Issue 11 www.cwuessex.org

Dealing with Change, Rumours & Revisions

Winter Hits Early... Are You Prepared?

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE... Equality in the Workplace: Understanding Welfare Reforms

Essex Amalgamated Branch Communication Workers Union introduction www.cwuessex.org

Inside this Issue:

Latest News Getting Involved Transfering Work from By John Hunt, Branch Secretary Southend Mail Centre You will see from the content of some of the reports that Royal Delivering on the Mail are changing at pace in terms of revision activity, closures Revision and new ways of working. Our industry is also now again facing privatisation but this time from the coalition government. This Dealing with Change, Union remains firmly in opposition to this worn out tired philoso- Rumours & Revision phy and are continuing to lobby both inside and outside govern- The Song Remains the ment. [see other articles in this edition and both local and nation- Same - Privatisation al union websites for regular updates] www.cwuessex.org and www.cwu.org Equality in the Workplace Welfare Reform Clearly this Union have nothing to offer if we are not “getting involved”. Involvement and of course communication are crucial In Spotlight... in both shaping our future and ensuring that you the members Dennis Skinner MP are kept informed every step of the way. WRAP - Coming to Your Office - Soon BUSINESS DRIVEN change and commercial decisions are just that. We ignore these at our peril and to face away from difficult Quiz - Just for Fun decisions and our responsibilities would be wrong, instead we get involved. We ensure all agreements negotiated by this Union are exploited in full for the benefit of our members. Many of you would have witnessed your local Reps getting involved in The editorial content revision activity, your Area Reps getting involved in enabling expressed within this agreements and many of you would have seen reports from publication are views of Branch Officers getting involved and fighting the current privati- individual CWU mem- sation proposals from this government. bers and does not nec- essarily reflect the views of the editor or This Branch remains fully committed to face up to any chal- Communication Workers lenges that the New Year brings with all the courage, leadership Union at both local and and determination that has become customary from our national level. Representatives. Your support is never taken for granted but equally will never be so important in 2011.

If you have any comments or contri- I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all my Officers butions you would like to raise, or and Representatives for their efforts throughout 2010 and thank wish to give us feedback regarding this publication, please talk to your you the members for your support and un-questionable solidari- local representative, or you can ty during 2010 of which we would not exist without. To the very write/e-mail to: few non- members we have in our Branch, who come across this [email protected] magazine. I say to you join this Union and “Get involved”.

Branch Editor, CWU Essex Amal, 21 To all CWU members and families within Essex Amalgamated Short Street, Southend on Sea, Essex. SS1 1AA Branch I would like to wish a happy Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. 2 www.cwuessex.org news Wallace & Gromit Christmas Stamps... Have you got yours?

In promotion with Royal Mail’s Christmas Stamps, you can now create your own Wallace & Gromit character or avatar (for those who know what that is!). Either design yourself, a friend or just make one up. Just visit website: www.wallaceandgromitstamps.com

against the privatisation of Royal Mail. Even a majority of Lib Dem and Conservative Party voters are against. The government is taking on public opinion at its peril."

