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WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY

Attachments or LTB's can be emailed or downloaded from the National Site
Volume 9 Issue 15 Paragraphs 238-253 16 April 2004
SUMMARY
GENERAL
238 Meetings with CWU Supported MPs
239 CWU Annual Conference Dates & Venues 2004 - 2006
240 Closing Date - CWU Conference Guide 2004
241 Rules Revision Conference 2004 - Annual Conference 2004
242 National Union of Mineworkers - 20th Anniversary of the Miners' Strike 5th June 2004 - Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
243 Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials
244 Workers' Music Association Summer School
245 Equal Opportunities I Course
246 Health & Safety at Work Stage III
247 TUC Certificate: Occupational Health & Safety Course
248 Certificate in Trade Union and Labour Studies
249 Reminder - Union Learning Representative Course
250 Vacancy - Irish Project Worker
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No items this week
HEALTH AND SAFETY
251 Hazards Campaign - 15th National Hazards Conference
TELECOMS
No items this week
FINANCIAL SERVICES
No items this week
POSTAL
252 Interim Productivity Scheme - Progress Report - Week 52
253 Ill Health Retirement Procedure

LETTERS TO BRANCHES
LTB 146 07.04.04 Rules Revision Conference 2004 - John Donnelly/Tony Kearns
LTB 147 08.04.04 Post Office Ltd incl CLS Pay Agreement 2004 - Andy Furey
LTB 148 08.04.04 Romec Ltd Cleaners Pay - Bob Gibson
LTB 149 08.04.04 Agency Forum Report - 31st March 2004 - Sally Bridge
LTB 150 13.04.04 The Case of Dacas vs Brook Street Bureau - Sally Bridge
LTB 151 13.04.04 Pay - BT Non-management Contract - Sally Bridge
LTB 152 13.04.04 Meeting with Hays 31 March 2004 - Sally Bridge
LTB 153 14.04.04 Unite against Fascism Branch Affiliation - GS
LTB 154 14.04.04 Royal Mail Conduct Code - Ray Ellis
LTB 155 14.04.04 Logistics Pay - Terry Pullinger
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GENERAL
238
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.
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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239
CWU Annual Conference Dates & Venues 2004 - 2006
Conference 2004
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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240
Closing Date - CWU Conference Guide 2004
The closing date for copy for the 10th Anniversary Conference souvenir guide is 28 April. If you are organising a social event or a fringe meeting and you want to have a listing in the guide, please send details to Peter Dodd at CWU headquarters pdodd@cwu.org by no later than 28 April 2004.
Branches and Regions are reminded that there is the opportunity to place fraternal greetings in the guide full details from Peter on 020 8971 7331.

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241
Rules Revision Conference 2004 - Annual Conference 2004
In order that we may cater for any delegate with special needs in terms of seating for the above conferences, it is important that you advise us in writing of the name(s) of the delegate(s) and their particular requirements by return, but no later than 29 April 2004.
Requirements should be sent to Angela Niven, either by post to head office or by email to aniven@cwu.org
Any enquiries concerning this paragraph should be directed in the first instance to Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

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242
National Union of Mineworkers - 20th Anniversary of the Miners' Strike 5th June 2004 - Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
The NUM have advised us that in conjunction with Clause IV and the Workers Beer Company, they have organised a day of commemoration/celebration to the fact that it is the 20th anniversary of the 1984-85 miners' strike.
Many acts have agreed to appear, namely Billy Bragg, Asian Dub Foundation, Byorn Again and the Bootleg Beatles - and they expect more acts to follow.
Many unions have enquired and have intimated a desire to support what should be a tremendous day for everyone including the family. Tickets for this event are £15.00 each and Branches wishing to purchase tickets should phone 01142 565656. It is expected that tickets will go very quickly. The General Secretary will be attending and it would be great to see CWU members at the event.
It should be noted that that the NUM have decided that if any profit is made from the event then all profit made will go to causes which the NUM support and Unions will be informed in writing where they money has gone to. No profit will go to the National Union of Mineworkers.
I do hope as many Branches as possible will support this event. Any enquiries on this paragraph should be addressed to the General Secretary quoting the reference GS 17.5

