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WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

Volume 7 Issue 43. Paragraphs 584 - 596 08 November 2002
SUMMARY
GENERAL
584 Branch email List
585 CWU Women's Conference 2003
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No items this week
HEALTH AND SAFETY
No items this week
TELECOMS
586 Agency Suppliers to BT
FINANCIAL SERVICES
No items this week
POSTAL
587 Weight and Size Limits - USO Parcels
588 Royal Mail Investment in Special Delivery
589 Do Not Redirect Trial
590 Call and Collect Services (Winterhalter Contract)
591 Mail Centre Resourcing/Bookroom Review
592 Media Mail - Nominated Delivery Product Trial
593 Mail Centre Revision Tools
NOTICE BOARD ITEMS
594 Education and Training Programme: January - June 2003
595 Health & Safety at Work Stage II
596 Equal Opportunities I Course
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
LTB/500 CHD Ballot for Industrial Action (John Keggie, DGS{P})
LTB/501 Data Gathering for Possible TDS Roll-out (Dave Ward)
LTB/502 Revised Pre-climb Check: Drop-wire Clearance (Kevin Shaw)
LTB/503 Use of Drills Whilst Working from a Ladder (Kevin Shaw)
LTB/504 Jenny Ainsley (Billy Hayes, G.S.)
LTB/505 Bullying and Harassment Procedure (John Keggie, DGS{P})
LTB/506 Use of Drills Whilst Working from a Ladder (Kevin Shaw)
LTB/507 Equal Opportunities Department (Billy Hayes, G.S.)
LTB/508 Employment Tribunal Cases (Billy Hayes, G.S.)
LTB/509 Industrial Action Ballot: CHD (Billy Hayes, G.S.)
LTB/510 Sacking of the Regulator (Billy Hayes, G.S.)

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GENERAL
584
Branch Email List
The Communications Department now emails the BOBs, LTBs and other electronically available copy to all branches for which we have an email address. Please check that the address below is the one favoured for picking up your branch emails, and let the union's Web Editor Abigail Lawrence-Jones (alawrence-jones@cwu.org) know if there are changes to be made:

