Royal Mail Lampeter DO (SA Postcode Area) – Death of A Postman Staff Member Due To Legionnaires Disease

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The Health, Safety and Environment Department has received a number of enquiries regarding the above and this report is to update Branches and deal with any further enquiries and concerns that may exist.

The Health, Safety and Environment Department has been dealing with the matter in direct dialogue with the Royal Mail Group Director of Safety, Compliance & Sustainability (Property & Facilities), the Royal Mail Group Head of Health and Wellbeing and the Assistant Director for Environmental Services at Ceredigion County Council. Locally the CWU Deputy ASR has been fully involved and working with the Royal Mail Group’s Area Safety Health and Environment Advisor. The Health, Safety and Environment Department can advise and confirm the very sad news that one of our Postmen employed at Lampeter Delivery Office in the Swansea Postcode Area has died from Legionnaires Disease. The individual was a new employee who showed flu like symptoms a few weeks ago, before being diagnosed as having Legionnaires Disease from which he subsequently died. Upon diagnosis, the Delivery Unit received a formal visit from the Local Authority Environmental Health Officer who undertook an Inspection of Royal Mail’s Legionella management records on the Compliance Records Database and the health and Safety Enforcing Authority Officer was satisfied with the information presented and had no concerns with Royal Mail’s policy, health and safety standards and approach to Legionella management on the site or the monthly temperature readings taken of the building’s water systems. As a matter of course Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions have taken samples which are being tested in the laboratory and have also heat treated the DO building’s water system. In response to our requests, the Royal Mail Head of Health and Wellbeing has offered the full support of the Feeling First Class service to the Lampeter DO staff of an on-site occupational health advisor and counsellor to answer any questions and also provide counselling support plus the Director Compliance & Sustainability Royal Mail Group Property and Facilities Solutions has offered the RMPFS the support of the national Legionella lead to go down to the Delivery

Office to discuss any concerns or worries the staff may have. The H&S Dept has been contacted by the head of the multiagency Incident Management Team investigating this tragic case of Legionnaires Disease. (NHS Wales/Public Health Wales/Ceredigion County Council). They advised that the investigation is ongoing, and no written report is available at this point in time. However, no connection between the infection and this Royal Mail workplace have been identified. Colleagues from Ceredigion County Council visited the premises to assure the Incident Management Team that there was no risk to employees or the public from your member’s workplace. Appropriate legionella risk assessments and control measures are in place for the Royal Mail premises.

Legionnaires Disease is a serious Lung Infection caused by Legionella Bacteria. Initially flu-like symptoms are experienced which subsequently worsen. It is normally caught by breathing in small, tiny droplets of contaminated water. Although rare, it can come from contaminated water systems, tanks, showers, sprinkler systems, spas etc. The best way to prevent an outbreak of legionnaire’s disease is to ensure that any water system is maintained to conform to relevant health and safety regulations. The infection isn’t contagious and can’t be spread from person to person. Legionnaires Disease in the UK is rare with only a small number of cases annually occurring. Many arise from overseas travel to countries where health and safety contamination controls and sanitation standards are poor. Those with underlying or pre-existing lung conditions or a weakened immune system are more susceptible to infection. Legionnaires Disease is treated with Antibiotics and 90% of people with Legionnaires Disease make a full recovery.

For more information, go to the following link on the NHS Website https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Legionnaires-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB584 Royal Mail Lampeter DO (SA Postcode Area) – Death of A Postman Staff Member Due To Legionnaires Disease

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Royal Mail Electric ‘Zero-Emission’ Vehicles Introduction – Trial Sites Update

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB No 454/17, Royal Mail Fleet have informed us that following on from RM Group Property’s surveys at each of the proposed Delivery Offices and Fleet Workshops, Royal Mail Fleet have had to change a some of the sites (due to leasehold and power supply issues). The final list of DOs is below:-

