ROYAL MAIL GROUP: MOTION 11, ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024 – PENSIONS TRAINING

Following the carriage of Motion 11 at Annual Conference, we have held discussions with various key people in respect of delivering this policy for our Representatives across Royal Mail Group.  In this regard, please be advised that a very successful “pilot” Pensions Training event was held on Wednesday 5^th June for the Postal Executive, together with Policy Advisors and some members of the Pensions Working Group.  This activity, which was broadly five hours in total, was designed and delivered by Paul Kennedy, Divisional Representative and RMPP Trustee.

The plan going forward is to hold a series of one-day (approximately 10.30am – 4pm) seminars across the UK based upon the Divisional structures.  Ideally, these seminars will be completed by the end of September 2024 and will be open to all delegates that ordinarily attend Divisional Committees, Parcelforce Regions, and Engineering & Fleet structures.  Essentially, as the subject of pensions is a generic matter, we will be bringing Reps together from across the union and this includes Branch Secretaries.

In respect of next steps, Paul Kennedy will be liaising with the Divisional Reps as a priority to organise suitable dates for the training, along with venues.  We anticipate that by the end of next week, most of the dates will have been agreed and the timetable will be the subject of a further communication once complete.  We are of course conscious that we will be entering the peak summer leave period and that some Reps may be on leave when their session is held.  We are therefore already considering the concept of potentially one or two mop-up sessions in order that every Rep is able to receive this important training.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 24LTB188 -Royal Mail Group -Motion 11, Annual Conference 2024 – Pensions Training

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CWU LGBT+ and Allies Networking Event  

The Equality, Education and Development department are pleased to announce that a CWU LGBT+ and Allies Networking Event will be taking place on Friday 16^th August 2024 in conjunction with Chester Pride on the 17^thAugust. The day will be an opportunity to connect and network with other LGBT+ activists and Allies from across the union.

Day 1: The session on Friday 16^th August 2024 will run from 13:00 – 17:00and take place at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Chester, Warrington Road, Chester, CH2 3PD. The afternoon will include interactive and informative sessions with group discussions. (The hotel has free parking and is a 7-minute taxi ride from the station).

Day 2: Will include attending Chester Pride, taking place at Box 7, Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester CH1 2BN on Saturday 17^th August 2024. Further information will follow regarding a CWU meeting point and times.

Booking Accommodation

If Branches wish to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa, Chester, you must book early as they will be holding a number of discounted rooms on a ‘first come, first served’ basis until 5^th July 2024.

Bookings can be made via the hotel website using this link: BOOK NOW

Please note that a credit card is required to reserve the room – no charge will be made to your account until you arrive at the hotel, unless you choose to make payment in full at the time of booking.

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for nights of Friday 16^thAugust  

**The rate is per room per night and is inclusive of breakfast**

Friday 16th August

Standard King rooms start from £125.00
Superior King rooms start from £145.00

Suggested Alternative Hotels

Premier Inn Chester (Railway Station)
Travelodge Chester Central

Please note it is important that Branches reserve a place for Friday’s networking event as there are limited spaces, to reserve your place, please email equality&education@cwu.org

We look forward to seeing you in Chester!

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

24LTB 187 – CWU LGBT+ and Allies Networking Event

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MEETING WITH EP GROUP REPRESENTATIVES

Today we have met with representatives of EP Group. The meeting was useful and constructive and further meetings will take place including the direct involvement of Daniel Kretinsky.

We made it very clear that the current commitments from EP Group are neither strong enough or long enough. Daniel Kretinsky has openly stated he wants to own Royal Mail for the rest of his life – we need commitments for the workforce that match that level of ambition.

The CWU put forward our wide ranging concerns and also our view that we need to see a completely new ownership / business model for Royal Mail and one that gives all employees a real stake in the future of the business. Both parties have agreed to explore this further.

Royal Mail have led a prolonged and deliberate attack on its own workforce which continues to this day in many workplaces. Representatives of EP Group understood the reality that unless the workforce are on board the company will never succeed.

Alongside this meeting we are increasing our plans to engage the government and Labour Party on the takeover bid. This bid needs to be heavily scrutinised and debated, particularly in the run in to a general election.

