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Election results for divisional reps, subs, and chair Scotland, Northern Ireland, South central, South east, Congratulations to Rab Storrie.

Here are the results for the ballot 🗳️ ROYAL MAIL PENSION PLAN MEMBER NOMINATED TRUSTEE DIRECTOR 🗳️ Congratulations Lionel Sampson and also to all who took part. Result of ballot:

Dear Colleagues, We have created a one-stop shop for all dispute resources at www.cwu.org/iamtheunion This link will be constantly updated. Currently is has graphics which should be used on social media and posters to be dispatched to every unit. In the next few days we will add home mailings, functional communications, divisional / branch comms and much more. The critical thing now from a comms perspective is content to please WhatsApp gate meeting images to 07583725644 and email any comms you want shared to mmurray@cwu.org Let’s go! Chris From Chris Webb | Head of Communications, Engagement and Media Email cwebb@cwu.org | Direct line 020 8971 7397 | Mobile 07583 725644 Communication Workers Union  The communications union Headquarters 150 The Broadway | Wimbledon | SW19 1RX T 020 8971 7200 | F 020 8971 7300 | www.cwu.org | @CWUNews | @ChrisWebb1

No. 095/2020 27th February 2020 Dear Colleagues POST OFFICE: HORIZON SCANDAL – PRIME MINISTER RESPONDS POSITIVELY TO A CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY Further to LTB 719/19 dated 23rd December 2019. Branches will be aware that following the Judge’s decision to rule in favour of the Postmaster claimants last December, the Union has been calling for a public inquiry to ensure scrutiny and accountability of the actions of the Post Office and the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP). The Union stated in December: “In view of the seriousness of this matter, the Union is now calling for a public inquiry into the whole Horizon debacle. In this regard, we will be writing to the Minister for Postal Affairs to outline our grave concerns in relation to the appalling treatment of Postmasters by Post Office management and will call for a comprehensive investigation in the form of a public inquiry. This inquiry should also investigate the actions of the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) who have done absolutely nothing to support their members in relation to the outrageous treatment they have suffered due to the Horizon system which has proven to be not fit for purpose.” There is no doubt this appalling situation amounts to a national scandal. How can a government-owned organisation treat so many people so badly for so long? (the Group Litigation claim involved 557 former Postmasters). There are exceptionally serious questions to ask of the Post Office leadership and indeed government for that matter. Whilst the legal process may have come to a conclusion with the out of court settlement, this shouldn’t in any way detract from public scrutiny of what has gone wrong here, especially as £58m of public money was set aside to resolve the various court cases. The Post Office Board and Paula Vennells, its former Chief Executive, have to be accountable for their actions and the way they sought, unsuccessfully in the end, to defend themselves in court. The outcry for justice is not going to go away. Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – Wednesday 26th February Given the background above, I am pleased to inform Branches that the Prime Minister confirmed yesterday during PMQs that there will indeed be an independent inquiry into the Horizon scandal. The question, which was raised by Kate Osborne, Labour MP for Jarrow and the subsequent answer from the Prime Minister was as follows: Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab) Q4. Like many other sub-postmasters, my constituent Chris Head was victim to the Post Office Horizon IT system scandal. These errors have resulted in bankruptcies, imprisonment and even suicide. Will the Prime Minister today assure Chris and others that he will commit to launching an independent inquiry? The Prime Minister I am indeed aware of the scandal to which the hon. Lady alludes and the disaster that has befallen many Post Office workers—I have met some of them myself. I am happy to commit to getting to the bottom of the matter in the way that she recommends. Recently there has been significant parliamentary debate surrounding this national scandal. Indeed, on Tuesday 25th February, there was a debate in the House of Lords – “Responding to the judgement in Bates vs Post Office (2019) EWHC 3408: and taking action against the directors responsible for the Horizon Accounting System.” The link to the debate is as follows: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/c8ca3555-a8e9-4ce2-a648-08114cdc3684 In this debate, many peers were extremely critical of the