Latest from the Branch

Pensioners to march on BBC offices across Britain in protest against plan to axe licences for over-75s.

Pensioners to march on BBC offices across Britain in protest against plan to axe licences for over-75s.

 

Pensioners are to march on local BBC offices to protest against

the corporation’s plans to axe free TV licences for over-75s.   

 

 

 

Pensioners are to march on local BBC offices to protest against the corporation’s plans to axe free TV licences for over-75s.

The nationwide demonstration, organised by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), is thought to be one of the biggest protests against the move so far.

It will take place at midday on Friday June 21 at a number of sites across the country and follows a protest at the corporation’s Media City offices at Salford Quays on Thursday.

The NPC, which claims to have one million members through affiliated groups, said it is organising several marches, including demonstrations at Broadcasting House in London and BBC offices in Salford, Sheffield, and Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 

The BBC has said free licences will be means-tested under a new scheme which aims to protect programming while dealing with the extra funding burden.

Free licences will be restricted to over-75s who claim Pension Credit from June 1 2020.

But NPC general secretary Jan Shortt described the move as “callous and cruel”.

She said: “The amount of anger we are seeing at the BBC’s decision, not just from pensioners but younger people as well, is absolutely amazing.

 

“This really is uniting the generations, because we all know that if the Government and the BBC collude to take the free TV licence away from today’s older people, it won’t be there for the pensioners of tomorrow.

“We have growing rates of poverty and loneliness among our older generation – and this decision is callous and cruel.

“What’s clear is that the BBC knew that if they means-tested the TV licence, only 11% of the poorest 10th of households currently receiving it would actually get to keep it.

“The truth is, it shouldn’t be the job of the broadcaster to administer or fund part of our wider welfare policy and the Government must take back responsibility for it.”

Strictly Come Dancing’s former head judge Len Goodman and Ben Fogle yesterday became the latest figures to criticise the move.

Goodman branded the decision “rotten”, saying it will “impact on the most vulnerable”.

Fogle said the Government should be held accountable for its “poor decision” and made to reverse it.

In a joint statement released on Monday, the BBC’s chairman, Sir David Clementi, and director-general Tony Hall said continuing the Government’s scheme would have had a “severe impact” on services and that the new model “represents the fairest possible outcome”.

Only around 1.5 million households will be eligible for a free TV licence under the new scheme. It is thought that around 3.7 million pensioners will lose out.

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Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay  Update 14th July

Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay 

Further to LTB 344/19 Branches will be aware that we have been in dialogue with ACAS concerning the Early Conciliation process and how this can be streamlined. Given that the number of claims is now increasing on a daily basis, any amendments that result in less time being needed for conversations between Branches and ACAS will no doubt be welcomed by both parties.

I am therefore pleased to inform Branches that we have now agreed the attached process with ACAS which will commence from Monday 24th June 2019.

Branches should also note that ACAS believe a collective resolution to the current impasse provides the best way forward and in light of this a meeting was held with Royal Mail Group on Tuesday 11thJune 2019 with a further meeting date set for Friday 21st June 2019.  We have made it clear to the Business that this matter cannot remain unresolved for much longer and that when we next meet they must submit a proposal for a National Collective Agreement.

At a national presentation on Wednesday 12th June 2019 regarding the future strategy of Royal Mail Group, Senior Managers stated their intention to reach a swift Agreement on the issue of average pay on leave. They must now put their words into action.   In the absence of such an Agreement it is abundantly clear that this issue is gathering increased momentum among our members and that the number of Early Conciliation claims continue to multiply.

In closing I would like to reiterate that we continue to encourage every member to make a claim if they are not in receipt of their average pay whilst on annual leave and reconfirm that the Union is committed to achieving a National Collective Agreement that will meet our members’ aspirations.

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)    

19LTB372 Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay

LTB 372.19 Attachment 1 Royal Mail Group Holiday Pay        



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Safe & Well – June 2019

Safe & Well – June 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Please see attached the June 2019 edition of the Safe and Well newsletter with contributions from our USRs and field teams. This includes a “things to watch out for in summer” edition which covers a varied range of things including a reminder on hot MDF and lightning.

The new Network Repair Team “one number” is the lead feature with the refresh on HV JUP also included to back up the wider piece.

A mix of articles as always with a couple via the London CWU forum (silica and Steps 1A) and a reminder of the need for eye protection in a variety of tasks driven from AMS analysis plus the latest FAQs on Tetra.

And the good news/safety positive message from the Plant Safety Team around the AC 500 pole quest.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB373 Safe & Well – June 2019

Safe and Well Issue 71 June 2019

 

 

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National Hazards Conference 2019 – Friday 26th to Sunday 28th July 2019, at Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire: Cleaning Up Toxic Work – Reminder – Book Now

National Hazards Conference 2019 – Friday 26th to Sunday 28th July 2019, at Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire: Cleaning Up Toxic Work – Reminder – Book Now:

Further to LTB No. 298/2019 dated 17 May 2019 (copy attached) this is a final reminder to all CWU Health and Safety Reps regarding Hazards Conference 2019. Those wishing to attend are advised to book a place now. See attached booking form.

This is the 30th National Hazards Conference and it takes place at Keele University, from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th July 2019 and the CWU is once again pleased to be supporting and sponsoring this unique and popular event for Trade Union Safety Representatives. The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department will also once again have a stand in the Hazards Conference Exhibition area during the Conference which will be organised and run by CWU Health and Safety Reps.