The CWU position is clear. We do not support a foreign equity company taking over Royal Mail. At the same time we have absolutely no confidence in the current Board of the company. Royal Mail should be renationalised but the political climate makes that very difficult at the moment. Our job now is to make sure our members voice is heard at every opportunity as this takeover bid unfolds.

We will keep you updated with any developments.

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Martin Walsh Deputy General Secretary Postal

DO NOT REPLY 🛑

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BRANCHES- GENERAL ELECTION SPENDING 

Regional and Branch Funding

As per past elections, we ask that branches transfer 50% of their political fund to their regional account. This is so the fund can be spent more effectively and we can target spending to candidates who support our values and in areas where the money may be spent more effectively and equitably across the region.

However, branches should leave a minimum of £500 in their accounts- so if a branch had £650 in their political fund account, they should only transfer £150 to the regional account.

If you are concerned about this or have any questions, please contact your Regional Secretary.

Donations

Branches are free to make donations to prospective parliamentary candidates. We strongly advise branches to adhere to the policy passed at the Special Virtual Conference in 2021 and only support candidates who support the union’s political and industrial aims. If you want to make a donation but are unsure of who to support, please contact your regional secretary.

Limits on expenditure

There are several different types of expenditure that the CWU is legally limited in spending during an election. These include ‘targeted expenditure’ (i.e. costs related to pro-Labour materials, flyers etc) and ‘local expenditure’ (costs related to a specific candidate’s campaign).

In past elections, the Labour Party has allocated some of its (much higher) expenditure limits to affiliated trade unions, in order to allow them to campaign more and produce campaigning materials. However, they have chosen not to continue this practice and, as a result, the CWU is very limited in our own expenditure.

Therefore, branches must not incur any election expenditure costs outside of election donations. Firstly, this means that branches must not produce their own campaigning material. An example of this would be printing out flyers with a candidate’s name and constituency on it. Secondly, it means branches must not campaign while on paid release for union duties or seek paid release time in order to campaign, as this would also constitute an election expenditure. This is so we can comply with electoral law.

Members are, however, free to volunteer their own time campaigning and branches are also free to organise voluntary CWU campaigning days, as long as they do not incur any costs (including reimbursing volunteers’ accommodation and travel costs). However, members are allowed to wear CWU apparel when they campaign.

To be clear, branches are still free to make donations to prospective politicians and CLPs. That is not restricted. Also, any communications to members only (ie not publicly available communications or campaigning) are unrestricted.

It is very important that branches adhere to these rules.

Campaigning Materials

If branches want campaigning materials, including flyers and leaflets on the New Deal for Workers, please contact ckoffman@cwu.org.

Branches are also able to collect and distribute campaign materials that have been produced elsewhere (ie TULO materials or materials produced directly by the candidate or local Labour Party).

Reporting political fund expenditure 

Branches are required to report all political fund expenditure to Regional Secretaries during the general election period. Branches must also report any ‘in-kind’ donations they may make (i.e. non-cash donations, use of space etc).

Please use the attached form to report any donations or other expenditure to your regional secretaries by 5pm on each Friday until the campaign is over.

You do not need to report any other political fund expenditure that does not have any relevance to the general election. Please also remember that branches are prohibited, by law, from spending general fund money on political activities.

If you have any questions regarding rules around expenditure and spending during the General Election, please contact ckoffman@cwu.org and copy in your Regional Secretary.

Dave Ward

General Secretary

186.24

General Election Spending

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CWU LIVE – TONIGHT AT 7PM

Dear Members,

Tonight at 7pm the weekly CWU Live show will cover some vital issues. 

    ⁃    The Royal Mail takeover bid 
    ⁃    Communications for our telecoms and financial services members 
    ⁃    The forthcoming general election 
    ⁃    A report from the TUC Disabled Workers Conference 

In the coming weeks we will cover more crucial subjects as we open up the union more than ever. 

You can watch tonight’s show by subscribing to the CWU YouTube channel or simply by clicking this link at 7pm tonight: https://youtu.be/I5nyShsN2Qo

The show will also be available via catch-up. 

