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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 10 Issue 15 Paragraphs 235-259 15 April 2005

SUMMARY
GENERAL
235 Liaison Meetings with CWU Group MPs
236 Headquarters Printing and Reprographic Services
237 Branch Magazine and Website Competition
238 Recruiter of the Year
239 Health & Safety Stage I Course
240 Health & Safety Stage II Course
241 Education and Training Programme: July 2005 - June 2006
242 Union Learning Representative Course
243 Equal Rights in the CWU Part 1
244 Union Skills III Course
245 Induction Course
246 Tommy Linnane - An Obituary
247 Crèche Facilities: CWU Annual Conference - 12th to 17th June 2005
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
248 New Proposals to Tackle Workplace Discrimination
HEALTH AND SAFETY
249 CWU Workers' Memorial Day Activities 28 April 2005
250 Workers' Memorial Day - London Event
TELECOMS
251 Accenture HR Services - Learning Outsourcing Contract Discussions
252 Accenture HR Services - BT HR Contract
253 BT Retirement Plan
254 Resourcing Centre of Excellence
255 Network Operations - FLMs Walking Tour Form
256 Project Inuit - Accenture HR Services and BT and Transfer of Peoplesoft 8
257 Accenture HR Services - Career Framework Communication
POSTAL
258 Use of Cardboard Sleeves - York Containers
259 Road Traffic Accidents - Insurance Implications
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
167 07/04/05 Election material - Urgent Information - Bob Gibson
168 07/04/05 Postal Department Consultation Documents - Dave Ward
169 08/04/05 Field Reward Scheme (FRS) Review - Ian Cuthbert
170 11/04/05 Unite Against Fascism - General Secretary
171 11/04/05 Royal Mail and Logistics Pay April 2005 - Dave Ward
172 11/04/05 National Agreement on Delivery of Election Material - Bob Gibson
173 12/04/05 Customer Services' Pay Negotiations - Andy Furey
174 12/04/05 Chairman's Diversity Award - Dave Ward
175 13/04/05 Labour Party Election Manifesto - General Secretary
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GENERAL
235
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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236
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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237
Branch Magazine and Website Competition
Web wonders and branch hacks take note! The annual awards rewarding the very best CWU branch magazines and websites are up for grabs once again - and as normal the competition will reach its climax at Annual Conference in Blackpool.
Nominations are now open, so it's time to think about getting recognition for the branch editors and internet boffins who beaver away to bring you the information you need at branch level.
Editors: All you have to do is decide which edition of the magazine was your best of the last twelve months and send three copies to: Marcia Murray, CWU Communications Department, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX.
Webmasters and mistresses: email your details, including the branch URL (website address) to: mmurray@cwu.org
Deadline for entries is Friday, May 20 so don't delay, particularly considering substantial prizes are at stake thanks to Hamilton Bank which is once again sponsoring the competition.
This year the winners of both the branch magazine and branch website competitions will walk away with a total of £300 in software vouchers, enabling them to improve their publications still further.
Simon Alford
Communications Dept. HQ

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238
Recruiter of the Year
Branches are asked to submit nominees for the Communication Workers Union recruiter of the year award.
This is a new award which aims to give recognition to those members who are constantly recruiting new members into the Union and without whom the Union would not have the strength to be able to achieve some of the tremendous results it does.
Steve Baguley National Organising Secretary said "without the recruiters in the Union we would not be able to function and give our members the representation that they deserve, they are the life blood of our Union and I am pleased that they will now be recognised as such."
The winner of the award will be announced at Conference and will receive a DVD recorder, Branches are invited to submit nominations by Friday 20th May.
Any enquiries regarding this paragraph should be addressed to the National Organising Department
Steve Baguley
National Organising Secretary

