WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
Volume 7 Issue 23. Paragraphs 312 - 324 14 June 2002
SUMMARY
GENERAL
312 Annual Conference
2002: Postal Conferences
313 Postal Industry
Conference Motion 6.31
314 Labour Party Conferences
315 Retired Members'
Meeting at Annual Conference
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No items this week
HEALTH AND SAFETY
316 Health & Safety
Stand at Conference
317 Project Reach
TELECOMS
318 Network Transport:
Attendance Management Through the Summer Embargo
319 BT Pension Scheme: New
Section B Option
FINANCIAL SERVICES
No items this week
POSTAL
320 Visits/Contact by
Management During Sick Absence
321 Vehicle Services Pay
Offer 2002
NOTICE BOARD ITEMS
322 Health & Safety at
Work Stage I Course
323 Union Skills III Course
324 Union Skills I Course
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
LTB/291 Logistics Solutions Pay (Terry Pullinger)
LTB/292 Future of CHD (Andy Furey)
LTB/293 Packages & Express RoMEC Pay (Terry Pullinger)
LTB/294 Tailored Delivery Specification (Dave Ward, Outdoor Dept.)
LTB/295 Tailored Delivery Specification (Dave Ward, Outdoor Dept.)
LTB/296 Service Management Evolution (Ian Cuthbert)
LTB/297 Project Apollo (Martin Collins)
LTB/298 Compensation for Loss of Unsocial Earnings for Shift
Workers (Bill McClory)
LTB/299 RMSD Pay Result (John Keggie, DGS{P})
LTB/300 Long Term Illness Procedures (Jenny Ainsley)
LTB/301 Equal Opps. Events: Annual Conference 2002 (Jenny Ainsley)
LTB/302 Equality Officers' Seminar (Jenny Ainsley)
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GENERAL
312 Annual Conference 2002: Postal Conferences
Would Branches/Field Officers note that as from Friday 14th June 2002
all correspondence for the Standing Orders Committee (Postal) should
be directed as follows:- Chair, SOC (Postal) c/o Deputy General
Secretary (P) CWU Imperial Hotel, North Promenade, Blackpool FY1 2HB
Phil Duffy Chair Standing Orders Committee (Postal)
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313 Postal Industry Conference Motion 6.31
Would Branches/Field Officers please note that following an appeal
the Standing Orders Committee (Postal) has agreed that the above
Motion will be upgraded from Category 'B' to Category 'A'. Standing
Orders Committee Report No.1 Postal Industry Conference Programme of
Business Item 17: After Motion 6.26 insert (Motion) 6.31
Phil Duffy Chair Standing Orders Committee (Postal)
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314 Labour Party Conferences
Rural Conference, 19-21 July 2002, Newport, Shropshire
The Labour Party is organising its first National Conference on rural
issues at Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shropshire from
5.30 pm on Friday, 19 July to 1.30 pm on Sunday, 21 July 2002.
The Conference format will include plenary sessions and
workshop/seminars with participation by Ministers and senior Party
spokespersons and will be of particular interest to Labour Party
members in rural and semi-rural CLPs.
Computing for Labour, Annual Conference, 6 July 2002, Millbank Tower
Computing for Labour will be holding its Annual Conference from 10.30
am to 4 pm on Saturday, 6 July 2002 at Millbank Tower, Millbank,
London SW1.
The morning session will consist of presentations and seminars to
gather feedback from the Local Elections and outline plans for the
continuing roll-out of Labour contact. In the afternoon session there
will be a presentation and seminar covering the latest developments
in Web-based campaigning, including the re-vamped Party Website and Web-in-a-box.
Branches are requested to forward the names of members (who must also
be Labour Party members) interested in attending either of the above
Conferences to me as soon as possible and no later than Monday, 1
July 2002.
Ian Wingfield, Political Officer (Acting)
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315 Retired Members' Meeting at Annual Conference
Further to BOB paragraph 282 I can now advise the Retired Members'
Meeting scheduled Thursday, 27 June in The Pavilion Horseshoe and
commencing 12.45 will be addressed by Rodney Bickerstaffe, President
of the National Pensioners Convention.
W. Hayes, General Secretary
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
316 Health & Safety Stand at Conference
I am writing to you to bring to your attention that the Health and
Safety Department will again have a stand at Annual Conference in
Blackpool from Sunday 23rd to Wednesday 26th June.
All delegates and visitors are welcome to come to the stand and meet
the Department. We will have Health and Safety Literature available
on the stand, our Women's Health Pack (which is to be launched at
Conference) and details of our Fringe Meeting which will be held on
Tuesday lunchtime to discuss Corporate Accountability.
You will also be able to look at our website and we invite your
comments and suggestions on the web site, which will be most welcome.
The Health and Safety Department looks forward to seeing you at our
stand in Blackpool.
Any enquiries on this issue should be addressed to Kevin Shaw,
Assistant Secretary, quoting reference AC1.
