TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE DEPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FOR PARCEL SORTING MACHINES WITHIN THE MAIL CENTRE/ RDC ESTATE

Dear Colleagues

Branches and representatives will be aware that trial activity in relation to the Parcel Sorting Machines commenced in 2016 at Swindon Mail Centre and was subsequently extended to include Home Counties North, Greenford and Chelmsford Mail Centres.

Following extensive activity at all of the trial sites in relation to the PSM’s, associated activity and additional equipment/process requirements, discussions have been taking place with the business to conclude a deployment agreement.

A Terms of Reference to enable deployment activity and engagement to take place has now been finalised and endorsed by your Postal Executive. A copy of the agreement is attached for your information.

Colleagues will note:

Ø That the attached agreement provides for full CWU IR, H&S and Engineering involvement in the deployment activity.

Ø A selection process has been concluded in respect of staffing and minimum staffing arrangements for various scenarios that have also been agreed, in order to ensure that the machine is adequately and safely manned at all times.

Ø All staff using the PSM will be fully trained on the operation of the PSM, the associated Standard Operating Procedure and SSOW, if no training has been given then they will not be able to carry out any roles on the machine.

Ø Any surplus created by the PSM will be managed in accordance with the relevant national agreement.

Ø The Parcel Automation Joint Working Group will continue to monitor and review the deployment activity to ensure that it is in line with the agreed framework. Any issues that cannot be resolved at local or Joint Working Group level will be escalated to the National Processing Group (NPG).

Colleagues should note that at present a decision has been made in respect of where 13 of the PSM’s will be sited (this includes the aforementioned trial sites) based on traffic profiles and geographical spread. Further consideration is currently taking place in relation to the placement of the remaining 3 machines.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 732.01

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

LTB 355-18 – TOR PSM Deployment – 19.06.18

Attachment 1 – TOR FOR THE DEPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FOR PSM WITHIN THE MAIL CENTRE – 19.06.18

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AGREEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL SPECIALIST SERVICES AND THE CWU REGARDING THE USE OF TECHNICAL PLANNING TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES BY RM RELAY IN THE NEW REVISIONS PROCESS FOR OPERATIONAL UNITS

Dear Colleagues

The Guiding Principles of Employment Security and Approach to Future Challenges Agreement commits both Royal Mail and the CWU to working together to positively transform business operations. Both parties continue to work to develop and establish improved, constructive working relationships and effective interfaces with the aim of agreeing shared objectives to take the business forward and at the same time protecting jobs and terms and conditions at all levels and across all functions within Royal Mail.

In line with the above commitments extensive activity, testing and analysis has been taking place over the last 18 months via the RMSS Joint Working Group to formalise an agreed, standardised and structured revision process for RMSS.

The JWG activity has proved extremely productive and for the first time ever a formal revision process, which incorporates the use of Paragon, will be used in RMSS. Discussions have therefore taken place and an agreement has been concluded to enable a process to be introduced.

A copy of the agreement providing full details of the process, which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive, is attached for your information.

Colleagues will note that the agreement provides a 10 step revision process which ensures agreement and ratification of the final duty structure.

The local CWU representative will have full involvement during the revision activity, which will be supplemented by CWU IE assistance where required. Equally, provision has been made in relation to a post implementation process at 6 weeks, which will fully include the local representative and CWU IE.

Confirmation is also provided that any adjustments to duties will be carried out in line with existing agreements.

An immense amount of effort has been invested by the department over a long period of time to strengthen our industrial relationship with RMSS. For a number of years we have also been attempting to commit RMSS to an agreed revision process that would be beneficial in relation to establishing resourcing requirements and providing an approach that is clear, transparent and fair for members.

We believe therefore that the attached agreement signifies a major achievement for the CWU, both in regard to improving relationships and providing a standardised approach to revision activity for RMSS going forward.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 218.22.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

18LTB358

Attachment 1 – RMSS Technical Planning Tools in New Revisions Process

TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING A NEW COMMERCIAL INITIATIVE – METER BOXES TO ACCEPT PARCEL POSTINGS TRIAL

Dear Colleagues

Branches will be aware that the Agenda for Growth and Guiding Principles of Employment Security and Mutual Interest Approach to Future Challenges and Opportunities agreements commit both Royal Mail and the CWU to working together to positively transform business operations.

Parcels competition continues to increase with competitors expanding their networks and delivering enhanced customer services. Parcel posting customers are continually seeking expanding options for the ability to despatch items outside of the traditional collection or Post Office channels. Competitors have been seeking alternative access channels such as local garages, shops and railway stations as access points for parcel despatches.

Royal Mail therefore recently approached the departments with a request to undertake a trial to expand current Meter Boxes to accept parcel postings to allow them to assess customer desire for this option, test commercial viability and to drive future strategy in relation to street furniture design.

