WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY
Attachments or LTB's can be
emailed or downloaded from the National Site
Volume 10 Issue 17 Paragraphs 271-288 29 April 2005
SUMMARY
GENERAL
271 Headquarters Printing
and Reprographic Services
272 Branch Magazine and
Website Competition
273 Equality &
Diversity Mandatory Training for Branch Officials
274 Health & Safety
Stage I Course
275 TUC Certificate in
Employment Law
276 Certificate in Trade
Union and Labour Studies
277 TUC Certificate:
Occupational Health & Safety Course
278 Union Skills I Course
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
279 Harassment Advice Network
HEALTH AND SAFETY
280 Problems with SDC Hire
Trailers (Split Coupling)
TELECOMS
281 Project Inuit -
Accenture HR Services and BT Transfer of Peoplesoft
282 BT Disciplinary
Procedure: Forensic Examination of Computer Equipment
283 BT Wholesale Markets -
Desktop Services
284 The Transport
(Scotland) Bill
285 Project Rubicon
286 Network Build -
Withdrawal of Chainsaws
287 One IT: Operational Integrity
POSTAL
288 Branch Direct Terms
& Conditions Ballot Result
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
186
20/04/05 BT Disciplinary Procedure - Simon Sapper
187
21/04/05 POL Pay Agreement 2005 - Andy Furey
188
22/04/05 Network Operations Attendance Patterns - Brian Healy
189
22/04/05 National Sub Group Mail Centre Strategy - Martin Collins
190
22/04/05 BT Global Services Asian Service Centre - Billy McClory
191
22/04/05 Trivirix International pay 2005 - Nigel Cotgrove
192 22/04/05 Annual Conference 2004: Motions 20 and 21 - General Secretary
193
25/04/05 Future of Branch Direct - Ballot Result - Terry Pullinger
194
25/04/05 Vehicle Services Territory Representatives Elections - Ray Ellis
195
26/04/05 Ballots at Annual Conference - TUC/Labour Party Annual
Conference Delegations - Steve Baguley
196
26/04/05 Ballots to be Conducted at Annual Conference - Members'
Auditors, Trustees etc. - Steve Baguley
197
26/04/05 Unofficial Industrial Action - Kirkby DO - GS/DGS(P)
198
27/04/05 Scheduled Attendance Holiday Pay - Dave Ward
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GENERAL
271
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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272
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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273
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 East Region:
Monday 16th May - Hull
Wednesday 6th July - Newcastle
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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274
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 15 - 19 August 2005
The closing date for nominations is 30 June
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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275
TUC Certificate in Employment Law
This course is aimed at senior union activists, Branch Officers and
CWU ET Panellists, whose role requires a working knowledge of
employment law. It is desirable for applicants to have completed the
CWU Skills or Health and Safety programme, or be able to demonstrate
that they have significant comparable experience of day to day
working with employment law. All applicants must be able to
demonstrate that their application has the support of the Branch.
The course continues in the trade union tradition of providing the
opportunity for learners to question the development and function of
employment law, individual rights at work resulting from it and its
significance to trade unions.
As with all CWU courses, the course is accredited by the National
Open College Network.
Aims and Ethos
The aims of the Certificate course are:
1. To provide guided learning through which the student will become
more effective as a workplace representative
2. To promote an understanding of a trade union approach to
employment law
3. To deepen and extend the capacities of students, enabling them to
access full-time officer posts or Higher Education opportunities
4. To widen and deepen the understanding of trade union and workplace
issues and offer up-to-date detail of new developments
5. To develop personal/study skills, the ability to work collectively
and generally improve the confidence of students to study at a higher level.
Course Structure
The course is made up of 3 subject modules:
1. The Changing Nature of Law
2. Employment Law and the Individual
3. Trade Union and Collective Rights
These are supported by 4 study skill modules:
1. Communications and Study Skills
2. Research Project
3. ICT
4. Legal Skills
In applying for the course, applicants are asked to provide a written response to the following questions:
1. Why do you want to undertake this course?
2. What benefits will this training bring to your Branch or workplace?
Please enclose your written response, which should be no longer than
300 words in length, along with your completed application form.
