More Post Office strikes!

For immediate release
 Fourth Post Office strike announced for Tuesday
A fourth round of strike action has been called by the Communication Workers Union for the whole of Tuesday May 7 affecting the country’s network of 373 Crown Post Offices. Management want to slash the network by 20%, impose a pay freeze and are refusing to negotiate with the union.
This full day of strike action is part of a dispute over closures, franchising, jobs and pay. Management continue to refuse to negotiate, despite their financial arguments being proved wrong with their calculations out by more than £6 million and their closure and franchising plans meeting opposition across the country.
Strike action will take place all day on Tuesday May 7 and will affect up to 4,000 staff working in 373 Crown (main) post offices. Post Office staff voted by nine to one (88%) in favour of strike action and have already taken strike action on Easter Saturday , April 19 and April 29.
CWU is opposed to Post Office plans to close or franchise 76 Crown offices – 20% of the network –which would affect over 800 jobs. The union is seeking protection for jobs and services, and wants to secure a fair pay rise for staff who have had no rise since April 2011. CWU believes the Post Office is trying to meet government targets by drastic cost-cutting.
Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Support among our members is growing by the day, with more staff going out on strike on Monday than in previous rounds of action.
“The Post Office’s arguments on pay and closures is on fragile ground. Their claims of how much a pay rise would cost were out by £6 million – double the actual cost – and their closure and franchising plans are meeting stiff opposition across the country with tens of thousands of names on petitions wanting to protect Crown offices.
“The Post Office’s plans on pay and the future of the network are clearly flawed. It seems more intent on throwing money down the drain flying managers across the country on strike days to try and keep some offices open. We think their money and focus would be better spent in negotiations trying to resolve this dispute. We again urge them to enter meaningful negotiations to find a mutually-agreeable way forwards.”
CWU has heard reports from yesterday’s strike action that hundreds of Post Office managers were sent across the country in an attempt to keep offices open. Reports included that at least one manager was sent from Belfast to Glasgow, managers were sent to Aberdeen but were unable to open the office, and managers from London were sent to Scotland and the north of England. Travel expenses will have been paid and most managers earn at least twice the hourly rate of post office counter staff bringing the cost to significant sums. At the same time, the Post Office tells CWU it is hard-up.
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For more information please contact:
Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail: sbjones@cwu.org

Third Party Harassment Survey

Third Party Harassment – take the call centre survey

16th April 2013

CWU has today (Tuesday) launched a survey which gives call centre workers the opportunity to document evidence relating to third party harassment at work. Both members and non-members are able to participate as the union is seeking to build an accurate picture of the full extent of the problem.

Take the survey now.

What is it?
Third party harassment means being subject to abuse by a customer or client whilst at work, as opposed to a colleague or manager. It's more prevalent in some lines of work than others, with call centre workers and retail staff all too frequently on the receiving end. It can take many forms, including sexist or racist language, xenophobic attitudes, foul language, and abusive comments.

Some workers become desensitised to this harassment and take it as 'a hazard of the job'. CWU believes harassment is unacceptable in any form and must be properly tackled. The union has heard appalling examples of call centre workers being abused by callers and of employers not taking the necessary steps when being made aware of the harassment. It is this evidence - gathered during visits to call centres in Northern Ireland towards the end of 2012- which triggered the desire for a wider survey.

Anonymous evidence
This exercise is designed to give all workers based in a call centre the opportunity to provide the CWU with vital evidence which can then be shared with employers accordingly to develop supportive policy.

All submissions will remain completely anonymous and the survey only takes a few minutes to complete.

Please click here to take the survey now.

Anyone working in a UK call centre is eligible to take this survey.

 CWU hopes to report back the findings of the survey in early June.

This is a joint initiative involving the Telecoms and Financial Services and the Equality Department.

Any enquiries should be directed to: equality@cwu.org

For more information on third party harrassment, read the feature in the latest edition of Women's Talk magazine.

 CWU has members in a range of call centres - working for companies including BT, O2, Royal Mail and Santander. If you work for a call centre

in the postal, telecoms or mobile sector why not join CWU today and take advantage of a range of benefits? Freephone 0800 731 7434 or e-mailjoinunion@cwu.orgfor more information or to join now.

