Labours proposal to roll-out free full fibre broadband
Latest from the Branch
GENERAL ELECTION – HOME MAILING AND CAMPAIGNING IN THE FINAL WEEK
GENERAL ELECTION – HOME MAILING AND CAMPAIGNING IN THE FINAL WEEK
There is a huge amount at stake for the CWU and our members in the general election. As part of our political work, we have written to members’ home addresses setting out what is at stake and outlining the policies from Labour that would deliver on our key priorities. A copy of the letters that have been sent are attached to this LTB for information.
We are also writing to urge all branches and reps to take part in campaigning with Labour in marginal seats over this final week. It is clear not only that five more years of Tory government would do huge damage to the country, but that a Labour government would fundamentally change the direction of our industries, put power in the hands of our members and shift the balance of forces in the economy.
It is therefore extremely important that we are involved in campaigning if we want to deliver this change. Regions are organising campaign sessions in target seats this Saturday 7th December and leafletting sessions outside train stations on Tuesday 10th December with other Labour affiliated unions across the country. Branches and members should contact their Regional Secretary for details.
More generally, CLPs are asking for volunteers to help canvass over the weekend and to help them to turn out voters on 12th and details of campaign sessions are available here: https://events.labour.org.uk. While we appreciate this is a busy time of year for everyone, there is a great deal at stake in this election and we would urge branches to engage in campaigning over the final week wherever possible.
Any queries on the contents of this LTB should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward
General Secretary
19LTB691 General election – home mailing and campaigning in the final week
General election letter enclosure
Labour’s proposal to roll-out free full fibre broadband – your questions answered
Trade Unions Campaign Days In Peterborough
Dear Colleagues,
This Saturday 7th December there will be a Trade Union Campaign Day in Peterborough, the day will start at 10.30 at Unite Offices, Church Walk, Peterborough, PE1 2TP.
The aim of the day will be to deliver leaflets and canvass for Labours Lisa Forbes to be re-elected in next weeks General Election, if you can spare even an hour please let me know.
On Tuesday 10th DecemberPeterborough’s Trade Unions will be leafleting commuters at Peterborough station from 0600 – 0900 again encouraging them to vote for Lisa Forbes, again if you can help out please let me know.
It is vitally important that we engage with the public and our members and encourage them to vote and vote Labour on 12th December
Only a Labour Government will repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws that we have seen used against us in the last few weeks.
Regards
Andy
Royal Mail Christmas Pressure – Hired Vehicles Urgent Safety Alert:
Royal Mail Christmas Pressure – Hired Vehicles Urgent Safety Alert:
Royal Mail has contacted the CWU/HQ Health, Safety and Environment Department today to make us aware of an urgent ‘Safety Recall’ affecting up to 193 ‘Hired’ Car Derived Vans (CDVs), specifically new Vauxhall Combos, Peugeot Partners and Citroen Berlingos.
The safety recall is linked to vehicles that do not have a ‘Passenger Airbag’. On these vehicles, the passenger side seatbelt tension load has been set too low and as such these vans are not safe to carry passengers. The driver’s side seat belts are not affected and are safe to drive as normal.
The vehicles identified (see attached list) are to be identified by Managers and must be checked before they depart the Office where they are located tomorrow.
ACTION PLAN:-
Royal Mail has 193 small car derived vans identified as on hire to Royal Mail and the company must undertake the following check prior to the vehicles departing the Offices tomorrow morning.
The RMG Safety Business Partners will also phone the affected Delivery Offices tomorrow morning to ensure the message is understood and has been actioned.
DOMs must check the vehicles highlighted in the attached file to see if the hired vehicles they have on site have a “Passenger Airbag” (See attached Guidance Note).
If the vehicle has a passenger airbag – it is safe to use with or without a passenger.
If there is no passenger airbag the Manager must ensure these vehicles ARE ONLY USED BY A SINGLETON DRIVER without an assisting passenger.
Managers may need to swap vehicles in order to comply with this “Mandatory” Instruction.
Managers must ensure the drivers of the vehicles are clearly informed that they are NOT TO CARRY A PASSENGER in these vehicles at any time.
If affected vehicles require a passenger to be carried and there is no option to swap vehicles, this must be specified and replacement vehicles will be found and provided as a matter of urgency.
WARNING:- THESE IDENTIFIED VEHICLES MUST NOT CARRY A PASSENGER .