Harehills DO

Gledhow Road

Leeds

LS8 5RA

Bexley Heath DO

2 Glengall Rd

Bexleyheath

DA7 4BS

Orpington DO

Vinson Close

Orpington

BR6 0PJ

Dartford MPU

50 West Hill

Dartford

DA1 1AA

E1 Whitechapel DO

206 Whitechapel Rd

London

E1 1AA

SW1 Victoria DO

30 Pensbury Place

London

SW8 4FA

N1 Islington DO

Eagle Wharf Road

London

N1 7ED

SE1 Southwark DO

Tower Bridge Business Park

London

SE1 5SE

Nottingham South DO

Unit 11

Clarke Road

Nottingham

NG2 3JJ

Derby DO

Midland Road

Derby

DE1 1AA

Bristol South DO

Kent Street

Bristol

BS3 3NR

Hockley DO

23 Hockley Hill

Birmingham

B18 5AP

Hythe DO

36 New Road, Hythe

Southampton

SO45 6BP

Belfast DO

20-22 DONEGALL QUAY

Belfast

BT1 1AA

Edinburgh Dell DO

3 Gorgie Park Road

Edinburgh

EH14 1NL

Cardiff DO

220 Penarth Road

Cardiff

CF11 8TA

NW1 Camden DO

1 Barnby Street,

Camden Town,

NW1 1AA

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB579 Royal Mail Electric ‘Zero-Emission’ Vehicles Introduction – Trial Sites Update

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Princess Royal Distribution Centre (PRDC): 95 Double Deck Trailer: Safety Alert

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

This LTB is in response to an incident that took place on 19/10/17 at PRDC where the upper deck hydraulics on a Don Burr 95 DDT appear to have failed.

The Health, Safety and Environment Department has raised this at national level, and been in dialogue with the Head of Safety Heath & Environment Logistics, seeking safety assurances on behalf of our members. The investigation is still ongoing, but it appears to be a hydraulic valve problem. The trailer manufacturers Don Burr is involved in the investigation.

Assurances have been given that there is no risk to staff as long as they adhere to the Safe System of Work (SSoW) for the 95 York Double Deck Trailer.

One of the key safety messages of the SSOW being:

Never enter the trailer with the upper deck in the upper position unless yellow stops and flags are locked in place, and you are trained.

The attached Logistics Safety Alert (Log0007) has been issued, and should be briefed to ALL employees.

Branches will be kept advised and informed of developments.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB577 Princess Royal Distribution Centre (PRDC) 95 Double Deck Trailer Safety Alert

Safety Alert – 95 Double Deck Trailer Safety Brief

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Dear Colleague,

Following on from the High Court Decision, Moya Greene requested a meeting with Terry Pullinger, CWU’s Deputy General Secretary Postal and lead negotiator. This meeting took place on Wednesday 18th October and lasted 5 hours. During this meeting, Moya Greene expressed her and the company’s desire to resolve the issues of dispute.

Moya Greene said she would be leading Royal Mail’s negotiating team during the external mediation process and said this should demonstrate her commitment to resolving the dispute.

Terry Pullinger responded by saying the Royal Mail had to start listening to its workforce if they wanted to resolve this dispute. They had to change their position on Pay, Pensions, Resourcing, Part Time Workers rights, the way they treat their employees and their desire to make start and finishing times later, based on a cheaper work plan model. Terry informed Royal Mail that all of these issues needed to be addressed if they are going to stop a strike.

On Monday 23rd October, Professor Lynette Harris, the External ACAS Mediator was appointed. Her first role in carrying out the mediation process is to read the submissions from both Royal Mail and the CWU and to fully understand both sides positions in the dispute. Professor Harris will then meet Royal Mail and the CWU separately to listen to the rationale behind Royal Mail and the CWUs respective positions.

Recommendations will then be produced based on reaching common ground between the two parties in order to resolve the dispute.  Both Royal Mail and the CWU must then meet within one week to see if they both agree with all or some of the recommendations and will then see if agreement can be reached to resolve the dispute. If agreement can’t be reached based on the external mediators recommendations then both parties will have a final two week opportunity to resolve the dispute during the mediation process. If both parties at this stage have still not resolved the issues then the CWU can then announce strike action.

However, the CWU has always said to members its goal is to negotiate a good deal and not to strike for the sake of it. The High Court Judge asked Royal Mail in the High Court why would they go to the High Court seeking external mediation unless they were going to genuinely move their position in order to reach an agreement.  The fact remains that unless Royal Mail agree to the following, there will be a strike.

• A Pension solution for everyone and better than Royal Mail’s cash out scheme.

• A Pay Rise not linked to more strings dependent on later starts and further cuts to terms and conditions. The CWU will not also support performance related pay in future years.