Aberdeen & Nth of Scotland (26/601) - cwucab@talk21.com
Aberdeen (26/001) - cwu.aberdeen@btinternet.com
Alliance & Leicester Giro Leeds (27/727) - sueyoung@ukuni.com
Alliance & Leicester Giro South (27/721) - cwu@ashford721.freeserve.co.uk
A.T. Comms Enfield (30/250) - cwuenfield@at-com.co.uk
Birmingham (22/032) secretary@cwubirmingham.org
Black Country & Worcester Birmingham (22/666) - cwubbcw@hotmail.com
Blackpool (25/040) - cwu.blackpool@talk21.com
Bolton & Bury (5/8) - ify@cwuha.org
Bournemouth & Dorset Amal (8/3) - derek@cwu.uk.net
Bournemouth Clerical (28/610) - hugh_sturdy@hotmail.com
Bradford & District Amal (3/3) - cwubfd@emctigue.freeserve.co.uk
Brighton Engineering (27/049) - brighton.cwu@btinternet.com
Brighton MT (27/050) - solmtcwu@dircon.co.uk
Bristol & District Amal (8/5) - cwubristoldist@hotmail.com
Cambridge (21/066) - cwu.cambridge@btinternet.com
Central London (30/252) - secretary@cwucle.co.uk
Cheshire No.1 (5/3) - wizard@crewe777.freeserve.co.uk
City & North East London Clerical (30/649) - cwucnel649@yahoo.com
Cleveland Amal (3/10) - ken.clevelandamalbranch@virgin.net
Clyde & Argyll (26/346) - robert.kelly@btinternet.com
Colchester & District (1/2) - arachie@CWUnion64.fsnet.co.uk
Coventry (22/809) - cwu.coventry@btinternet.com
Coventry Area (2/2) - cwucoventry@btinternet.com
Croydon & South London (30/085) - the.union@btinternet.com
Cumbria North & West (25/072) - Paul.J.Ohagan@btinternet.com
Darlington Amal (3/9) - cwu.darlington@ukonline.co.uk
Dee Valley Combined (29/816) - bill.may@bt.com
Derby & Burton Leicester (22/238) - mick.mcilgrew@btinternet.com
Derbyshire Amal (2/6) - bsderby@ukonline.co.uk
Dundee Clerical (26/628) - jim.gavine@btinternet.com
Dundee Engineering (26/106) - cwu.dundee@btopenworld.com
Durham County Amal (3/11) - alan@mollon.freeserve.co.uk
Durham County Amal (3/11) - cwu.durham@btinternet.com
East Kent (27/805) - eastkentbranch@btinternet.com
East London Postal (10/13) - elpb_cwu@hotmail.com
East Midland MT (22/239) - michael.nicholson4@btinternet.com
East Midlands (22/803) - mick.teece@cwu-eastmidlands.org.uk
East Midlands (22/803) - cwu.ln@ukonline.co.uk
East Midlands (22/803) - cwu.ng-dy@virgin.net
East of Scotland MT (26/126) - bsteel@genie.co.uk
Eastern No.3 (1/3) - cwu.eastern3@btconnect.com
Eastern No.4 (1/4) - nigel.martin@ntlworld.com
Eastern No.5 (1/5) - cwu.eastfive@lineone.net
Eastern No.6 (1/6) - cwu@eastern6.freeserve.co.uk
Edinburgh & South East Scotland (26/825) - es2@cwues2.com
Essex Amal (1/1) - johnhunt@hotmail.com
Essex Amal (1/1) - cwu001essex@btopenworld.com
Exeter (28/459) - francis.banks@bt.com
Exeter (28/459) - mailto@cwuexeter.com
Forth Valley (26/142) - cwu.forthvalley@btinternet.com
Fujitsu Birmingham (22/813) - m.bennion@ftel.co.uk
Girobank Bootle (25/609) - bootlecwu@breathmail.net
Glasgow & District Amal (6/1) - tamsec@craigpark.fslife.co.uk
Glasgow & District Amal (6/1) - George.B.Robertson@talk21.com
Glasgow & District Amal (6/1) - cwuo.glasgow@btinternet.com
Glasgow Engineering (26/156) - cwu.glasgow@btinternet.com
Gloucestershire Amal (8/6) - ptrehearne@aol.com
Gloucestershire Combined (28/814) - glos.comb@virgin.net
Goonhilly and Maritime South (28/160) - russell.a.price@bt.com
Grampian & Shetland Amal (6/3) - cwugrampshet@hotmail.com
Greater Manchester Amal (5/6) - mailhost@cwu-gmr.com
Guernsey (8/10) - georgej@guernseypost.com
Gwent Amal (9/5) - cwugwentamal@aol.com
H.P. Amal (1/7) - jtlabourstudy@aol.com
Harrow & District (10/20) - cwuharrowbranch@btopenworld.com
Hereford & Mid Wales (29/185) - irj.edwards@btinternet.com
Herts & Bucks Beds (21/819) - cwubedshertsbranch@btinternet.com
Highland Amal (6/8) - cwu.highland.amal@talk21.com
Home Counties South Clerical (27/612) - pete.earl@bt.com
Hull & East Ridings Amal (3/7) - davewilsoncwu@aol.com
Inverness (26/202) - cwu.inverness@btinternet.com
Isle of Man (25/801) - derek.cook@manx-telecom.com
Jersey (8/9) - mick@cwujersey.co.uk
Kent Invicta (7/4) - kentinvictacwu@talk21.com
Kingston Area (10/18) - glyn@cwunewmalden2.fsnet.co.uk
Kingston Area (10/18) - geoff@cwuasrsafety.fsnet.co.uk
Kingston Area (10/18) - steve@cwutreasurer.fsnet.co.uk
Lancs & Cumbria (25/018) - ronwoodcwu@talk21.com
Leeds & Bradford (23/643) - cwu@leedsoffice.freeserve.co.uk
Leeds (23/234) - cwu.leedseng@btclick.com
Leeds No.1 Amal (3/5) - davewalton@cwuleeds.freeserve.co.uk
Lincolnshire (23/817) - lincscwu@btopenworld.com
Liverpool Clerical (25/646) - unionoffice@cwuliverpool.co.uk
London 7 (10/7) - andy.blake@royalmail.co.uk
London CityWest (30/810) - office@cwucitywest.org.uk
London East (30/285) - cwu.le@btinternet.com
London North West (30/811) - cwu.lnw@btinternet.com
London North Western C&CS (10/6) - johngaby@ukf.net
London Postal Engineering (30/255) - stevej@lpeb.freeserve.co.uk
London Regional Motor Transport (30/122) - cwu@lrmt.fsnet.co.uk
London South Central (C) (30/660) - cwulsc@aol.com
London South East (30/026) - p.brooks@btinternet.com
London South East (30/026) - cwulondon.cord@btinternet.com
London South West (30/293) - cwu.lsw@virgin.net
London South West (Postal) (10/17) - lswcwu@btinternet.com
London Watling (30/396) - watling.cwu@btinternet.com
London West End Amal (10/4) - cwu@londonwestendamal.fsnet.co.uk
Madley C. C & Maritime Northern (28/275) - ian.mason@bt.com
Manchester Clerical (25/664) - manchester.clerical@btinternet.com
Manchester Engineering (25/274) - manchestereng.cwu@btinternet.com
Manchester Power (25/283) - alan@warburton62.fsnet.co.uk
Manchester Power (25/283) - alan@manpower283.fsnet.co.uk
Martlesham Combined (21/824) - info@cwu-martlesham.org
Medway (27/074) - cwumedway@btopenworld.com
Medway (27/074) - robert.s.williams@btinternet.com
Merseyside (25/487) - cwumerseyside@btinternet.com
