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Royal Mail Group April 2018, Bi-Monthly Road Safety Campaign, Launch W/C 9 April 2018 – Managers Responsibilities:

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CWU Campaign – Close The Gap – Government Consultation on Taylor Review  

The government has published its long awaited consultation document on recommendations made in the Matthew Taylor ‘Review of modern employment practices’ relating to agency workers.

Please click on link to view the document;

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/agency-workers-recommendations

The agency workers’ consultation document is compiled into three sections:

• Section 1: Improving the transparency of information provided to work seekers.

• Section 2: Extending the remit of the Employment agency Standards inspectorate to cover umbrella companies and intermediaries in the supply chain.

• Section 3: Pay Between Assignments

The CWU will be making a national submission on all aspects of the government consultation, but it is Section 3 (page 18) that is of most interest as this section seeks evidence and views on whether the government should repeal the legislation that allows agency workers to opt out of equal pay entitlements (the ‘Swedish Derogation’) or, whether enhanced enforcement is required.

The CWU strongly believes that enhanced enforcement is not the answer and is currently campaigning to abolish Pay Between Assignment contracts. It is therefore crucial that the government receive as much feedback as possible expressing this view.

The key questions that we would like the Branches to respond to in relation to Section 3 can be found on page 21 of the document.

We are asking branches to answer questions 8-12

Model answers have been prepared and are attached which can be used by the branches, although we are encouraging branches to elaborate on questions 9 & 10 where you can share your own branch experiences of PBA contracts. We would also like Manpower members’ to make an individual response particularly to questions 9 & 10 and share their own individual experience of working on a PBA contract as this will undoubtedly strengthen the submission.

In order to assist branches so that they can make electronic submissions please also find an attached electronic version of the questions which can be completed and emailed to the email address below.

Please note branches (or members) will also need to complete the questions in Section 4 (page 22 &23) which are self-explanatory. Also attached in electronic format.

Responses can be emailed to awconsultation@beis.gov.uk.

Or posted to:

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Labour Markets, Spur 2,

1 Victoria Street, London SW1H OET

All responses need to be received by 9 May 2018.

A conference call with the Manpower branches will be arranged before conference to discuss the consultation document in more detail and to take any questions that you may have.

Details of the conference call as follows:

Monday 09 April 2018 13:00-14:00 hrs

  Dial in: 0800 731 7239

Participant’s code: 243 55 301#

Any questions relating to this LTB should be addressed to Sally Bridge, National Officer sabridge@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Sally Bridge

National Officer

LTB 186.2018 – CWU Campaign Close The Gap Government Consultation on Taylor Review

LTB 186.2018 Attachment 1

LTB 186.2018 Attachment 2

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CWU Consolidated Accounts 2017

Please find attached the CWU Consolidated Accounts for the financial year 2017.

The audit of these accounts is now substantially complete and the final version will be signed prior to CWU General Conference 2018. There will be no financial changes to the final signed version of the accounts enclosed.

Accordingly Branches are now invited to forward questions to the attached CWU Consolidated Accounts 2017 to arrive by no later than 12:00 hours on Thursday 19th April 2018.

Please note all questions should be sent to the email address sdgs@cwu.org or by post addressed to the Finance Department at CWU HQ. Please note, any emails sent to any other email address will not receive a response and will not be included in the published questions and answers.

Any other queries on this LTB should also be addressed to sdgs@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB195

2017 Accounts (unsigned) LTB

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TUC NEW DEAL FOR WORKERS DEMO ON 12TH MAY 

We have just over a month until the TUC New Deal for Workers Demo in London on 12th May. This event is set to be the biggest gathering of Trade Unionist in the UK for many years. It is absolutely vital that the CWU has the strongest possible turnout and all our Branches are represented.

We are working with our Regional Secretaries to measure the expected attendance and some of the work being undertaken by our Branches is innovative and impressive. However, we are aware this is not the case in all areas. In the coming weeks and at Annual Conference we will be reiterating the need for the whole union to get behind this demonstration. The CWU have been at the forefront of calling for a New Deal for Workers and the 12th May is a key part of this campaign.

Again, we encourage Branches to book coaches and trains and fill them with members, representatives, friends, families and supportive groups such as Labour CLPs.

Closer to the date we will release the exact location of our block on The Embankment, where we have been allocated a prime position. The Union will be providing merchandise and flags for the event and Branches are also encouraged to bring their banners.

We will continue to promote the event through social media and our other communications channels.

Finally, we ask all Branches to ensure that maximising attendance on the 12th May is a priority commitment.

If you require any assistance booking coaches or for any other advice surrounding the 12th May please contact Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

18LTB197 TUC DEMO 12TH MAY

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Four Pillars Pay Arrangements & Back Pay

Further to the endorsement of the Four Pillars of Security and Pay National Agreement (as reported in LTB 183/18) the Department are currently in dialogue with the business regarding the arrangements for the implementation of the 5% pay award and associated back pay. Branches should note that our intention in these discussions is to have this issue resolved as quickly as possible.