Managers must confirm the check has been completed (and if a replacement is needed) by emailing the respective contacts for their region, stating the registration of the vehicle they have checked.
North – david.rutherford@Royalmail.com
Central – lucy.blatchford@royalmail.com
South – christopher.d.allen@royalmail
Managers must contact their local FOM or SFOM if they have any questions or concerns regarding this Safety alert.
Would all ASRs and WSRs carry out checks to ensure full compliance with this Safety Alert in their areas and Offices. Thanks for your support in undertaking this urgent safety action.
Attachments:
- Passenger Air Bag identification Guidance
- List of Hired Vehicles to be checked
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
19LTB690 Royal Mail Christmas Pressure – Hired Vehicles Urgent Safety Alert
Important update from DGSP Terry Pullinger 3/12/19
An important update from DGSP Terry Pullinger. Please share as widely as possible
#WeRiseAgain
Complaints/NDC – Dedicated phone line – 0208 971 7219 – NUMBER CHANGED
Complaints/NDC – Dedicated phone line – 0208 971 7219 – NUMBER CHANGED
Since the publication of LTB 677/19 due to some unforeseen technical issues, we have had to change this number to:
Please disregard 0208 971 7660.
This number will lead to a voicemail message informing the caller that they should leave a message and someone will return their call as soon as possible. There will also be signposts for new complaints to the CWU website to view the complaints procedure, download a complaints form and guidelines.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind Branches of the protocol surrounding complaints.
In the first instance attempts should be made locally to respond to and address complaints, especially if they are industrially related. If the complaint cannot be resolved at a local level then it should be forwarded to gs-rule14@cwu.org.
All complaints should and will be pursued by the Complaints Procedure within new National Rule 14 which will be to resolve any issues/complaints informally. Complaints will not be automatically referred to the National Disputes Committee.
More information on National Rule 14 and the Complaints Procedure can be found here:
https://www.cwu.org/about-the-cwu/union-matters/cwu-complaints-procedure/
Any queries on this LTB should be addressed to gs-rule14@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Rupa
National Disputes Committee Officer
19LTB688 – Dedicated Phone Line for Complaints and NDC – New Number
CWU APPEAL AGAINST HIGH COURT INJUNCTION
CWU APPEAL AGAINST HIGH COURT INJUNCTION
Branches will be aware that yesterday the union lost our appeal against the High Court decision to grant Royal Mail and injunction to invalidate our strike ballot.
The whole process and the speed in which the decision was taken, demonstrates just how much the justice system is rigged against working people and democracy. However, such injustice will only serve to make the union and our members even more determined to oppose Royal Mail and do everything within our power to continue with and win this dispute.
Furthermore, we can assure Branches that we will be working closely with the TUC to ensure the whole movement refocuses its fight against these draconian laws, as part our ongoing new deal for workers campaign.
The union will now need to carefully consider the full terms of the written judgement and its implications on any future industrial action ballot.
The PEC will meet next week and in due course the DGS (P) will advise Branches on the next steps in the dispute.
Any enquiries on the court case should be addressed to sdgs@cwu.org
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward – General Secretary
Tony Kearns – Senior Deputy General Secretary
Terry Pullinger – Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
LABOUR’S PROPOSAL TO SET UP BRITISH BROADBAND
LABOUR’S PROPOSAL TO SET UP BRITISH BROADBAND
Following last week’s LTB and Facebook live session, please find attached a Q&A brief that covers all the major questions from our members since Labour’s proposal for the roll-out of free full fibre broadband was announced.
It is important that our branches and reps engage directly with members on this and forward this LTB and the Q&A brief to all relevant members where you have contact details.
Finally, we can advise a home mailing is also being sent to members next week setting out the full terms of Labour’s offer.
Any enquiries on the content of this LTB please forward togsoffice@cwu.org
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward – General Secretary
Andy Kerr – Deputy General Secretary T&FS
19LTB687 Labour’s proposal to set up British Broadband
Labour’s proposal to roll-out free full fibre broadband – your questions answered
Royal Mail Dispute Leverage Campaign – Letter to all Royal Mail Group Corporate Shareholders
Royal Mail Dispute Leverage Campaign – Letter to all Royal Mail Group Corporate Shareholders
The purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches that the attached letter is being sent to all major corporate shareholders of the Royal Mail Group. The letter explains that despite what has taken place in the court, the union and its members remain totally opposed to the company’s strategy for the future.