Merseyside (25/487) - cwu.btmtjcc@btinternet.com
Merseyside Amal (5/1) - billb@cwumerseyamal.org.uk
Mid Lancs (25/821) - midlancs@btinternet.com
Mid Lancs (25/821) - blackburnate@btinternet.com
Mid Wales & Marches (29/807) - branch@cwumidwales.org.uk
Middlesbrough Clerical (23/665) - cwumiddlesbrough.clerical@btinternet.com
Middlesbrough Engineering (23/295) - cwumiddlesbrough.eng@btinternet.com
Midland No.7 (2/7) - branchsec@cwumid7.org.uk
Motherwell (26/300) - cwumotherwell@btinternet.com
Mount Pleasant (10/2) - union1@freenetname.co.uk
Newcastle Amal (3/8) - johnwoodhouse@cwunewcastleamal.freeserve.co.uk
North East (23/312) - branchoffice@cwunortheast.co.uk
North East Anglia (21/058) - cwunea@cwunea.org
North East Anglia (21/058) - brian.woods@cwunea.org
North East Coastal Amal (3/12) - cwunortheastcoastal@supanet.com
North East No.1 (3/1) - markscwu@aol.com
North Lancs & Cumbria (5/11) - ajt@union.org.za
North London (30/287) - cwunorthlondon@btinternet.com
North Midlands (22/084) - cwu.northmidlands@btinternet.com
North Wales & The Marches (9/1) - kenmoxon5@aol.com
North Wales Engineering (29/015) - nwecwu@freenetname.co.uk
North West MT (25/232) - sconnel@cwunwmt.fsnet.co.uk
North West MT (25/232) - rickper@globalnet.co.uk
Northallerton Supplies (23/330) - john.blevins@bt.com
Northamptonshire Amal (2/4) - cwu@northants-amal.new.labour.org.uk
Northern Home Counties Postal (10/9) - cwunhc@hotmail.com
Northern Ireland (C) (24/603) - branch@cwuni.org
Northern Ireland Eng (24/024) - cwu.ballymena@btinternet.com
Northern Ireland No.1 (4/1) - no1branch_ni@hotmail.com
Northern Ireland West (4/3) - hannaway@supanet.com
Northern/North West London (10/12) - niposties@hotmail.com
Norwich & Cambridge Clerical (21/672) - branchoffice@cwu-norcam.new.labour.org.uk
Nottingham & District (2/8) - cwu_simon_nottm@yahoo.com
Nottingham Internal (22/328) - nottmint@btinternet.com
Oldham & Rochdale (5/9) - oldham.rochdale.cwu@talk21.com
Orkney (6/7) - cwu@orkney.new.labour.org.uk
Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire (21/337) - sec@cwu-oxbuck.org
Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire (21/337) - chair@cwu-oxbuck.org
Oxfordshire Postal (1/9) - cwubranch@oxonunion.freeserve.co.uk
Plymouth & East Cornwall (8/2) - cwuplymouth@eurobell.co.uk
Pontypridd (352) - steve.moorecwupontypridd@btinternet.com
Portsmouth & Isle of Wight (27/353) - cwu.portsmouth@btinternet.com
Preston & Central Lancs (25/820) - tony.monks@btinternet.com
Romford Amal (10/19) - cwuromfordamal@talk21.com
Scotland No.2 (6/2) - cwu@scot2.freeserve.co.uk
Scotland No.5 (6/5) - cwuscotlandno5@aol.com
Sheffield & District (23/685) - cwu@sheffdc.plus.com
Shropshire & Mid Wales (9/2) - secretary@shrops-midwales.freeserve.co.uk
Solectron Wales (29/086) - howardwilliams@solectron.com
Solent (28/410) - cwu.southampton@btinternet.com
Solent Amal (7/2) - secretary@solent-cwu.org
South & East Thames Amal (10/21) - nwkamal@btinternet.com
South & East Thames Amal (10/21) - m.akerman@btinternet.com
South Devon & Cornwall (28/350) - sdc.cwu@lineone.net
South East Anglia (21/827) - office@cwusea.org
South East No.3 (7/3) - southeast3@talk21.com
South East No.5 (7/5) - east5.cwu@lineone.net
South Wales (29/823) - cwu_s.wales@lineone.net
South Wales Postal MT (29/415) - garethsaunders@yahoo.1e
South West Clerical & Computing (28/614) - m.gillett@zoom.co.uk
South West Engineering (28/021) - mailus@cwusweb.org
South West Engineering (28/021) - fred@cwusweb.org
South West Lancs (25/414) - CWU.SWLancs@btinternet.com
South West Middlesex (10/23) - cwu.swmiddxamal@btinternet.com
South West No.1 (8/1) - swno1.cwu@virgin.net
South West No.7 (8/7) - branchsecretary@southwest7.fsnet.co.uk
South West Scotland (26/007) - cwu.sws@btinternet.com
South West Thames (30/221) - swthames@aol.com
South West Wales Amal (9/4) - rogjones@cwuswwales.freeserve.co.uk
South West Wales Amal (9/4) - cwu.sww@btopenworld.com
South Yorkshire & District (3/2) - cwu@southyorks.freeserve.co.uk
South Yorkshire (23/404) - cwusouthyorks@btclick.com
Southampton Clerical (28/688) - bunner999@hotmail.com
South Downs Amal SE No.1 (7/1) - petersinnott@cwu-eastbourne.freeserve.co.uk
Stations & Transport Amal Rail (10/3) - cwurstamal@lineone.net
Stoke on Trent Clerical (22/691) - theoffice@stokecwu.co.uk
Stone (22/800) - mick.d.jones@e-peopleserve.com
Swansea Clerical (29/692) - cwuswanseaclerical@yahoo.co.uk
Swansea Engineering - (29/424) cwu.swansea@lineone.net
Swindon Clerical (28/705) - cwujones@genie.co.uk
Swindon Engineering (28/425) - cwuswindon@btinternet.com
Taunton Engineering (28/436) - ssalter@talk21.com
Thames Valley & Chilterns (21/674) - george.kneeshaw@bt.com
Thames Valley Engineering (21/377) - cwu.thamesvalley@btinternet.com
Thameswey (21/815) - cwu@thameswey.freeserve.co.uk
Tunbridge Wells (27/440) - cwutunwells@btinternet.com
Tyne & Wear Clerical (23/669) - mary.stuart@bt.com
Tyne & Wear Clerical (23/669) - paul.2.duffy@bt.com
Wessex South Central (8/4) - cwu@wessex-south-central.fsnet.co.uk
West London (30/812) - cwu.westlondon@i12.com
West London Postal (10/15) - cwuwlondonpostal@netscapeonline.co.uk
West Midlands & Worcestershire (22/039) - union@cwuwmw.org
West of Scotland Clerical (26/635) - linda.cwu@btinternet.com
West of Scotland Clerical (26/635) - muir.cwu@btinternet.com
West of Scotland MT (26/157) - cwucrawford@tinyworld.co.uk
West Riding (23/045) - cwu.westriding@btinternet.com
West Sussex (27/188) - c.w.u.westsussex@btopenworld.com
West Wales (29/073) - rgealy@cwuw.fsnet.co.uk
Wigan Amal (5/7) - wiganamal@hotmail.com
York & District Amal (3/6) - paul.clays@breathemail.net
York & District Combined (808) - cwuyork.telecom@btinternet.com

