WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY
Attachments or LTB's can be
emailed or downloaded from the National Site
Volume 9 Issue 30 Paragraphs 490- 505 6 August 2004
SUMMARY
GENERAL
490 Meetings with CWU
Supported MPs
491 CWU Equality &
Diversity, Training - Phase 2
492 Equality &
Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (1)
493 Equality &
Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (2)
494 The Alma Hospital Trust
495 YAC National Education
Event 2004, Glasgow - Availability
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No items this week
HEALTH AND SAFETY
496 Royal Mail - Revised
Uniform Policy - Safety & Security
497 BT Environment Unit
498 Hinged Covers for JB104
499 Noise Interference in
BT - Update
500 TIC Proposition 55
TELECOMS
501 Newsites: PROMPT
502 ND&I Narrowband -
Boundary Alignment
FINANCIAL SERVICES
No items this week
POSTAL
503 Christmas Pay
Arrangements - Motion 5.57
504 Cessation of Hand
Stamp Cancellation
505 Scheduled Attendance
Holiday Pay
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
348
27.07.04 POL Cash in Transit National Reward Scheme 2004 - Ballot
Result - Andy Furey
349
29.07.04 MTFS: Notice Periods and TMA - Ray Ellis
350
29.07.04 Labour Party National Policy Forum - GS Attachments
351
29.07.04 The Management of Attendance in Royal Mail Group - Ray Ellis
352
30.07.04 Unofficial Industrial Action - Manchester Distribution - GS
353
30.07.04 Field Reward Scheme (FRS) - Ian Cuthbert
354
30.07.04 BT Field Service - Resourcing - Ian Cuthbert
355
30.07.04 BT/HP Strategic Partnership - TUPE Transfer to HP - Bill McClory
356
30.07.04 Alliance and Leicester Pay 2004 - Nigel Cotgrove
357
30.07.04 The Management of Attendance in Royal Mail Groups - Dave Ward
358
02.08.04 Securicor Cash Centres Pay 2004 - Nigel Cotgrove
359
03.08.04 YAC - National Education Event - Availability - Simon Sapper Attachment
360
04.08.04 POL National Agreement for the Introduction of a Deputy
Branch Manager Grade - Andy Furey DBM
Agreement Questions
for DBM DMB
Role Profile
361
05.08.04 Management of Attendance/Car Prize Draw - Dave Ward
362
05.08.04 Bank Holiday Pay Arrangement August 2004 - Dave Ward
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GENERAL
490
Meetings with CWU Supported MPs
BOB Paragraph 558, 10 October 2003, gave details of the scheduled
meetings with CWU Group MPs up to July 2004.
Branches should note that the June meeting was cancelled as it
coincided with our Annual Conference. Group MPs were invited to
attend Annual Conference for the day on 15 June and delegates could
meet them there. The meeting scheduled to take place on 20 July has
now been moved to 13 July and representatives from Northern Ireland,
together with newly appointed PFMC members, will attend.
Billy Hayes, General Secretary
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491
CWU Equality & Diversity, Training - Phase 2
In line with Conference policy, we now require branches to submit
applications for the mandatory Equality and Diversity courses.
The following is a list of dates and venues for the second phase of
the Equality & Diversity one day training sessions for CWU
representatives in the Eastern Region. I have arranged for two dates
at each venue as so reps can have a choice of days.
Can I remind you all that this training is mandatory.