• Progress on the shorter working week and the union’s ambition for a 35 hour gross working week.  The shorter working week will be on the same rate of pay for full timers and will result in a pay increase for part timers as the hourly rate increases. The shorter working week is vital due to automation advances resulting in less indoor workload.

• The CWU want part timers to have the full holiday pay for the hours they actually work not just their contracted hours.

• The CWU want to have workplaces audited over how resourcing is conducted including the full time/part time split and how many hours the part timer is actually having to work to complete their job.  This is aimed at ensuring part timers who are having to work daily and weekly above their contracted hours have their contracted hours increased instead of Royal Mail exploiting part timers in the workplace by keeping their contracted hours low.

• The CWU want an independent audit of workplaces to oversee the above review and also to identify and attempt to change the pressure put on the workplace which often leads to bullying in the workplace especially where undue pressure is applied in deliveries based on unrealistic and unworkable budget demands.

• The CWU want an extension to the legal guarantees which stops outsourcing, franchising, two tier workforce or the break-up of the company.  The Legal Guarantees were due to be reviewed in 2019 and the CWU want an extension until 2022.

• The CWU has rejected Royal Mail’s vision for the pipeline which has nothing to do with Royal Mail wanting to grow parcel traffic but everyone to do with it wanting to cut costs.

• Their desire to have later starts in deliveries and 17:00 last letter was based on Royal Mail saving millions on cancelling all flights which carried mail in England and Wales, designed to remove a significant amount of Area distribution jobs, reduce the late shift in Mail centres and RDCs and significantly push back delivery start and finish times as well as not allowing deliveries to leave the office until mid-day.

• The CWU has rejected and will not accept Royal Mail’s multi bundle delivery option which expects Delivery staff to merge from 3 bundles out on delivery (instead of indoors) whilst also attempting to deliver parcels and carrying a PDA.

• The CWU has also stated we will not accept walk ownership. Walk ownership is designed as the forerunner for franchising deliveries.  It removes the CWU from discussing revisions and puts the responsibility on the walk holder who is solely responsible for completing the walk without cutting off.  Walk ownership also removes seniority.

• The CWU also rejects Royal Mail’s option of teams covering the sick and annual leave of other team members at zero cost.

• The CWU want Royal Mail to reaffirm their support for the Delivery Menu of Options which allows for innovative duty patterns including 4 day weeks, 9 day fortnights and Wallingtons. This is due to the fact Royal Mail want to revert everyone to a standard 5-day week option.

• The CWU is concerned that Royal Mail want to use the outputs from PDA’s, Trimble and the new automated hours Data capture system to resource offices in the future and ensuring that individuals work every single second of the day and they want to use these new IT applications for conduct purposes.

These remain the central issues at the heart of this dispute and the reason why members voted in the biggest industrial action based ballot in decades by such overwhelming numbers. If Royal Mail don’t change their position there will be a strike. It is essential that members are aware that this dispute is anything but over.

The stakes remain high.  The yes vote and the unity of members to back the CWU has put pressure on Royal Mail.

Remember due to the yes vote and pressure from the two, Royal Mail has already dropped the plans for the following monthly pay, no sick leave for the first three days of sick leave, compulsory removal of legacy payments and have dropped the 1700 last letter.

So, we need to keep the pressure on Royal Mail and they must know that unless they move towards the unions position then there will be strike action. Whilst the timescales are tight there remains the opportunity to take strike action before Christmas if there is no agreement.

The CWU wants an agreement but after 18 months of talks we must also prepare for a strike. We must remain united and ready to support  the CWU and fight for a good agreement.

We will keep you updated as talks progress.