The residential element of the course will be run at Alvescot on the
following dates. These four residential weeks will be supplemented by
distance learning:
Week One: 22 - 26 August 2005
Week Two: 10 - 14 October 2005
Week Three:21 - 25 November 2005
Week Four: 23 - 27 January 2006
The closing date for nominations is 7 July.
Please indicate whether the applicant is employed in BT, Posts or
Alliance & Leicester. Nominations should be made on the form for
Education Courses and returned to Alvescot Lodge, by the closing date
shown above.
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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276
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 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: 5 - 9 September 2005
Week Two: 24 - 28 October 2005
Week Three: 5 - 9 December 2005
Week Four: 6 - 10 February 2006
The closing date for nominations is 21 July.
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:
1. To widen their educational opportunities
2. To broaden their knowledge of the Trade Union and Labour Movement
3. To increase their understanding of the British Trade Union
Movement as democratic organisations
4. To understand the historical role of Trade Unions and the Labour Movement
5. To increase their knowledge of Equal Opportunities and equal
opportunities practice
6. To develop and improve study skills.
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.
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
above.
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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277
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 importance of this course has been recognised by
the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) and can
lead to Tech SP status.
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: 5 - 9 September 2005 Week Two: 24 - 28 October 2005
Week Three: 5 - 9 December 2005
Week Four: 6 - 10 February 2006
The closing date for nominations is 21 July.
Applicants for this course must have already completed the Union's
Health & Safety 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.
Nominations should be made on the form for Education Courses and
returned to Alvescot Lodge by the closing date.
Please indicate whether the applicant is employed in BT, Posts or
Girobank. If you nominate more than one member (a maximum of two)
please indicate the order of preference. If a member is refused a
place due to over subscription, please indicate this on a subsequent application.
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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278
Union Skills I Course
The Communication Workers Union has organised a Union Skills 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 12 - 16 September 2005
The Closing date for applications is 28 July
All members of the union who wish to have a working knowledge of the
wider Trade Union and Labour Movement would benefit from attending
the Linked Education Programme. The courses are called 'Linked
Education' because the programme comprises three distinct but
connected courses, each of one week duration. The three parts of the
course are completely self-contained, but there are real educational
benefits in completing all three parts of the programme in a year or
eighteen months. Union Skills courses attract special leave with pay.
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 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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EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
279
Harassment Advice Network
Further to LTB 54/05, in which volunteers were sought for the
Harassment Advice Network. We have received many names but now need
volunteers covering a wider geographical area, especially Scotland
and Northern Ireland.
If anyone is interested in putting their name forward please let the
Equality Department know in writing.
Any enquiries concerning this paragraph should be addressed to Manny
Blake, Acting Assistant Secretary quoting reference 2.20.2.2
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
280
Problems with SDC Hire Trailers (Split Coupling)
This ops flash is being issued for the attention of Branches, ASRs
and Area Distribution Reps. It has been drawn to our attention that
an ops flash on the above subject was issued on Friday 22 April from
Paul Corcoran to all Managers drawing their attention to the following.
This Infoflash is for the immediate attention of and action where
appropriate by, all RM UK Operations shift managers.
It must be handed to the senior manager on duty who will be
responsible for ensuring the information is cascaded immediately to
all managers on duty as necessary, within processing, distribution
and delivery functions.
1. Due to a technical problem that has been identified with hire
trailers manufactured by SDC (not Scottish Distribution Centre) all
sites are instructed not to carry out the split coupling process on
these trailers until further notice.
2. The standard coupling procedure can still be adopted and the
trailer can still be used in this mode.
3. These trailers can be identified by a square plate fixed to the
top of the trailer bulkhead with the letters SDC. If in any doubt
please contact your local Hill Hire depot to confirm the manufacturer.
Please note that this does not affect any other Trailer manufacturer.
All enquires concerning the above should be addressed to Dave Joyce,
National Health & Safety Officer quoting reference V1.
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TELECOMS
281
Project Inuit - Accenture HR Services and BT Transfer of Peoplesoft
Further to Branch Officials' Bulletin No.15/2005, paragraph 256, the
Union has been advised that both companies have made some significant progress.