Crown Post Offices not for sale!

From: Sian Jones
Sent: 30 April 2013 13:14
Subject: Press release: Post Office closure and franchise plan deeply unpopular
For immediate release

 Post Office closure and franchise plan deeply unpopular

Responding to the Post Office’s announcement today (Tuesday) that it is actively seeking ‘retail partners’ for 70 Crown Post Offices, the Communication Workers Union says this is a deeply unpopular and flawed plan which would rip the heart out of the network.
CWU says:

·         Tens of thousands of people have already signed petitions opposed to closure and franchise of Crown post offices

·         Politicians, businesses, councils and local campaigners are opposed to closure and franchise plans

·         Boycotts of companies taking over franchises have been threatened

·         Crown post offices are the powerhouse of the network

·         There are 373 Crown offices – making them just 3% of the network, but they do 20% of all business with four million customers every week

·         Crowns do 40% of all financial services sales, a crucial growth area for Post Office business with the launch of a current account

·         Closure and franchise proposals will slash 20% of the remaining Crown network and affect over 800 jobs

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “This is a seminal moment for the Post Office. Closure and franchising plans would decimate the remaining Crown network, slashing it by over 20%.

“Ultimately, this is about cost cutting and that’s where the government comes in. They want to reduce the amount of money provided for Post Office services and these cuts are leading to deeply unpopular proposals to close Crown post offices and remove services from High Streets.
“It’s time to decide what you want from the Post Office. Customers, communities and workers are very clearly saying that they want to keep these very well-used Crown post offices in their dedicated premises in town centres. Local councils are being pro-active and coming forwards offering positive ways to bring premises costs down and as a union we also have suggestions to address costs.
“We challenge the Post Office to jointly explore alternatives to retain Crown offices before ploughing ahead and flogging these cherished offices.”
Opposition:
A public meeting held in Hastings last night where 100 people turned up (Monday April 29) unanimously rejected plans to close and franchise the Crown Post Office.
On Wednesday April 24 the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood debated a motion regarding the closure and franchise of Alloa¸ Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Perth and Stornoway Crown post offices with fiery opposition from MSPs.
In February, 150 people attended a rally to defend Carmarthen Crown Post Office. The town council has been outspoken about plans to close and franchise the office.
CWU members voted by nine to one (88%) in favour of strike action on a 75% turnout on 8^th March 2013 – rejecting the Post Office plans to close and/or franchise 76 offices.
More information is available from: www.cwu.org/pay-and-the-future-of-the-crown-office.html
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For more information please contact:

 

Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail: sbjones@cwu.org

Royal mail letters - pay claim 2013.

Dear Colleague
Royal Mail Letters – Pay Update

At this weeks Postal Executive meeting the following was confirmed as our pay claim due from April 1st 2013:

... •A straightforward above inflation basic pay rise, for at least 2 years, that is pensionable and flows through to all allowances.

•A proper share in the ongoing profits of the company through new bonus arrangements and a replacement for ColleagueShare.

•A major review of overtime and scheduled attendance arrangements to significantly improve all hourly rates.

•Progress on outstanding Annual Conference pay policy.

After initially agreeing to resolve pay by the 1st April 2013, Royal Mail are now insisting that they will not make an offer until outstanding Transformation issues are resolved and there is clarity from the Union over support for their future plans.

CWU do not accept the company’s position and are determined to achieve a settlement that genuinely rewards our members for their efforts in turning around the financial position of the company. Pay will feature in meetings with the company planned for next week.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Pregnant employees rights

My Department is receiving a number of enquiries concerning the treatment of pregnant employees by management. What follows is reproduced from https://www.gov.uk/working-when-pregnant-your-rights

 

We also produce a number of factsheets on maternity rights in the businesses we have members in. These can be found at http://www.cwu.org/factsheets.html

'Pregnant employees have legal rights - including paid time off for antenatal care, maternity leave and maternity pay.