UNITY IS STRENGTH

A STATEMENT BY THE LONDON DIVISIONAL COMMITTEE

BAME OFFICER REPORT.
As we are all aware the last few months have been quite busy for all the cwu reps because of the dispute with Royal mail. Its also been an opportunity to inform and educate members about the importance of the union membership. Many of the BAME members are quite new or part timers, less involved in union activities so they have been quite anxious about the dispute and the looming of strike action. Not always easy but Earnie Orviss, steve Clarke Luke Smith , Austin Goldsmith , Amanda Hill and all the other reps have done good job to explain and get members on board for ‘”yes” vote so well done to all involved ( forgive me for not mentioning everyone’s name’s).
I wrote letter to all the BAME members to inform and invite to raise awareness of the role of BAME issues and current dispute with Royal mail.
I have been trying to find information and to liaise with various minorities groups in Peterborough who stand for common goal of ‘unity and communal harmony’ and to help members where to seek advice if they face any problems.
As I gain my own knowledge and experience of various minorities members who work at Peterborough mail centre I am amazed at the variety of people from interesting diverse backgrounds which I would like to use to enrich the knowledge of wider members. I have faced some issues with lack of (nil) interest shown from senior management apart from weekend maneger Philp Rosier who has shown interest and granted me hour on Saturday for this role.
The information of BAME members is not up to date and confusing which needs to be sorted and mapping.
On 17th of October I went to black workers conference first time as BAME officer in Bristol it was well attended and many important issues, motions were discussed and debated ie the role of BAME should be recognized same as IR frame work. Race Advisory Committee should be given more saying to influence the Union policies. The plight of Royhinga Muslims of Myanmar and local campaign “justice for Judah”( please Google) Mr Judah Adunabi who faced police discrimination were highlighted. The black slave history of the city of Bristol and the current proud diverse communities of Bristol were told by CWU local South West branch Reps, guest speaker Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees (descended of Jamaican slave now first elected black mayor in Europe) and local historian Dr Madge Dresser. RAC members CWU HQ equality officer Linda Roy and CWU general secretary Dave Ward also addressed conference. Dave Ward highlighted the work being carried out for the “redesign” of the union and reflected on shrinking of Royal mail and as a result drop in membership and the effect it’s having on CWU resources. He acknowledged the importance of having different committees ie LGBT, women’s, BAME etc who represents the interests of minority members and make CWU stronger.
Although not enough time but It was an opportunity to get to know other Activists for networking. Unfortunately I couldn’t vote on any motions as I wasn’t holding the voting cards.
I have printed and displayed posters in the mail centre to raise awareness of ‘Hate crime week’ and currently doing some research to display past stories to celebrate ‘Black history month’. Elected or not I shall continue working towards the greater interests of CWU. Many thanks for your support

Jasbir Singh.

HSE Public Consultation Document (CD285) on Proposed Amendments to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) – CWU Response

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Consultation Background

The HSE has published Public Consultation Document (CD285) in which it proposes to amend the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) to implement a legislative change that was recommended by the ‘Post Implementation Review’ (PIR).

The proposal is to align the periods between medical examinations for workers engaged in licensed Asbestos work (currently 2-yearly) with those engaged in notifiable non-licensed Asbestos work (currently 3-yearly). In effect it would become 3-yearly for all.

Key Proposal

The consultation document (CD285) states that the proposal to change the frequency of medical examinations for workers engaged in licensed Asbestos work from 2-yearly to 3-yearly which they state is intended to streamline the medical surveillance requirements of the legislation, but that it does not represent a reduction in worker protection.

The CD explains that it will also be necessary to amend the Approved Code of Practice Managing and Working with Asbestos (HSE publication L143) to reflect the proposed change to the legislation.

In addition, it states that some of the other PIR recommendations can be achieved by amendments to guidance in other parts of L143.

Proposed Changes CWU Response

The CWU, TUC and all UK Trade Unions will be responding by rejecting and opposing the change. In short, the trade union view is that any harmonisation should be upwards to 2-Yearly for all and NOT downwards to 3-Yearly for all.

The Consultation closing date is 30 October 2017 and any Safety Rep, Branch or Regional Health and Safety Forum that wishes to respond should do so by that date.

Consultation Questions

CD285 seeks views on the proposed changes and includes a number of questions, divided into four parts:

1. The legal changes required to bring about the recommendation in the PIR report 2. The amended Approved Code of Practice 3. The amended guidance in the Approved Code of Practice 4. The impact on business of making the changes

CWU Response

See attached copy of the CWU/HQ response and a copy of the HSE Public Consultation Document (CD285).

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB574 HSE Public Consultation Document (CD285) on Proposed Amendments to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) – CWU Response

HSE Public Consultation Document CD285 Asbestos Regulations CWU Response

CD285 Consultation On Proposals To Amend The Control Of Asbestos Regulations 2012

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