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239
Health & Safety Stage I Course
A Health and Safety Stage I 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 June - 1 July 2005
The closing date for nominations is 12 May
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. Branches are expected to meet the cost of travelling and subsistence payments. Branches requiring financial assistance from the General Fund to enable them to send students to the course must submit the request with the nomination, to enable the Trustees to consider the request in time. Special leave with pay will apply.
The Education Centre can offer child-minding facilities for a maximum of three under school age children at any one time. If any applicant from your branch would like child-minding facilities, can you please advise the age and sex of the child on the application form. Further information on the child-minding arrangements will then be sent to the successful applicants.
Nominations should be made on the Application Form for Union Courses and returned to Alvescot Lodge by the closing date shown. If a member is refused a place, due to oversubscription, then indicate this on a subsequent application for another date.
Application forms should be returned 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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240
Health & Safety at Work Stage II
A Health and Safety Stage II course 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 11 - 15 July 2005
The closing date for nominations is 26 May
Applicants for this course will have already attended the Union's Health & Safety Stage I course.
Application forms should be returned 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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241
Education and Training Programme: July 2005 - June 2006
I list below the Union's Education & Training Programme for July 2005 - June 2006. This has been reproduced to assist Branches in making the necessary arrangements for students. Applications can be made at any time. Paragraphs in the BOB will be issued periodically, giving more information about each course. Successful applicants will not receive any paperwork until after the closing date for applications. Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training
Date Course Venue
July
27 - 1 Health & Safety Stage I Alvescot
4 - 8 Union Learning Reps Stage I Alvescot
11 - 15 Health & Safety Stage II Alvescot
18 - 22 Equal Rights in the CWU Part 1 Alvescot
25 - 29 Union Skills III Alvescot
August
1 - 5 Induction Alvescot
8 - 12 BSc Computer Science Degree Alvescot
15 - 19 Health & Safety Stage I Alvescot
22 - 26 Employment Law Certificate (Week 1) Alvescot
September
29 - 2 Short Week Alvescot
5 - 9 TU&LS/OCC H&S (Week 1) Alvescot
12 - 16 Union Skills I Alvescot
19 - 23 Union Learning Reps Stage II Alvescot
26 - 30 Equal Rights in the CWU Part 2 Alvescot
October
3 - 7 Health & Safety Stage III Alvescot
10 - 14 Employment Law Certificate (Week 2) Alvescot
17 - 21 Advanced Skills Part 1 Alvescot
24 - 28 TU&LS/OCC H&S (Week 2) Alvescot
November
31 - 4 Union Skills II Alvescot
7 - 11 Health & Safety Stage I Alvescot
14 - 18 Advanced Skills Part 2 Alvescot
21 - 25 Employment Law Certificate (Week 3) Alvescot
December
28 - 2 Union Skills III Alvescot
5 - 9 TU&LS/OCC H&S (Week 3) Alvescot
12 - 16 BSc Computer Science Degree Alvescot
19 - 23 Christmas Alvescot
26 - 30 Christmas Alvescot
January
2 - 6 Short Week Alvescot
9 - 13 Union Skills I Alvescot
16 - 20 Advanced Skills Part 3 Alvescot
23 - 27 Employment Law Certificate (Week 4) Alvescot
February
30 - 3 Health & Safety Stage II Alvescot
6 - 10 TU&LS/OCC H&S (Week 4) Alvescot
13 - 17 Equal Rights in the CWU Part 1 Alvescot
20 - 24 Union Skills II Alvescot
March
27 - 3 Induction Alvescot
6 - 10 Union Learning Reps Stage I Alvescot
13 - 17 BSc Computer Science Degree Alvescot
20 - 24 Health & Safety Stage III Alvescot
27 - 31 Equal Rights in the CWU Part 2 Alvescot
April
3 - 7 Union Skills III Alvescot
10 - 14 Easter Alvescot
17 - 21 Easter Alvescot
24 - 28 Induction Alvescot
May
1 - 5 Short Week Alvescot
8 - 12 Health & Safety Stage I Alvescot
15 - 19 Union Learning Reps Stage II Alvescot
22 - 26 Annual Conference
 BSc Computer Science Degree Alvescot
June
29 - 2 Short Week Alvescot
5 - 9 Induction Alvescot
12 - 16 Union Skills I Alvescot
19 - 23 Health & Safety Stage II Alvescot
26 - 30 Equal Rights in the CWU Part 1 Alvescot