We currently do not have email addresses for the following branches. If there is one available, please let Abigail know and we will add you to the list of email recipients:
Birmingham & District Amal (2/1)
Birmingham MT (22/033)
Clyde Valley Amal (6/6)
Cornwall Amal (8/12)
Croydon & Sutton Amal (10/22)
East Lancs Amal (5/10)
Isle of Man Postal (5/2)
Leicestershire (2/3)
London Parcels Amal (10/11)
London South West C&CS (10/25)
Northern Ireland East (4/2)
Northern Ireland MT (24/317)
Northwest Central Amal (5/4)
Postal Secretarial (722)
Somerset & West Wilts (8/8)
South Central MT (21/006)
South East London Postal (10/16)
South East Wales Amal (9/3)
Suffolk Amal (1/8)
Swindon Supplies (28/426)
Thames Valley Amal (7/6)
Watford No.1 (10/8)
West Midlands MT (22/461)
Western MT (28/053)
Wolverhampton & District (2/5)
Worcester & Hereford (8/11)

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584 b)
www.cwu.org.uk
For your information, we have acquired the domain name www.cwu.org.uk. It will run concurrently with the existing URL www.cwu.org.
To avoid confusion, please continue to promote our original URL with your correspondence.
Please note that HQ email addresses will remain as they are, that is, with the suffix 'cwu.org' only.
Please direct any amendments or enquiries regarding these paragraphs to Abigail Lawrence-Jones, Web Editor, on alawrence-jones@cwu.org or telephone 020 8971 7442.