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317 Project Reach
Development of Shareable Wireless Telegraphy Masts on UK BT Exchange Sites
Following a number of concerns brought to the attention of the
T&FSE Health Safety and Environment Sub-Committee by Union Safety
Representatives issues involving the Reach Project have been taken up
by the CWU with BT. The T&FSE Health Safety and Environment
Sub-Committee have been informed that BT entered into a property
leasing agreement with Crown Castle UK Ltd in 2000 to enable Crown
Castle to exclusively provide wireless telegraphy site share services
on BT telephone exchanges in England, Scotland and Wales. Prior to
this BT was responsible for this work. The project requires people
from BT and Crown Castle working together.
BT inform us that both themselves and Crown Castle endorse the
voluntary code of practice developed by the industry in response to
the Stewart Report which highlights the need for improved community
consultation, greater site sharing, improved communications and more
sensitive siting of base stations. BT insist that the health and
safety of their employees as well as contractors and subcontractors
of BT and Crown Castle is central to the project and all Crown Castle
installations are designed, built and certified to ICNIRP standards
as recommended by the Stewart Report.
Prior to the start of each construction project, BT and Crown Castle
hold a pre-start meeting. FM Monterey, on behalf of BT agrees any
local building issues and the BT Surveyor agrees any
structural/design issues. All construction activities are then
carried out in accordance with a site-specific health and safety
plan. Prior to work commencing FM Monterey will ensure that building
bulletins are posted.
BT has informed the union that they take any concerns raised
seriously and welcome them and are committed to completing the
project safely. Steve Perks, BT Operational Delivery Manager, manages
this process for the project.
We are advised that if any BT Union Safety Representative has a
concern over the project they should raise them directly with Steve
Perks on 07850 789553 or email steve.perks@bt.com
Any enquiries on this issue should be addressed to Kevin Shaw,
Assistant Secretary, quoting reference NS46.
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TELECOMS
318 Network Transport: Attendance Management
Through the Summer Embargo
The Executive team have taken up the reports of restricted leave
slots being applied in the summer. Management reported that the
business need to release circa 600 people by the end of June may have
given them a Customer QoS issue during peak leave periods. Their
investigations found that in the main, the leave capacity had already
been fully exhausted apart from the odd days. They took the
unilateral decision to restrict absences by 5% in each category until
the detail of who was leaving the business and potential local impact
on those remaining to complete work and deliver QoS became clear.
Management now state they are closer to agreeing who will be leaving
the business and once progressed, will be able to assess the true
impact and restore the leave/other absences thresholds to previously
agreed levels. The Executive is pushing for an immediate cessation
and in the interim, Branches should escalate cases of urgent domestic stress.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary
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319 BT Pension Scheme: New Section B Option
Branches are advised that BT has agreed to the Union's claim that a
new retirement option should be introduced for Section B members of
the BT Pension Scheme. Section B members will now be given the option
of converting their lump sum payment into additional pension
payments. Members will be given the option of making this choice a
few months prior to the payment of their pension. This option is
available immediately and is completely voluntary.
Nigel Cotgrove, Assistant Secretary
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POSTAL
320 Visits/Contact by Management During Sick Absence
Further to BOB Paragraph 62, which referred to the fact that we
should await publication of the Information Commissioner's Final
Codes of Practice on the application of the Data Protection Act to
the employment relationship and that to date only a draft Code has
been printed, this is to inform Branches that the Code of Practice
(CoP) has not yet been printed and the only one that has is the Code
of Recruitment.
It certainly looks as though it is going to be some months before the
(CoP) is available and I have no doubt that when it is Counsel will
keep us updated.
Any Branches enquiries should be addressed to Steve Richards, Acting
Assistant Secretary.
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321 Vehicle Services Pay Offer 2002
The result of the Vehicle Services pay ballot was as follows:
Total Papers Despatched 1294
Total Papers Received 763
In Favour of Acceptance 552
Against Acceptance 210
Spoilt Papers 1
Vehicle Services have been advised of the result and the offer
formally accepted.
Any enquiries should be directed to Steve Richards, Acting Assistant
Secretary, at 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1RX
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322 Health & Safety at Work Stage I Course
A Health and Safety at Work Course Stage I has been organised in
conjunction with the Health, Safety and Environment Committee to be
held at the Education and Training Centre at Alvescot Lodge. All
courses held at Alvescot Lodge are accredited with the National Open
College Network. This is a fully integrated course.
The course will be held from 11-15 November 2002
The Closing Date for Nominations is 26 September 2002
Letter to Branches 5548, issued on 18 May 1990, explained that future
Health and Safety Courses at Alvescot Lodge will normally be open
only to those, who have already attended where possible, the Joint
Safety Course.
All courses at Alvescot are residential. The cost of tuition, food
and accommodation will be met from the General Fund. Branches are
expected to meet the cost of travelling and subsistence payments.