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242
Union Learning Representative Course
The Communication Workers Union have organised a Union Learning Reps Stage I Course, to be held at the Union's Education & Training Centre, Alvescot.
The course will be held from 4 - 8 July 2005
The closing date for nominations is 19 May
The course 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 returned 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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243
Equal Rights in the CWU Part 1
The Communication Workers Union has organised an 'Equal Rights in the CWU Part 1 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 18 - 22 July
The closing date for nominations is 2 June
This course is targeted at CWU Branch Equality Officers and other Branch and Field Representatives who deal with equality issues on a regular basis. The course objective is to equip members with a thorough grounding in diversity & equality issues at both a theoretical and practical level.
As with all CWU courses, the focus is very much on the practical and on building the individuals' confidence, skills and knowledge. Students are supported throughout by trade union tutors and will be encouraged to work at a pace and level that suits them. Many of the course activities will be carried out through working in small groups assisted by our specialist tutors.
Main Themes

Special Leave with pay applies for members employed by BT.
Please indicate whether the applicant is employed in BT, Posts, Girobank or other. 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 returned 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
Union Skills III Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised a Union Skills III 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 25 - 29 July 2005
The closing date for nominations is 9 June
Only members who have attended a Union Skills I/Induction and a Union Skills II course are eligible for nomination. Those nominees who are Committee Members, Branch Representatives or Branch Officers are entitled to leave with pay.
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 returned 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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245
Induction Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised an Induction course, to be held at the Union's Education & Training Centre at Alvescot.
The course will be held from 1 - 5 August 2005
The closing date for nominations is 16 June
This course is aimed at newly elected Postal representatives.
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, 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 returned 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
Tommy Linnane - An Obituary
Tommy Linnane, retired member and long-time stalwart of the Northern Ireland West branch, passed away peacefully at home on March 17. His wife Cath, two daughters Beverley and Deidre and granddaughter Hannah were at his bedside.
Tommy joined the Post Office as a postman in 1971 and became a member of the Post Office Workers Union, as it was then. Two years later he was elected chairman of the Omagh Outdoor branch, going on to become branch secretary of Omagh Amal branch from 1985 to 1993. Tommy was chairman of the old Northern Ireland District Council between 1986 and 1996.
When the new structure of the union was introduced, Tommy played a major role in negotiating the new branches and became chairman of the New Northern Ireland West branch from 1993 to 1996.
Once the new branch was established Tommy took on the role of vice chairman from 1996 to 1999. He carried his membership of the union on into retirement.
Northern Ireland West branch's John Martin told the Voice: "Tommy visited Las Vegas every year because he liked gambling and meeting different people. Many a laugh Tommy and I had in casinos across England and at various conference venue cities. Tommy would give the staff at the casinos a bit of the Irish Blarney, telling them we were mushroom growers from County Tipperary!
"Tommy enjoyed reminiscing about our union days and the many friends he made. He was very proud of the union and would ask me for updates on what was happening in the sorting offices of the West branch."
Last December he was presented with a Gold Badge by the union's national president, Andy Kerr, at a social function organised by the West Branch.
"Tommy was speechless when he walked in to the room and saw all his former comrades from across Ireland and fellow retired members from England," recalls Martin.
"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
Northern Ireland West Branch

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247
Crèche Facilities: CWU Annual Conference - 12th to 17th June 2005
We shall be making arrangements for the provision of crèche facilities at this year's Annual Conference in Blackpool. If any member of your delegation would like to use these facilities they should contact Wendy Wooldridge at CWU Head Office for a crèche registration form as soon as possible and not later than Friday 13th May. We require this information as early as possible to ensure that arrangements can be made to provide the correct number of staff to look after the children.
Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
248
New Proposals to Tackle Workplace Discrimination
The Government have issued a press release which advises on a consultation about new proposals to crack down on discrimination in the workplace. Branches may wish to participate I the consultation. The Government press release is set out below:
"New proposals to crack down on discrimination in the workplace were set out today in a consultation by Deputy Women and Equality Minister Jacqui Smith.
The consultation, Equality and Diversity: Updating the Sex Discrimination Act, includes proposals to:

Equality Minister, Jacqui Smith, said:
"No-one should be discriminated against because of their sex. It is unacceptable in modern Britain. I want to see fair and equal treatment for everyone and this consultation is an important step in helping us reach that goal.
"Our aim is to make it easier for both employers and individuals to understand what the law requires, helping to contribute to a fairer workplace where everyone receives fair and equal treatment." The proposals put forward in the consultation document would implement the EC amended Equal Treatment Directive which promotes the equal treatment of both men and women in employment and vocational training. The amended Equal Treatment Directive is due to be implemented by October 2005.
Notes for Editors:

Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Press Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5969
(Out of Hours) +44 (0)20 7215 3234/3505
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
Press Office Fax +44 (0)20 7222 4382
www.dti.gov.uk"
Any enquiries on the above should be addressed to Michèle Emerson,
Assistant Secretary, quoting reference No. 2.15

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HEALTH AND SAFETY
249
CWU Workers' Memorial Day Activities 28 April 2005
The CWU is once again being giving its full support to WMD on 28 April.

Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
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250
Workers' Memorial Day - London Event
Branch Safety Reps covered by the London, South East and Eastern Regional Health and Safety Forums as well as Branch Officers may wish to support the London Workers' Memorial Day Event organised by the Construction Safety Campaign and London Hazards Centre on 28 April which will be supported by Dave Joyce CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer, Keith Norman, ASLEF acting General Secretary and London Mayor Ken Livingstone amongst others, in the march to the Health and Safety Executive's London HQ and a Rally. Details are:
Assemble at 11.15am on 28th April 2005 on Holland St (corner of Summer St) on the side of the Tate Modern, South Bank then march to the Health and Safety Executive Headquarters Rose Court, Southwark Bridge, and then on to a meeting and rally at the Greater London Authority Building City Hall, Tooley Street, Tower Bridge. Followed by reception inside in London's Living Room. Timings are 1.00 pm for the rally and 1.30 - 2.30 pm for the reception. The event has full backing of Health and Safety Executive.
All enquires relating to the above should be addressed to Dave Joyce, National Health, Safety & Environment Officer quoting ref: N4.
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TELECOMS
251
Accenture HR Services - Learning Outsourcing Contract Discussions
The attached internal communication has been released within Accenture HR Services. It would appear that the decision has been made in principal to commitment to signing off a contract, subject to the final legal detailed decisions. However a particularly unique phrase has been used in the communications: "a potential deal structure", which requires further clarification. The Union will be seeking this clarification as soon as possible following which a further report to Branches will be issued.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment

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252
Accenture HR Services - BT HR Contract
Branches may wish to be advised that Accenture HR Services have released the attached communication to its employees. The Union, along with Connect, is in contact with the company and this matter will be the subject of a report to the Executive and Branches in due course.
Arrangements are being made to hold an Accenture Branches forum on or around the 3rd May 2005 and more detail will follow when the arrangements have been confirmed.
The demands placed upon Accenture HR Services by BT have been extremely punitive in the size of the cost reductions required in order for the contract to be renewed.
However, in our early negotiations with the company there was agreement in principle to the voluntary redundancy approach and a commitment to discuss further the nature of the terms and other associated issues, with regard to the transformation required to service the BT Contract.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment

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253
BT Retirement Plan
The CWU and Connect recently met the Trustees for the BTRP to discuss the 2004 annual report. A copy of the minutes are attached for information.
Copies of the annual report can be found on www.btpensions.net
Nigel Cotgrove
Assistant Secretary
Attachment