Pregnant employees have 4 key rights:

• paid time off for antenatal care
• maternity leave
• maternity pay
• protection against unfair treatment, discrimination or dismissal

‘Antenatal care’ isn’t just medical appointments - it can also include antenatal or parenting classes if they’ve been recommended by a doctor or midwife.
Employers can’t change a pregnant employee’s contract terms and conditions without agreement - if they do they are in breach of contract.

It’s illegal for employers to refuse to give pregnant employees time off for antenatal care or refuse to pay their normal rate for this time off, but fathers don’t have a legal right to time off to accompany their partners.

Pregnancy-related illnesses

If the employee is off work for a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the baby is due, maternity leave and Statutory Maternity Pay will start automatically - it doesn’t matter what has been previously agreed.

Compulsory maternity leave

If the employee isn’t taking Statutory Maternity Leave, they must take 2 weeks off after the baby is born - or 4 weeks if they work in a factory.

Telling the employer about the pregnancy

Employees must tell their employer about the pregnancy at least 15 weeks before the beginning of the week the baby is due.
If this isn’t possible - eg because they didn’t know they were pregnant - the employer must be told as soon as possible.
Employees must also tell the employer when they want to start their Statutory Maternity Leave and Pay.

Employees can’t take time off for antenatal appointments until they’ve told the employer about the pregnancy.

Health and safety for pregnant employees

When the employee tells their employer they’re pregnant, the employer should assess the risks to the woman and her baby.
Risks could be caused by:

• heavy lifting or carrying
• standing or sitting for long periods without adequate breaks
• exposure to toxic substances
• long working hours

Where there are risks, the employer should take reasonable steps to remove them - eg, by offering the employee different work or changing their hours.
If the employer can’t remove any risks (eg by offering suitable alternative work) they should suspend the employee on full pay.

For full details about the regulations see the Health & Safety Executive website.

Pregnant employees who think they’re at risk but their employer disagrees should talk to their health and safety or trade union representative. If your employer still refuses to do anything, talk to your doctor or contact the Health and Safety Executive.'

CWU Consultative ballot

To: All Branches with Postal Members

Dear Colleague

CWU Consultative Ballot
...
All Branches will be aware CWU has committed to undertake a consultative ballot of members covering the major issues affecting the future of the postal industry. The Postal Executive has discussed this matter further and agreed the ballot will be undertaken on the following basis:

1. That ballot papers distributed in the workplace are identified to that particular workplace. Once distributed the member would return the ballot in an envelope provided to our normal independent scrutineers. It would be for the independent scrutineers to announce the result.

2. The ballot would be posed around asking the membership to support Union policy on the following questions:

- Backing for our pay policy.
- Backing for no cooperation with new efficiency / budget / performance demands or Mail Centre / RDC Rationalisation (until agreement has been reached on the position set out in the Special Report).
- Anti privatisation.
- Support for the boycott of competitors mail.

3. The ballot will take place in May 2013. Final arrangements including the actual timetable and the specific questions will be published to Annual Conference via an Emergency Motion.

This is an important exercise to engage CWU members in the workplace and empower the Union in discussions with the company and the Government.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Post Office pay latest

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK – NOTICE FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Further to LTB 235, dated 10th April.

We wish to advise branches and members that formal notice has now been served on the Post Office with regards to industrial action for Crown members which will take place as follows:

- Friday, 19th April – from 14:30 until the completion of normal duties

This industrial action is necessary given that the Post Office is still refusing to enter into meaningful negotiations to resolve this dispute over pay and job security. Whilst talks were held earlier this week, these effectively broke down with no progress being made.

Crown Offices Earmarked For Closure or Franchising – Community Campaigns

On the strike afternoon, the plan is to organise activities on the ground that promote our community campaigns. Branches are urged to liaise with their Territorial or Area Representatives with regards to coordinating campaigning arrangements and public demonstrations of support outside those Crowns which are presently earmarked for closure/franchising. This is necessary in order to highlight to the public at large that their local Crown Office is under threat. We also need to raise the profile of our campaigns; accordingly, this industrial action needs to be brought to the attention of the local press and media in order to ensure maximum publicity.