Dunstable College,
1st - 2nd September,
Kingsway,Dunstable, LU5 4HG
Peterborough Regional College,
26th - 27th August,
Forward House, Shrewsbury Avenue,
Peterborough, PE2 7BX
Norwich City College,
6th - 7th September,
Trade Union Studies Unit,
St Andrew's House, St Andrew's Street,
Norwich, NR2 4TR
Watford Trade Union Hall August,
31st August - September 1st,
Woodford Road
Watford, (Opposite Watford Junction)
Thurrock & Basildon College,
23rd - 24th August,
Trades Union Studies Unit
Nethermayne Campus,
Basildon, Essex, SS16 5NN
Colchester Institute,
1st - 2nd September,
Trades Union Studies unit
Sheepen Road, Colchester,
Essex, CO3 3LL
Fogwell Pavilion,
7th - 8th September,
Recreation Pavilion,
Fogwell Road, Botley,
Oxford, OX2 9SA
Nominations should be made on an application form for Union courses
and returned as soon as possible to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education
and Training, CWU Education and Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge,
Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993
840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org
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492
Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (1)
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 East Region:
Thursday 9th September - Newcastle
Tuesday 21st September - Newcastle
Tuesday 28th September - Sheffield
Tuesday 12th October - Leeds
Nominations should be made on an application form for Union courses
and returned as soon as possible to Trish Lavelle, Head of Education
and Training, CWU Education and Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge,
Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993
840960; email: mtodd@cwu.org
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493
Equality & Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials (2)
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:
Tuesday 7th September - Crewe
Wednesday 8th September - Preston
Wednesday 15th September - Liverpool
Tuesday 21st September - Crewe
Wednesday 22nd September - Stockport
Wednesday 29th September - Manchester
Tuesday 5th October - Carlisle
Wednesday 6th October - Preston
Tuesday 12th October - Carlisle
Wednesday 13th October - Manchester
Tuesday 19th October - Stockport
Wednesday 20th October - Liverpool
Thursday 21st October - Stockport
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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494
The Alma Hospital Trust
Correspondence has been received from the Alma Hospital Trust. They
have asked me to pass on their thanks to all delegates and visitors
to the CWU 10th Anniversary Conference who showed their support by
visiting their exhibition stand.
Additionally the Trust wish to record their special appreciation for
the bucket collection taken at Conference, the amount raised was £583:88p
Tony Kearns, SDGS
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495
YAC National Education Event 2004, Glasgow - Availability
Further to LTB 313/04 this is to let you know that there are still
places available on the YAC National Education Event that is
scheduled for 29 - 31 October in Glasgow. It has been decided to
extend the closing date for applications to 31 August 2004 this is to
take into account the holiday period when many members are away on
leave during this time. So please encourage your young members to get
involved and use the application form attached.
Any queries or questions should be directed to my office at CWU Head Office.
Simon Sapper, Assistant Secretary
Attachment
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
496
Royal Mail - Revised Uniform Policy - Safety & Security
Further to LTB 324/04 Please find detailed below a copy of the letter
that has been sent to Royal Mail on this issue.
"Our Ref: C11/DJ/km
2 August 2004
Dr Steve Boorman
Director Corporate Social Responsibility
Employee Health Service EHS
Post Office EHS
Ground Floor, Concept House
250 Farnborough Road
Hants GU14 7LU
Dear Steve,
Royal Mail - Revised Uniform Policy - Safety & Security
I am writing to place on record the issues I raised at this weeks
CBRN Committee.
As you know, Royal Mail, without sufficient consultation announced
via an "Ops Daily" on 8 July that employees working in
non-customer-facing jobs will no longer be required to wear the Royal
Mail/CWU Nationally Agreed Uniform, provided they conform to certain
standards. They may continue to wear Uniform if they choose.
My initial reaction to this announcement was one of disbelief. The
decision by senior Operational Management to abolish the Uniform
requirement for non-customer-facing, mainly indoor staff, cuts right
across the initiatives and efforts we are making jointly with Safety
and Security Management in Royal Mail to protect employees, our
members. It is an absolutely ill conceived decision and I can not
believe it has the support of CSR, safety and security people in the
organisation. It's because of such decisions, taken by operational
managers who simply ignore their own experts, let alone the Union,
that the Organisation has so many problems in these important areas.
You will recall that I raised the issue at a recent meeting of the
National Joint CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Attack) Committee and there was no support for the idea with no one
prepared to defend it. The Police Commissioner has recently told
Organisations and the public at large that a Terror Attack is
inevitable and it would be miraculous if we escaped such an attack.
Against that background we have been working hard with you to keep
the operation going and reduce the risks. Abolishing the Uniform at
this time makes things much more difficult and increases the risk of infiltration.
Safety risks are also increased by the introduction of non-standard
clothing and footwear which will not have gone through the rigorous
Safety Concurrence procedure like official footwear. As I understand
it Line Managers are going to be expected to inspect and make
decisions on the suitability and safety of Shoes and Clothing worn by
staff. How on earth, may I ask, are these Managers going to be able
to inspect hundreds of staff and make a professional judgement on
whether they are safe or whether they have sufficient grip and
support or whether they will increase the risk of slips, trips and falls.