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254
Resourcing Centre of Excellence
Discussions have taken place on the above concept, which is a formal across the Lines of Business team comprising managers with interests and responsibilities in resourcing. The representatives are in the main managers with LOB resourcing responsibility, with the additional input coming from HR managers.
The aims and objectives of the Resourcing Centre of Excellence are to facilitate the most cost effective use of BT's existing workforce. Whilst the team has no mandate for setting and ensuring compliance of each individual Line of Business QPB, it does have the authority to question whether particular initiatives and their associated resourcing requirements are in the best interests of BT as a whole.
By way of an example, to question in particular the need for Newstart by the suggestion of movement of new or growing work volumes to be allocated to employees in a different line of business who would otherwise be surplus and by doing so reducing the need for the opening up of release schemes. Examples of this best practice have already been used by the movement of work that was expanding due to Broadband demand to a site that was closing.
Additionally it has also been agreed to:

Update reports will be issued as and when developments occur.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary

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255
Network Operations - FLMs Walking Tour Form
Network Operations Management have notified the Union of proposed changes in the FLMs Walking Tour Form.
The stated objective is to make the form more user friendly in Word as opposed to the existing Excel format. It has greater flexibility and scope of use in the form with regard to 1:1s, safety checks and quality checks. The revised format also provides for expansion for comments and agreed actions. As revised, the new format is less driven by the use of measures from Work Manager. However, the form does present performance outputs which had not been discussed and agreed with the Executive Team and has been taken up with management.
Attached for the information of Branches are the existing and revised format as reported upon above.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment 1 Attachment 2

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256
Project Inuit - Accenture HR Services and BT and Transfer of Peoplesoft 8
The progress towards transfer of Peoplesoft administration and system support to BT has not been making progress due to the lack of clarity and certainty with regard to what is in-scope.
Discussions continue on the terms and conditions that will apply and the subject of access to the BT Pension Scheme is being strongly pursued; it is expected that a satisfactory conclusion can be reached.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary

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257
Accenture HR Services - Career Framework Communication
Branches may wish to be advised of the attached communications that have been released within Accenture HR Services.
Different organisations across the varying countries within the Accenture Group have differing grading structures. There is an initiative at the Group level to simplify and to rationalise the structures. As matters currently stand the Accenture Service Workforce designations which exist already on the Accenture HR Service database closely aligned the Accenture HR Services career levels.
Discussions have taken place with management as to what impact the Group-driven initiative will have and in response management has stated that they anticipate that the Measuring Contributions documentation may have to change, as will the guidance; in addition support and training that will have to be in place to support career access to different levels. If further developments take place these will be subject to further discussions with the Unions concerned.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment 1 Attachment 2

