2019 Dispute Relating to Honouring & Deploying the Four Pillars of Security & Pay/Guiding Principles National Agreement Between the CWU & RMG

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB 599/19, please find attached further material that we would ask you to circulate which provides clarity around the timescales following the conclusion of the external mediation. We also believe that this information will enable our members to anticipate all potential events and organise themselves accordingly.

We would encourage every unit to share the attached poster as widely as possible and ensure that it is displayed on notice boards, handed out at Gate meetings and circulated on social media.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your ongoing support and for the work you are undertaking to ensure that we reach a successful conclusion to this dispute.

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 608.19 Attachment 1

18/10/2019 0

CWU believe Mediation ends on Friday 18th October (tomorrow)

**CWU believe Mediation ends on Friday 18th October (tomorrow)**

Based on the legal contract and the industrial stability section, we enter into a further three week period, which is comprised of one week for both parties to consider the mediators report/recommendations and then two weeks for both parties to consider next steps and final opportunity to reach agreement.

As such, the CWU view is that the process formally ends on the 8th November.

At that point the CWU can serve notice for Industrial Action giving 14 days / 2 weeks notice as per the legal requirement.

Therefore, the earliest the CWU believe any Industrial Action can take place on, is Friday 22nd November, which if Royal Mail are serious about in their communications, would give 5 weeks for intense national talks to take place to avert any Industrial Action being considered.

17/10/2019 0

Video update from DGSP Terry Pullinger on the mediation Royal Mail 17/10/19

Please share this update from DGSP Terry Pullinger on the mediation today

#WeRiseAgain

17/10/2019 0

I support my postal workers poster to download and display

http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/National-Dispute-I-support-my-postal-workers-A4.pdf

From next week we will launch our plans for a massive public engagement exercise on the dispute with Royal Mail Group.

The reality is the best advocates are you, the members. You speak to more people than any other workers in the UK. We will be involving you in many initiatives in the coming weeks.

For now please ask all your friends on social media to share the graphic below.

Also by clicking the link below you can access a poster. We want these printed and displayed on the windows of every postal worker and all your friends and families.

When you do it send us the images and we’ll get them online. This is your union – let’s get to work #WeRiseAgain

Click to access National-Dispute-I-support-my-postal-workers-A4.pdf

17/10/2019 0

CWU Response to Government on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

CWU Response to Government on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

The CWU has made the attached response to the Government Equalities Office consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.

Sexual harassment at work is a persistent and widespread problem, as evidenced by surveys and polls conducted by trade unions and women’s organisations and reported on previously in LTBs 634/17 and 391/2019.

The CWU’s submission supports the Government’s proposal to introduce a new preventative duty that requires employers to protect workers from sexual harassment in the workplace. We also support the proposal for a new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) code of practice to underpin the duty. The submission calls for new powers for the EHRC to take enforcement action against companies that breach the duty, including the power to issue and enforce substantial fines.

The submission also expresses support for the TUC’s ‘#ThisIsNotWorking’ campaign and its call for a new, easily enforceable legal duty that would require employers to take all reasonable steps to protect workers from sexual harassment and victimisation. The CWU has joined the TUC’s ‘#ThisIsNotWorking’ alliance, which was launched earlier this year, along with nearly 40 other organisations including trade unions, charities and women’s rights organisations.

Bill Taylor
Head of Research

LTB 603.2019 – CWU Response to GEO Sexual Harassment at Work Oct 2019

CWU Response to GEO Sexual Harassment at Work Oct 2019

17/10/2019 0

Royal Mail Fined Thousands for Unsafe Roadworks Offences across Somerset

Royal Mail Fined Thousands for Unsafe Roadworks Offences across Somerset

Royal Mail appeared in court last week and was handed down huge fines running into thousands of pounds for roadworks offences committed across Somerset.

This comes after the company was taken to court by Somerset County Council for breaching several safety laws while working on roads across the county.

Offences included closing a road without notice and failing to comply with safety measures.

They appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court on October 9 and pleaded guilty to several charges.

The two cases involving Royal Mail were at:-

Gulway Mead, Tatworth

Royal Mail incorrectly installed traffic management systems in breach of the safety code of practice and was fined £4,000.
Royal Mail failed to use its best endeavors to co-operate with the highways authority due to incorrect noticing of street works and was fined £4,000.

Holloway Road, Lopen

Royal Mail incorrectly installed traffic management systems in breach of safety provisions and was fined £4,000.
Royal Mail failed to comply with a direction by SCC highways authority on safety measures and was fined £6,000.
Royal Mail failed to use its best endeavors to co-operate with the highways authority and was fined £4,000.

In addition to the fines, a victim surcharge of £170 was applied to both cases and Royal Mail was made to pay £2,509.17 in costs.