Dave Ward, CWU deputy gen- eral secretary, said: "In part- CWU Slams Obsession nership with CWU, Royal Mail is modernising successfully in with Privatisation the public sector. We've Following the publication of the company has the freedom to worked hard to improve indus- Postal Services Bill, the CWU borrow money from sources trial relations and tackle the big have criticised the Coalition other than government and the issues in the industry. Government's obsession with issues of regulation are Privatisation will threaten all privatisation and warns that resolved, then privatisation this progress. customers and post offices will becomes an unnecessary ide- suffer as a result of privatisa- ological distraction. "We have argued for govern- tion. ment to accept their responsi- "Universal services will be bility and deal with the pen- Billy Hayes, CWU general sec- reduced by a privatised com- sions deficit, but we're con- retary, said: "The government pany interested in the bottom cerned about what these pro- has wasted no time in flogging line, not the communities posals really mean for our off the country's state assets served by Royal Mail. The sep- members' benefits. On shares, without exploring other aration of Royal Mail from the our members will know that options. This obsession with post office counters is a fatal there are no free gifts. If it real- privatisation is deeply worry- step. The commercial impera- ly is about engaging and moti- ing. Handing postal services tive will be for a privatised vating employees there are far over to the City spivs and gam- Royal Mail to use retail servic- better ways to achieve this. blers that Vince Cable recently es other than the Post Office. A denounced, but is now feeding, seven-year guarantee is a "We're very concerned that pri- will be bad news for everyone. seven-year death sentence for vatisation will undermine the local branches. whole concept of a universal "Royal Mail can remain prof- service. In turn, this will put itable in the public sector under "Every major opinion poll in the even more pressure to cut jobs an alternative model. If the last 20 years shows a majority and services." 3 news www.cwuessex.org Spikey’s, Snow Chains & Anti-Slip Footware Are You Prepared for the Snow? Spikys' and 'Snow-Chains' Anti-Slip Footwear Devices are being The CWU have been present- issued to all Collection and Delivery staff where orders have ed with Royal Mail’s preferred been placed to help cope safely with the snow and icy condi- option to move the Outward tions. and Inward operation from Spiky’s in the South East - Number Ordered: 8523 Southend Mail Centre to Due: Late December / January Chelmsford, this would leave Southend Mail Centre as a Royal Mail have stressed that this is not in the numbers they Delivery and collection hub would have liked and are looking to see if additional pressure only. can be applied on the supplier to speed up deliveries. Notably, the original Royal Mail Snow Chains in the South East Presentation to the NPG In Stock & Ready to Order Now lacked detail on the timescales of the transfer, people implica- The decision to send staff out will depend on a number of factors tions, phasing and various in the Risk Assessment with one factor being what provision the other operational information office has in terms of both 'Spikys' and 'Snow-Chains'. The that was crucial to the business record earliest fall of heavy snow for almost 20 years across the case and indeed for the CWU UK, with Northern and Eastern Scotland receiving up to 2ft of to give any alternative. snow, has obviously caught the Business out. This combined with the fact that Royal Mail is bound by European Union pro- As the CWU have followed the curement and tendering rules (OJEU) has slowed down the pur- consultation process it has chase of these items and caused supply problems. been clear that the more detailed case to transfer work Royal Mail is targeting the supply of 'Spikys' and 'Snow-Chains' from Southend to Chelmsford to the worst affected areas using their risk assessment has been carried out by the approach. The risk assessment process locally will take account Area planning teams after the of the conditions on delivery rounds and whether the anti-slip cleared board decision. footwear devices are available before sending staff out. Indeed it would appear that a great deal of information has been worked up as it has been requested from the CWU. In essence we believe that a prin- ciple of transfer was estab- lished at board level and the Area/Local planning teams have been tasked to imple-

Back Page Crossword Solution ment that decision. 4 www.cwuessex.org feature Union Influences Royal Mail in Southend Mail Centre Change

The Mail Centre Rationalis- We believe that all elements of any transfer of Southend’s ation agreement is a new the agreement should be seen work. agreement and is being in equal context and it is for applied for the first time at this main reason, amongst oth- Local Mail Centre level. ers, that this alternative focus- es heavily on the challenges CWU Branch Committee said: Whilst the local CWU fully that the people issues presents “We are currently negotiating a accept this agreement it is to us. new duty structure in delivery, important to highlight any distribution and processing. areas of concern, within con- Once this is agreed our aim will text, that damage the integrity be to have a full office resign and future of this new agree- "across all functions. We do ment. In ‘Royal Mail’s Formal not underestimate the scale of Response’ to the ‘CWU work in front of us but our aim It is for this reason the local Alternative Option’, the busi- will be to have a definitive END CWU, under separate cover, ness has highlighted and STATE duty set by February have forwarded to the CWU acknowledge the level of work 2011 so that we can com- Divisional Officers our con- put into the proposal by the mence a resign as soon as cerns emanating from this CWU at Southend, and further possible. The final detail of this agreement for consideration at accepts that the impact of will become clearer as we both Royal Mail and CWU change to employees will be negotiate with the employer. National level. significant, not just in Southend We will of course be meeting but also relating to capacity in with members as we continue The Local CWU Consultation Chelmsford Mail Centre. through this process as well as groups have taken a pragmatic making all new information and mature approach in deal- Royal Mail has also stated that available via the Comms ing with the proposal from the unions alternative propos- Room, that is accessible to all Royal Mail and indeed the raft als were “Well thoughtout” and members within Southend Mail of information supplied. It can have “influenced” their current Centre”. never be palatable when faced position. Royal mail now with an office closure that has accept that the outward work The CWU have made it abun- the potential to affect many of will be transfered in March dantly clear that we need to be our member’s livelihoods, in 2011 and the inward in March satisfied that the people issues this case over 190. 2012, this in order to manage are thoroughly dealt with prior the people issues over an to any transfer of work; also Through various slide shows extended period. Royal Mail that Chelmsford quality of serv- given to the CWU at local level also recognise that quality of ice is maintained before trans- we found very little reference to service at Chelmsford Mail fer. employee issues. Centre is a key priority, prior to 5 feature www.cwuessex.org

