WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY
Attachments or LTB's can be
emailed or downloaded from the National Site
Volume 10 Issue 12 Paragraphs 199-210 25 March 2005
SUMMARY
GENERAL
199 Liaison Meetings with
CWU Group
200 Headquarters Printing
and Reprographic Services
201 Equal Rights in the
CWU Part 2
202 CWU Elections
203 Equality &
Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials
204 Tommy Linnane - An
Obituary
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No items this week
HEALTH AND SAFETY
205 Seat Belt use in Royal
Mail Collection and Delivery Vehicles:
206 Workers' Memorial Day
28th April 2005 - Government Recognition
TELECOMS
207 BT Wholesale
Operations - Changes in Management Personnel
208 One IT -
Communications Briefing Going out Across BT
209 Network Build - E-Task
Back Office Update
POSTAL
210 Inter Office Transfers
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
133
16/03/05 Easter/Good Friday Arrangements 2005 - Bob Gibson
134
16/03.05 Postal Standing Orders Committee - General Secretary
135
17/03/05 Workplace Visits - GS
136
17/03/05 BT Retirement and Pensionable Age - Bill McClory
137
17/03/05 Age Discrimination - Retirement Age - Bill McClory
138
17/03/05 Postal Standing Orders Committee - Steve Baguley
139
17/03/05 Postal Standing Orders Committee PTS - Steve Baguley
140
17/03/05 Budget Briefing - GS
141
17/03/05 BT Retirement and Pensionable Age - Bill McClory
142
18/03/05 T&FS Conference Submission of Motions - John Donnelly
143
22/03/05 Election of DGS (T), Assistant Secretary(T), NEC Postal, O
& A , PTS, PE Nominations - Steve Baguley
144
18/03/05 Casual or Special Leave Conference Proposition 64 - Grace Mitchell
145
18/03/05 T&I Committee Enquiry Crown Post Office Responses from
Government and POL to the Committees Report - Andy Furey
146
18/03/05 Seatbelt use in Royal Mail Collection and Delivery Vehicles
- Dave Joyce
147
21/03/05 Age Retirement - Bill McClory
148
22/03/05 Eurest Pay Review 2004/O2 - Sally Bridge
149
22/03/05 Royal Mail and Logistics Pay - Dave Ward
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GENERAL
199
Liaison Meetings with CWU Group MPs
Meetings with CWU supported MPs have now been arranged for 2005 and,
for your information, I list below the dates of the meetings and
those nominated to attend:
19 April
John Holmes, Steve Fishwick,
Manny Blake, Graham Colk and a North West Region representative.
Billy Hayes
General Secretary
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200
Headquarters Printing and Reprographic Services
Branches and Representatives will wish to know that CWU Headquarters
have recently acquired new reprographics equipment. The purpose of
broadcasting this information is to inform you that we are now able
to offer a print service to branches that we believe will be within a
price range that you will find competitive. Amongst the services we
can provide are colour or black & white posters, leaflets,
booklets etc. It is not possible to produce a price list as prices
will vary dependent on each individual job based on quantity,
timescale, delivery requirements etc. If you would like more
information about this service or wish to receive a quote for a
particular piece of work then please ring or email Jacquie Winter,
Acting Head of Post & Reprographics. 020 8971 7218
jwinter@cwu.org.
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201
Equal Rights in the CWU Part 2
The Communication Workers Union has organised an Equal Rights in the
CWU Part 2 Course, to be held at the union's Education & Training
Centre at Alvescot Lodge.
The course will be held from 9 - 13 May 2005
Please submit applications as soon as possible
This course is aimed at those who have already attended Equal Rights
in the CWU Part 1 and the old Equal Opportunities I 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 cover the following issues:
o Equal Pay
o Equal Pay Audits
o Discrimination in the Workplace
o Discrimination and the Law
o Negotiating for Equality
o Organising around Equality
o The Effects of Domestic Violence in the Workplace.
All courses at Alvescot are residential. The cost of tuition, food
and accommodation will be met from the General Fund. 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.
