test will increase the ability to identify and control the threat of Covid-19 variants.

Rapid testing helps us find COVID-19 cases that wouldn’t otherwise be known about, helping to break chains of transmission. LFD Rapid tests are effective in detecting people that are infectious and therefore most likely to transmit infection to others. They are another tool to help maintain lower infection rates.

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should not wait for an LFD test – They should, without delay, either book a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on-line at: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or simply call 119.

Symptoms are:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• loss of the sense of smell or taste – or it’s changed

The Health, Safety & Environment Department along with POL is encouraging everyone in Post Office Ltd, as in Royal Mail Group and other employers, if you are not already testing yourself, to take up the offer of these free rapid tests, to test twice a week from now to the end of June (if unable to work from home).  They are quick and easy to carry out in people’s own home.

Don’t be the one that’s unknowingly spreading the virus, infecting others, in the workplace and elsewhere.

Testing helps detect those who are infected but have no symptoms. Individuals may feel well BUT they could be infected. Therefore, being able to identify positive cases of Coronavirus/ Covid-19 within our workplaces is important. It allows people to immediately and safely self-isolate, ensuring they are no longer working amongst other workers – and so stopping further people from becoming infected and ill. Let’s all help each other and avoid that.

Testing is key to breaking the chain of transmission, safeguarding the workforce, family, friends and population, so helping prevent the spread of the virus. 

We know where we currently are with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown and hopefully we’re moving towards a situation – all being well – when we can see the removal of constraints and restrictions currently in place to keep the virus under control. ‘But we’re not out of the woods yet’. We can’t be complacent. The virus hasn’t gone away. The country is making great progress in relation to rolling out the vaccine but new variants of the Virus are still a problem and testing is an essential part of the strategy to beat this virus.

The CWU is urging members to take part by testing – twice a week at home to keep this virus under control.

The CWU message is – Please support the drive to beat the virus by taking part in the workforce testing.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 210/21 – Post Office Ltd – Coronavirus Covid-19 LFD Rapid Workforce Testing Programme

Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 87)

I attach for your information Version 87 of the Royal Mail Group, Managers’ Coronavirus/ Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance document, issued by the business on 27 May 2021.

At the commencement of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, Royal Mail Group established a ‘Business Pandemic Team’ which includes all national heads of department and this team meets regularly to review the situation across Royal Mail Group and to issue update Questions and Answers information communications to all managers, which is cascaded throughout the business.

The Coronavirus Guidance, version 87 Q&A document has been shared with the Union’s Health, Safety & Environment Department and is hereby circulated for information and reference purposes for CWU Regions, Health and Safety Reps, Branch Reps, Divisional IR Reps and members.

The Q&A documents are circulated to all RMG managers and are also available to access through a link on the Royal Mail Group ‘Intranet’, in the ‘Managers Update Messages’ section.

Update Changes and Additions From Previous Version:

Please note that when update changes and additions are made from the previous version, they are normally highlighted in ‘Yellow’ and the update changes in this version No. 87 are in summary as follows:

On page 10 – the question and answer on RMG on site Gym Closures has been deleted due to Government rule changes.

On page 13 – the questions regarding Covid-19 Lateral Flow Device Rapid Tests ‘Ethylene Oxide’ sterilisation process has been updated.

On page 24 – the Driver Training and Coaching through Pertemps and ADCs link has been added/updated.

RMG Covid-19 FAQ’s V87 Contents List:

1.HEALTH

1. Prevention
2. Self-isolation, testing and reporting
3. Cleaning and consumables
4. Travel
5. Support and advice

2.POLICY 

1. General guidance
2. Travel/and annual holiday
3. Caring for dependants
4. Sick pay
5. Attendance process
6. Vulnerable employees

3.OPERATIONAL

1. General Ops advice
2. NHS testing kits
3. Operational processes and reporting changes
4. Delivering and collecting from customers
5. Fleet and vehicles

4.ADVICE FOR CUSTOMERS 

Enquiries:

Any enquiries regarding this LTB or feedback on the RMG Q&A document should be directed to Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer. Issues received in connection with the attached which are appropriate to other CWU/HQ Departments will be passed on the appropriate National Officer.