Discussions have therefore been taking place with the business in relation to a Terms of Reference for the trial activity. An agreement has now been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive and a copy is attached for your information.

Colleagues will note that CWU representatives (including H&S reps) and employees will be fully involved at each deployment site to enable consistency and ongoing success. Any operational changes required to facilitate the trial arrangements will be progressed in line with the IR Framework.

The trial will commence in June 2018 and will last for a period of 3 months. The trial activity will take place within the LE and NN geographical areas and involve 30 Meter Boxes, over 7 days a week.

Prior to the introduction of initiatives linked to the deployment programme in the Collection and Delivery functions, CWU Divisional, Area and Local level Representatives will be fully briefed on the initiative and on their roles within the process.

All affected staff at participating sites will receive full training in the revised processes.

The CWU Nationally will be updated monthly on progress via the Strategic Involvement Meetings on issues relating to the project through the National Collection JWG.

Formal review of the trial will take place at National level and any further deployment of the initiative will be subject to discussion and National agreement.

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that members are made aware of the contents of this LTB.

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

Mail Centre Collections: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, quoting reference 721.03

Email Address: shayman@cwu.org

Or

Delivery Office & Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, quoting reference 532

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary                        

Mark Baulch – Assistant Secretary         

TOR Meter Boxes to Accept Parcel Postings Trial

18LTB356

RM/CWU Resourcing & Quality Checklists – Collection Hubs

Dear Colleagues,

Following the ratification of the 2018 Guiding Principles Agreement, Branches will be aware that contained within Section 8 (Resourcing) it was agreed that both parties would produce a jointly agreed checklist to assess each Unit against the application of our National Agreements and Joint Statements.

In the quality section (Section 9) of the same agreement there is a commitment that RM/CWU would develop a jointly agreed checklist to assess current performance against standards and ensure that all scheduled mail is being cleared on a daily basis. The purpose of this exercise is to build confidence that we are compliant with all our agreements and joint statements. Where it is agreed there is non-compliance, an agreed action plan will be worked up locally as a priority.

Following a period of discussion on this topic, we have now agreed the content of both checklists for Collection Units/Hubs and we are now in the process of building a solution that will allow units to complete these checklists using an online platform. Subject to the online solution being developed, to timescale, then our intention is to launch these two checklists as one combined exercise on week commencing 25th June 2018.

In line with the commitment within the Guiding Principles Agreement, both the unit manager and local CWU rep will complete this exercise together as a part of the weekly resourcing meeting. It is essential that the local CWU representative is provided sufficient release time to jointly complete this exercise with their respective Collections manager. Where a Unit has no CWU representative, the appropriate Area Representative will complete this exercise with the respective Collections Manager.

Units will have a maximum of three weeks to complete this exercise and all returns must be completed online no later than Monday 16th July 2018.

Local Managers and CWU Reps will have the ability to answer questions on a yes/no basis individually to indicate whether the unit in their opinion is compliant to the standard set out in the question. If either party believes that the unit is not compliant, to the standard, then agreed action/s to achieve compliance will be agreed as a priority and these should be captured against the question in the online checklist. Failure to agree an action plan will be progressed and resolved by means of the IR Framework. Once all the questions in the checklist are complete then the names of manager and CWU Rep should also be entered before final submission is made.

The completed online checklists will be made available to the Area Reps and Area Collection Managers both where compliance has been agreed and where non-compliant remedy action plans are being worked up. Where at unit level a joint action plan has not been completed this will be discussed at area/divisional strategic involvement meetings to seek support for the unit to complete the action plan.

An online solution has been concluded to enable this activity which is available via the following hyperlink:

https://portal.royalmailgroup.com/sites/A1974/SitePages/NewHome.aspx

Colleagues should note that the above hyperlink is a RM Intranet site.

Any queries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to:

Collections in Deliveries & MPU’s: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary,

e-mail: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference: 532

or

Mail Centre Area Distribution Collections: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary,

e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 722.01

Yours sincerely

Mark Baulch – Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary

LTB 357.18 – RM CWU Resourcing and Quality Checklists – Collection Hubs

Joint Statement – RM CWU Collections Checklists – 19.06.18

RM_CWU Collection Quality Checklist 31st May 2018 Final

RM_CWU Collections Resourcing Checklist 31st May 2018 Final

Motion 9 Industrial Training

Motion 9 carried at this year’s Annual Conference instructed the Postal Executive to seek nominations from Branches for CWU Representatives to deliver local based industrial training to CWU Representatives.

The full terms of the motion are reproduced below:

This Conference agrees that the more industrial training we can get for our Reps on national agreements is in the best interests of our members. Therefore the Postal Executive is instructed to look for nominations via a LTB for CWU Reps across the country to deliver local based training to CWU Reps on:-

• The Conduct Agreement.

• The Attendance Procedure.