Solidarity,

Dave Ward 
General Secretary 

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024 – DECISIONS AND CARD VOTES

Please find attached copies of the decisions taken during Annual Conference 2024 and the results of the Card Votes that were taken.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven, 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

24LTB183 – Annual Conference 2024 – Decisions and Card Votes

1. Special Restructuring Conference – Sunday 21.4.24 (003)

2. Rules Revision Conference – Monday 22.4.24

3. TFS Conference – Tuesday 23.4.24

4. TFS Conference – Wednesday 24.4.24

5. TFS Conference – Thursday 25.4.24

6. Postal Conference – Tuesday 23.4.24

7. Postal Conference – Wednesday 24.4.24

8. Postal Conference – Thursday 25.4.24 (3)

1. Restructuring Conference 2024 – Card Vote 1

Copy of 1. Postal Conference Motion 16 Card Vote

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IDS TAKEOVER UPDATE

Branches will be aware that it was reported yesterday that Daniel Kretinsky, via his investment groups, as expected has now formally made a bid for the ownership of Royal Mail. The board has accepted this offer and we now expect EP Group to seek agreement from the IDS shareholders.

It is understood that any takeover will be investigated by the government, under the National Security and Investment Act, as Royal Mail is part of the UK’s critical infrastructure. However, the recently announced general election, set to take place on the 4th of July, means there may be some delay to this investigation.

Daniel Kretinsky has given the company and the government assurances regarding some aspects of Royal Mail’s operation. The published assurances, as part of the contractual obligations, do not go far enough for the union and our members. We will be meeting with Vesa Equity next week to seek extensive assurances, including his plans for investment in the workforce, the operation and future growth for the company, as well as the full terms of our CWU Conference policy.

We would anticipate this being part of an ongoing process throughout the takeover and will keep members updated as frequently as possible. In addition to ongoing discussions with the Labour Party on this issue, we will be contacting the new government minister about any investigations as soon as a new government is formed.

Please see the attached statement from Royal Mail and Kretinsky on details of the takeover bid. Over the coming days, we will be scrutinising this document and taking the necessary steps to make our views heard. We will soon call a national briefing to update you on this issue. If you have any questions, please contact jdunn@cwu.org.

Kind regards,

Dave Ward                                                               

General Secretary            

Martin Walsh                                   

Deputy General Secretary (P)                                       

LTB 182/24 – IDS TAKEOVER UPDATE

Attachment – rule-27-announcement

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL DELEGATIONS – 2024

• TUC Congress

Further to LTB 179/24 Errata  dated 28^th May it has become evident that Prince Kingsley- Faborode of Nottingham & District Amal branch was omitted from the list of TUC Lay Candidates.

For complete clarity the full list of candidates is shown below:-

Lay Members (7 Members at least 2 delegates must be women & at least 1 delegate must be BAME)Tina HolmesLeicestershire*Elected (Woman)Adam AlarakhiaLeicestershireBALLOT REQUIREDSteve CrokeSouth Midlands Postal Scott HartlesScotland No 2 Prince Kingsley-FaborodeNottingham & District Amal Kristopher McGuireGlasgow & District Amal Ian MurphyHarrow & District Sajid ShaikhBirmingham District Amal Lee Starr-ElliotBristol & District Amal 

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB181 – Election of National Delegations – 2024

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BRT&G Agreement – Para 6.4.1 Sick Pay – Joint Working Group 

Please find attached Joint Statement and updated action plan agreed by the joint working group set up in accordance with the above agreement.

The Joint Working Group have been meeting on a regular basis since its formation in September last year and have made steady progress in identifying the causes and cost of sick absence.

We have also attached an updated action plan to bring Branches up to date with all the activities planned this year. The Group is made up of CWU Postal Executive members and Senior RM Managers.

We hope the actions will result in and bring about a sustained reduction in the overall percentage cost needed to get below the 5.5% target in order to reinstate full occupational sick pay.

Branches should know the Union is continuing to try and reach an agreement on the Attendance procedure itself where the negotiations are continuing where we are attempting to achieve the policies carried out at our recent Annual Conference. Any further progress made will of course be published in due course.