Ex-NCU Branches requiring financial assistance from the General Fund
to enable them to send students to the course must submit the request
with the nomination, to enable the Trustees to consider the request
in time. Special leave with pay will apply.
The Education Centre can offer child-minding facilities for a maximum
of three under school age children at any one time. If any applicant
from your branch would like child-minding facilities, can you please
advise the age and sex of the child on the application form. Further
information on the child-minding arrangements will then be sent to
the successful applicants.
Nominations should be made on the attached* form for Education
Courses and returned to Alvescot Lodge by the closing date shown. If
a member is refused a place, due to oversubscription, then indicate
this on a subsequent application for another date.
Application forms should be returned to: Dave Ward, National
Education Officer, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot
Lodge, Alvescot, BAMPTON, Oxon OX1 8 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373;
Fax: 01993 840960.
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323 Union Skills III Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised a Union Skills III
Course, to be held at the union's Education & Training Centre at
Alvescot Lodge. All courses held at Alvescot Lodge are accredited
with the National Open College Network. This is a fully integrated course.
The course will be held from 18-22 November 2002
The Closing Date for Nominations is 3 October 2002
Only members who have attended a Union Skills I and a Union Skills II
course are eligible for nomination. All courses at Alvescot are
residential. The cost of tuition, food and accommodation will be met
from the General Fund. Ex-NCU Branches are required to meet the cost
of travelling and subsistence payments. Branches requiring financial
assistance from the General Fund to enable them to send students to
the course, must submit the request with the nomination, to enable
the Trustees to consider the request in time.
The Education Centre can offer child-minding facilities for a maximum
of three under school age children at any one time. If any applicant
from your branch would like child-minding facilities, can you please
advise the age and sex of the child on the application form. Further
information on the child-minding arrangements will then be sent to
successful applicants.
Those nominees who are Committee Members, Branch Representatives or
Branch Officers are entitled to leave with pay. Please indicate
whether the applicant is employed in BT, Posts or Girobank.
Nominations should be made on the form for Education Courses, and
returned to Alvescot Lodge by the closing date shown. If you nominate
more than one member (a maximum of two please), indicate the order of
preference if necessary and please apply for only one course at a
time. If a member if refused a place, due to oversubscription, then
indicate this on a subsequent application for another date.
Application forms should be addressed to: Dave Ward, National
Education Officer, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot
Lodge, Alvescot, BAMPTON, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373;
Fax: 01993 840960.
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324 Union Skills I Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised a Union Skills I
course, to be held at the union's Education & Training Centre at
Alvescot Lodge. All courses held at Alvescot Lodge are accredited
with the National Open College Network. This is a fully integrated course.
The course will be held from 9-13 December 2002
The Closing Date for applications is 24 October 2002
The Linked Education Programme is designed to encourage members to
become more active in the union. It is open to all members of the
CWU, but is particularly aimed at Branch Committee Members. All
members of the union who wish to have a working knowledge of the
wider Trade Union and Labour Movement would benefit from attending
the Linked Education Programme. The courses are called 'Linked
Education' because the programme comprises three distinct but
connected courses, each of one-week duration. It begins with the
Union Skills I Course, followed by the Union Skills II and concludes
with Union Skills III. The three parts of the course are completely
self-contained, but there are real educational benefits in completing
all three parts of the programme in a year or eighteen months. Union
Skills courses attract special leave with pay.
Main Themes
Basic Skills in Communication · Trade Unions Today ·
Employment Law and the Union's Responsibilities · The CWU's
Structure and Organisation · Understanding Diversity &
Equality · Role of a Committee Member/Branch Rep
· Introduction to Negotiating Skills
All courses at Alvescot are residential. The cost of tuition, food
and accommodation will be met from the General Fund. Ex-NCU Branches
are required to meet the cost of travelling and subsistence payments.
Branches requiring financial assistance from the General Fund to
enable them to send students to the course must submit the request
with the nomination, to enable the Trustees to consider the request
in time.
The Education Centre can offer child-minding facilities for a maximum
of three under school age children at any one time. If any applicant
from your branch would like child-minding facilities, can you please
advise the age and sex of the child on the application form. Further
information on the child-minding arrangements will then be sent to
successful applicants.
Those nominees who are Committee Members, Branch Representatives or
Branch Officers are entitled to leave with pay. Please indicate
whether the applicant is employed in BT, Posts or Girobank.
Nominations should be made on the form for Education Courses, and
returned to Alvescot Lodge by the closing date shown. If you nominate
more than one member (a maximum of two please), indicate the order of
preference if necessary and please apply for only one course at a
time. If a member if refused a place, due to oversubscription, then
indicate this on a subsequent application for another date.
Application forms should be addressed to: Dave Ward, National
Education Officer, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot
Lodge, Alvescot, BAMPTON, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373;
Fax: 01993 840960.