Attachment:

• Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers V87

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 222/21 – Royal Mail Group – Latest Updated Coronavirus Covid-19 – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Guidance Document (Version 87)

Coronavirus Guidance Questions and Answers v87

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Joint Statement On: Zero Emissions Vehicles In Delivery Offices Including Bristol ECDO – Route To Zero Emissions

Branches will recall LTB 509/19 issued on the 23^rd August 2019, under the title of Joint Statement on Optimise Prime – Road to Zero Emissions.

This document was circulated by ourselves advising that Royal Mail had purchased 130 Mercedes eVitos and 60 EV Peugeot Partners Electric Vehicles for introduction, on ‘like-for-like replacements’ of diesel engine, time expired vehicles.  Both Peugeot and Mercedes provided their own telemetry connect box free of charge, for a 3-month period that was subsequently retro fitted into the 60 new EV Peugeot Partners. The 130 Mercedes eVitos had their own telemetry devices installed on the production line as part of their standard specification which operates in the same way as the Peugeot telemetry boxes, via a dashboard.

Branches may also be aware that the UK will host the delayed UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, commonly referred to as COP26 in Glasgow on 1^st to 12^th November this year. The new CEO in Royal Mail (Simon Thompson) has consistently promoted his desire to tackle harmful emissions and to indicate to the market an acceleration towards the goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change. The original intention was to make wholesale changes to the Fleet in Glasgow to align with the conference but given the vehicle mix, this desire proved to be problematic. Therefore, Royal Mail have now submitted an ambitious plan to create the first zero emission Delivery Office as part of their announcements to the financial Market on the 27^th May 2021.

The office where the EVs are to be deployed will be Bristol East Central BS1 1AD (who already have a fleet of 23 vehicles) which will be changed on a ‘key for key’ basis suppling them with 6 EV Partners, 12 L2 EV Experts and 5 L3 EV experts (volume capacity upgrade). Crossover training is in the planning stage and is due to commence upon arrival of the new vehicles but will nevertheless commence via the use of two EVs supplied from the current fleet in Bristol South, which will be deployed for training purposes only and not as an addition to the fleet size in Bristol East.

The new Peugeot’s will have Trimble fitted post arrival as a short-term measure until a review of their own telematics has been completed. All new EVs will also have the acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) installed as part of the manufacturers specification.  Members will recall that such a system provided an audible safety warning to pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

The new vehicles will not form part of the Optimise Prime project but will be ‘smart’ charged and can be operated remotely over the air with two preferred options to examine:

1. Down dialling the amps charged instead of 32 amps as there is the potential to reduce to 16 amps which draws less power but takes slightly longer to charge.

2. There is also the ability to remotely programme the charging posts to commence charging at different times in order to spread the load and mitigate any impact on the grid i.e. not all between 3pm and 5pm.

There will be full CWU ASR involvement to determine and agree safe installation of charging posts including all relevant documentation, Risk Assessments and subsequent Safe System of Works. In addition, any operational issues that arise because of the introduction of these vehicles will be jointly resolved with the full involvement of the relevant CWU Representatives and in line with the IR Framework where necessary.

Part of the trials and introduction of Electric Vehicles will include a training package for RM Fleet Workshop Technicians on the vehicles including the HV (high voltage) components and safety precautions. Drivers will be trained via ‘change-over’ vehicle appreciation and awareness training sessions along with ongoing support.  All other aspects of the original Joint Statement will continue to apply to these new vehicles as part of the growth in EVs. We have also committed Royal Mail within the National Joint Statement to full CWU National involvement for the future rollout of electric vehicle within the delivery function.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to njones@cwu.org quoting reference: 300

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch                                                                                                    

CWU Assistant Secretary

LTB 221/21 – Zero Emissions Vehicles In Delivery Offices Including Bristol ECDO

JS – on Zero Emission Delivery Office Bristol ECDO_ (003) – Final

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CWU/RM – Joint Communication – Collection Revisions Update & Supporting Materials

Further to LTB 157/21 dated 12^th April 2021 which detailed the National Joint Statement for Future Collections Activity including the 2nd Hour SWW Introduction. 