Post Office’s actions and were calling for full accountability, particularly as the Post Office is owned by government and BEIS has a representative on the Post Office Board. Lord McNicol, Labour, asked the government the following question: “We must also consider the government’s role in this ordeal and their responsibility to help. The CWU’s Branch Secretary for subpostmasters has pointed out that a government representative sits on the Board of the Post Office and that they presumably took part in those Board meetings that made decisions on the litigation, including the attempt to recuse the Judge. Would the Minister care to comment on that?” There will also be a House of Lords oral question on Thursday 5th March from Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom as follows: “Level of compensation received by sub-postmasters as a result of the Horizon accounting system litigation as compared to the losses those sub-postmasters incurred due to Post Office Ltd’s policies” Parliamentary Question to BEIS Kevan Jones, Labour MP, asked the Secretary of State BEIS – “what steps Post Office Ltd is taking to identify former subpostmasters that repaid monies in relation to unproven allegations of financial discrepancies.” Paul Scully, the new Post Office Minister answered on 27th February as follows: “Post Office Ltd will announce a scheme in the near future which will address historic shortfalls for Postmasters who were not part of the Group Litigation. Post Office Ltd are actively considering how best to reach all relevant Postmasters both past and present as part of this process”. Cross-Party Support for an Inquiry Following the Prime Ministers’ response at PMQs, a number of politicians have tweeted their support for an inquiry: Tweet from Gill Furniss, Labour MP, Chair of the APPG for Post Offices “Glad the Prime Minister has agreed to a public inquiry on the Post Office #HorizonScandal. This is a testament to the hard fought campaign of hundreds of subpostmasters and members of the APPG on Post Offices from all parties.” Tweet from Lucy Allan, Conservative MP “There is a ground swell of support building in parliament for Govt to take steps to help clear the names of Post Office workers wrongly convicted of theft based on the Post Office’s flawed Horizon computer system” Computer Weekly Article Computer Weekly has been following and reporting on this matter for many years and yesterday published a further story following Boris Johnson’s commitment to the independent inquiry. The link to this interesting article is as follows: https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252479176/Boris-Johnson-commits-to-getting-to-the-bottom-of-Post-Office-Horizon-IT-scandal?amp=1&__twitter_impression=true Clearly we are making progress on this issue now that the Prime Minister has responded positively and acknowledged the need for an inquiry. Our activities in the coming days will be to push for the inquiry to happen without delay and for an independent chair to be appointed, who must have powers to fully investigate and compel witnesses to be examined and give evidence. We will be carefully monitoring this situation whilst doing all that is necessary to ensure this matter is not swept under the carpet, Postmasters do get justice and fair recompense and those guilty parties who inflicted so much pain on innocent and hard-working people are brought to account. Further developments will be reported. Yours sincerely Andy Furey Assistant Secretary 20LTB095 – Post Office – Horizon Scandal – Prime Minister Responds Positively to a call for an Independent Inquiry

Scotland & Nth Ireland Division Update Dear Colleagues, Divisional Update following yesterday’s National Briefing with National Officers. Dave Ward: Began thanking every CWU Rep for their hard work and describe them as a credit to the CWU. He also stated the recent fall in RM Share Value as a reason for their current position introducing Executive Action, describing it as a Panic Reaction. Furthermore, stating RM’s Plan/Strategy is completely Undeliverable, he then raised the points: Can we stop RM separating Parcelforce? Can we convince RM we a new solution/model for Deliveries, Can we convince RM that their Strategy is wrong? Dave also raised the subject of Technology stating we should not oppose technology but oppose its application. He concluded that the CWU immediate task is to win the biggest YES Vote and avoid any legal action against the ballot. Terry Pullinger: He informed the delegation and urging all CWU Reps to give it everything we’ve got to ensure the maximum turnout and return a YES Vote in the upcoming ballot. He also stated that we can beat the previous ballot and that the CWU’s struggle would inspire a generation of working people. He raised the current issue that several Divisions are facing