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585
CWU Women's Conference 2003
Delegates
All branches will be entitled to send two delegates and unlimited visitors to the Conference, which will be held on Saturday 25 January 2003 at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Glasgow and the appropriate delegate form will be despatched in late November. Forms should be returned to this office no later than Friday 3 January 2003. It is expected that delegates will be female. Branches are asked to ensure that they have at least one female delegate in attendance at the Conference in order to move motions standing in their name.
Whilst there are no limits to visitors to this Conference (as long as they are members of the union) it would be helpful, for administrative purposes, if visitors' details could be entered on to the form. Admission to the Conference for visitors is by production of their membership card.
In order that we can cater for any Conference delegates with special needs in terms of seating (e.g. aisle seat or close to the door), it is important that you advise us in writing at the Wimbledon address, the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement, by return.
Crèche facilities will be available to delegates during this Conference and Branches should advise this office in writing by return if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children, together with an appropriate address to send the crèche form for completion are included in this advice. We will not be able to provide on the spot facilities to those delegates who have not informed us in advance.
Motions
Each Branch is entitled to submit 1 motion for consideration for inclusion on the agenda of the Conference. Advice on the mechanics of submitting motions will also be advised in late November.
Motions must be returned by post, by first post on Friday 3 January 2003.
As in previous years, the agenda will be structured in such a way to maximise debate on participation by delegates. There will be 2 sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.
Branches will be aware that the Women's Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit 2 motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be in this category, they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives. As in previous years, the 2 motions for submission to the General Conference agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Women's Conference. A ballot to select the 2 motions will be held at the conference in January.
Any enquiries regarding this paragraph should be addressed to Carmel McCudden, either by post to head office or by email to cmccudden@cwu.org
Simon Sapper, Officer, General Conference Standing Orders Committee

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TELECOMS
586
Agency Suppliers to BT
Further to Letter to Branches 414/2002, dated 22nd August 2002, which provided details of the Renewal of the Agency Contract in BT Retail. In order to maintain information and records in the Department, Branches are requested to provide the following information:

Any enquiries to this BOB paragraph to be addressed to Sally Bridge, Assistant Secretary, quoting reference No.12.6.

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POSTAL
587
Weight and Size Limits - USO Parcels
Following the transfer of responsibility for delivery of USO Parcels back into Royal Mail Service Delivery, a number of questions have been raised with regard to the maximum size and weight of these items. The maximum and minimum limits are set out below:
The maximum weight for a universal service postal packet in the UK is 20 kilograms. Also, the dimensions of postal packets must fall within permitted limits. These limits are 1.50 metres for any dimension or 3 metres for the sum of the length and the greatest circumference measured in a direction other than the length.
Further to this, parcels may not be smaller than the minimum size prescribed for letters, which is to have a surface measuring not less than 90 x 140 mm, with a tolerance of 2mm or, in roll form, length plus twice the diameter 170 mm, but the greatest dimension may not be less than 100 mm.
The definitions are drawn directly from the Convention and the Agreement concerning Postal Parcels adopted by the Universal Postal Union, as reproduced in the Postal Services Act 2000.
It was a requirement under the terms of the agreement, which facilitated the transfer of this work, that safety issues should be addressed and Area Health & Safety Reps are asked to ensure that Safe Systems of Work are in place in all Delivery Offices to deal with this traffic.
Any enquiries to Dave Ward's Department, Reference 530.01.

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588
Royal Mail Investment in Special Delivery
A letter, published below, has been received from RM outlining the plans for a replacement system for the barcode scanning guns in Priority Service Lockers. Branches are invited to submit any comment for inclusion in our reply:
"The purpose of this letter is to keep you updated on our present plans to develop replacement track/trace equipment for use in Priority Services Lockers.
Special Delivery remains one of our most successful products, combining profitability with sustained growth. Despite economies elsewhere, we continue to invest in mail centre locker expansion and will be reviewing the needs of larger Delivery Offices next year.
Space, however, is not the only requirement. I wrote to Pat O'Hara (then acting Assistant Secretary) last October outlining our plans to trial new devices to perform the same task as the Symbol Technologies LDT barcode scanning guns in Priority Service Lockers. As I indicated then, an alternative is now needed because new LDTs are no longer available for purchase to accommodate growth or to place any existing guns that break down irreparably. Also the present versions are able to meet the needs of potential new product development due to software capacity limitations.
The trials at Liverpool, Milton Keynes and Slough were a success. Each of the three devices was faster and easier to use than the LDT. The final choice, based on operator feedback, was another Symbol product - the PDT 8146. The only criticism of this devise from some staff was that it lacked the pistol-grip handle of the LDT. We relayed these comments to Symbol, and they have now agreed to supply a clip-on handle incorporating a scanning trigger. Thus operators will have the option to use the handle or not.
Software and communications have also moved on in the past decade. The new scanners use Windows, touch-screen input and radio frequency communication. This means that it is impractical to use both old and new devices in the same locker (we can't just add one or two PDT 8146s to top-up capacity) so we have chosen to replace some larger mail centre lockers in their entirety. The LTDs thus released will be held centrally and used to fulfil requests from smaller sites - a sensible recycling process.
Replacement of RMGTT assets is clearly an expensive and long-term task. We currently have funding to meet predicted operational needs over the next two years. This will involve re-equipping around 25 mail centres. The programme will begin with two pilot installations this financial year at Doncaster and Birmingham, followed by sufficient next year to provide for the Christmas demand and growth into 2004. I'll keep you informed of the proposed replacement programme.
This is our plan. However the presence of an alternative does give us assurances that if a more serious, age-related, problem should begin to affect the LDT stock, we will have the ability to accelerate deployment. (It's often been noted that light bulbs tend to fail more or less simultaneously all over the house!)
As essential principle of the new scanning software is 'like-for-like' in terms of impact on the central system and our customers. However there are many ways in which the newer technology can improve ease of use. Volunteer locker staff from both Doncaster and Birmingham (including a local CWU official) are actively involved in the design of screen layouts and new procedures through Joint Application Design workshops. "User-friendly interface" has become cliché, but this is our direction, guided by real users.
The equipment to be used in the pilots has passed the usual Health and Safety checks, and is indeed already on active service in the Branch Direct network.
A final word of assurance; although the new device almost inevitably scans faster than the existing one (making for an improved operation) our Business Case for this project assumes replacing mail centre scanners on an one-for-one basis. In other words, funding does not depend on staff savings, nor will we be looking for any centrally.
I hope you will agree that this is welcome recognition of the need to maintain investment in this area, despite our wider financial difficulties. Please do let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Yours sincerely
Geoff Roach, Product Development Manager"
Any enquiries to Dave Ward's Department, Reference 535.