Any enquiries to this LTB please contact: The PTCS Department, email address: khay@cwu.orgor hmaughan@cwu.org

Bobby Weatherall
Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB180

Attendance JWG – Joint Statement final

JWG Action Plan Master.clean

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• TUC Congress
• Labour Party Conference (including Labour Party Women’s Conference)

ELECTION OF NATIONAL DELEGATIONS – 2024

• TUC Congress
• Labour Party Conference (including Labour Party Women’s Conference) 

Further to LTB 154/24 dated 9^th May at the close of nominations on 24^th May the following have been received:-

TUC 

Postal Constituency

NEC (1 Member)Rob WeatherspoonBristol & District Amal*Elected

Lay Members (7 Members at least 2 delegates must be women & at least 1 delegate must be BAME)Tina HolmesLeicestershire*Elected (Woman)Adam AlarakhiaLeicestershireBALLOT REQUIREDSteve CrokeSouth Midlands Postal Scott HartlesScotland No 2 Kristopher McGuireGlasgow & District Amal Ian MurphyHarrow & District Sajid ShaikhBirmingham District Amal Lee Starr-ElliotBristol & District Amal 

Telecoms & Financial Services Constituency   

NEC (1 Member)Ali MoosaMidland No 1, Lincolnshire & South Yorks*Elected

Lay Members (5 Members at least 1 delegate must be a woman & least 1 delegate must be BAME)Josh BarclayGreat Western, Algus National, Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, Mid Wales, The Marches & Nth Staffs, North Anglia, North East, Northern Ireland Telecom,  Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, Scotland No 1,  South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical,  West Yorkshire,*ElectedGraham ColkSouth Wales,  Algus National, Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell,  Great Western, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, Mid Wales, The Marches & Nth Staffs, North Anglia,  North East, Northern Ireland Telecom, Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW,  Scotland No 1, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire,*ElectedFiona CurtisNorthern Ireland Telecom, Algus National, Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell, Great Western, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, Mid Wales, The Marches & North Staffs, North Anglia, North East,  Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, Scotland No 1, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*ElectedPeter FrancisCapital, Algus National, Glasgow & Motherwell, Great Western, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, Mid Wales, The Marches & North Staffs, North Anglia, North East, Northern Ireland Telecom, Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, Scotland No 1, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire,*ElectedQuincy RaymondTyne & Wear Clerical, Algus National, Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell, Great Western, Lincolnshire & South Yorks Meridian, Mersey, Mid Wales, The Marches & Nth Staffs, North Anglia, North East, Northern Ireland Telecom, Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, Scotland No 1, South Wales, West Yorkshire,*Elected (BAME)

LABOUR PARTY

Postal Constituency

NEC (1 Member)No Nominations Received

Lay Members (7 Members at least 2 delegates must be women & at least 1 delegate must be BAME)Tina HolmesLeicestershire*ElectedLaura SnellEastern No 4*ElectedAdam AlarakhiaLeicestershireBALLOT REQUIREDPaul BraithwaiteNorth Lancs & Cumbria Huw DaviesLondon Phoenix Hugh GaffneyGlasgow & District Amal Des HeemskerkEssex AmalPrince Kingsley-FaborodeNottingham District AmalAlan TateLondon RMTDominic WirdnamBristol & District

Telecoms & Financial Services Constituency   

NEC (1 Member)Andrew MercerGreater Mersey Amal, Lincolnshire & South Yorks*Elected

Lay Members (5 Members at least 1 delegate must be a woman & at least 1 delegate must be BAME)Craig AndersonScotland No 1, Algus National, Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell, Great Western, Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey,    Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, North Anglia,  North East, Northern Ireland Telecom, Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorks,*ElectedJacqueline MorreyMid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, Algus National,   Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell,  Great Western, , Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey, North Anglia, North East Northern Ireland Telecom, , Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW, Scotland No 1,  South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire,*ElectedDavid RayTyne & Wear Clerical,  Algus National, Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell,  Great Western, , Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian, Mersey,  Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, North Anglia, North East,  Northern Ireland Telecom,  , Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW,  Scotland No 1, South Wales, West Yorkshire*ElectedJoyce StevensonScotland No 1, Algus National,  Capital, Glasgow & Motherwell, Great Western, , Lincolnshire & South Yorks, Meridian,  Mersey,  Mid Wales The Marches & North Staffs, North Anglia, North East, Northern Ireland Telecom,  Portsmouth West Sussex & IOW South Wales, Tyne & Wear Clerical, West Yorkshire*Elected

The ballot timetable is as follows:

Despatch ballot papers:                 30^th  May 2024

Ballot closes:                                     13^th June 2023 (14:00)

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

LTB 179/24 – Election of National Delegations – 2024 – TUC Congress and Labour Party Conference

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