Total: £24,679.17p

In a statement issued by Somerset County Council they said that the Local Authority owes it to residents and road users to take action when it is justified. These offences will have caused unnecessary disruption to the public or put safety at risk. This is not acceptable and we hope these prosecutions will send a clear message to other parties who work on the highway.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB602 Royal Mail Fined Thousands for Unsafe Roadworks Offences across Somerset

17/10/2019 0

BT Fined Thousands for Unsafe Roadworks Offences Across Somerset

BT Fined Thousands for Unsafe Roadworks Offences Across Somerset

BT appeared in court last week and was handed down huge fines running into thousands of pounds for roadworks offences committed across Somerset.

This comes after the company was taken to court by Somerset County Council for breaching several safety laws while working on roads across the county.

Offences included closing a road without notice and failing to comply with safety measures.

They appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court on October 9 and pleaded guilty to several charges.

The three cases involving BT were at:–

Hartrow Cross, Bishops Lydeard

BT installed two telegraph poles without a valid street works notice and was fined £1,600.
BT failed to co-operate with the highways authority during April 2019 it was fined £7,500.

The council says these offences meant it was unable to co-ordinate the works or attempt to minimise any impact on the road network.

Oake Road, Bradford on Tone

BT installed temporary traffic signals which did not comply with safety legislation. This posed a safety risk to both the travelling public and the site workforce. BT was fined £10,500.

Silver Street, Curry Mallet

BT closed the road without notice, despite knowing that a road closure was required seven days before. It also failed to co-operate with Somerset County Council, meaning the highways authority could not co-ordinate the works or attempt to minimise disruption. It was fined £2,500.

In addition to the fines, a victim surcharge of £170 was applied to all three cases and BT was made to pay £3,352.50 in costs.

Total: £25,622.50p

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB601 BT Fined Thousands for Unsafe Roadworks Offences Across Somerset

17/10/2019 0

National Industrial Action Ballot Results

National Industrial Action Ballot Results

Further to LTBs 591/19, 592/19 and 593/19 dated 15^th October 2019 which contained the respective ballot results. It is essential that Branches continue to publicise the National Ballot Results to all members. The results are reproduced below for ease of reference.

Royal Mail National Industrial Action Ballot Result

Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot	110,292
Number of votes cast in the ballot	83,704
Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote	75.9%
Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned	51
Number of Individuals Voting Yes	81,232	(97.1%)
Number of Individuals Voting No	2,421	(2.9%)

Parcelforce Worldwide National Industrial Action Ballot Result

Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot	4,217
Number of votes cast in the ballot	2,841
Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote	67.4%
Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned	1
Number of Individuals Voting Yes	2,697	(95.0%)
Number of Individuals Voting No	143	(5.0%)

Parcelforce Worldwide National Industrial Action Ballot Result (Separate Trading Company)

Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot	4,217
Number of votes cast in the ballot	2,928
Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote	69.4%
Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned	2
Number of Individuals Voting Yes	2,770	(94.7%)
Number of Individuals Voting No	156	(5.3%)

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

17/10/2019 0

Midlands Division Defending The 4 Pillars Agreement – October 2019

Midlands Division

Defending The 4 Pillars Agreement – October 2019

It’s a Massive 97% ‘YES’ Vote

We have recently announced the industrial action ballot resultin our dispute with Royal Mail Group. The result of the Group wide ballot is below:

Number of ballot papers issued: 110,292

Number of papers returned: 83,704

Ballot turnout: 75.9%

Number of YES votes: 81,232

Number of NO votes: 2,421

Percentage voting YES: 97.1%

This is an outstanding result. To achieve a 97.1% YES on a 75.9% turnout is nothing short of miraculous!

To put these results into context; a 75.9% turnout smashes the legal requirement of a minimum 50% turnout, it is a higher turnout than in any General Election in modern times and it beats the turnout in the 2016 Brexit Referendum.

A 97.1% YES vote is the highest YES vote achieved in any national industrial action ballot since the Trade Union Act became law. More importantly a 97.1% YES vote is the clearest possible rejection of Royal Mail’s position and future business plan.

This result has only been possible due to the fantastic loyalty of you, the members of the CWU, together with the incredible hard work of every one of the CWU’s army of Reps. A massive thanks to all of you.

What Happens Next?

The Union and Royal Mail are currently in mediation meetings, as required by our Dispute Resolution Processes. The final mediation meeting takes place this week. The CWU are not confident this will resolve the dispute.

There will then be a 3-week period where the Mediator writes his report and this is considered by Royal Mail and the CWU to determine whether this report forms the basis of resolving the dispute.

If the dispute remains unresolved then the CWU are free to give notice to Royal Mail of our intention to take strike action. The law requires that we give Royal Mail 14 days’ notice of our intentions.

This means that it will be towards the back end of November before we can legally take strike action.

The CWU remains committed to negotiating an agreement that resolves all issues in dispute, without the need to trigger the ballot. We have done it before, and we can do it again. Given the emphatic ballot result the ball is now very much in Royal Mail’s court.