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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202
CWU Elections
Election of:
Deputy General Secretary - Telecoms & Financial Services
Assistant Secretary - Telecoms & Financial Services
National Executive Council 2005 - Postal Constituency Nominations
National Executive Council 2005 - O&A Constituency Nominations
National Executive Council 2005 - PTS Constituency Nominations
Postal Industrial Executive 2005 - PTS Nominations
T&FSE Industrial Executive 2005 - O&A Nominations
Operator and Ancillary Organisational and Occupational Committee
2005 - Nominations
(Please note that a list of the nominations for Engineering and
Clerical Constituency positions will be published at the close of the
nomination acceptance period on 30th March 2005).
Published below is the list of accepted nominations for the above
National Representative Positions
1. Deputy General Secretary - Telecoms & Financial Services
Jeannie Drake - CWU Officers (Elected)
2. Assistant Secretary - Telecoms & Financial Services
Ian Cuthbert - CWU Officers (Elected)
3. NEC - Postal Constituency
Nominations for Chair of the Postal Constituency
Pat O'Hara - Merseyside Amalgamated (Elected)
Nominations for Vice Chair of the Postal Constituency
Peter Donaghy - North/North West London
Chris Murphy - Greater Manchester Amal
Nominations for NEC - Postal Constituency
Phil Browne - Newcastle Amal
Norman Candy - London West End Amal
John Farnan - Eastern No. 6
Steve Fishwick - North Lancs & Cumbria
Mick Kavanagh - Coventry Area
Dennis Kilgariff - South Central No. 1
Jane Loftus - Merseyside Amal
Carl Maden - London South West Postal
Joe Malone - Scotland No. 5
Noel McClean - Eastern No. 5
Lesley McLean - Romford Amal
Chris Murphy - Greater Manchester Amal
Katrina Quirke - South East Wales Amal
Davie Robertson - Glasgow & Dist Amal
Chris Tapper - South East Wales Amal
Paul Trehearne - Gloucestershire Amal
Phil Waker - London No. 7
Ian Ward - London South West C&C Amal
Dave Warren - South East No. 5
Dave Wilshire - Bristol & District Amal
4. NEC - O&A Constituency
Nominations for Chair of the O&A Constituency
Carol Alcock - Tyne & Wear Clerical (Elected)
5. NEC - PTS Constituency
Nominations for NEC - PTS Constituency
Steve Jones - London Postal Engineering (Elected)
6. Postal Industrial Executive - PTS Constituency Nominations
Bill Steele - East of Scotland MT (Elected)
7. Telecom & Financial Services Industrial Executive - O&A
Constituency Nominations
Nominations for Chair of the Operator & Ancillary Constituency
Carol Alcock - Tyne & Wear Clerical (Elected)
Nominations for Vice Chair of the Operator & Ancillary Constituency
No Nominations Received
Nominations for Telecoms & Financial Services Industrial
Executive - Operator & Ancillary Constituency
Jean Knight - Lincolnshire (Elected)
8. Operator & Ancillary Organisational & Occupational
Committee Nominations
Nominations for Operator & Ancillary Organisational &
Occupational Committee
Tracy Fussey - Lincolnshire (Elected)
Cathy Jackman - South Wales (Elected)
Cathy Newall - Scotland No. 1 (Elected)
Thomas Queen - Scotland No. 1 (Elected)
Any enquiries regarding this paragraph should be directed to Steve
Baguley, National Organising Secretary.
Steve Baguley
National Organising Secretary
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203
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.
This course is being held in the Wales Region:
Monday 18th April - Cardiff
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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204
Tommy Linnane - An Obituary
Tommy Linnane, retired member of the N.Ireland West Branch passed
away peacefully last week 17th March 2005 at home. His wife Cath, two
daughters Beverley, Deidre and Grand Daughter Hannah were at his
bedside. Tommy was one of the very good trade unionists of his era,
1970's to the 1990's. It was no problem for Tommy to spend time
sorting out Union problems whether they are Local or National Agreements
Tommy started out his working life as a civil servant when he was 18,
however Tommy was called up for National Service, which he did even
though he was exempt National Service as he was born in N.Ireland
1955. During a two-year tour with the Royal Corps of Signals, Tommy
saw service in Cyprus, Egypt and Malta. He returned to Omagh Co
Tyrone N.Ireland after completion of his National Service and started
working in the Territorial Army
Tommy joined the Post Office as a postman in 1971 and became a member
of the Post Office Workers Union, as it was then known in those days.
