Volume 9 Issue 08 Paragraphs 109 - 119 27 February 2004
WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY
Attachments or LTB's can be emailed or downloaded from the National Site
SUMMARY
GENERAL
109 Meetings with CWU
Supported MPs
110 CWU Annual Conference
Dates & Venues 2004 - 2006
111 Harold Thornley - An Obituary
112 Motion 79 - Annual
Conference 2003
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
113 Disability Rights Handbook
HEALTH AND SAFETY
114 Accreditation of Union
Safety Representatives in BT
TELECOMS
115 BT SCP: Document
Design Services
FINANCIAL SERVICES
No items this week
POSTAL
116 Parcelforce Worldwide
Easter 2004 Operation Arrangements
117 Downstream Access UK
Mail Contract Deployment
118 Transport Review
Neighbouring District Network/TPO Closure Terms of Reference
119 Cars on Delivery
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
63
19/02/04
New Manpower employee Handbook - Sally Bridge
64
19/02/04
Building a Stronger Union - GS
65
23/02/04
T&FS Conferences 2004 Propositions - John Donnelly/Jeannie Drake
66
23/02/04
Official Industrial Action - Wythenshawe Delivery Office and
Manchester Mail Centre Distribution/MTS - GS
67
24/02/04
Clientlogic Pay Ballot Result 2004 - Sally Bridge
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GENERAL
109
Meetings with CWU Supported MPs
BOB paragraph 558, 10 October 2003, reported that regular liaison
meetings with the CWU Group of MPs had been established and gave
details of dates and attendees up to March 2004. The meetings from
April to July 2004 have now been arranged and for your information I
list below the dates of the meetings and those nominated to attend.
16 March
South East Regional Secretary/Political Secretary
Steve Fishwick, Manny Blake, Jimmy Reid
20 April
South West Regional Secretary/Political Secretary
Sharon Hogarth, Andy Kerr,
Jimmy Reid
18 May
North West Regional Secretary/Political Secretary
John Holmes, Chris Murphy, Graham Colk
15 June
Scotland Regional Secretary/Political Secretary
NEC members tbc
20 July
Northern Ireland Regional Secretary
NEC members tbc.
Billy Hayes, General Secretary
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110
CWU Annual Conference Dates & Venues 2004 - 2006
Conference 2004
As previously advised the Rules & Annual Conference this year
will be held at Bournemouth from 13 - 18 June 2004.
Conference 2005
We have received correspondence from the Bournemouth International
Centre advising us of a proposed BIC redevelopment scheme. The work
on the first phase commences in July 2004, the second will commence
in November 2004 and the target date for completion is October 2005.
On this basis BIC tell us it will be impossible to host our
conference in June 2005.
Given the current size of our conference and the requirements for
halls to accommodate all the industry/constituency conferences our
options for alternative venues are very limited. The Winter Gardens
at Blackpool has only one week available during the whole of May and
June, that date is 12 to 17 June 2005.
The NEC has therefore agreed to this date & venue for 2005, which
has been booked.
Conference 2006
We have a confirmed booking at Bournemouth for 21 to 26 May 2006 when
we will hopefully see the benefit of the refurbishment which includes
the addition of a fourth hall which will reduce the need to hire
extra hotel accommodation for the sectional conferences.
Any enquiries concerning this paragraph should be directed in the
first instance to Peter Dodd on 020 8971 7331
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111
Harold Thornley - An Obituary
Harold Thornley, ex-Branch Secretary Post Office Engineering Union
Manchester North External Branch, was a friend and colleague who died
peacefully on Feb 16 after a long illness in Rochdale Hospital. His
wife Jean and family was by his bedside.
Harold was one of the good trade unionists. He helped many people
over the years. He loved going to Annual Conference and always had
something to say on behalf of his Branch and Members. When he retired
he carried on looking after the interest of retired members within
the Union in Manchester. He became Chairman of The Retired Members
North West Regional Committee.
I am sure his voice and light in his eyes when he wanted to make a
point will be sadly missed by the many.
He was a good comrade.