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243
Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials
In line with Conference policy, we now require branches to submit applications for the following mandatory Equality & Diversity courses.
These courses are being held in the North West Region:
Wednesday 14th April - Manchester
Wednesday 21st April - Preston
Wednesday 12th May - Stockport
(new date - previously 28th April)
Further dates and venues for other regions will be published in due course.
Nominations should be made on an application form for Union courses and returned as soon as possible to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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244
Workers' Music Association Summer School
For one week at the beginning of August, the Workers' Music Association organises a holiday school of music for amateur musicians, with a particular bias towards trade unionists and co-operators. In 2004 the 58th consecutive school will take place from 7th to 14th August, as usual, the venue will be Wortley Hall, nestling among Yorkshire's hills and dales a few miles outside Sheffield.
Wortley Hall was at one time the family seat of the Earl of Wharncliffe, but during the Second World War it was abandoned, eventually to be purchased by trade union and labour organisations and converted to an educational and holiday centre. It has splendid facilities, including a ballroom, a well-equipped bar and lounges, and beautiful landscaped gardens. It is particularly well suited to a music course with its large, thick-walled rooms where a brass band or a jazz group can play without disturbing the choral or solo singers nearby!
The Workers' Music Association believes that everyone should be given the opportunity to enjoy and participate in musical activity, and that music is a part of life and can play its part in helping to build a peaceful and more just society. The annual Summer School reflects this attitude - the syllabus is varied and wide-ranging, including courses for brass band, jazz, folk music and dancing, orchestral and chamber music, choral, solo and ensemble singing, conducting, composition, aural training, sight-reading and harmony. The students are at all levels of ability and experience and there is a wide age range. The only rule is that everyone must participate, as an instrumentalist, or singer, conductor or composer. In other words, it is not a "lecture and listen" but one in which every student plays an active part.
The CWU is providing 2 scholarships to help its musical members to attend the school. Anyone interested should write to Trish Lavelle Head of Education and Training, no later than Friday 30th April 2004, giving full details of their musical experience and ability, instruments played (if any), range of voice (soprano, alto, tenor or bass), and any other helpful information, and stating the course or courses for which they would like to enrol.
Any enquiries regarding this paragraph should be addressed to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education and Training, at 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1RX.

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245
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 20 - 24 September 2004
The closing date for nominations is 5 August
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.
We particularly encourage branches to nominate women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and young members who are often under-represented on the CWU Education and Training Programme.
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; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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246
Health & Safety at Work Stage III
A Health and Safety at Work Course Stage III has been organised 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 27 September - 1 October 2004
The closing date for nominations is 12 August
Applicants for this course will have already attended the Union's Health & Safety Stage I & II courses.
We particularly encourage branches to nominate women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and young members who are often under-represented on the CWU Education and Training Programme.
This course will give a substantive overview of the following:

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; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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247
TUC Certificate: Occupational Health & Safety Course
The TUC has designed and created this course for trade union safety reps who have a genuine desire to study Health & Safety at an advanced level. The TUC has always recognised the importance of NEBOSH. However, the general consensus is that NEBOSH tends to be designed and constructed with managers in mind. This course is specifically geared to the needs of trade union Health & Safety representatives. The importance of this new course has been recognised by the Institute of Health & Safety. The award of the TUC Certificate of Occupational Health & Safety will carry the same recognition as the current NEBOSH certificate. The TUC is very keen to make this course available to USRs who have in the past expressed a serious interest in gaining their NEBOSH certificate.
The CWU in partnership with Solihull College can now offer senior CWU safety representatives an opportunity to gain this Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety. This exciting course will be a combination of residential and distance learning. This course has been specially designed to enable members to gain this Certificate through a fast track approach.
The residential component of this course will be held at Alvescot Lodge on the following dates:
Week One 4 - 8 October 2004
Week Two 8 - 12 November 2004
Week Three 17 - 21 January 2005
Week Four 21 - 25 February 2005
The closing date for nominations is 19 August.
Applicants for this course must have already completed the Union's Stage I, II & III training courses. Applicants must be able to attend on all the dates listed above. They should also bear in mind that they will be expected to complete projects, essays and reports in their own time. It is expected that applicants should allow at least 4 - 6 hours per week to fulfil their commitment to the course. The course is also accredited with the National Open College Network.
We particularly encourage branches to nominate women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and young members who are often under-represented on the CWU Education and Training Programme.
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; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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248
Certificate in Trade Union and Labour Studies
The CWU in partnership with the TUC is offering CWU activists a fast track course, which will result in the award of a Certificate in Trade Union Studies. The course is targeted at CWU activists who are involved in the industrial relations process.
In normal circumstances the TUC run this course for trade unionists over a full academic year, with participants attending the course on one day per week. It is proposed that the residential element of the course will be run at Alvescot on the following dates:
Week One 4 - 8 October 2004
Week Two 8 - 12 November 2004
Week Three 17 - 21 January 2005
Week Four 21 - 25 February 2005
The closing date for nominations is 19 August.
The four residential weeks will be supplemented by Distance Learning, thus enabling CWU members to gain the Certificate in Trade Union Studies in just a few months.
The course is designed to help members:

The course will include looking at everyday problems and activities in the Union and Labour Movement. It will analyse the wider issues and develop strategies for the future.
The course will provide students with the opportunity of building a personal relationship with their tutor, but will also involve some study at home. The teaching methods will focus on tutor lectures/seminars; group work, role-plays, case studies and student presentations. Everyone who completes the course will gain a Certificate of Trade Union Studies which is a formally recognised academic qualification and could be used in the future to access University education or employment in the Labour Movement. But most importantly will enable serious activists to expand their knowledge and understanding of both the British and International trade union movement.
We particularly encourage branches to nominate women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and young members who are often under-represented on the CWU Education and Training Programme.
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; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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249
Reminder - Union Learning Representative Course
The Communication Workers Union have organised a Union Learning Representatives Course, to be held at the Education & Training Centre, Alvescot.
The course will be held from 7 - 11 June 2004
The closing date for nominations is 22 April
We particularly encourage branches to nominate women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and young members who are often under-represented on the CWU Education and Training Programme.
Trade Unions have always been committed to training and up-skilling the workforce. New Government strategies have ensured that unions play a leading role in opening up and promoting learning opportunities for members and their families. The CWU has already obtained funding for several projects including Learning Centres at Preston (Open 2 All), Fujitsu Birmingham and BT Northern Ireland, Liverpool, Birmingham, Coventry, Southampton, Dorset, York, Truro, Gloucester, London, Aylesbury, North Wales, and South Wales. Other Branches have indicated to me their intention to become involved with workplace based learning centres. CWU bids for funding are co-ordinated by the Union's Head of Education & Training, Trish Lavelle.
The second and perhaps most important strand of the Government/TUC policy is the creation of Union Learning Reps. Making sure that our members who, for whatever reason missed out previously, have the chance to make a fresh start is a priority for the CWU.
Trade Union Learning Reps can play a key role in bringing learning to the workplace. CWU members trust our reps and will be prepared to confide in them. Learning Reps will deal sensitively with individuals who are embarrassed about wanting to improve their basic skills. Only the unions can work effectively with employers and education providers on the Basic Skills Agenda.
What is Basic Skills?
In short Basic Skills is the ability to read, write and speak in English and use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society. The union has found that combining 'basic skills' learning with computer applications is the best methodology. Learners can also be offered more advanced computing skills, life skills and communication skills through the learning centres.
Do you want to be involved in the most exciting educational revolution since the invention of writing in 2860 BC?

Then become a Union Learning Representative and attend this Course. The course will be tutored by the TUC and will give prospective Learning Reps all the knowledge and skills that are required to give advice and guidance to our members.
Branches who already have workplace based Learning Centres or who are in the process of setting up Centres will be able to exchange information and ideas.
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; email: mtodd@cwu.org

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250
Vacancy - Irish Project Worker
Please see attached.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY
251
Hazards Campaign - 15th National Hazards Conference
Branches will be aware that the 15th National Hazards Conference will be returning to Manchester this year. Hazards 2004 will be held at UMIST from 16th to 18th July 2004; the venue for two highly successful conferences in 2001 and 2002. The Greater Manchester Hazards Centre has again been delegated to organise the event on behalf of the National Hazards Campaign.
Attached* to this BOB paragraph is a flyer advertising this event, which also contains details of the Hazards Sponsorship Appeal. It would be useful if Branches could widely publicise this appeal, as Hazards is an important and very worthwhile campaigning organisation.
Any enquiries should be addressed to Dave Joyce, National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, quoting reference No. EX9.
*Att: G39 - available in hard copy from kmacguire@cwu.org

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POSTAL
252
Interim Productivity Scheme - Progress Report - Week 52
We are monitoring the introduction of the new productivity schemes nationally and within that process we have requested progress reports. Please find attached the latest progress report I have received on the deployment of the Mail Centre/Distribution schemes for your information.
It should be noted that all of the Business' planned headcount reduction figures are subject to agreements being concluded locally on how the financial savings should be achieved. In addition, actual headcount reductions stated include members who have resigned, etc.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary Indoor Department, quoting reference number L.300.42(a).
Attachment

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253
Ill Health Retirement Procedure
It was agreed that the following proposition from South and East Thames Amalgamated Branch which was not reached at last year's Annual Conference be taken for examination:
"Add at end: except that all retirements due to accidents on duty, assaults on duty, bomb attacks and their equivalents in other businesses are to be treated as retirement on ill health grounds with immediate pension and not retirement on Ill Health grounds with lump sum payments in respect to the National Ill Health Retirement Agreement."
Branch comments were invited in BOB Paragraph 552. Only two replies have been received to date.
The views of Royal Mail Group have been sought on the terms of the amendments. Their response is that it would fundamentally change on the basis with which decisions on Ill Health Retirement with lump sum or with pension are made. The Ill Health Retirement agreement determines whether retirement with immediate payment of pension or retirement with lump sum payment are appropriate based on the prognosis of each individual case not on the cause of the medical condition.
Having considered the matter, the PEC do not believe that a basis exists for seeking to pursue the terms of the amendment.
Any enquiries regarding this paragraph should be addressed to Ray Ellis, Assistant Secretary, Technical and Central Services Department at CWU Head Office.

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