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589
Do Not Redirect Trial
Following agreement with the CWU joint trials for the "Do Not Redirect" product were held in Sevenoaks PDO, Nuneaton PDO and Gosport PDO, and concluded at the end of September 2002.
The aim of the trial was to assess methods that could be used to reduce benefit fraud. This was to be completed by ensuring that DSS items containing a written redirection were extracted from mails streams prior to reaching the delivery frame and placed in a 'Do Not Redirect' envelope.
Both mechanised and manual solutions were considered to extract this mail and the results have been sent to the Business Planning Forum for a decision by Mid-November 2002. Consequently there is no agreement for an extension to the trial at this stage.
Should the processes within the trial be endorsed then the earliest anticipated date for roll-out is January 2002. The Business has been informed that this would need to be subject to an agreement with the Union.
Any enquiries to Dave Ward's Department, Reference 535.

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590
Call and Collect Services (Winterhalter Contract)
Further to the information published in BOB No.41, Paragraph 569 dated 25th October 2002, Royal Mail have now confirmed that the negotiations with the new Call and Collect customer have now been finalised and the first despatch will take place from Monday 18th November 2002 with the first receipt of items into Mail Centres and Delivery Offices occurring from Tuesday 19th November 2002.
The contract will involve 43 Engineers collecting initially from 43 nominated Delivery Offices, even though there is an option to extend this number to 54 engineers/54 Delivery Offices, dependent on how successfully the service operates.
Published as an attachment* to this briefing, is the briefing and operational material that has been distributed to areas as of the 5th November 2002. Could Branch Secretaries ensure that the attached information is circulated to the appropriate Operational Area/Unit Representatives and Safety Representatives.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary, Indoor Department, quoting reference number L.840.02.
Att: PE57