Ernie Purkis, Birmingham
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112
Motion 79 - Annual Conference 2003
Further to BOB Para 715 Branches should note that the Annual Report
2003/2004 - Page 29 - reports that the terms of this motion is being
addressed by the Structure and Rules Committee and will be included
in the rule proposals that the NEC place fore the Rules Revision Conference.
Billy Hayes, General Secretary
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
113
Disability Rights Handbook
The new edition of the Disability Rights Handbook for 2004-2005 is
being advertised by the Disability Alliance. Any Branch that has not
yet taken advantage of the Handbook is strongly advised to do so, as
it provides a wide range of information on subjects as diverse as
tax, national insurance, pensions and benefits.
The paper edition is £14.90 and the CD Rom version is
£17.51. For a subscription it will cost you £25.50, which
includes 3 updates during the year.
For more information contact the Disability Alliance, Universal
House, 88-94 Wentworth Street, London E1 7SA. Tel: 020 7247 8776 or
visit their website at www.disabilityalliance.org
Any enquiries about this paragraph should be addressed to
Michèle Emerson, Assistant Secretary quoting reference 2.40.1.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
114
Accreditation of Union Safety Representatives in BT
The purpose of this Branch Officials Bulletin is to notify Branches
with members in BT that managers with Union Safety Representatives in
their teams are being sent the following message from BT HR Manager
Jeff Dunn. Can Branches please ensure that the accreditation process
takes place and that any problems are sent in to the Health and
Safety Department.
"The joint agreement 'Health and Safety Consultation
Arrangements in BT' outlines the procedure for the annual
re-accreditation of USRs, and the updating of the central database,
which is vital to the successful operation of the agreement,
All union branches and managers of USRs are reminded of the need to
complete the re-accreditation process for the current year by 1 April
2004. Please note that we are asking for the accreditation process to
be completed electronically this year.
Details of the full agreement can be found at: http://humanresources.intra.bt.com/10931
together with additional guidelines and a process flowchart. These
should be read in conjunction with the relevant sections of the full agreement."
Any enquiries should be sent to Dave Joyce, Assistant Secretary
quoting reference NS 83
TELECOMS
115
BT SCP: Document Design Services
As branches will be aware, BT has been conducting an internal review
of its Document Design Services unit which currently employs 53 people.
SCP have now advised us of the outcome of their review which has
concluded that certain functions have been overtaken by technology or
are no longer required by the business. It has also concluded that
technology has facilitated a degree of rationalisation of overlapping functions.
The overall result is that the figure of 53 staff in post is proposed
to fall to 36 SCP by 1 July 2004. Of this reduction of 17, 14 fall
within CWU represented grades.
Currently SCP managers are engaged in a number of meetings with staff
under the "Making It Personal" project. It has been brought
to the union's attention that in response from questions to our
members; management has started to give an overview of the DDS
strategic review. This is not surprising and we understand,
especially given the availability of enhanced Newstart terms for a
limited period, these managers would want to avoid the accusation
that they are acting in bad faith by stonewalling such questions!
However, with the exception of Records Management (where early
indications from SCP management is that they are absolutely adamant
that this role is no longer required or viable), there would seem to
be no fixed view about from which of the 13 locations (including
home-based workers) the job reductions will be drawn.
CWU representatives will be meeting with SCP in the near future to
try and understand better the background to the reductions that have
been proposed and to scrutinise management's plans with forensic
care. Further details will be provided when that additional
information is available.
The work locations for individuals affected by these proposals are:
Bath
Exeter
Magna Park
Covent Garden (London)
Glasgow
Birmingham
Leicester
Sheffield
Liverpool
Oswestry
Bristol
Nottingham
Branches are asked to try and ensure that the members directly
concerned have visibility of this briefing.
Any queries should be addressed to my office at CWU Headquarters.
Yours sincerely
Simon Sapper, Assistant Secretary
POSTAL
116
Parcelforce Worldwide Easter 2004 Operation Arrangements
Please find attached a copy of the proposed Parcelforce Worldwide
Easter 2004 Operational Arrangements, which are self-explanatory.
Enquires regarding this matter should be addressed to Terry
Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, quoting reference number 106.