Hazards Conference is the UK’s biggest and best educational and organising event for trade union safety reps and activists. It consists of a mixture of plenary sessions, meetings and a comprehensive workshop programme.

A number of renowned speakers from the world of worker health and safety will be participating in the conference which gives delegates the opportunity to listen and learn from the informative sessions as well as take the opportunity to exchange experience and information with, and learn from, safety reps and activists from other unions, sectors and jobs across the UK.

The theme for 2019 International Workers Memorial day was Dangerous Substances and this theme along with Young Workers will be prominent at this year’s conference.

Toxic work exposure to dangerous substances and unhealthy working conditions, including dust, asbestos, silica, pesticides, cleaning products and other chemicals, fumes, diesel and gases can all have life-threatening and life-long consequences. These issues will be considered and debated at the conference.

The subject of worker micro-management and constant monitoring; being tracked, tagged and some even now microchipped is also up for debate along with the need for reasonable adjustments because of disabilities, illness, periods, pregnancy, menopause and mental health.

This conference will address all these important health and safety issues and provide delegates with the knowledge, confidence, and organising skills to challenge and change them.

The booking form is attached which also contains the list of Hazards 2019 Conference Workshops, Seminars & Meetings.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

19LTB371 National Hazards Conference 2019 – Friday 26th to Sunday 28th July 2019 – Reminder

19LTB298 National Hazards Conference 2019 – Friday 26th to Sunday 28th July 2019

Hazards-Conference-2019-Booking-Form

 

 

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Election of Postal Constituency Positions 2019  National Executive Council Members (Section 2)

Election of Postal Constituency Positions 2019 

  • National Executive Council Members (Section 2)

 

Following the publication of LTB 353/19 dated 11thJune 2019, notification has been received today (14thJune 2019) from Gary Clark, Scotland No 2 Branch of the withdrawal of his nomination for Postal Constituency NEC Representative (Section 2).

Accordingly Branches will wish to note the following updated election information:

 

NOMINATIONS FOR POSTAL CONSTITUENCY – NEC REPRESENTATIVE (SECTION 2)

Mole Meade South East London Postal & Counters            (Elected)
Ian Taylor Greater Manchester                                           (Elected)

 

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

19LTB369



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Romford Mail Centre – Property Update

Romford Mail Centre – Property Update

Royal Mail have informed the Union of significant developments in relation to negotiations on the extension of the lease arrangements for Romford Mail Centre indicating that they also intended to update employees at the site on the current situation this morning.

Royal Mail indicated that the Romford lease is due for renewal in March 2020 but that during contractual negotiations the landlord has indicated that they wish to develop the site for residential use. Given this, Royal Mail are reviewing options with their legal team and engaging in further discussions with the landlord on the business requirements for the site with the aim of achieving an extension to the lease.

Clearly this announcement will create a great deal of uncertainty for our members at the site and the Union have conveyed to Royal Mail our dismay that the company has allowed a situation to develop where contractual negotiations have taken place so close to the lease break, effectively creating a crisis situation should those negotiations fail to secure an extension to the current lease.

The CWU have also insisted that the business engage in immediate discussions with the Union to explore and develop a full range of options including any legal recourse to secure the integrity of the operation in the long term and most importantly to provide our members with clarity on the ongoing process at every stage and adhere to the robust commitments to job and standard of living security in line with our National agreements.

An initial meeting to discuss and agree next steps will take place on Monday, 17th June 2019 and further updates will be provided following that meeting. 

The Union will ensure that our members at Romford are fully supported throughout this period of uncertainty and we will ensure that the full protections within our National agreements continue to apply in full.

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

DGSP Department, email: hford@cwu.org quoting reference number: 10020.

Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 722.01.

Outdoor Department, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference number: 230.03.

PTCS Department, email: khawkins@cwu.org quoting reference number 041.

Terry Pullinger Davie Robertson

Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch Ray Ellis

Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

LTB 370-19 – Romford MC – Property Update

 



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Election of Postal Constituency Positions 2019 

Election of Postal Constituency Positions 2019 

    • National Executive Council Members (Section 1)

Following the publication of LTB 353/19 dated 11th June 2019, notification has been received from Mole Meade of South East London Postal & Counters Branch advising of the withdrawal of his nomination for Postal Constituency NEC Representative (Section 1).

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

19LTB366

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CHANGE OF STARTING POINT 15 JUNE – GRENFELL SECOND ANNIVERSARY 

CHANGE OF STARTING POINT 15th JUNE – GRENFELL SECOND ANNIVERSARY 

Further to LTB 335/19 please note that there is a new starting point for the March on Saturday 15thJune which is now Whitehall, opp Downing St, London SW1A 1AA.

The details for the silent walk in North Kensington on the 14th June are the same. For further information please find attached a flyer and a programme of events for both dates.

We would ask branches to publicise these events to members and any queries on the contents of the LTB should be directed to gsoffice@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Ward

General Secretary

19LTB368 – CHANGE OF STARTING POINT 15th JUNE – GRENFELL SECOND ANNIVERSARY

Route – Final

Anniversary flyer

Anniversary flyer 2



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CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 23 October 2019

CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 23rd October 2019

The CWU Retired Members Conference will be held on Wednesday 23rd October 2019 at the Birmingham CWU Offices, 46-48 Summer Lane, Hockley, Birmingham B19 3TH.

We expect that the timetable for the submission of motions to be sent to Branches in early July.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Chris Tapper either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

 

A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

19LTB367 – CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 23rd October 2019



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