Official clothing and footwear is rigorously tested and trialled and
so places no burden on local managers. Unsuitable types are removed
and replaced. Then there's the risk associated with unsuitable fabric
types and loose fitting clothing which risks machinery and equipment
entanglement. Then of course we have the situation with those working
outdoors for all or part of their shift at Mail Centres and
Distribution Centres. There is an obligation to protect staff from
extreme weather conditions, cold, rain, snow and ice etc. When staff
wear non-standard clothing, what will managers do to protect them?
Another ridiculous part of this so called revised Uniform policy is
the part that states for Security purposes staff not wearing Uniform
must wear a "High-Visibility" waistcoat at all times as an
identifier while at work. The fact is that "High-Visibility"
Waistcoats are Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)/Safety Clothing
and not Security clothing. Wearing "High-Visibility"
garments it usually based on a Risk Assessment and therefore if the
risk is deemed to require High Visibility Clothing in a workplace,
everyone should be wearing it not just those not wearing Uniform. All
this policy will do is confuse the purpose of PPE.
It is a pity Royal Mail did not properly consult the appropriate
people before they took this decision. All in all this presents an
unmanageable burden on line management and an additional safety and
security risk to front line staff. It is a bad idea and I think it
should be dropped.
So much for the businesses Corporate Social Responsibility."
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health Safety & Environment Officer
cc:
Niall MacKay -
Territorial Director West
Alan St John Holt -
RMG Head of Safety
Ian Stockdale -
RMUK Head of CSR
Catherine Barrett -
RMG Security Planning Manager
David Burden -
RM Chief Information Officer
Bob Taylor -
RM Uniform Manager
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497
BT Environment Unit
The CWU T&FS Health Safety and Environment Sub Committee and
Connect continue to meet with the BT Environment Unit and the most
recent meeting took place at BT Centre on Monday 26th July 2004.
Issues Discussed were:
o Location Manager in non-Wholesale sites
o Environmental Awareness on CBT
o Gel toilets - there are currently no plans for a widespread
roll-out of gel toilets.
o Raising awareness about digging under tree canopies
o CWU Environment Policy
o Working environment
o Water usage
o Pole Stacks
o Storage of Drums: There are new Oil storage regulations and BT will
provide unions with a summary of requirements and implementation dates
o Recycling facilities
o Induction Training
o Travel/Transport
o Car Share
o Energy
o Environmental Incidents
o Future plans: BT is continuing to make progress in rolling out its
Environmental Management System (EMS) outside of the UK, starting
with a pilot in ESAT BT in Ireland. This is specifically with Global
Services. By March 2005, both Payphones and Openworld will be
included within the scope of BT's ISO 14001 certificate
o EMAS: It had been highlighted that this standard promoted employee involvement
A fuller report will be given to Branches and enquiries on this issue
are welcomed and should be addressed to Dave Joyce, National Health,
Safety & Environment Officer, quoting reference NS100.
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498
Hinged Covers for JB104
Proposition 210 was remitted to the T&FS Executive at 2002 TIC
Conference. The proposition dealt with trials to a limited
introduction of Hinged Covers into the BT External Network. The
T&FS Health Safety and Environment Sub Committee can report that
meetings have taken place and an improved product has been developed
following representations made by the CWU.
After examining the product thoroughly and handling it, the T&FS
Health Safety and Environment Sub Committee are happy with it subject
to a number of provisos.
The Sub Committee want to make sure that engineers using the product
would receive appropriate training to enable them to work with it safely.
The Planning Rules will give the occasions when this cover is to be
used. A "Rock & Roll" hinged cover with external lock
is the one that BT will roll-out. They will routinely be installed
such that the hinged cover is between the chamber and the carriageway
(unless there is a site specific reason for not doing so). This would
allow operatives to work on the other side with a clear view of the carriageway.
With the exception of cabling, it is not envisaged that the covers
would need to be removed for normal work operations.
By way of a further improvement, the supplier will look at putting a
small bar at the bottom of the flat area for the Key, Joint Box 5
when closing the second cover and also burr off the corner in the
frame of the cover.