Att
p116: PE7
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117
Downstream Access UK Mail Contract Deployment
Further to LTB 49/04 dated 10th February 2004 which detailed the
Union's response to the announcement by Royal Mail of the Access
Agreement signed with Business Group Plc.
A meeting on the UK Mail Contract Deployment was held on the 5th
February 2004 which was attended by the Assistant Secretaries Indoor
and Outdoor. Royal Mail was represented by Mr Garry Giles, Royal Mail
Operations' Downstream Access Manager.
Following the meeting Mr Giles undertook to write to the Union to
summarise the presentation he had given and to provide confirmation
of the activity that is due to take place to deploy this contract.
For the information of Branches/Representatives a copy of this
correspondence is reproduced below, along with the Union's reply, the
content of which is self-explanatory. For ease of reference we have
also reproduced for Branches/Representatives information on Condition
9 and 10 of the Royal Mail Licence that is referred to in Mr Giles' letter.
Dear Mr Collins
Thanks for the opportunity to talk through downstream access
deployment last week with yourself and Bob Gibson; as promised here
is a summary of what I presented. The actual slides will be sent electronically.
What is downstream access?
Downstream access is mail that is posted under condition 9 of the
Royal Mail licence. The contract we have signed with UK Mail, the
Business Post subsidiary is for the deployment of access for the mail
they are posting to all Royal Mail inward mail centres. As I said we
are only deploying in inward mail centres and although there may
again be a move for access to delivery offices at some future date we
can deal with that if and when it occurs. What we are referring to as
downstream standard access is to inward mail centres only. Again it
may be in future that customers or other postal operators would like
to share the end to end mail process in different ways; the example I
used was someone having the collection and outward processing
undertaken by Royal Mail; then collecting from all mail centres the
following day and taking on for trunking and delivery, to illustrate
the ways the pipeline may be viewed in the future by third parties.
How is downstream access going to work?
There will be two types of customers, those that post their own mail
and the licensed postal operators who are able to consolidate many
customers mail; in both cases they will bring mail to inward mail
centres for Royal Mail to complete the journey of that mail. It is
expected that most, if not all mail will be current Mailsort or
Presstream, though the volume of mail involved is an unknown quantity
at present. Mail will arrive in the morning access window in a
pre-booked access slot and will be unloaded by the driver of the
arriving vehicle into Royal Mail containers. All of the detailed
requirements will be contained in a downstream access user guide that
will also cover issues such as: entry qualifications, indicia
requirements, sorting and presentational standards, labelling,
bagging, documentation, pricing and security and health and safety
requirements, as well as any other issues that need to be covered. As
it is an agreement with UK Mail any other company wishing to access
downstream will be required to access under these same terms and
conditions and at the same pricing as UK Mail.
Revenue protection processes are all based on existing arrangements
though have had to take account of the mail being in potentially more
than 70 sites when it arrives as opposed to just one. The
co-ordination of all mailings made under these terms and conditions
will be undertaken by a new unit within central postal control to be
known as downstream access central control (DSACC). You will be
welcome to visit once it is established.
Key people involved in downstream access will be gatehouse colleagues
who will be required to ensure that UK Mail are complying with the
agreed security standards for both drivers and vehicles, early shift
loading bay and processing colleagues who will be first to handle the
mail, revenue protection teams, sales people and the team in DSACC.
What are our responsibilities?
We must make this work; any hindrance to progress could tempt
Postcomm to get involved when the Royal Mail agreement with UK Mail
has enabled us to avoid being subjected to a Postcomm determination.
We must ensure that mail posted downstream is treated with the same
priority as any other mail and not discriminated against in any way.
The protection of Royal Mail revenue is paramount, and the area teams
are required to deploy downstream access precisely as described, any
variations could expose Royal Mail to allegations of operating
unfairly. Condition 10 of the Royal Mail licence necessitates that
Royal Mail does not take advantage of its position in terms of
knowledge of other postal operators' customers to gain a competitive
edge; it is imperative that the requirements of condition 10 are upheld.
What is the programme of events?