In 1973, Tommy was elected as Chairman of the Omagh Outdoor Branch
1985. He became Branch Secretary of the Omagh Amalgamated Branch from
1985 to 1993 Tommy was The Chairman of the old N.Ireland District
Council from 1986 to 1996.
When the new structure of the Union was formed which Tommy played a
major role in negotiating along with John Baldwin from Union HQ's,
the newly formed three Branches, he became the Chairman of the New
N.Ireland West Branch from 1993 to 1996. Tommy, once the new Branch
was bedded in he took on the role of Vice Chairman from 1996 to 1999.
He retired from work and became a retired member of the Union until
his demise last week. In his retirement he visited Las Vegas in
America every year because he liked gambling and also meeting
different people, forming friendships along the way. Many a laugh
Tommy and I had in the casinos across in England at the various
Conference venue cities. Tommy would give the staff at the casinos a
bit of the Irish Blarney by informing them that we were mushroom
growers from Co Tipperary
When I became aware that Tommy's illness was terminal, I visited more
often than I usual did and we would reflect on the past memories,
Tommy would always remark that they were good memories and also the
many friends that he made whilst in the Union. He was very proud of
the Union and many a time he would ask me for updates on what was
happening in the Union and the sorting offices up and down the length
of the West branch.
Last December 2004, he was presented with a Gold Badge Award by the
National President of the Union Andy Kerr at a social function
organised by the West Branch, Tommy was speechless when he walked in
to the room when he saw all his comrades from the past Union days all
over Ireland and also former retired members from England.
On a personal note, on behalf of the West Branch and further afield I
would extend to his wife Cath and family our deepest sympathy and
condolences on their loss.
Sleep softly, my good friend, Sleep softly.
John Martin, West Branch
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
205
Seat Belt use in Royal Mail Collection and Delivery Vehicles:
This communication is being issued further to LTB 103/05 issued on 28
February 2005, in response to a number of queries being received from
Branches in order to clarify the situation. Branches would be well
advised to ensure that members receive clear information and
instructions on this issue as it appears that a lot of confusion
still exists amongst members.
Background
The Road Traffic Act 1988 requires drivers and front seat passengers
to wear seat belts if they are fitted in the vehicle. However,
Section 6 (1)(b) of the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts)
Regulations 1993 provided an exemption from wearing seatbelts in vans
and goods vehicles when undertaking deliveries or collections of
goods or mail has been revised. From the beginning of March 2005
drivers and passengers in vans and goods vehicles must use their seat
belts. The exemption was originally intended for those engaged in
collections or deliveries where it would be unreasonable to expect a
seat belt to be worn over short distances. However, over the years
drivers and passengers have come to believe that it applied to
deliveries and collections over any distance.
The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Regulations) 2005.
50-Metre Rule for Delivery Driver Seatbelt Use
As from Tuesday, 1st March 2005, a change to legislation on seatbelt
use came into force, meaning it will be compulsory for drivers and
passengers in vehicles constructed, or adapted, to carry goods to
'belt up' when making deliveries or collections if they travel
further than 50m. Delivery drivers and their passengers must now wear
their seat belts except on very short journeys, this change could,
potentially, prevent 20 deaths, 240 serious casualties and 1,000
slight injuries annually.
The change brings to an end the exemption enjoyed by goods vehicle
users who don't wear a seat belt when making local rounds of
deliveries or collections. Some van and goods vehicle users wrongly
believed they were exempt whatever distance they travelled.
Currently, wearing rates for van drivers are only 30% of drivers and
43% of their passengers, compared with 93% and 94% respectively for
car drivers and front passengers.
The Road Safety Minister explained: "Following consultation, we
decided that 50m was a reasonable distance to travel without wearing
a seatbelt when undertaking deliveries or collections. Those carrying
out genuine house-to-house calls will not be affected by the change.
Making the law on this issue clear will help us bring down the number
of delivery drivers risking injury by not wearing a seatbelt."
(The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Regulations) 2005, Sl
2005/27).