Clear step-by-step instructions to be written (with colour
photographs) showing all the stages of working with the covers -
including opening, closing and "walking" the covers out.
EBS will also discuss with BT Retail the mechanism for training
people to work with these covers.
Further information will be supplied when available. In the meantime
any enquiries on this issue are welcome and should be addressed to
Dave Joyce, National Health, Safety & Environment Officer,
quoting reference NS3.
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499
Noise Interference in BT - Update
At the last CCC JCC in June it was reported that BT had taken a
decision to cease any further activity on the Defender noise filter
unit and move towards purchasing the GN Netcom Unit. It was reported
that this will enable earlier roll-out and that additional changes
made to make the Defender compatible and an additional lead that
needs to be sourced from another supplier (GN Netcom) would mean that
the Defender unit was no longer a viable option. It was reported that
Field trials on the GN Netcom 8210 noise filter unit and these would
probably be in Dundee and Truro.
Mike Fraser, BT's Project Manager for Noise Interference has now
informed the CWU that the main trial sites for the noise interference
project were Dundee CSC, Nottingham OA, and Leicester Repair &
Consumer Billing. In addition, smaller scale trials took place at
Canterbury CSC and Norwich & Leeds PSU. No trials were actually
conducted at Truro, although BT are aware that it is one of the sites
that have reported receiving higher than average incidents of noise
interference. BT has further reported that all field trials have now
been completed and the decision has been made to implement the GN
Netcom 8210 noise filter unit throughout CCC.
The latest update is that the business case and purchase order for
11,500 units has been authorised and BT are now awaiting production
units from GN Netcom. Full production will commence w/c 30th August
and GN Netcom can produce 2000 units per week.
BT's Project Manager is currently working with the Service Agility
team in finalising the implementation roll-out plan across CCC.
Service Agility will be carrying out the actual implementation, with
backup assistance from the project team and GN Netcom. Where possible
BT are aiming to ensure that all sites experiencing higher than
average incidents of noise interference (e.g. Truro) will be in the
first phase of roll-out. Full roll-out should be complete across CCC
within 3-4 months.
Any enquiries on this issue should be addressed to Dave Joyce,
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, quoting reference NS38.
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500
TIC Proposition 55
TIC Proposition 55 carried at this year's Annual Conference stated:
"Conference notes with concern that BT has no way of monitoring
or controlling both air quality and relative humidity in the majority
of BT buildings and that as a result the Company is in breach of
Regulation 6 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regulations 1992. Air quality and relative humidity problems are the
main factor in the cause of workplace respiratory illness, repeated
voice loss and ill health effects such as tiredness, lethargy,
headaches, dry or itchy skin and eye irritation. These, in turn,
increase the risk of sickness absence, as bacteria and viruses can
cause colds, and dust can irritate the throat and lungs, which may
contribute to voice problems or trigger asthma. This increases
incidents of sick leave and in many cases has even led to dismissal.
Conference believes the following steps need to be taken:
1. A thorough investigation into buildings occupied by BT staff
working in a call centre and office based environment, in order to
identify the existence or otherwise of environmental controls and
monitoring capability in each building. Both the OHS and Safety
Services should be involved at this stage.
2. Once completed a thorough review of the situation is required. A
detailed plan should then be developed with the full involvement and
consultation of local USRs when deciding plans of remedial action in
order to ensure all buildings meet the requirements of all relevant
Health and Safety regulations regarding air quality and the current
HELA documents issued by the HSE.
3. A thorough and mandatory monitoring system should be put in place
in all BT call centre and office based environments, which includes
the taking of twice daily temperature and relative humidity readings
and action undertaken to ensure they meet the HSE recommended levels
of maximum temperature of 24°C and 40% to 70% relative humidity.
4. A national working party between CWU/BT should be set up to
monitor the process and progress. Conference instructs the T&FS
Executive to address this issue with urgency by making
representations to BT within 1 month following the conclusion of
Conference 2004, and issue full and regular reports of progress to
all Branches."
The proposition was discussed at a recent meeting between the T&FS
Health Safety and Environment Sub Committee and BT's Environment
Unit. However, the Environmental Unit said that the terms of the
proposition could not be met by them and the proposition has been
submitted to BT's Health and Safety Managers for consideration.