During the Easter Saturday strike, a number of MPs joined our picket lines to offer their support. As the majority of MPs will be back in their constituencies on Friday afternoon, where appropriate they should be approached and invited to join our members in protesting against the Post Office’s plans for closures and franchising.

Two highly successful public meetings have been held in Alloa and Carmarthen. MPs were present at both these public meetings and were fully supportive of our campaign and of protecting the status of the Crown Post Offices.

It should be noted that further public meetings have been organised as follows:

Monday, 29th April – Hastings

Agreed attendees: Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings borough council, Sarah Owen, Labour PCC, Hastings and Rye. Amber Rudd, Conservative MP, Hastings and Rye, has been invited.

Thursday, 2nd May – Perth

Agreed attendees: Pete Wishart MP, SNP, Perth and North Perthshire. Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Community Safety and Legal Affairs and/or John Swinney MSP, Minster for Finances and Public Services.

Friday, 3rd May – Holloway

Agreed attendees: Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP, Islington North, has agreed to address this meeting and an invitation has also been extended to Emily Thornberry, Labour MP, Islington South & Finsbury.

Our thanks are extended to those representatives who have organised the public meetings. Obviously all branches impacted by Crown Office franchising / closures should seek to initiate similar meetings.

The above demonstrates that this Union can be extremely effectively when engaging politicians and the public. The Post Office’s plans for Crown Transformation are fundamentally flawed and, consequently, we need to highlight this at every opportunity. Next Friday’s strike will present us with an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of our campaign for a fair pay agreement and job security.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

BT pay offer rejected

12th April 2013
CWU's BT negotiating team has rejected a further below-inflation pay offer from the telecoms giant this week after taking an improved offer back to the union's BT committee for consideration.

BT tabled an improved offer of 2.5%, plus a guaranteed £100 non-consolidated lump sum (regardless of individual performance) at the pay meeting on Monday. CWU had already rejected an offer of 2.25% on base pay plus a £100 non consolidated lump sum (dependant on individual performance),

Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Our BT Committee has firmly rejected the latest offer on the basis that it falls below the rise in RPI inflation which is currently running at 3.2%, and it does not properly reflect the contribution of CWU members to BT's ongoing success. We also felt that the offer of a one-off payment was inadequate in quantum and insufficient in meeting rising living costs, because lump sum payments are short-lived whilst price rises are here to stay."


At the meeting, CWU's team emphasised that the offer did not meet the union's claim for a fully consolidated, above RPI inflation rise with a consolidated flat rate element, but agreed to take the offer back to the union's BT Committee for discussion.


"Instead of joining the race to the bottom on pay, which will see the squeeze on incomes continue to hold back the British economy, BT should take a lead in increasing the value of pay in real terms" asserted Andy. "This will help to increase consumer spending power and inject some much needed life back into the UK economy. It will also ensure BT retains the skilled, motivated and committed workforce it needs to retain its leading market position and outperform the competition."


A further pay meeting is planned for next week and CWU will keep members informed of progress. The BT Committee remains hopeful that a negotiated settlement can be reached but is in no doubt that this task presents an enormous challenge given the differences between the Company and ourselves.

If you are a member working at BT, please send us your views and questions to BTpay@cwu.org and also inform your local branch of your views.

Post Office pay latest

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague,

POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE

OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK
...
Further to LTB 224 dated 5th April in which we reported that we had taken

the decision not to serve notice for industrial action on Friday 12th April

due to the Post Office’s invitation to “discuss ways of resolving the current dispute”;

we met with Post Office senior management this afternoon.