Please can Branches ensure that our members are updated on the current situation and thank them for their patience and understanding in respect of this matter.

Further updates will be circulated as soon as possible.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

18LTB193- Four Pillars Pay Arrangements and Back Pay

Communications Department Conference Fringe #RiseUp

Dear colleagues,

The Communications Department will this year host a fringe event on improving how we engage with our members, the public, media and politicians. The speakers will include Dave Ward, General Secretary and Liam Young a high profile journalist and left wing figure.

The fringe will be held at 13:00 on Sunday 22nd April in the Tregonwell Hall at the BIC. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Following contributions from the panel, the meeting will be opened up for delegates to put forward ideas on how we engage as a union.

Attached to this LTB is a copy of the fringe leaflet and a graphic. Please could you share these as widely as possible amongst your delegations.

We look forward to seeing you all on the day.

All enquiries on the content of this LTB should be directed to Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org

Kind regards

Chris Webb

Head of Communications, Engagement and Media

LTB 189.18

rise-up-2up

Rise Up poster

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Attendance Procedure – Update

Due to a surge in the number of complaints around the current Occupational Health model and approach to sickness absence the department met with Royal Mail yesterday where we discussed the issues reported.

These include:-

◦ Equality Act – a perceived lack of proper consultation and inappropriate issuing of attendance reviews

◦ Moving to Leaving the Business through Ill Health(LTBIH) too quickly·

◦ Part day absences·

◦ Inappropriate use of the notification / line in the sand letter

◦ Contact Strategy being abused·

◦ Inappropriate threats to and actual stoppage of sick pay

◦ Difficulties in rehabilitation plans

◦ Inconsistency in timescales and getting / not getting OH advice.

We have agreed to meet again next week as a matter of urgency to find solutions to the issues facing our members.

The solutions will include setting up interventions in the worst perceived areas, retraining on aspects of the attendance procedure to ensure the attendance agreement is adhered to.

This activity will link into the work we started last year and the activity we have committed to carry out in the Four Pillars and Pay agreement. Both parties are committed to moving this forward as quickly as possible.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 415. Email address: khawkins@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis

Assistant Secretary

18LTB185 Attendance Procedure – Update

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Agreement between Royal Mail Logistics and the CWU on Resourcing Guidelines for the Deployment of the Network Revision 2018

No. 184/2018

29th March 2018

For the Immediate Attention of All:

Postal Branches with Network Members

Divisional Representatives

Regional Organisers

Area Distribution Representatives

LGV Representatives

Dear Colleagues

Agreement between Royal Mail Logistics and the CWU on Resourcing Guidelines for the Deployment of the Network Revision 2018

Branches will be aware that in March 2017 activity commenced in relation to Network Review 2017. Ultimately, however no revision activity took place during 2017 due to various anomalies identified in the data gathering process and the issue became part of the National discussions that were taking place.

Following the conclusion of the National agreement, discussions have re-commenced in relation to the review and the business has re-presented the revised proposals to the Network Working Group (NWG). The group has reviewed the proposal, which has been significantly mitigated from the original proposal and has agreed that this may now be progressed to Stage 3 of the process. An Agreement has been concluded to enable local activity to commence in line with the agreed framework.

Again discussions have centered on opportunities to mitigate the proposed headcount reductions by addressing current resourcing practices, maximising internal resourcing options and markedly reducing the current considerable reliance on agency or external driving resource.

Building on the experience of previous years, the attached agreed Resourcing Guidelines should assist representatives and Branches in progressing local discussions on Stage 3 of the Network 18 proposals. The guidelines cover a range of resourcing options and again provide clarity on an agreed position on a number of recurring issues such as Leave Reserve ratios, coverage of Ad-Hoc workload through Flex duties, the use of “as directed” time in duty construction and the movement of work elements between VOC’s in area solutions.

The Stage 3 Local discussions will now commence on Tuesday, 3rd April 2018 and release has been arranged for representatives to fully prepare and participate in the process. As in previous years the NWG will be available to advise and assist Branches and representatives in dealing with proposals where required. Given the complexity of the discussions in this

revision, duty construction should be targeted to conclude by early June 2018 and progress will be monitored continuously by the NWG and a final National implementation date will be agreed and communicated to Branches and representatives.

The department would like to take this opportunity to place on record our thanks to the members of the NWG for their ongoing assistance on the Network 18 discussions.

Branches are requested to bring the contents of this LTB to the attention of all our Professional Driver members as a matter of urgency.

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: 233.13.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

LTB 184-18 – Network 18 Review Stage 3 – 29.03.18Attachment 1 – Network 18 Revision – 28.03.18

Attachment 1 – Network 18 Revision – 28.03.18