Royal Mail Drivers Manual
The Royal Mail Drivers Manual was introduced five years ago by
agreement with the CWU and on page 15 is the section entitled
"seat belts and doors" which states as follows: "Seat
Belts are to be worn at all times. This applies to all people in the
vehicle. There is no exemption for local delivery and collection
work. Wearing seat belts saves lives and reduces the risk of serious
injury in an accident. Unit managers must ensure that drivers comply
with this 'core standard'." "Wear your seat belt, close
your door and drive safely. Help to save your own life.'
Seat Belts in Hired Vehicles
Following pressure by the CWU, it was agreed that from July 2001 all
hired LGV vehicles would be fitted with Seat Belts and the compulsory
"Seat Belts are to be worn at all times" rule would apply
to these vehicles also as at that time LGVs were not required to have
seat belts fitted and certain LGV hired vehicle suppliers at the time
were not providing vehicles with seat belts. In fact a CWU member's
life was saved as a result of a last minute switch from one of these
hired vehicles to one with a seat belt. Shortly after leaving his
depot he was involved in a head on collision with a car which
careered across centre of the road into his path at high speed. In
October 2001 all new LGVs were required to have seat belts fitted by
the introduction of a regulatory change and therefore only some older
vehicles now exist without them.
From a Safety point of view the Union welcomes the change in
legislation as Royal Mail have been operating to a higher standard of
seat belt safety for some time prior to the new legislation and still
does.
In a recent Midlands Police survey, 37 per cent of van drivers
and 43 per cent of van passengers were found not to be wearing seat
belts. The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) research suggests that
if drivers and passengers in such vehicles use their seat belts, more
than 20 lives, 240 serious injuries and 1,000 slight injuries could
be saved every year. Seat belts have been shown to save lives and
reduce injuries. Their effectiveness is beyond doubt. The Health,
Safety & Environment Department advise every CWU member who
drives to use them at all times, regardless of what vehicle they are
in and the distance they are travelling. They only take a couple of
seconds to put on and even less to take off, but they save lives.
RoSPA fully supported this recent change in the Law.
I trust this clarifies the situation and provides sufficient
information to those Area Safety Representatives, Delivery and
Distribution Representatives who may wish to circulate advise or run
local or Area safety campaigns, jointly with Royal Mail as part of a
drive on occupational road risk.
Therefore CWU is advising members to "Wear your seat belt and
drive safely."
(Note: Although this advice is directed primarily at our Royal Mail
membership it equally applies to all CWU members who drive vehicles.)
All enquires concerning the above should be addressed to Dave Joyce,
National, Health, Safety & Environment Officer quoting ref: V4.
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206
Workers' Memorial Day 28th April 2005 - Government Recognition
The below letter has been sent to the Prime Minister:
"Our Ref: N4/DJ/km
21 March 2005
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AS
Dear Tony,
Workers' Memorial Day 28th April 2005 - Government Recognition
Workers' Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year and the CWU will
be supporting the event and urging the full participation of our
Safety Representatives, Branches and members in various events across
the UK. This year's Workers' Memorial Day theme "Employer
Accountability" is particularly appropriate and is in tune with
CWU Conference Policy. We feel strongly that the message should go
out that we want proper corporate accountability and better safety
law enforcement in the UK and CWU will be giving maximum publicity to
the issues many of which were identified in the recommendations of
the unanimously endorsed DWP Select Committee Report.
Sadly, in 2004 there was another rise in workplace deaths and injury:
235 deaths, 3100 seriously injured, 130,000 people were off work due
to injury for 3 days or more. Many thousands more are ill or dead
from work related road accidents and ill-health. Over 23,000 deaths
per year!
An overwhelming amount of research shows that the most effective way
of improving workplace health and safety is to give more rights to
safety representatives and to punish employers that break the law.
Alas, in spite of many Government promises, many changes have not
occurred and as we approach another General Election the obvious
questions about Labour's commitments to delivering effective changes
will be raised and the key points are:
o It is time for the killing at work to stop
o It is time to hold those Directors and Managers responsible to
account
o It is time to give trade union safety reps the rights they need,
similar to those given in other countries which have existed for many years
o It is time for a change in the safety laws - voluntary codes do not work
o Remember the dead - fight for the living - recognise Workers
Memorial Day.