through Executive Action which involves the removal of CSS Machines, Alterations to Duty Patterns, Unagreed Revisions, clearly stating he fully understands the potential reaction of Unofficial Industrial Action being taken but pleaded with the Reps to keep their discipline. Stating these provocations are a tactic to achieve a reaction from the membership because they are petrified of the result from the national ballot. e concluded stating that following the national ballot is concluded, if RM ask for further discussions that the CWU will refuse to begin negotiations while any of these Executive Actions remain in place. Guest Speaker 1: Ann Alexander from UCU offered support and solidarity to the CWU. Stating they also are in involved in a programme of Industrial Action over Rising Workloads, Pay Inequality, Job Insecurity, and Pay Devaluation. She said we CWU have the Four Pillars we UCU have the Four Fights. Explaining the taken of strike action by the UCU. If strike action by the CWU goes ahead then both Unions should support each other’s Pickets and Work together to raise public support, Together We Can Win. Guest Speaker 2: Francis O’Grady TUC General Secretary pledge her support and solidarity from all 6 million UK Trade Unionists for our members struggle against RM. She praised the CWU for the way we are engaging with our membership. She also urged RM to return to the negotiating table and commit to resolving this dispute and honoring our National Agreements. This was followed by further contributions form Davie Robertson, Mark Baulch, Andy Furey. There were also contributions from several Representatives from the floor. We will continue with Updates as the day’s/weeks progress. A Statement by the Scotland & Nth Ireland Divisional Committee.

Postal February 27 2020“Let’s make history and let’s tell Royal Mail, as Paul Kennedy said earlier: ‘No justice, no peace’,” commented our deputy general secretary postal after today’s 500-strong national reps briefing in central London. Terry had brought the lively gathering to a close with a stirring call to arms, urging the union’s key activists to “give it everything we’ve got” in their efforts to maximise the turnout and YES vote in the forthcoming Royal Mail national ballot.“ We can beat the last ballot,” he predicted, adding that the CWU’s struggle would inspire a generation of working people.“ We can do it – lets go to work,” he concluded, to rousing applause. With less than a week until ballot papers start arriving on approximately 110,000 CWU members’ doorsteps, regional, divisional, branch and area representatives had gathered at TUC headquarters for the latest updates from the CWU leadership. As well as an inspiring address from our DGSP, the packed conference also heard a strong and thought-provoking speech from general secretary Dave Ward and gave a warm CWU welcome to guest speaker Ann Alexander, from the education union UCU, which is in the midst of strike action over various issues. Our other guest speaker, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady, received an even more enthusiastic reception – her pledge of support and solidarity from all six million UK trade unionists for our members’ struggle won her a standing ovation as the audience rose to their feet and applauded long and loud. Among the enthusiasm and fighting spirit on show today, however, was a strong emphasis on the crucial importance of collective discipline and restraint in the face of the company’s campaign of provocation around the country. There are currently 34 requests for local ballots in response to Royal Mail managers’ impositions of various instances of executive actions – ranging from removals of CSS machines and alterations to shift and duty patterns to unagreed revisions – and Midlands divisional rep Paul Kennedy (who made the “no justice, no peace” comment during his contribution) and Bristol & District Amal Branch secretary Rob Wotherspoon gave details of difficult situations in their respective areas. Nottingham Mail Centre members are under threat of drastic changes to their working arrangements, while bosses at Bristol Mail Centre have threatened to axe 100 jobs – along with a point-blank refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies. In his response, Terry thanked them, the unit reps and the members involved in all of the workplaces affected for their forbearance in the face of such provocative behavior by the business and noted that these executive actions appear to be part of a deliberate strategy. This week’s National Gate Meeting Day had been a massive success, he said, praising the sheer effort put in all around the country to organise over 800 workplace meetings on one day – and added that it was likely that this success had increased the company’s determination to provoke a premature flashpoint. But