As indicated within the previous correspondence RM and the CWU have been in discussions to review all aspects of the Collections Revision Process and all associated supporting materials, as such we have now agreed the following Joint Communication:

• RM/CWU National Collections Revision Guide (2 x Documents, Planner & Unit Led) attached to LTB as Annexes A and B.
• Planner & Unit Led Revision Checklist/Documentation List (including all embedded documents) including Model Agreement Sign Off – will be added to the CWU share point via the below link in coming days and further information will be circulated once finalised:

https://www.cwu.org/reps/dr-share-point

• Collections SWW Planning Guide – attached to LTB as Annex C.
• Area data packs listing postboxes that have been identified to move to Collection on Delivery – this supports the 3 year flightpath set out in the Joint Statement issued on 12^th April and will be circulated separately to CWU Divisional Representatives for sharing due to file constraints.

Any issues concerning the interpretation, application and/or deployment of the activity and the Collection Revision Process should be raised with the respective departments. The CWU members of the Collections Joint Working Group led by Tony Bouch & Martin Walsh PEC Members, remain available to provide support and guidance to Branches and Representatives.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Processing/Distribution: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference number 714.14

Deliveries/Collections: Department, reference, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference number 555

Yours sincerely

 Mark Baulch                                                   Davie Robertson       

CWU Assistant Secretary                                    CWU Assistant Secretary

 Attachments

• RM/CWU Joint Communication
• Annex A – Planner Led National Collections Revision Guide
• Annex B – Unit Led National Collections Revision Guide
• Annex C – Collections SWW Planning Guide

LTB 220/21

Annex A – RM_CWU Planner Led Collection Revision Guide – May 2021 v3.1_FINAL_Annex A

Annex B – RM_CWU_Local Unit Led Revision Guide_Joint_Final_Annex B

Annex C – Collections SWW 2021 unit planning guidance notes v1.0 FINAL_Annex C

JS Introduction for Collections Revision and Materials Final 20210521

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• Labour Party Conference 
• TUC Congress

Election of National Delegations 2021

• Labour Party Conference 
• TUC Congress

The NEC has agreed the 2021 election arrangements for the National delegations listed above. Accordingly please find attached the Election Regulations, Nomination Forms and Candidates Consent and Biographical Detail Form for these elections. 

Labour Party Conference – 2021

Please note that for the 2021 Conference the Labour Party have advised that to be eligible to be a delegate at this particular conference, nominees/applicants will need to have 6 months’ continuous membership as at 9^th July 2021.

Accordingly all nominees who joined the Labour Party after 9^thJanuary 2021 will not be eligible to be a delegate at the 2021 conference.

Additionally would branches please note that all nominees/candidates for the Labour Party delegation must complete sections B, C, D, E, F and H of the attached Labour Party Annual Conference delegate application form, and this must be attached to the candidate consent form which must be returned to CWU HQ by the closing date for CWU nominations. Please disregard the advertised closing date on the Labour Party Conference Application Form which is shown as 11 June 2021. The Labour Party have issued further guidance which extends the application date to 9^th July 2021.

The details of the Conferences are as follows:

• TUC CONGRESS: 12^th-15^th September, TBC
• LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE: 25^th September-29^thSeptember, Brighton

Additionally branches are advised that the elections for the Labour Party Conference and TUC Congress 2021 will be conducted using revised arrangements, a summary of which is set out below: 

Election Timetable 

It is necessary for the election timetable to be significantly longer than normal to allow branches sufficient time to seek nominations from their members and to then subsequently agree on which candidates(s) they intend to nominate for election and, once the list of candidates is known to then decide which candidate(s) will receive the branch vote.

Nomination Process

In respect of seeking nominations branches will need to put in place a robust system and use all reasonable methods at their disposal to publish suitable notification throughout the branch area giving members the opportunity to submit their name for nomination to the position should they choose to do so.  Following this the branch would need to put in place arrangements to hold a membership meeting to decide which candidate(s) will receive the branch nomination.