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591
Mail Centre Resourcing/Bookroom Review
Branches/representatives were updated on developments associated with the above subject in this year's Annual Report submitted to the Letters Section Conference, Paragraphs 9.30 and 9.33 referred. There were two amendments adopted as policy which are reproduced below:
Paragraph 9.30 Bookroom Review
Add at end: except that the Bookroom Review was not adequately trialled at the Manchester site. As a result the site will need to be revisited or an alternative site selected prior to any evaluation.
Paragraph 9.33 Mail Centre Resourcing
Add at end: except that any aggregate system developed should not be on a "one fits all" basis. The development of computer software should take account of the variety of aggregate systems currently in use.
Since Annual Conference, a number of meetings have taken place with Royal Mail which have culminated in an agreement being given to a further trial of the two projects taking into account the previous experiences encountered at the original trial sites and the terms of the Conference policies.
I have reproduced below the revised National Terms of Reference that will apply for the trial, which are in line with the Conference Mandate that stated Mail Centre Resourcing and the Bookroom Review should be trialled simultaneously in the Mail Centres concerned. There will be six trial locations, which include the original three trial offices Manchester, Reading and Gatwick, with Birmingham, Liverpool and SEAMaC included in addition. The timetable for the various aspects of the trial activity is also detailed within the Terms of Reference.
A meeting was convened at CWU Headquarters on the 16th October 2002, which was attended by the Area Processing Reps from each of the above Mail Centres, Bob Gibson and Steve Richards the Postal Executive Members who will be overseeing the trial, and myself.
At this meeting a full briefing was provided on the Terms of Reference and the guidelines included in the attachments associated with the trials. CWU Headquarters is now liasing with the Area Processing Representatives on the deployment of the trial in their respective locations.
In respect of the Bookroom Review the details regarding the future resourcing of Bookroom duties is also going to be part of the review. Within part of the negotiations on the Bookroom Review appendices, Bob Gibson, NEC agreed that the current Bookroom Review pilot sites will trial and review the material that has been developed and proposed to resource Bookroom duties to see if it is appropriate for use. All of this trial activity will be subject to a National Formal Review prior to consideration of any roll-out. Branches/representatives wishing to raise enquiries with the EC Members overseeing the trials should refer them as follows:
Mail Centre Resourcing - Steve Richards
Bookroom Review - Bob Gibson
"National Terms of Reference
Mail Centre Resourcing/Bookroom Review
The following Terms of Reference have been agreed for the trial in respect of the Mail Centre Resourcing/Bookroom.
Although this is a trial, there may be minor individual elements that may be adjusted if they do not work, both parties remain committed to the overall approach.
1. Background
Initial trials have been carried out at Manchester, Reading and Gatwick, which have identified a number of changes that were necessary to the original agreed guidelines. The changes are as a result of joint involvement between the two parties and feedback from workshops, written communications and the Indoor Schools/Conference. It has now been jointly accepted that further trials are required to evaluate the effectiveness of these amendments to determine the best methods to include in the final guidelines for the future.
2. Scope/Purpose
For the period of the trial the agreed guidelines supersede all previous Resourcing Agreements and custom and practice in the pilot offices in respect of the areas they cover, i.e. Processes/Controls, relating to the scheduling of hours against the workload in the Mail Centre. The processes included in the trial are detailed in the guidelines and annexes attached* to this Terms of Reference.
Mail Centre Resourcing
To establish a robust process for resourcing of Mail Centres that meets the terms of the Way Forward Agreement, and a model that can be used nationally but still provides the appropriate flexibility for local circumstances. The aim is to ensure that staffing levels are planned in advance to meet the workload requirement.
The agreed guidelines are attached at Attachment 1.
Bookroom
To produce a robust process for Bookrooms that meets the Terms of the Way Forward Agreement, supports the Mail Centre Resourcing Guidelines in particular and a model which provides the appropriate flexibility for local circumstances. The Bookroom Review has produced 18 standards:

These standards are attached and outlined more fully in Attachment 2.
1. Success Criteria

1. Period of Trial
The trial will commence from November 2002 and run for between three months and 12 months, and formal reviews/evaluations will take place every three months to see if national implementation can be agreed.
2. Locations/Timetable
The following offices will take part in the trial as detailed:

Office

Training

Start

Benefits realised

MCR Start

MCR Benefits monitored from

Gatwick

Jan

Jan

Feb

Jan

Feb 03 onwards

Manchester

Nov

Nov

Feb

Jan

Feb 03 onwards

Birmingham

Nov

Feb

Apr

Jan

Feb 03 onwards

Liverpool

Jan

Mar

May

Feb

Mar 03 onwards

Reading

Jan

Mar

May

Jan

Feb 03 onwards

SEAMaC

Feb

Apr

Jun

Jan

Feb 03 onwards

 1. Training
Full training will be provided to all employees affected as part of the commencement of the trial. For Bookrooms, prerequisite/preparation work/training involving RCS and Lotus Notes will be carried out at the agreed sites in advance.
2. CWU Involvement
There will be full involvement of the CWU at all levels in all aspects of the trial and the appropriate facility time will be made available for the local representatives. National CWU Officials will also oversee the trial and assist to resolve any disagreements that arise.
3. Communication
It is recognised that there will be a requirement for a comprehensive communication package to ensure all employees/CWU members are fully aware of the project and its objectives. All information concerning the trial will also be shared jointly.
4. Duties/Attendances
There will be no cessation of duties or changes to attendance times during the period of the trial. Any temporary alterations that are required will be subject to the IR Framework. In respect of Bookrooms, providing an individual's post has not ceased, they will remain working in the Bookroom and be given the appropriate training to facilitate them carrying out their duties under the new agreed process to the revised standards.
5. Review
The trial will be jointly reviewed at all levels on a regular basis by both parties. Nationally this will take place monthly, with Formal Reviews every three months to evaluate the effectiveness of the revised processes/guidelines. It is accepted that although the trial includes both the Bookroom and Mail Centre Resourcing revised guidelines, they will be individually evaluated and may be subject to separate National roll-out arrangements because their deployment may not necessarily be dependent on each other.
6. Roll-Out/National Framework
Following the evaluation it will be the intention to establish a National Framework Agreement to enable a roll-out of the processes nationally. There will be no roll-out of the approach until the Agreement has been reached.
7. Variations to the Terms of Reference
Any variations to the above agreement will be the subject of negotiation and agreement at National Level only.

Royal Mail Service Delivery ........... Communication Workers Union ................

Date: .................. Date: ..................