Firstly, they have agreed that the proposed date of transfer should
move from Friday 22nd April to Friday 6th May. This delay will allow
BT to conclude the transfer related activities that they wish to
undertake prior to the date of transfer, and ties in with the
timetable for the release of Peoplesoft v8.8 within BT and HRS.
Outlined below, for the information of Branches, is a summary of
activities that both companies will undertake prior to this date,
which are included with indicative dates:
Step 1 - HRS and BT to draft Terms and Conditions that will apply
upon transfer (w/c 11/4)
Step 2 - HRS and BT to agree Scope of transfer, i.e. which people
will transfer (w/c 18/4)
Step 3 - HRS to present Summary of Terms and Conditions that will
apply upon transfer to HRS's Trade Unions (w/c 18/4, subject to
completion of Step 1)
Step 4 - BT to present Summary of Terms and Conditions that will
apply upon transfer, and Overview of 'Life After Transfer' to the In
Scope Population and recognised Trade Unions (w/c 25/4, subject to
completion of Step 2 and 3)
Step 5 - BT to hold One to One discussions with In Scope population
(w/c 25/4, subject to completion of Step 4)
Step 6 - BT to issue transfer/joining documentation to transferees
(w/c 2/5, subject to completion of Step 5)
Step 7 - HRS to process leavers/BT to process joiners (w/c 2/5,
subject to completion of Step 6).
All of these dates are subject to change.
It is anticipated that the presentation by BT to the In Scope
population (Step 4) will occur on Monday 25th April in Milton Keynes,
between 10 am - 12.00 noon, to be followed by 1 to 1 meetings with
representatives of BT between 12 noon - 1 pm or 1 pm - 2 pm.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary
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282
BT Disciplinary Procedure: Forensic Examination of Computer Equipment
This note is to advise you that CWU HQ has acquired fresh expertise
to assist branches in evaluating disciplinary allegations that may be
made against our members when it comes to possible misuse of the
electronic media (email internet etc).
Frequently, employers say that they have conducted a "forensic
examination" of the computer equipment of our members and that
it is as a result of this examination the disciplinary charges can be
brought. Also, frequently, members will absolutely deny that there
has been any misconduct by themselves.
Head Office, in discussion with BT security, now has a detailed
understanding about the protocol that applies when a "forensic
examination" has taken place.
We are happy to place this expertise at the disposal of branch
officers who are dealing with cases in this area.
Any requests for assistance should be made though my office at CWU
HQ. The relevant NEC member (Gary Jones) and myself will then be able
to offer a view on the information provided to us.
Any queries on this paragraph should be addressed to my office at CWU HQ.
Simon Sapper
Assistant Secretary
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283
BT Wholesale Markets - Desktop Services
The Union has been advised that Desktop services for BT Wholesale
Markets in Gatwick is considered a specialist area which had been
outsourced to Computerland (CL).
There are two functions within that area which the business decided
had to move in-house with effect from 1 April 2005.
o The Order Admin function transferred to BT's user community (no
employees from CL transferred in)
o The Netstore Admin function led to the TUPE transfer of one
employee from CL to BT.
The TUPE transfer has now been completed and the affected person
transferred to BT on Computerland Terms and Conditions on 1 April.
The Union is seeking further detail on activity that came in One IT,
how this function will be integrated into BT and how future terms and
conditions will be discussed.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
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284
The Transport (Scotland) Bill
Branches were advised in Branch Officials' Bulletin No. 16/2005,
paragraph 268 that separate arrangements were being made and
undertaken on the management of traffic in Scotland.
The Scottish Executive has taken a differing approach to that of the
Traffic Management Act 2004 (England). In many ways the impact for
network providers is far more reaching and is not it would appear on
first inspection to be equally handed.
It is proposed that there shall be a new Road Works Commissioner and
the enhanced use of the Scottish Road Works Register.