Delivering on the Revision Iince the last issue of this the future, based on the span We first attempted a stab at the Smagazine, the new of your delivery, and at what TABLETOP REVISION. This Business Transformation speed. If a 100% walk rate is was reliant on the required Agreement has started to built into the Indoor Workload savings being taken out of the become reality for many peo- Tool within your office, then office’s indoor workload with ple within Essex. delivery walks are designed not much changing outdoors. accordingly. Your walking As offices up and down the speed will be calculated from This was completely unaccept- country start and in some your first point of delivery to able by the union as it pro- cases complete their delivery your very last. duced unachievable levels of revision process, it has savings and would reduce become apparent that 100% BSI ultimately means no most offices to part time. although the actual tools used time to wait for customers to Immediately a disagreement for the revisions have been answer doors for packets, no meeting took place between agreed with your Union, the time divert off route to collect myself, a senior manager and actual measurement proce- your next bag of mail and no Dennis King, to resolve what dures into those tools have not. time for toilet breaks! was a serious problem.

This effectively means that Everybody in all units work at Finally after hours of frustration since the start of the summer the level set by the Indoor on both sides it was agreed the business has been running Workload Tool. that common sense would pre- a computer program based vail. All delivery units not plan- tool called the Indoor Workload This has created a problem ner led would be able employ Tool in all delivery units using right from the start of the revi- local knowledge to achieve the an un-agreed 100% BSI target. sion process in every office I level of savings required, com- have had dealings with and as plete with new duty patterns Royal Mail uses the Indoor a result has created a two-way put in place and without any Workload Tool to judge how approach to implementing interference from senior repre- much you will be delivering in office revisions. sentatives or management. 6 www.cwuessex.org feature

Written by Kevin Martin Area Delivery Rep

Directly from our initial dis- revisions, basically they are So far, we have reached step 4 agreement and resolution, just toeing the line and plan- of the majority of the planner every delivery office within ning whatever they were told led office revisions. We have Anglia followed our lead. We instead of planning what the now been approached to sit are now seeing the results with Delivery Reps or office man- down and look at these offices all offices having agreed hours agers wanted. and negotiate what we jointly and most revisions being agree will work in reality. implemented before or just Again after many meetings and after Christmas. So far, to date, hours spent dealing with this December will see the start of we have not had a single revi- dilemma the business has now the planner led negotiations, sion implemented without explained that Delivery and again we will attempt to agreement! Planners are there to purely negotiate what we consider to assist with the revisions. be a fair and manageable The second type of revision workload, complete with an available is the PLANNER Planner led revisions need to innovative duty structure giving LED REVISION. These revi- follow a six step revision people the benefits of different sions have been very frustrat- process, again using the attendance patterns. ing for all offices involved, as Indoor Workload Tool with although the Delivery Director Royal Mail’s preferred 100% We have had many construc- in Anglia has stated that plan- BSI method. tive meetings over all revisions ner led revisions would be and have been fully involved in under the ownership of the This high level of measuring everything that is going on. All Delivery Rep and the manager effectively makes these revi- area representatives still meet of the office, this has not been sons unachievable, with exam- weekly with senior managers the case. ples of delivery walks having and these meetings are pro- 915 delivery points, four hours ductive, with the majority of The Delivery Planners in ques- to deliver everything, and two problems being resolved, but tion seem unable to have any hours to get prepped and as normal if anyone has a flexability in introducing said ready to leave the office. problem consult with your Rep. 7 feature www.cwuessex.org

Dealing With Change, Rumours & a Revision... Chelmsford Mail Centre As Another Year Comes to an End! Written By Vince Thurnel Chelmsford Processing Rep It is probably a pertinent time to once again thank you, the membership, for the loyalty you have shown to your Union.

Although there has been vey little industrial action this year, it does not mean everything is rosy in the garden.

As per normal you have been on the sharp end of Royal Mail’s dash for cash, with every office either having revisions implemented already or on the verge of having them imple- mented.

We know the uncertainty these revisions cause and that’s why we are determined that the mail centre revision will not only produce savings for Royal Mail but will also give you a duty set which is both innova- tive, and at the same time gives you a reasonable level of additional earnings.