these provocations must not be allowed to succeed, Terry insisted, saying: “ This whole union owes you a debt of honour for keeping your discipline,” and explaining that Royal Mail management are “trying to get under people’s skins, because they’re petrified of the national ballot and they want to provoke unofficial action by our members.” Terry promised that, after the national ballot has concluded, if the company ask for talks, the union will refuse to begin negotiations while any of these executive actions remain in place. Mutual solidarity with the UCU. Ann Alexander brought with her the support and solidarity of the UCU, which is involved in an ongoing industrial dispute over rising workloads, pay inequality, job insecurity and pay devaluation.“ You’ve got your Four Pillars and we’ve got our four fights,” she told the meeting,” as she explained the strike action being taken by her union.“ We are fighting for the future of education as well,” Ms Alexander pointed out, adding: “Our working conditions are the students’ learning conditions.” If strike action by the CWU goes ahead, the two unions should support each other’s pickets and work together to raise public support, she suggested, saying: “Together we can win.” Dave Ward sets out challenges for the union, the business, shareholders, and the Government. Our general secretary’s speech followed immediately after Ms Alexander’s and he thanked her for her words and pledged the CWU’s 100 per cent backing for her and her fellow strikers.“ UCU is a great fighting union in a major struggle and we absolutely offer our support and solidarity to them,” he promised. Our own Royal Mail dispute is, Dave said: “Entering a new phase and the most important thing now is to deliver a massive YES vote and a massive turnout. Dave thanked every CWU rep for their hard work and described them as “a credit to the CWU and a credit to the whole movement.” Our general secretary cited the recent fall in the company’s share price as a reason for their current highly provocative behaviour, which he described as a “panic reaction.” The company’s plan is, he continued, undeliverable, and so this is now “a big, big moment,” he told the meeting, and then went on to talk of how this could present an opportunity for the CWU to put forward our own plans and ideas for the future of the business. Posing rhetorical questions to give the audience food for thought, Dave asked: “Can we stop RM separating Parcelforce? Can we convince Royal Mail from a commercial perspective that their strategy is wrong? Can we convince them that we need a new solution in deliveries?” Moving onto the subject of technology, our general secretary insisted that we should not oppose technology itself, but oppose its application “as a weapon against workers” and, instead, win the shorter working week as “our share in the benefit of technology.” The union’s immediate task is to win the biggest possible YES vote, to avoid any legal action against the ballot, and to make any strike action effective, Dave said. But, we should “not put all our eggs in one basket,” he warned, and also talked of the need for dialogue and engagement with Royal Mail shareholders and with the Government – making sure they both hear and fully understand, the CWU’s vision for the future of Royal Mail. Workplace tensions, campaign update and legal brief. Assistant secretaries Mark Baulch and Davie Robertson set out in further detail the specific issues in dispute in delivery and in processing and distribution respectively. Davie sharply criticised the imposition of AHDC and resource scheduler, making the point that “resource scheduler takes the debate out of resourcing and therefore it takes the union out of resourcing.”Mark compared the company’s use of technology to “electronic tagging” and slammed management’s “disgraceful treatment” of delivery workers.” Both Mark and Davie echoed the DGSP’s call for collective discipline in the face of company provocation.Mark urged: “We need people to remain as calm as possible” and Davie agreed, saying: “let’s work as hard as we can and get the vote out.” Assistant secretary Andy Furey spoke on issues affecting MDEC and Customer experience members, and also gave an update on the progress of the CDC pensions legislation. (See previous web story for further details on CDC). Our CWU communications head Chris Webb explained the campaign strategy for the ballot period, which is aimed at encouraging the biggest possible participation and asking members to vote YES. And CWU senior deputy general secretary Tony Kearns gave an important brief explaining the important points around the need for us to maintain full compliance with the law. Who won the biggest applause today? Frances O’Grady received an extremely warm response from the meeting, as she praised the “spirit and imagination” shown by the CWU in our struggle – citing both our use of modern methods and our traditional workplace meetings.