Disappointingly, the talks ended acrimoniously. A number of constructive suggestions

on our part in order to move things forward were completely dismissed out of hand

during the meeting and it was totally clear that the Post Office had no intention of

 improving its pay offer and indeed expected us to sign up to their plans around

 transformation. Evidently, the Post Office is in denial about the strength of feeling

from our members

The Post Office is unwilling to negotiate a fair and decent pay offer for our members,

and given its unilateral decision surrounding franchising and closures, we have no

 option but to serve notice for further strike action, a position which has been endorsed

by the Postal Executive. The Post Office will be notified of this industrial action in due

 course.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary

Kicking Homophobia Out of Sport - Plymouth pictures

These are a few of the pics from our day at Plymouth Argyle AFC. Thanks to James Brent (Chair) our own Chris Webb (President) and all at the Pilgrims, Ralph Ferrett and Plymouth & East Cornwall branch, the CWU LGBT committee, and members from Exeter and Wolverhampton branch for making the day a great success.   

  Please feel free to use the pics in not for profit publications. I'll post more later.

O2 members accept pay rise.

9th April 2013

Members across O2 have voted by 89% to accept the company's "final and definitive" pay offer of 2.5%.       
The deal, which was unanimously recommended to members by the CWU's O2 national negotiating team in a consultative ballot that closed on March 27, also secures enhanced pay progression payments for a significant number of the workforce equating to a further 0.25% on the pay bill.

Stemming from tough negotiations, in which the CWU fought hard, the ultimate deal reflects the huge competitive challenges currently being faced by O2 in a tough economic environment.

Assistant secretary Sally Bridge explained: "Our members have voted pragmatically to accept this offer, but O2 would be making a huge mistake if it interpreted this result as indicating that it can carry on indefinitely with below inflation awards.

"The CWU has taken on board the challenges the business faces, the difficult economic backdrop and the fact this is a company in total transformation - but O2 needs to recognise that it can only push staff goodwill so far, and will need to reflect on that before next year's pay round."

Addressing criticism of the deal that has been expressed by some members, Sally added: "Some have quite rightly pointed out that 2.5% doesn't equate to inflation - but the truth is that in today's grim economic climate it's extremely hard to secure such an outcome. That doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to get there - just as we have this time round in some extremely tough talks.

"At the end of the day, however, you have to take stock of the context in which the pay negotiations take place - and the fact is that, in the current climate, and given the challenges O2 faces, this is a reasonably decent pay award compared with what's going on in the market at the moment. It was certainly the best that could be achieved by negotiation, and represented significant movement by the company on earlier positions which were totally unacceptable to the union."

Positives of the deal, Sally stressed, include a substantial improvement in unagreed pay progression arrangements for O2 contract Tech Spec/ T&E/ Retail A10-R and Business Support grades that were unilaterally introduced by O2 last year despite CWU protests that they were wildly inadequate.
For employees on O2 contracts Tech Spec/T&E/Retail A10-R and Business Support grades with annual performance review scores of 1, 2 and 3, these payments have increased from 0.25%, 1% and 2% respectively to 1%, 2% and 3% of salary. This represents a significant reduction in the time it takes for individuals to reach the top of their pay scales...and means that this year a top performer will secure an overall salary increase of 5.5%.

The improved pay progression arrangements still does not compare increments over four years enjoyed by NewGRID contract employees earlier in their careers - and O2 has agreed to enter into new negotiations with the union with a view to reaching agreement on amended arrangements before April 2014.

Crucially, this year's pay agreement also includes a commitment from O2 to jointly conduct with the CWU a fundamental review of O2 Retail pay grades.
Sally concludes: "This is something the CWU has been seeking for some time as our members in O2 shops rank amongst the lowest paid people in the company.

"Finally, we've also secured an assurance from Telefonica O2 UK that if, in future, pay discussions go beyond the April review date, any contractual pay progression payments will be made on the due anniversary date, and not delayed as they were last year."

Watch video here http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/o2-members-accept-2.5.html

Apply to be an MP in Colne Valley - All women short list.