We are also confident that by entering a 3 year agreement we can deliver a period of sta- bility in the mail centre, as it is 8 www.cwuessex.org feature

the opportunity to fully inte- grate the new staff and identify how many voluntary redundan- cies we would have to give. With the Southend work will That to us would have been a come staff currently employed far more sensible way to deal at Southend Mail Centre. And with the situation. whilst I would like to take this Unfortunately, sensible solu- our belief that year on year opportunity to reassure all the tions do not seem to be part of revisions do nothing but dam- staff coming from Southend Royal Mail’s plans nowadays, age morale. that we will do everything in our as everything is determined by power to make you welcome, it how quickly savings can be It cannot be good for either you does leave us in a somewhat made. or Royal Mail for that matter, to confusing situation, as on the continually be in revision one hand we are told we have What with the revision and the mode, knowing that despite to make massive savings, and proposed privatisation of Royal escaping unscathed in one on the other we are told that Mail, next year promises to be revision, you might not be as we will have to take people no different from any other lucky in the next one. from Southend, and at the year. We can expect more and moment nobody can even tell more cuts and yet more In the coming weeks talks will us how many people are com- attacks on our terms and con- intensify around the revision ing or what these people will be ditions. None of these things and no doubt the rumour mon- doing. are new to us anymore, as gers will go into overdrive. All every year seems to be the we would ask is that people This is no way meant to be a same. Despite all of Royal speak to their Union reps if criticism of our colleagues from Mail’s attacks on both you and they have any questions. This Southend or a complaint about your trade Union, the fact that is a sure fire way that you will taking in additional staff. Far we are still here and one of the know what you’re being told is from it, but yet again it high- strongest Union’s in this coun- the truth rather than a man- lights what we are up against try speaks volumes of you the agers own interpretation of when we deal with Royal Mail’s membership. That is the rea- what is going on. management team. Surely the son we should not fear what sensible way to deal with the the future holds. Despite what- Remember the talks that take whole situation would have ever Royal Mail and the gov- place are between the CWU been to bring in the Southend ernment throw at us during the and Royal Mail’s senior man- work and the staff and then coming year, we should be agers only. Most of the time hold a revision in the mail cen- confident that by standing your line manager will be tre. This would have meant we together we can overcome the guessing as to what’s going knew how many additional challenges that come our way. on. people we had and how much extra work we had to do. For Thanks for your continued sup- What makes the situation more this to happen all that was port and I hope all of you have complex is we are also taking needed was a delay of around a great Christmas and New in additional work from a year before we had a revi- Year. Southend. sion. That would have given us 9 feature www.cwuessex.org

ver The hills and far people that provide an Well, you can bet that there Oaway there’s a group of excellent service second to are a few hidden agendas people paranoid about sell- none. up the government’s ing off Royal Mail, our 350 sleeve? year old wonderful Public If we are looking for blame, service, so that they can then clearly we don’t need Whoever takes up the chal- benefit from getting their to look any further than the lenge and the responsibility grubby hands on our pen- Government (previous and to invest in Royal Mail will sion pot. current alike) and the Royal stand to better themselves Mail board (in each and substantially with the selloff, How many more times do every iteration over the last to the detriment of the staff we have to face this ten years). employed within the busi- absolute farcical subject ness. matter around privatising Firstly the previous govern- the Royal mail? Probably a ment introduced rules relat- A privatised Royal Mail will similar number of times ing to competition. This have a dramatic effect not Royal Mail has tried and meant that the business only on the service to the failed to close the Southend was forced to start subsidis- public but on our member’s Mail Centre. ing companies like TNT and jobs and the conditions UK Mail with the introduc- everyone works under. Our current government’s tion of downstream access, insinuating that the busi- to the tune of around 150 Private investment is not ness is in such a state that million per year. the answer to repair the only private enterprise can manufactured problems save it. If it were the case that we with Royal Mail. We need are in decline? who in there government action, espe- Was it not the employees right mind would buy Royal cially around current com- who voted on the agree- Mail? Especially with the petition rules. We need a ment to transform this busi- massive pension deficit level playing field that would ness and make it more effi- knocking at its door? allow extra fairly earned cient and profitable - which income to flow into this we have! If you had put this proposi- industry. tion to any of the dragons I have worked in this indus- on the Dragons Den team Privatising Royal mail is still try for over 40 years and they would laugh at you, massively unpopular with find it insulting to all of the and then throw you out! the general public. Surveys 10 www.cwuessex.org feature

