North Anglia Combined

Legal Services.

Put your back out at work? Injured by someone after your Giros? Handed your P45 because your manager's got you all wrong? You need our union's legal department. Last year the department recovered more than £39 million in compensation for members of the CWU.

• We've got the staff at HQ who'll process your claim quickly and efficiently.

• We've got the solicitors who'll give you professional advice, free of charge in complete confidence.

• And we've got the legal back-up to take your case to court, where appropriate.

Criminal Injury: If you're the victim of a violent attack while you're up a BT pole or delivering Giros on a nightmare estate, your union will look after your claim.

Industrial Tribunals: We can arrange representation at an industrial tribunal if you've been sacked or discriminated against for no good reason.

Solicitor's advice: Got a problem with your noisy neighbours? think you've been ripped off by the double-glazing salesman? Having a hard time with your HP?

You can get initial free legal advice from a fully qualified local solicitor courtesy of your union, and the legal and medical department can also help out.

Disability Benefit: If you become disabled after an accident at work, you can claim disablement benefit from the DSS if they accept it's an industrial injury.

And if you want to appeal against their assessment, we'll make sure you're ably represented by the union.

Road Traffic Act Defence/Drivers Protection Scheme: If you're charged with a road traffic offence while driving your vehicle on duty, we may give you legal representation if we think a not guilty plea is appropriate or give you solicitor's advice on mitigation. Speeding, alcohol and drug-related offences and seat-belt laws are not covered by the scheme.

Medical Retirement/Retention Over 60: If you want to appeal against medical retirement or retention beyond 60, the legal department will take up your case. There are now no appeals on retention in BT, although there is a grievance procedure, and different requirements in other businesses where we have members.

Bandit Attack: If you're robbed on duties carrying company cash, the union's bandit attack insurance policy pays out a weekly sum up to a total of 104 weeks of sick leave and a capital sum in the event of death.

It's a scheme that gives peace of mind to all members, especially the postal workers who are having to make more claims as the number of robberies continues to rise.

Personal Accident Insurance Scheme: Employees of the Post Office, BT and Girobank are covered against personal injuries by the employer.

BT provides 24-hour cover, but the Post Office only covers employee accidents on duty.

We're urging the Post Office to adopt 24-hour cover and reviewing the union's cover generally.

Criminal Defence On Duty: If you're charged with a criminal offence at work and you can't get legal aid to cover all your costs, we may be able to help, depending on the circumstances.

Making Your Claim: Depending on what exactly has happened and what exactly you want, there are different types of forms to fill in to log your claim with HQ.

Ask your legal and medical rep or your branch secretary for details.