A fuller report will be given to Branches following the next meeting
with BT's Health and Safety management as to the progress of this
proposition. Enquiries on this issue should be addressed to Dave
Joyce, National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, quoting
reference NS1.
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TELECOMS
501
Newsites: PROMPT
PROMPT is an easy use Web-based tool to view Newsite "CONGO"
data as a matrix activity list. This has been a part of our
discussions with regard to Proposition 158 carried at the TIC
Engineering Conference 2003.
The objective is to help Newsite Managers balance work loads of NSRs
and Office Geo teams. It is a major step forward in demonstrating
fair and equitable work loading. It will help NSRs identify and
correct FOD and SSD dates of Newsite developments and assist NSO and
NSR members to prioritise work pro-actively.
It has been successfully trialled in Scotland, Newcastle, East
Midlands and Eastern and PROMPT roll-out will be extended to the non
trial sites during summer.
Branches are strongly encouraged to ensure that on implementation
there is a fair and equitable work loading.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary
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502
ND&I Narrowband - Boundary Alignment
Branches may wish to be appraised on the approach being taken within
ND&I Narrowband with regard to its interface with BT Retail Field
Service. The briefing issued by management is attached.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary
Attachment
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POSTAL
503
Christmas Pay Arrangements - Motion 5.57
At the Letters Section Conference held on Friday 18th June 2004,
Motion 5.57 was withdrawn after debate following the assurance from
Bob Gibson that the Business would be approached and asked to review
the pay arrangements for Christmas. For ease of reference, the
wording of the Motion is reproduced below:
Motion 5.57
Conference agrees that a number of problems were encountered in
relation to Christmas pay arrangements. These problems include the
system of advance overtime payments and the dates on which these
elements are paid. It is recognised that payments must be paid in
time for individuals to use the money i.e. before Christmas Eve. It
is also recognised that a simpler and fairer way of obtaining an
advance payment and retrieving overpayments must be established.
Therefore, we suggest a review is established and completed in time
for Christmas 2004. The Postal Executive is instructed accordingly.
To enable the Union to make representation from an informed position
branches are requested to submit a report which highlights the
specific problems that our members encountered with their pay last
Christmas. It would also be helpful if you could include any
difficulties experienced with the arrangements for retrieving
overpayments from advance payments that were given.
To enable the review to be completed in good time all reports should
be submitted to the Indoor Department by no later than the 27th
August 2004.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be
addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary, Indoor Department,
quoting reference number L.645.01(e).
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504
Cessation of Hand Stamp Cancellation
Further to BOB 25 of the 2nd July 2004 advising branches that I had
made representations to the Business regarding the above. We have now
been advised a communication has been sent to Area General Managers
informing them that hand stamping/stamp-cancellation should be
carried out and where it had been removed, reintroduced. For ease of
reference, the wording of the instruction that has been issued has
been reproduced below.
Recently there has been a lot of discussion about whether it is
permissible to simplify the outward mail process by bypassing manual
stamp cancellation (hand-stamping), indeed it is understood some have
relaxed this requirement already. This idea has been looked into and
rejected on the basis of loss of revenue outweighing the benefits. As
a result of this decision all Areas are reminded that stamp
cancellation is a core part of the process, and essential for revenue
protection, and mail centres should cancel all stamps.
Branches should ensure that the content of this paragraph is brought
to the attention of all appropriate Area/Unit Representatives so that
they are aware that the Business has now accepted that hand
stamping/stamp cancellations of mail items should be carried out at
all times. It would be remiss of me not to express my appreciation to
the branches/representatives who responded to my request for
information on this issue, in particular those at Bolton and Exeter
Mail Centres who first brought this matter to the attention of CWU HQ.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be
addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary Indoor Department,
quoting reference number L.600.44.
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505
Scheduled Attendance Holiday Pay
Branches will be aware that under the terms of the 2001 Pay Award,
the facility for receiving scheduled attendance holiday payments was
introduced. Royal Mail has confirmed that the second stage payment
for 2004/05 will be paid on the 27 August 2004. Detailed below for
Branches' information are copies of the Royal Mail Pay Directive
6/2004, which was issued prior to the first payment being made in May.
Any enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be
addressed to Dave Ward, Deputy General Secretary (P), quoting
reference number 62000(A).
Att:
PE40