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POSTAL
258
Use of Cardboard Sleeves - York Containers
We have received a number of enquiries from Branches recently asking whether we have now agreed the widespread use of cardboard sleeves. I have therefore attached a copy of the most recent correspondence between Dave Joyce, National Health, Safety and Environment Officer and Mr M Eady, Head of CPC, which confirms clearly our objection to their use due to the safety concerns.
You will note that Dave Joyce has raised this matter at the National Materials Handling Sub Group (where he leads on behalf of the CWU) a number of times and to date the Business have been unable to satisfy his concerns.
I trust all branches/representatives in particular Health and Safety representatives will note the current position and will let Dave or myself know if they experience any difficulties in this regard.
Dear Mr Eady
York Container - Cardboard Sleeves: (Ergonomic Review of York Container Cardboard Sleeves at Swindon Mail Centre)
I write further to previous discussions and telephone conversations on the above. You will recall Mike that I discussed with you the reluctance of Mail Centre Managers to purchase the Mk 2 ALP Sleeves due to the inability to repatriate them and therefore loose them and their investment in the circulation system. In view of this I stressed the need for the centralisation of expenditure on the kit with a national programme of Mk 2 ALP (Auto-Levelling Packet) sleeve roll-out in order to overcome this. You spoke of the £2.1 million pounds investment in additional York Containers and said that changes should overcome the problem.
Many CWU Area Safety Reps around the UK have been increasingly raising concerns about the increased use York Container Cardboard Sleeve use around the country.
It is certainly not the case that we have accepted Cardboard Sleeves for general use in York Containers and I could not envisage anyone from the CWU accepting otherwise. The sleeves need proper controls on their limited use.
As far as I know, the cardboard sleeves have only ever been agreed for the specific use on the Amazon contract, following an agreed trial.
I have complained about the unagreed "widespread use and introduction" of cardboard sleeves in Yorks for loose loaded packets and other traffic where Mk 2 ALP sleeves should in our view be used. The poor lifting technique encouraged by using these sleeves combined with increased requirements of bending lifting, reaching and twisting, greatly increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries when sorting from the bottom of the sleeves. From a productivity point of view it additionally slows down the sorting process in many respects. This has previously been raised at the MHSG, SSG and with various RM managers.
I was informed of an evaluation and ergonomic study of cardboard sleeve use at Swindon Mail Centre organised by Paul Beattie and undertaken by Consultant Ergonomist and Osteopath David Annett last June/August. The involvement of our CWU Area Safety Representative Tony Hayes was obviously important and he did a very good job producing a critical evaluation of the study which I have read with interest. It reiterates the health and safety concerns and increased MSD risks associated with using cardboard container sleeves for loose load packet streams.
The use of increasing numbers of cardboard sleeves is obviously due to three factors, insufficient numbers of ALP sleeves, the 'bags out of the network' initiative and cost (ALPs are expensive and cardboard sleeves are cheap). However, this is wrongly putting a price on the safety of our members.
When I last spoke to Paul Beattie he promised to come back to me with Royal Mail's conclusions, recommendations and any proposed SSOW revisions. Alas I have heard nothing and am again chasing it up.
The issue came up at the last MHSG meeting where Royal Mail stated (for the first time) that the national strategy for the supply of cardboard sleeves is now part of the 'bags out of the network' initiative and could be used providing the correct procedures have been followed and MCMs would be reminded/informed of their responsibility to follow the procedures. I have no idea what the procedures are and it is rarely the case that the equipment will be correctly used, as we know and will lead to a continuation of bad manual handling technique and increased injury risk.
As you know, the issue of the CWU not being involved in SSOW updates and this has also been raised with Alan Holt RMG Head of Safety.
Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary Indoor Department, quoting reference number L.650.26.

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259
Road Traffic Accidents - Insurance Implications
Further to BOB paragraph number 164, a response has finally been received from Royal Mail and this is reproduced below. It will be noted from their response that Royal Mail are advising people to report any accident which occurs whilst they are on duty to their private insurance company, and that, contrary to the impression given in the documentation issued by Royal Mail last year, this is not an instruction by the business.
11 March 2005
Mr Bob Gibson
Dear Bob
Road Traffic Accidents - Insurance Implications
Further to your letter dated 5th November to Mike Devanney and subsequently of 10th February to myself, I can confirm the following.
There is no statutory obligation to declare to motor insurers if a policyholder has been involved in a motor accident in either the insured vehicle or whilst driving a vehicle belonging to another or insured elsewhere.
However, when a person takes out a motor insurance policy in the course of completing the proposal form they will be asked whether they have been involved in any accidents or made any claims within the last x years (similarly, they will be asked about convictions). They will also be asked to advise their insurers at renewal of any existing motor insurance policy to provide details of any accidents or convictions in the last 12 months.
Unless the question states specifically "accidents in your/the insured vehicle" then it is appropriate for the proposer/policyholder to declare accidents in any other vehicle which they were driving. The insurers can then make an informed decision as to whether this is material and/or whether they wish to take it into account.
If a policyholder has failed to declare material facts either at inception or at renewal of a motor policy, technically dependent on all facts, an insurer could either:

Transacting insurance is based upon the maximum of "Uberium Fidae" or utmost good faith, so the onus is on the policyholder to disclose any information of which they are aware which may influence the insurers decision to set a premium, insure or set terms.
So, in simple terms, drivers are not breaking the law if they do not disclose details of accidents whilst driving Royal Mail vehicles to their own insurers, but it is my opinion, that it is in their own best interests to do so.
Yours sincerely
Phil O'Gorman
Vehicle Services Director
Any enquiries to Bob Gibson's Office, reference 300.02

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