• The Industrial Relations Framework, CWU and joint training.

• Any delivery based training such as Mod 1 and Mod 2 Revision training, IWT training.

• Any proposed resourcing training as and when it is developed both joint and CWU.

This list is not exhaustive.

The nominated people would be expected to have experience in the subject they would like to deliver and would have to detail their experience within their application. The successful nominations would initially be given Train the Trainer sessions on the relevant training that they have opted to deliver with a view of expanding presentational skills as required.

CWU HQ via the DGS(P) and Education Department would keep up to date records of the CWU trainers and the relevant training they have volunteered to deliver and update the records via further nominations/skills/subjects as and when people leave or when there are any necessary changes.

The Postal Executive is instructed accordingly.

In light of the Motion, the Department is writing to all Branches to seek their nominations for Representatives to facilitate and deliver industrial training and provide an opportunity to further develop their skills in the future. As the Motion makes clear, the nominated people must have experience in the subject they would like to deliver and detail this as part of their application.

Branches are therefore requested to forward the names of their proposed nominees by completing the pro-forma provided (please print off and use more copies of the pro-forma as required). The completed forms should include the individual’s contact details, the subjects they wish to deliver and their nominating Branch. Could Branches please complete and return the pro-forma(s) by no later than Friday 6th July 2018.

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)

18LTB344 – Motion 9 Industrial Training

Attachment 1 to LTB 344.18 – Proforma

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS – 2018

• CWU Young Workers Committee 2018

Further to LTB 315/18 dated 11th May 2018, please find below ballot results for the above named Delegations which closed on Friday 15th June 2018.

CWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – POSTAL CONSTITUENCY

NORTHERN IRELAND REGION

Gary McCrum

Northern Ireland East15,022 Matt McMaster

Northern Ireland Combined69,624*ElectedCWU YOUNG WORKERS COMMITTEE – TELECOM & FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY

NORTH WEST REGION

Erin Brett

Mersey26,159*ElectedDaniel Lewis

Bootle Financial Services15,034 Stephen McCarthy

Greater Mersey & South West Lancs895

SOUTH EAST REGION

Georgina Ford

Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW18,382 Connor McCann

Meridian19,101*ElectedLiam Reed

South East Central5,647

The branch analysis for the above ballot results are attached to this LTB.

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

18LTB352 – Ballot Result for Young Workers Committees

Ballot Returns Young Workers

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FREE TICKETS TO LABOUR LIVE THIS SATURDAY

The chart topping Clean Bandit are the latest big act to be announced for Labour Live in London this Saturday.

CWU members can get up to 6 FREE tickets by simply visiting https://action.labour.org.uk/page/content/labour-live-main/ and adding the discount code LLDT-CWU

These tickets are on a first come, first serve basis.

The event is from 12-20:30 and will see a mixture of music, comedy and politics.

For a full list of all the acts please visit labour.live

PARCELFORCE – ‘FOUR PILLARS’ AGREEMENT – Joint Statement National Agreement Deployment

Dear Colleagues

Branches and representatives are informed that discussions have been taking place with Parcelforce in line with the commitments contained in Appendix B of the Agreement between Royal Mail Group and the Communication Workers Union Regarding Guiding Principles of Employment Security and a Mutual Interest Approach to Future Challenges and Opportunities.

A Joint Statement – National Agreement Deployment has now been concluded, which provides an update in regard to discussions relating to Resourcing in PFW Depots, has been endorsed by the Postal Executive and is attached for your information.

Colleagues will be aware from the debate on Motion 40 at Postal Conference 2018 that the matter of the resourcing mix in Parcelforce is a live issue. The 2003 document commonly referred to as the “Mixed Resourcing” agreement defines that 25% of Collection & Delivery Routes may be resourced by means other than directly employed staff. Policing of this agreement has meant that periodically we have had to “reset the clock” on the resourcing mix, the last time in late 2016.

Since 2016 however, there appeared to have been a drift towards a greater level of external resource through the use of Owner Driver “Assists” and C&D Couriers. The department therefore instigated a joint review of the current resourcing mix, utilising the Resourcing in Line with Current Agreements section of the PFW Annex. The review, undertaken by the Table of Success REX Joint Working Group, established that the resourcing mix excluding agency usage was at around 70/30.

The establishment of this figure has enabled an agreement to be reached with the business to commence a recruitment exercise to increase of the number of directly employed routes by 160. Detail of how these new jobs will be resourced is included in the Joint Statement. Branches and representatives will note however that unlike 2016 there will be no additional Owner Driver recruitment taking place as part of this increase and that the commitment to re-establish the agreed resourcing ratios in relation to C&D operations has been reaffirmed.

Significantly we have also for the first time achieved explicit wording which details that all external resourcing options are included in the 25% external quota and that where Owner Driver Assists or Couriers remain they will be included in the calculation, which has always been the CWU position.