On the basis that no face to face member meetings are currently allowed then this would need to be conducted via a suitable video conference platform such as Zoom or Skype, etc. that provides the opportunity for large numbers of members to take part if required.

Additionally branches will need to allow for members who do not have video conference capability to join the meeting by phone again if they choose to do so.

The timeline for the meeting would need to be agreed in advance and notification provided to members at least 7 days prior to the meeting taking place.  

Dispatch and Return of Nomination Forms to CWU HQ

Nomination forms will be sent to branches electronically (attached to this LTB) and it will be our intention to set up a specific dedicated election email address where branches should return completed nomination forms to.  The details of this will be included on the nomination form.

Nomination Forms will need to be returned by the advertised closing date to be included in the list of candidates. 

The revised system will avoid the necessity to return forms in the post system which of course may be subject to delay during the current Covid-19 crisis. 

Dispatch and Return of Voting Papers

The respective constituency based voting papers will be sent by email direct to branches at the email address which we hold on file.  Branches should return the completed voting papers by email to the advertised CWU election email address.  Notification will be sent to branches confirming receipt of the voting paper, however it will the responsibility of the branch to ensure that voting papers are returned to the correct email address.

To be included in the ballot voting papers will need to have been returned by the advertised closing date and time.  

Branch Voting Recommendations

Clearly we are in unique and challenging times and whilst branches would normally arrange mandating meetings to decide which candidates to vote for in the respective elections we do not believe that this is either practical or necessary during the current crisis.  Therefore, on this occasion this decision can be made by the Branch Committee and the decision subsequently notified to members of their branch accordingly.

The Timetable for the elections is:

Nominations open:  27 May 2021

Nominations close:  17 June 2021 (14:00)

Despatch ballot papers:  23 June 2021

Ballot closes:  7 July 2021 (14:00)

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

21LTB219

Election Regulations Labour Party & TUC Conf 2021

LP Nomination Forms 2021

LP Affiliate Delegate Application Form 2021

LP Candidates Biographical Detail and Consent Form

TUC Nomination Forms 2021

TUC Candidate Biographical Detail & Consent Form

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TUC LESE Race Relations Committee Open Meeting: Justice4Grenfell and TUC Anti-Racism Taskforce Update Zoom online Wednesday 23 June 2021, 5.30pm – 7.30pm 72 seconds moment of silence

Nabil Choucair and Yvette Williams MBE, Justice4Grenfell (J4G) – Campaign Update J4G is a community-led organisation, focused on the long-term goal of obtaining justice for the bereaved families, survivors, evacuated residents and the wider local community, collaborating with representative organisations.  Lester Holloway, Policy Officer: Anti-Racism, TUC Equality and Strategy Department – TUC Anti-Racism Taskforce Update  Lester has a background in policy and anti-racism including spells with Runnymede Trust, Operation Black Vote and The 1990 Trust. He was previously an activist and executive member at the Anti-Racist Alliance, and was news editor at The Voice, and editor of the New Nation newspapers. He was also a founder member and secretary of the National Association of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Councillors. Lester joins from CLASS (Centre for Labour and Social Studies), a union-supported think-tank. Sean Taylor, Song Tribute to Grenfell   This meeting is supported by LESE Race Relations Committee   Please register: lese@tuc.org.uk / 020 7467 1220

TUC LESE Pensioners’ Network: Mental Health Discussion Zoom online   Tuesday 15 June 2021, 1pm – 3pm Guest Speakers:  SpeakUp SpeakUp on mental health are a professional team of licensed Mental Health First Aid trainers that offer programmes to support workers positive mental wellbeing. With experience of working across trade unions, SpeakUp was established with the ambition to have a mental health voice in every workplace. We believe voices open doors and breakdown barriers.  Dr Jitka Vseteckova, Senior Lecturer Faculty of Wellbeing                                  Dr. Vseteckova’s role with the Faculty of Health and Social Care in the Open University is multi-faceted and enables her to be involved in research, teaching, supervision, and external collaborations. She is also the lead on Ageing Well Public Talk Series Please register: lese@tuc.org.uk / 020 7467 1220