UK Mail aim to start posting downstream from mid-April and it is
quite possible that two other postal operators could start posting on
the same terms over the few months following that. At first the
volume of mail arriving at inward mail centres is likely to be small
and it has been agreed that there will be a short period where UK
Mail are able to post below the entry threshold to allow them to
establish their operation. It is also possible that some customers,
probably from the finance sector will explore downstream access
during the summertime of 2004. On 9 March I will be hosting a launch
workshop in Rugby for each of the area deployment managers who have
been appointed for a short period, for them to understand the full
detail of the operations and communications requirements for their
area. You are welcome to attend this workshop where I will be asking
the area deployment managers to get in touch with and fully involve
CWU area representatives. Also during March DSACC will be established
and revenue protection people will be trained in the new requirements
that downstream access brings.
Other issues
A few other points I raised that I would welcome your comments on please:
* Apart from the CWU area reps being involved in deployment at each
mail centre, would you like to be involved in the deployment in any
other way?
* What involvement would you like to have in communication about
downstream access?
* Now the contract is signed, UK Mail people would like to meet with
you, and Stephen Agar, Royal Mail Director of Strategy and Group
Regulation would like to meet with you to go through the details of
the contract.
* UK Mail have a desire for a practice run of delivering bags to
inward mail centres a couple of weeks before they go live, possibly
with Cadbury Crème Eggs in the bags. We talked of the
possibility of a joint communication of this dry run - are you happy
for me to propose something and when the actual dates are known this
can be finalised?
Lastly, thanks again for the opportunity to go through all the issues
and as I said, this really is a good deal for Royal Mail and an
opportunity for us to make the most of the condition nine regulatory
requirement for downstream access.
Regards
Garry Giles
Downstream Access Manager
UK Operations
Dear Mr Giles
Thank you for your letter of the 13th February 2004, which I have
also copied to Bob Gibson for his information. It would be
appreciated if in future you could address all correspondence
regarding this contract to us both, as we will have to be jointly
involved in overseeing the issue.
We would welcome the opportunity to visit the Downstream Access
Control Centre (DSACC) because it will provide us with an insight
into how the operation will be managed. We would also like to accept
the invitation to have someone in attendance from national or
divisional level of the CWU at the Launch Workshops to be held in March.
In answer to the other points in your letter:
* We feel that apart from the importance of the CWU HQ interface,
Divisional Representatives should also be fully involved throughout
the consultation programme.
* We would welcome full involvement in the communication exercise
that accompanies the deployment of this contract.
* A meeting with UK Mail and Mr Agar would be helpful to understand
the customer's perception of the contract.
* It may be of benefit for you to give a presentation to the Postal
Executive and Divisional Representatives to explain the details of
the contract closer to the full introduction date.
* Obviously the CWU will want to be involved in all aspects of any
practice/trial runs that take place prior to the go live date and
will also require timely notification of any such activity.
To conclude, we found the meeting with yourself very useful and we
will be copying this correspondence to the Postal Executive and CWU
representatives to update them on the current situation.
I trust you will get back to us regarding the detailed arrangements
in respect of the meetings/visits, etc.
Yours sincerely
Martin Collins
Assistant Secretary
Bob Gibson
Assistant Secretary
Schedule 2 - Condition 9: Access to the Licensee's Postal Facilities
Part 4 - Promotion of Effective Competition between Postal Operators
Condition 9: Access to the Licensee's Postal Facilities
Part 1
1. This part of this condition shall apply if Postcomm has not issued
a determination in writing pursuant to paragraph 1 of Part 2 of this condition.
2. If any person who is a postal operator or user seeks access to the
Licensee's postal facilities the Licensee shall negotiate with that
person in good faith with a view to agreeing with him terms for such access.
3. Terms agreed following negotiations pursuant to paragraph 2 shall -
(a) provide that any access prices shall be based on a reasonable
allocation of costs,
(b) be such that the Licensee does not unduly discriminate between
persons having access to its postal facilities or show undue
preference towards any such person, and
in this paragraph, the determination of costs shall have regard, as
appropriate, to the Licensee's obligations under conditions 2 and
10(5) of this Licence.