Branches/representatives will be kept updated on all issues relating to these trials via the publication of further BoB paragraphs. All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary, Indoor Department, quoting reference number L.140.23(a).

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592
Media Mail - Nominated Delivery Product Trial
Further to BOB No.41, Paragraph 568 dated 25th October 2002, the paragraph detailed the schedule for the mailings to be used as part of this trial. These were: 23rd October for nominated delivery on the 25th October, 4th November for delivery on 6th November and the date for the third posting was scheduled to take place no later than 24/25th November. The Business are due to confirm the exact date as soon as it is available.
In the meantime, it would be appreciated if the offices involved in the trial (listed in BOB 41) could provide us with any comments that they may have in relation to the operation associated with the two posting dates that have now passed.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary, Indoor Department, (Mail Centre/Circulation issues), quoting reference number L.840.07, or Dave Ward, Assistant Secretary Outdoor Department (Delivery issues).

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593
Mail Centre Revision Tools
Further to BOB number 30, paragraph number 410 published on the 9th August 2002, I advised Branches that the Mail Centre Revision Tools Workshops had commenced and would be continuing for a period of two months. I can now report that these workshops have been concluded with some additional sessions being held to facilitate Divisional Representatives and individuals who had been unable to attend the earlier sessions. In total 74 Area and Divisional Representatives attended the workshops with only 11 of those nominated not attending.
I now consider the terms of the National Joint Statement have been met in respect of the training workshops and to date my department has received no adverse comments on either the workshops or the use of the Revision Tools.
I would like to record my appreciation to all Divisional/Area Representatives for their support and co-operation throughout the period we have been dealing with this initiative and trust that the training provided will be helpful in future when considering revision proposals.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary, Indoor Department, quoting reference number L.530.10.

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NOTICE BOARD ITEMS

594
Education and Training Programme:
January - June 2003
I list below the Union's Education & Training Programme for January - June 2003. This has been reproduced to assist Branches in making the necessary arrangements for students. Applications can be made at any time. Paragraphs in the BOB will be issued periodically, giving more information about each course. Successful applicants will not receive any paperwork until after the closing date for applications.

January
1 - 3 No Course
6 - 10 Health & Safety at Work Stage II
13 - 17 Equal Opportunities I
20 - 24 BSc Computer Science Degree
27 - 31 Union Learning Reps
February
3 - 7 Trade Union & Labour Studies/TUC Occupational H&S (wk 4)
10 - 14 Union Skills II
17 - 21 Union Skills I
24 - 28 BSc Computer Science Degree
March
3 - 7 Health & Safety at Work Stage I
10 - 14 Handling Stress at Work
17 - 21 Trade Union & Labour Studies/TUC Occupational H&S (wk 1)
24 - 28 Union Learning Reps
April
31 Mar - 4 Equal Opportunities II
7 - 11 Intermediate Computing
14 - 18 Easter
21 - 25 Easter
May
28 April - 2 Union Skills II
6 - 9 To be Confirmed
12 - 16 Ruskin/Equal Opportunities
19 - 23 Ruskin/Labour Studies
27 - 30 To be Confirmed
June
2 - 6 BSc Computer Science Degree
9 - 13 Health & Safety at Work Stage II
16 - 20 Trade Union & Labour Studies/TUC Occupational H&S (wk 2)
23 - 27 Union Skills III

Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training

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595
Health & Safety at Work Stage II
A Health and Safety at Work Course Stage II 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 6 - 10 January 2003
Closing date for nominations is 28 November 2002
Applicants for this course will have already attended the Union's Health & Safety Stage I course.
All courses at Alvescot are residential. The cost of tuition, food and accommodation will be met from the General Fund. Ex-NCU Branches are expected 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. 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 an 'application for Union courses' form 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 addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, BAMPTON, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373 Fax: 01993 840960.

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596
Equal Opportunities I Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised an Equal Opportunities 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 13 - 17 January 2003
The Closing Date for Nominations is 28 November 2002
This course is targeted at all CWU members who recognise the importance of equality & diversity. The course objective is to equip members with a thorough grounding in diversity & equality issues at both a theoretical and practical level. In a society which continues to have economic winners and losers, it is important to avoid approaches which lead to polarisation around racial identity, gender, sexual orientation, skills or language as this helps to divide workers. Loss of jobs, re-organisation and casualisation all contribute to insecurity and fear and the need to blame others. Procedures and practices in the workplace and in the union that are unfair should be challenged as this further contributes to resentment and recrimination.

Main Themes

Special Leave with pay applies to applicants employed by the Post Office. BT employees, at present, are entitled to unpaid Special Leave. Discussions with BT management are taking place and we will let you know of any further developments.

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.

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 is refused a place, due to oversubscription, then indicate this on a subsequent application for another date.

Application forms should be addressed to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, BAMPTON, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373 Fax: 01993 840960

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