Dear member, I’m writing to inform you that the selection process for parliamentary candidates  to contest the next general election are now under way in Calder Valley and Colne Valley.  You will find timetables for these selections below; if you wish to put yourself forward you will find an application form, job description of an MP, details of   selection procedures and a code of conduct here:   http://members.labour.org.uk/parliamentary-selections The Party’s NEC Organisational sub-committee has decided that Colne Valley’s candidate will be selected from an All Women Shortlist, and as such only female applicants may apply for this seat. Calder Valley is an Open Selection. CALDER VALLEY OPEN SELECTION Applications Close: Fri 19 April 2013 Shortlisting Interviews: Mon 3 June 2013 Final Hustings and Count: Sat 22 Jun 2013 Procedure Secretary: Ann Martin Email: annmartinuk@googlemail.com COLNE VALLEY ALL WOMEN SHORTLIST Applications Close: Fri 26 April 2013 Shortlisting Interviews: Sat 15 June 2013 Final Hustings and Count: Sat 6 July 2013 Procedure Secretary: Phil Woodthorpe Email: philwoodthorpe2013@gmail.com If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Yorkshire and Humber Labour Party Regional Office,  on 01924 291 221. Best wishes, Paul Nicholson Regional Director Yorkshire and the Humber Labour Party http://yorkshireandhumberlabour.org.uk/ Follow us on Twitter: @yorkshirelabour

Come on down to the CWU conference Equality Disco

CWU Equality Disco – Annual Conference 2013
It’s that time of year again and the Equal Opportunities Department will be holding their disco on the Saturday 20^th April 2013 at the Menzies Bournemouth Carlton Hotel, East Overcliff, Bournemouth BH1 3DN.  The disco will commence at 8 pm and tickets are only £5.

A raffle will be held on the night and members are encouraged to purchase raffle tickets in advance and on the night.  The grand prize will be a complimentary stay for 2 at the Menzies Bournemouth Carlton Hotel, on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis.

Proceeds raised from the raffle will once again go towards the Charity ‘Just a Drop’, whose mission is to reduce child mortality by delivering accessible, clean, safe water where it is needed most.

In order to continue this wonderful work, the Department is again relying on the assistance of CWU Branches and Regions to make prize worthy donations of cash and/or gifts.  These should be sent c/o Dionne Gittens-Noel to CWU Headquarters; please give generously.

Any enquiries to the Equal Opportunities Department, email address: dgittens@cwu.org.

More about the hotel including directions here http://www.menzieshotels.co.uk/hotels/south-coast/bournemouth-carlton/how-to-find-us/

LGBT awareness and IDAHO weekend

FRIDAY 17TH - SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2013
CWU EDUCATION & TRAINING CENTRE, OXFORDSHIRE
For many decades trade unions have been in the forefront of the battle for equality in the workplace and in society. Through campaigning, awareness raising and representing those who suffer discrimination, the CWU makes a real difference and our work in supporting and organising LGBT members is key to this. This weekend course aims to: 

 * Raise awareness of issues which affect LGBT workers and the LGBT community

* Develop strategies to support LGBT activists and members in the CWU
* Understand the way discrimination impacts on LGBT workers.
* Provide a networking opportunity for LGBT and equality activists

The weekend will be an activity based course based on small group work, discussion and presentations. The course is aimed at anyone who wishes to increase their understanding of LGBT issues and will be particularly suitable for Equality Reps, LGBT activists and any CWU activist who wishes to better understand how the union can support LGBT workers.

On Saturday the 18th May, which is the International Day Against Homophobia, the CWU will place a wreath in the Alvescot Lodge Workers Memorial Garden to remember all those who have been victims of oppression, imprisonment, violence or death because of their sexual orientation or identity.

This course does not attract paid release from the employers that we work with. To Book your place contact your Branch Secretary to ask for an application form. Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis and places are limited.

 If your Branch nominates you for this course they will usually cover your travel and subsistence costs and release costs from work if applicable. This can vary, so always check with your Branch Secretary in advance.

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.

 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: e-mail: mtodd@cwu.org

 

 

Post Office dispute - latest

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague,

POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK 
Following our successful industrial action taken on Saturday 30th March, we were planning to serve notice on the Post Office today for further action; advising that our members would be taking strike action on Friday 12th April. However, we have today received a letter from Kevin Gilliland, Network and Sales Director, stating the following:

I and my team are keen to meet with you to discuss ways of resolving the current dispute. I therefore invite you to provide us with details of when you are available to meet with us so we can arrange a mutually convenient time to discuss this matter further.