4. If negotiations conducted pursuant to paragraph 2 fail to lead to
agreement between the Licensee and any person seeking access to the
Licensee's postal facilities pursuant to that paragraph and if
Postcomm on the application of such a person -
(a) has given the Licensee not less than 28 days' notice in writing
that it proposes to give a direction to allow that person to have
access to the Licensee's postal facilities on such terms as may be
specified in the notice, and
(b) has given to the Licensee the opportunity in that period of not
less than 28 days to make representations to it in relation to its
proposal to make such a determination, and
(c) after considering such representations requires the Licensee by a
direction based upon the principles set out in paragraph 3 to allow
that person to have access to the Licensee's postal facilities on
such terms as may be specified in the direction,
then the Licensee shall allow such access on such terms.
5. The Licensee shall publish a report on or before each 31 March
during the term of this License setting out for each period of twelve
months ending on the preceding 1 January particulars of the access
given to its postal facilities pursuant to this condition including
the number of agreements in being during the period for access to its
postal facilities the revenue derived from those agreements and the
number of postal packets carried under those agreements.
Part 2
1. Paragraphs 4 to 7 of this Part of this condition shall apply if
Postcomm -
(a) has given to the Licensee, the Council and such other persons as
appear to Postcomm to be appropriate not less than 28 days' notice in
writing that it proposes to issue a determination pursuant to
paragraph (c), and
(b) has given to the Licensee, the Council and the other persons to
whom the notice described in paragraph (a) was given the opportunity
in that period of not less than 28 days to make representations to it
in relation to its proposal to issue such a determination, and
(c) after considering such representations has issued a determination
in writing that the Licensee has established arrangements in relation
to the use of its postal facilities by other persons ("an access
code") which comply with the requirements of paragraphs 2 to 5
of this Part of this condition.
2. An access code shall be such as to facilitate the achievement of
the following objectives -
(a) the provision of a universal postal service in the authorised
area and, subject to that
(b) securing the interests of users of postal services, having regard
to the interests of individuals who are disabled or chronically sick,
or of pensionable age, or with low incomes or residing in rural areas,
(c) promoting competition between postal operators, and
(d) subject to the above, promoting efficiency and economy on the
part of the Licensee and other postal operators,
hereinafter referred to as "the relevant objectives".
3. An access code shall contain distinct sections dealing with -
(a) the physical and operational requirements to be complied with by
persons having access to and from the Licensee's postal facilities,
(b) charges to be paid to the Licensee by other persons having access
to and from the Licensee's postal facilities, and
(c) procedures by which the requirements referred to in paragraph (a)
and the charges referred to in paragraph (b) may, subject to the
approval of Postcomm, be modified at the instigation of the Licensee
or of another person or of the Council for the purpose of the better
achievement of the relevant objectives.
4. Except in a case in which Postcomm accepts otherwise, the Licensee
shall -
(a) enter into arrangements in relation to the use of its postal
facilities with other persons when requested by them to do so, and
(b) only enter into such arrangements if they are in conformity with
any relevant provisions of the access code.
5. The Licensee shall not make any modification to the access code
except -
(a) in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to
paragraph 3(c), or
(b) with the approval in writing of Postcomm,
and shall furnish Postcomm with a copy of any modification made.
6. The Licensee shall -
(a) publish the access code as modified or changed from time to time
in such form and manner as will obtain appropriate publicity for it, and
(b) send a copy of the access code as modified from time to time, to
any person who asks for one and makes such payment to the Licensee in
respect of the cost thereof as it may require not exceeding such
amount as Postcomm may from time to time approve for the purposes hereof.
7. The Licensee shall prepare and publish a report on or before each
31 March during the term of any access code established pursuant to
this part of this condition including, for each period of twelve
months ending on the preceding 1 January -
(a) a general survey of the operation of the access code,
(b) particulars of the access given to the Licensee's postal
facilities pursuant to the access code including the number of
persons using its postal facilities, the revenue derived from access
under the code and the number of postal packets carried under the
provisions of the code, and
(c) the operation of the procedures for the modification of the
access code.