There are a number of issues of concern which are either inconsistent
and not equal handed in the treatment of telecom network providers
and these are as follows.
o Exclusion of local authority Works and Equal Treatment. The
Scottish Executive has communicated that it has no plans to apply the
new rules to local authority road works.
o Resurfacing - It has long been the established practice that all
utilities are required to make good and reinstate roads to an
acceptable standard following works. However the Transport Bill will
not restrict this make-good activity to where entry into the road
surface took place, but the full resurfacing of the road, over and
above the area where the works have taken place. Perversely such a
requirement in all likelihood will lead to increased congestion and
disruption with the duration of the works lengthening. Actual
investigations in England have failed to prove that utility works
damage roads, provided that they are carried out to the correct
standard. The proposals in this Bill are more extensive than those in
the Traffic Management Act since they would lead to a perpetual
contingent liability on utilities when they work anywhere in a street
thus increasing regulatory and balance sheet uncertainty. This would
force all utility companies to make financial provision for the
possibility of being required to resurface any part of a street (not
even necessarily the part where they had dug) for all time. Even
assuming the difficulty of calculating what provision would be
prudent, this provision has the potential to severely restrict the
degree of investment which can be made in Scotland's national
infrastructure in the future.
o Current arrangements restrict and prohibit utilities for re-entry
to the same locations for a 12 month period. So far without any
explanation, it is proposed to extend this year for a period of 36
months. This will severely restrict network providers in returning to
provide new services if required.
Branches will be updated with developments, however in the interim they may wish to brief/lobby their MSPs on the impact of this Bill on the investing and the provision of new infrastructure in Scotland. This will be detrimental to consumers of such services and ultimately our members working for network providers.
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285
Project Rubicon
As reported in Branch Officials' Bulletin No.40,/2004, paragraph 654,
Project Rubicon has been designed and developed to improve Customer
Satisfaction and provide customer fulfilment delivery excellence for
private circuit products. The aim of Project Rubicon is to transform
the customer fulfilment delivery experience across the end-to-end
Customer Network Services, Service Process Line (CNS SPL). It will
achieve this by using a new generic fulfilment process for fibre and
copper access bearer delivery, linked to improved resource scheduling
capabilities, and it is predicted by multi functional team working.
These improvements are designed to meet customer promise dates
consistently improving customer retention, and win back opportunities.
Initially the products addressed are 2Mbps circuits, ISDN30, Short
Haul Data Services (SHDS) and Partial Private Circuits. However it is
planned to cover all Private Circuit products over time.
In the Proof of Concept (PoC) that began in October 2004, three teams
of people have been on secondment from their normal work duties.
To test the new process BT will be expanding the PoC to cover parts
of Thameswey and South Midlands, with a "go live" date of
the 4th May 2005.
Volunteers are being sought to join the PoC from all the delivery
units within Network Operations, Network Build and Planning. This is
to test a new multi-functional team based approach to working and
scheduling. Work will be sent directly to the teams to manage rather
than using work manager.
Appointments to the roles will be on a secondment basis and terms and
conditions will remain unchanged
Skill Requirements for the new teams are as follows:
Management
o Tier 1 & 2 operational managers
Team members
o Job control, routing, wide band planning, site survey
o Cabling
o Jointing
o Fit and test, Jumpering
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
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286
Network Build - Withdrawal of Chainsaws
The Union has been notified by Network Build that it has decided with
effect from 1 April 2005 to cease the use of chainsaws and operate an
existing contract that applies in other parts of BT.
There will be no future purchases of new chainsaws and all existing
chainsaws will be recovered.
It is not known at this stage what has driven this decision however,
the Union has, in the most recent past at safety meetings, raised
issues with regard to the use of chainsaws.
It is not known yet what processes have been put in place in such
circumstances where the use of chainsaws is required.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
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287
One IT: Operational Integrity
Branches may wish to be made aware of an internal One IT briefing
that has been released announcing the intent to reorganise the
Operational Integrity activities and to also move towards the
acquisition of greater range and depth of skills for meeting the
demands of the ICT market. This management briefing is attached.
The Union has sought assurances that the One IT management will fully
engage and discuss with the Union these issues and challenges ahead.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
Attachment
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POSTAL
288
Branch Direct Terms & Conditions Ballot Result
Reproduced below for the information of Branches is the result of the
Branch Direct Terms & Conditions membership ballot.
Yes 113
No 24
Spoilt Papers 0
Total Despatched 210
Total Received 137
Any Branch enquiries should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary quoting the reference 218.