As a consequence of the above we have taken the decision not to serve notice for strike action and will be meeting with the Post Office next week.

Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary

Tackling Homophobia in Sport campaign. Plymouth.

Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium will play host to the CWU's latest 'tackling homophobia in sport' action this weekend. A social event on Friday (5 April) will kick off the festivities followed by leafleting on Saturday (6 April) ahead of the Plymouth v Cheltenham fixture.

"This is the second year running that the union has initiated this event in association with the TUC Alliance, which is supported by groups such as Kick It Out, the PFA and Show Racism the Red Card , which aim to eliminate discrimination in sport," said CWU head of equality, Linda Roy.

"This weekend is focused on raising awareness about the devastating effects homophobic bullying can have on the life of an individual too scared to admit to being homosexual. In the sporting arena this type of bullying is especially rife and the high profile nature of sport, particularly football in the UK, makes it a good place to start encouraging tolerance and acceptance regardless of sexual orientation. The footballing authorities must be seen to be doing more to tackle this serious problem." she said.

The CWU also campaigns to eradicate racism in sport and is affiliated with campaigns such as Show Racism the Red Card and Let's Kick Racism out of Football.

If you would like to volunteer or support the event please contact the CWU Equalities department on 0208 971 7238.

Royal Mail pay latest

To: All Branches with Postal Members

Dear Colleague

Royal Mail Pay – April 2013

The purpose of this LTB is to advise CWU Branches, Representatives and members on the current situation with Pay.

The Union is determined to achieve a straightforward above inflation pay rise for at least 2 years commencing April 1st 2013. As part of this we are also seeking an opportunity for our members to share in the company’s ongoing profits as a replacement for ColleagueShare, alongside new productivity arrangements. 

Initially, the company had agreed that we would resolve pay before the April due date. However, the situation has now become more difficult because of wider industrial relations problems. The current situation is that the company are insisting that pay is linked to a resolution to outstanding Business Transformation issues and clarity on their future plans.

The Postal Executive will be considering this matter when they meet next Tuesday. Further information will follow and the issue of pay will also be included in a planned membership communication that will arrive soon.

Please ensure that the content of this LTB is communicated in your to all workplaces.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward 

Deputy General Secretary (P)

Post office pay and campaign.

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK – COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNS & RESOURCES 

Branches will be aware that the Post Office is planning to franchise / close up to 76 of our Crown Post Offices. This amounts to approximately 20% of the Crown Network, with the loss of over 800 jobs. 

As a consequence, our representatives and members have instigated high profile community campaigns at many of the Crowns impacted by the Post Office decision. To assist in making these campaigns as effective as possible, a campaign pack has been produced in conjunction with our communications department. 

“Protect the People’s Post Office” is the title of our campaign. Campaign packs will be sent to all of the Crowns earmarked for franchising and closure. The “Protect the People’s Post Office” strap line was used on posters and leaflets on Easter Saturday, day of action, as well as our other key message - “Keep the Crown in the Heart of Town”. On all of our campaign materials we have used the words “Post Office” inside a broken heart to symbolise the Post Office’s plans to rip apart this cherished network. 

The campaign pack includes an introductory letter explaining why we want to ensure maximum pressure is put on the Post Office through well-organised campaigns in communities which have Crowns earmarked for franchising. By all accounts the Post Office does not yet have franchise partners lined up and we need to gain the greatest support possible from the public, local politicians and media. Crown Post Offices play a vital role in the local community and are unrivalled in terms of quality of service and must be sustained for the long-term future. 

The pack also contains the following:

• Guide to campaigning

• Campaign brief

• Q&A section with answers to potential hostile questions

• Media brief and a draft press release

• Model letter to MPs

• Stickers 

• Leaflet for the public

• Posters

• Petition

Each of the documents contained within the campaign pack can be downloaded from our website: http://www.cwu.org/downloadable-resources.html Campaign packs have been provided to Regional Secretaries, Territorial Representatives and Area Representatives. 

Please send any enquiries to csinclair@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey Dave Ward

Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary Postal