Additionally we have achieved wording that the recruitment exercise will look to offer permanent employment to current Owner Driver Assists, in an attempt to provide real opportunity to individuals who may currently be regarded as the least secure.

Agreement has also been reached in respect of the Table of Success Resourcing Joint Working Group undertaking an ongoing review of all categories of flexible resource and both parties have agreed that it is important to continue to bring any remaining use of agency/courier resource into line with the spirit and intent of the Agenda for Growth and Stability Agreement and to meet the agreed resourcing model.

A National Table of Success event has recently taken place where both parties reviewed all Joint Working Group activities and discussed the detail of the programme of works arising from the National agreement. Joint lead roles and accountabilities have been agreed that will ensure we deliver together on all elements of the agreement.

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that our PFW members are made aware of the contents of this LTB and the attached Joint Statement.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 102.02.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

LTB341-18 – Parcelforce Four Pillars Agreement – JS National Agreement Deployment

Attachment 1 – JS National Agreement Deployment

JOINT STATEMENT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF ROUTE EXCELLENCE

Dear Colleagues

Branches and representatives will recall that, Appendix B, the Parcelforce Worldwide section of the Agreement between Royal Mail Group and the Communication Workers Union Regarding Guiding Principles of Employment Security and a Mutual Interest Approach to Future Challenges and Opportunities, determined that the achievement of the first hour reduction in the Working Week was linked to the Route Excellence (REX) process being fully deployed. Discussions and activity have been taking place with the business to ensure that this key element of the agreement can be delivered

Extensive activity has taken place since 2015 in relation to the REX system to ensure that the product is fit for purpose, which has been overseen by the Table of Success REX Working Group (LTB 336/17 refers).

The Working Group has now recommended to the National Steering Group that the process is ready to be introduced on a phased basis to all depots. Therefore discussions have taken place with the business to conclude a further Joint Statement – Future Development & Deployment of Route Excellence to facilitate the activity. This Joint Statement to enable the deployment activity to commence has now been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive. A copy is attached for your information.

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that our PFW members are made aware of the contents of this LTB and the commencement of the REX deployment activity.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 132.07

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

LTB 340-18 – JS – Route Excellence 11.06.18

Attachment 1 – JS REX Deployment – 11.06.18

Men’s Health Week 11-17 June 2018: Diabetes – Diabetes is Decimating Men

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

A diabetes crisis is unfolding in the UK and men are the worst affected. One man in 10 now has diabetes and in middle-aged men the disease is expected to increase sharply in frequency over the next 20 years.

Men’s Health Week 2018 coincides with Diabetes Week and the Men’s Health Forum is highlighting how men are affected – and it’s not a pretty picture. Men are more likely to get diabetes than women, more likely to experience complications like leg amputation and more likely to die from the condition.

One man in ten already has diabetes and thousands more either don’t know they have it or are at serious risk of it. Are you one of them?

Martin Tod, Chief Executive of the Men’s Health Forum said:

“The Men’s Health Forum wants to see a serious programme of research and investment to ensure men get the support and care they need to prevent and manage diabetes. The toxic combination of ever more men being overweight, men getting diabetes at a lower BMI and health services that don’t work well enough for working age men is leading to a crisis. We need urgent action. Our plan for this week is to raise awareness amongst men and amongst professionals of the challenge many men face.”

The Men’s Health Forum’s report One In Ten: The Male Diabetes Crisis shows:

• Men are 26% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than women – with Public Health England estimates showing that 9.6% of men have type 1 or type 2 diabetes vs. 7.6% of women. One man in 10 now has diabetes.

• Men are more likely to be overweight (BMI 25+) and to develop diabetes at a lower BMI (body mass index) than women. However, they are less likely to be aware that they are overweight or to participate in weight management programmes.

• Men are more likely to suffer from diabetic retinopathy, foot ulcers and to have a foot amputation. 69.6% of those presenting with a foot ulcer are men. Men are more than twice as likely to have a major amputation. Studies also show that the incidence of diabetic retinopathy is significantly higher amongst men.

• Men are more likely to die, and to die prematurely, as a result of diabetes. The age-standardised mortality rate for men with an underlying cause of death as diabetes mellitus is 40% higher than it is for women.

The report highlights how the sex inequalities have not been highlighted by health policy makers and practitioners and calls for better engagement of men in: NHS Health Checks, routine eye tests, weight management programmes and diabetes education programmes.

Follow this link to the Men’s Health Forum website for further information, posters, toolbox talks and booklets to raise awareness of this event in your Branches:

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mens-health-week-2018-diabetes

A copy of the Men’s Health Forum Report is attached.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB348 Men’s Health Week 11-17 June 2018 Diabetes – Diabetes is Decimating Men

diabetes_1in10_nov2017

mhw2018_posters_kills

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