The letter also makes it clear that the blame for this dispute lies squarely at the door of the CEO and the Royal Mail Board. Furthermore, the union will invite major shareholders to a meeting where we will set out an alternative vision for the future.
In opening up this new flank in our dispute, we believe it will put significant pressure on the employer to reconsider its plans. The union will be seeking media publicity on this development and we are committed to ongoing direct engagement to leverage shareholders and ensure they respond in an appropriate way.
Engaging Members in our Leverage Campaign
It is important that you make our members aware that the union has opened up this new flank in the dispute. We will shortly be sending out further information, including details of the corporate shareholders we are targeting, and we will be asking individual members to write directly to these shareholders in support of the dispute.
Engaging the Public and Politicians in our Leverage Campaign
In order to build up the pressure, in the near future we will also be asking the wider public and politicians to take similar actions in support of our dispute.
Finally, please ensure the content of this LTB and the attached letter is widely circulated to all CWU Representatives and members and we would ask that in turn our Reps engage their managers on the actions the union will now be taking.
Any enquiries on the content of this LTB should be addressed togsoffice@cwu.org
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward – General Secretary
Terry Pullinger – Deputy General Secretary (P)
19LTB686 – LETTER TO ALL RM CORPORATE SHAREHOLDERS
Dear
The Communication Workers Union are writing to all major shareholders in the Royal Mail Group PLC to set out the facts behind our ongoing dispute with the company and explain our next steps.
Firstly, we must be clear that despite Royal Mail being granted an injunction to invalidate our strike ballot, the CWU and its membership will continue to do all within our power to oppose the company’s strategy to set up a separate parcels business and allow thousands upon thousands of jobs in the core business to wither on the vine.
You should be in no doubt that the CEO and his Board have totally lost the confidence of the workforce and that managers at all levels are now questioning the integrity, commitment and capability of the board to run the business.
Following the outcome of the court proceedings, the workforce are now angrier than ever and there is one simple truth that the company cannot face away from; without the support of the workforce it is impossible for Royal Mail to introduce its plan as presented to all shareholders at Capital Markets day in May 2019.
The facts behind the dispute
The blame for this dispute lays squarely at the door of the CEO and his Board.
Shortly after taking up the role, the CEO decided to walk away from two major agreements (The Four Pillars of Security and Agenda for Growth), which the company had made in good faith with the union in 2018 and 2013 respectively.
These agreements, overwhelmingly endorsed by the workforce, spelt out the overall plan and strategy on how we would jointly shape the future of the business. Instead, without any prior consultation, the CEO launched his own plan at the Capital Markets Day event. In doing this, the CEO deliberately misled shareholders by claiming the union was on board. This could not have been further from the truth. A fact totally backed up by over 97% of the workforce voting for strike action in a massive 76% turnout.
Next steps
The CWU and the workforce will continue to oppose the company’s plans for the future. We can advise you that we are now undertaking the following actions.
- We will engage in meaningful negotiations providing the company agree to set aside their plans to set up a new parcels business. To be clear, to settle this dispute the company must reinstate our agreements as the plan for the future and resolve all the issues advised of in the industrial action ballot.
- We are ready to re-ballot for industrial action if the company decides to press on regardless or we fail to reach an acceptable agreement.
- We will be organising a shareholder meeting in London in the near future and we will shortly advise you of the date and venue for this. At this meeting we will explain, in line with our agreements, the alternative vision for the future that will grow the core business, expanding the role of postal workers in local communities and businesses, as well as delivering sustainable parcel growth.
- We will be mounting a major public and political campaign to expose the shortcomings of the Royal Mail Board and gain support for our alternative vision of the future.
- We are investigating the basis upon which Royal Mail has added in October 2019, over £470 million of debt to its balance sheet. We believe the reasons for this have not been properly explained to shareholders.
In the meantime, we are asking you to write to the CEO raising the issues covered in this letter and urge the Board to cease its unilateral actions and engage in meaningful negotiations to find a mutually beneficial way forward. We are available for direct discussions with you and you can contact us on the following email addressdward@cwu.org.
We will write to you soon with a date and venue for the shareholder meeting.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward – General Secretary
Terry Pullinger – Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