The Confederation of Free Trade Unions at the United Nations has been
promoting April 28, the Workers' Memorial Day (WMD) lobbying
Governments of the world to officially recognise WMD on April 28.
Canada was the first to do so followed by Argentina, Brazil, Spain,
Portugal, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Panama, Taiwan, Peru and
Belgium also recognising this important day and many others are going
through the process of recognition.
I am therefore writing to request that the UK Government do likewise
and look forward to a positive response.
Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer"
All enquiries regarding the above should be addressed to Dave Joyce,
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer quoting reference N4.
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TELECOMS
207
BT Wholesale Operations - Changes in Management Personnel
Branches may wish to be briefed on consequential changes in senior
management personnel following on from the announcements relating to
Access Services Division.
Attached for the information of Branches is a copy of an internal announcement.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment
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208
One IT - Communications Briefing Going out Across BT
Attached for the information of Branches is a copy of an internal
communication going to managers with an interest in IT activity in BT
and who are outside the One IT organisation.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment
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209
Network Build - E-Task Back Office Update
Network Build management have undertaken a further review in light of
the job applications received on the revised staffing levels as
reported in Branch Officials Bulletin No. 3/2005, paragraph 43. Also
taken into consideration were the latest developments on work flow
automation and the phases of the current and proposed trials.
The outcome has been to open up new site locations by increasing the
numbers in the budget as well as rebalancing across locations.
Attached for the information of Branches are the revised locations
and numbers; it should be noted that the original numbers were
planned numbers and not actual current deployment. Management will
either use any outstanding 'pass no post' people or go to open advert
to fill the additional posts.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment
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POSTAL
210
Inter Office Transfers
For your information the attached correspondence has been exchanged
with Royal Mail.
Accordingly, our reply, reproduced below, has been sent to Royal Mail.
10th March 2005
Mr G Evans
Head of Industrial Relations
Dear Gareth
Inter Office Transfers
Thank you for your letter of 17th February.
I note your comments about the discussions which are taking place
with Norman Candy and Bill Steel but, from what they are telling me
there has been no indication or stated intention from Royal Mail to
move away from our existing principles regarding transfer
arrangements. By this I mean maintaining a record of transferees for
each office in order of length of time on the list, and offering
vacancies as they arise in the same order.
To avoid local resentments, the general practice has been to take at
least 6 local job applicants per each transferee and I would expect
this to continue. The Union is willing to discuss ways of improving
the transfer process, possibly utilising new technology in order to
keep applicants regularly informed and enabling them to plan their
move better.
My current concern is that somehow managers are getting a message
from someone that transfer lists are at an end, so an unequivocal
statement from you, that this is not true and that current
arrangements will continue, will be most helpful. If you could
provide this, we will publish it through our network and avoid any
further misunderstandings.
In the meantime, it is my intention to publish this correspondence so
that our members will be aware of the state of affairs regarding transfers.
Yours sincerely
Bob Gibson
Assistant Secretary
17th February 2005
Bob Gibson
Dear Bob
Re: Inter Office Transfers
Thank you for your letter to Tony McCarthy regarding Inter Office
Transfers that has been passed to me to reply. I think there is a
case of misunderstanding here that requires clarification.
As you may be aware, there have been some discussions between Royal
Mail management and representatives of your Union at a National Level
to review the current unsatisfactory arrangements, following a
written request from Dave Ward to get things fixed. CWU has been
represented by Norman Candy and Bill Steel.
I believe that we have made real progress in meeting the needs of
your members, whilst coping with the changing face of recruitment
where the majority of jobs are now filled through an on-line process.
I believe that we are close to agreeing new arrangements. The new
arrangements will link into a local advertisement process that is
available nationally to our own employees (either on-line or via a
telephone helpline). I think that talks with Norman and Bill have
identified issues that are important to your members and have been
constructive. We will be meeting again in the near future.
We have no intention of ignoring agreements. I do think this is a
case of wires being crossed. Changes to the recruitment process are
happening and we are involving the CWU to ensure that we are fair to
your members and that we have an arrangement that is fit for purpose.
Yours sincerely
Gareth Evans
Head of Industrial Relations
Any enquiries on this subject should be submitted to Bob Gibson's
Department, Reference 440.23