“Your Gate Meeting Day was moving, fantastic and 800 members delivering one single message, telling Royal Mail they must respect and honour the Four Pillars agreement,” she said. Royal Mail should “step back from the brink,” she urged, adding: “You have to earn people’s respect and you do that by respecting and working with the CWU and honouring agreements.” To the assembled she said: “Stay strong, stay solid, stay united.”“ The whole movement will back you and we will win,” the TUC leader concluded, to a rousing standing ovation. (And a big hug from Dave!) Parcelforce briefing at HQ Today’s briefing followed yesterday’s gathering of Parcelforce reps at the union’s HQ. Deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger and assistant secretary Davie Robertson gave the regional and depot reps a full update on the current situation, how we got here, and the next steps forward. As previously, Parcelforce members will be receiving two ballot papers, they explained, and urged the reps to encourage their members to vote YES/YES. Davie congratulated the reps for delivering a “fantastic result” in the previous two ballots, saying: “ The vote you took part in, the referendum in which you passed judgement on the company’s proposals, was instrumental in halting the separation plan.“ And Royal Mail members also backed you in a monumental show of solidarity. ”But the separation plan had not gone away completely and was still the intention of the company, he explained. So, although the Parcelforce ballots are currently still ‘live’ and have not been subject to any legal challenge, it is necessary to ballot again, because the initial ballots will expire within a specific period. “You meet your members and talk to them every day – please deliver another huge YES vote,” Davie urged “Let’s send the message back that you do not support the company’s vision for the future. Back the union, back yourself, back your future.” In his comments, Terry said: “Your vote is as important as everyone else’s and we’ve got to absolutely show our resistance.“ The message from me is that we’ve got no choice but to get a massive YES vote.“We’re going to fight this and fight this all the way.”

MEMBERS UPDATE Next Tuesday your ballot papers will start dropping through your letter boxes don’t delay in filling them in vote to save your jobs pay and conditions. If you believe the Royal Mail propaganda machine they have allegedly offered a 6% pay rise to us without consulting our union , they are giving briefs up and down the country by senior managers about their 5 year plan again not agreed or discussed with our union .don't listen too there one sided opinions we have an agreement called the 4 pillars which they signed up too and are ignoring. We where due an hour reduction for full time staff and the part time staff due another 2,33% pay rise from October the 1st last year, so ask yourself this question do you think Royal Mail have your best interests at heart. One statement from last week was we won’t have existing employees on a zero contract you don’t have too read between the lines to understand that anyone else coming into the business will not have the same as all the rest off us creating a two tier workforce which the union wil not accept. RMTV comment from the front man we all know was if we accept their 6% it amounts to a 16% pay rise since 2018 less the 2.33% they owe us makes it a 3.77% over 3 years fortunately we are not that gullible to fall for all that. WE have an AGREEMENT that gave us all a 12.33% pay rise over the 3 years the union haven’t had any meaningful discussions around the next pay deal so whatever is being offered is a token gesture by the company . Here is a revelation it has been said that Rico met the senior managers last week and he was a lovely genuine man this is the man who won’t face our senior union officials the same man who gave our parcel force colleagues an ultimatum sign up too a new company or you will be no longer an employee sounds like a real stand up guy can’t wait to defeat him in our new ballot. Let’s send him another huge YES vote that tells him we aren’t rolling over for anyone don’t forget nothing has changed since the last ballot they are still coming after all our agreements and terms and conditions and they don’t want union involvement . You only have to look at all the executive action Royal Mail are imposing on our colleagues trying to provoke a reaction from us, we know how to win a war against people who think we are irrelevant we may have lost the battle the last time on a technicality we won’t lose this one . Stand up and be counted that means all off our members vote yes and put this senior management back in there place