Condition 10: Prohibition of Obtaining Unfair Commercial Advantage
1. This condition shall apply if the Licensee is required pursuant to
a condition of this License to provide access to its postal
facilities to other persons.
2. The Licensee shall conduct its business as a postal operator in
the manner best calculated to secure that neither -
(a) the Licensee, nor
(b) any related person of the Licensee, nor
(c) any other person,
Obtains any unfair commercial advantage in connection with the
provision by the Licensee of access to its postal facilities as
described in paragraph 1.
3. Subject to paragraph 4, the Licensee shall use all reasonable
endeavours to secure that no information in the possession of the
Licensee as a result of giving access to its postal facilities to
other persons -
(a) is disclosed for the benefit of or used for the purpose of any
trading business conducted by the Licensee, or
(b) is disclosed for the benefit of or used for the purpose of any
trading business conducted by any related person of the Licensee.
4. Paragraph 3 shall not apply in so far as -
(a) Postcomm may consent in writing,
(b) every person to whom the information relates has consented in
writing to its disclosure or use as mentioned in paragraph 3,
(c) the disclosure is to, or the use is by, a person who -
(i) is acting as an agent of the Licensee for the provision of postal services,
(ii) is engaged by the Licensee for the purpose of the Licensee's
business as a postal operator and has access to the information only
for that purpose, and
(iii) is restricted by contract with the Licensee from making any
further disclosure or use of the information, or
(d) the information has been published or is required to be disclosed
as mentioned in paragraph 3 in pursuance of any other condition of
this Licence, or
(e) the information is in the public domain otherwise than in
consequence of a contravention of any condition of this Licence.
5. The terms of which the Licensee and any related person of the
Licensee have access to the Licensee's postal facilities shall be no
more and no less favourable than the terms on which those facilities
may be made available to other persons in accordance with condition 9
of this License.
All enquiries regarding the content of this Paragraph should be
addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary (Indoor) quoting
reference number L.600.42 or Bob Gibson, Assistant Secretary
(Outdoor) quoting reference number 535.41 as appropriate.
118
Transport Review Neighbouring District Network/TPO Closure Terms
of Reference
Attached electronically for the information of Branches and
Representatives are copies of the agreed revised Terms of Reference
for the Neighbouring District Network (Strand 1) and the Terms of
Reference for the Closure of the TPOs (Strand 5). The only changes
that have been made to the original NDN Terms of Reference are the
new names of the lead managers and the insertion of the target
timescale. In respect of the Terms of Reference for the TPOs, this
now covers the other rail cessations that are taking place and I
would draw the attention of the representatives to Section 7. This
section confirms that the interim arrangements are without prejudice
to subsequent negotiations and ensures that CWU members affected will
have earnings protection and be treated in accordance with the
appropriate national agreements.
In addition to the above, reproduced electronically is an exchange of
correspondence between the Union and Royal Mail, the content of which
is self-explanatory. All the information contained in this paragraph
was circulated to the representatives who attended the Divisional
Briefings that took place week commencing 19th January. To ensure
Branch Secretaries are fully aware of the items that were discussed
however, a copy of the Handbook that was produced for the Briefings
has been circulated by email. If Branches have not received this
information, they can contact the Indoor Department who will then
forward them the information or provide them with a hard copy.
Erratum to BOB 4, para 63 dated 30th January 2004
The attachment to the above paragraph was inadvertently not included
in the original BOB paragraph so we have had it reproduced again for
your information.
Martin Collins
Attachment
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119
Cars on Delivery
The Postal Executive at its February meeting agreed document 49/04
which enables the Union to engage Royal Mail in meaningful
discussions regarding cars on delivery.
The existing position the Union remains unchanged and all delivery
routes in SDD should continue to be planned on the basis of no use of
private cars.
Currently information is being obtained from other European postal
unions on how they deal with this particular issue, and we will then
be opening discussions with Royal Mail.
In the meantime, Branches should not become involved in any local
discussions on this subject and should report any approaches from
management to their Divisional Representative or CWU HQ.
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson's office quoting reference 300.26.