have shown us that! It is also very frustrating and annoying to constantly hear that the government is to invest millions into the Rail network a Private company, or loan ten billion to a for- eign country to help prop up a currency that we don’t belong to – we have all wit- nessed these examples in the last few weeks alone, Privatising the Royal Mail is deeply unpopular: but the government are unwilling to fix a problem - A YouGov poll in August 2010 showed that only 15 per cent of the public agree with privatising Royal Mail while 60 per they created within a com- cent believe the Royal Mail should remain a wholly publicly- pany they fully own – need owned organisation. we say anymore? - An ICM poll last year found that 78 per cent of the public believed selling Royal Mail would be a bad deal for the tax- If your Union run’s an effec- payer and 82 per cent of believed prices will go up. tive campaign, we can defeat this diabolical Royal Mail is a successful company in a strong position: predicament we find our- selves in, especially with 1. Royal Mail made £321 million profit in 2009 and £404 mil- lion in 2010, a rise of 26 per cent. your support and assis- tance. 2. The modernisation of Royal Mail is fully funded. There is no need for external financial investment from private back- Now, here we are with ers. another Christmas upon us, 3. The recently agreed Business Transformation Agreement millions of items to be deliv- 2010 provides an outline for the modernisation of Royal Mail ered by posties up and in a highly competitive market and already has the full sup- down the country to OUR port of both staff and management. public - what a great public 4. Royal Mail is experiencing a period of prolonged stability service! Will this last, well it for the first time in a decade. The upheaval of a sell-off would might soon be our last. undo the good work that has already been done, and under.mine any further successful implementation of the Merry Christmas agreement. 11 equal opportunities www.cwuessex.org Equality In The Workplace YOUR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SECTION

Are you aware of the existence of your Equal Opportunities Section? Well, this branch suc- cessfully holds four Equality Committee meetings each year dealing with all issues under the Equality banner. What is Equality I hear you ask!

Equality is about creating a and members with disability’s because you may be different fairer society, where everyone as well as lesbian, gay, bisexu- to others, name calling… etc... can participate and has the al or transgender. opportunity to fulfil their poten- This list is not exhaustive, sta- tial. It is about creating fair As a member of the CWU tistics show that in the public chances in life! It’s not about union you have the right to sector 1 in 5 suffer and some of treating everyone in the same expect professionalism at all those will be suffering in way, but recognizes that their times. We have a fully experi- silence. Don’t become a statis- needs are met in different enced Equality Section, fully tic! It doesn’t matter if your dis- ways. trained on all issues relating to pute is work related or not! The Equality. We deal sensitively problem may be in your private ‘How can this help me in my and discretely with any issue life or outside of employment, day to day role?’ raised you may wish to raise. we are still here to listen and resolve issues on your behalf. Operational Reps will normally We have at our disposal an be the first point of contact for extensive track record, backed Your Equality Committee will all staff. This can be vital in up by our Union nationally and always act on your behalf and dealing with issues and rele- full support at branch level with are committed to dealing with vant circumstances from the a long list of organisations we all cases in a sensitive and pro- first instance. However, as can turn to should the need fessional manner. All issues CWU members, you also have arise. will be kept in the strictest con- at your disposal a very experi- fidence. enced Equality Section, deal- Bullying, Harassment, sexual ing with all manor of issues harassment, discrimination Never ever suffer in silence relating to sexual gender, eth- unwanted attention, being tor- you only give credence to nic minority, retired members mented, abused, picked on idiots.

12 www.cwuessex.org equal opportunities

The Introduction of Written by Eric Parker Welfare Reforms Branch Treasurer / Equality Chairperson With effect from 1st October A Demos report, entitled vate sectors. But the knock on 2010 the benefits system Destination Unknown, argues affect will be far worse with job changed. Its aim, according to the planned welfare reforms losses within Government the Government is to claw will result in more disabled departments, in particular back monies that consecutive people being trapped in long- Jobcentre Plus and Work & Governments & financial insti- term unemployment - ultimate- Pensions (DWP). tutions wasted. ly costing the taxpayer far more than at present. The only way to attack these Weather your a member work- vicious cutbacks and ensure ing or retired with a disability or "Cutting the welfare bill is fair play is to seek advice have spouses or partners who attractive to Government in the before completing benefit claim benefits, you could be current climate, but without forms. Always appeal against affected by these changes. better support it threatens to any decision that has been just exclude people further, made. We already know that Most of us know someone who rather than transforming their the DWP has been told to suffers from mental illness, lives for the better." downgrade claims because the have disabilities, or have fami- majority will accept a first offer. ly members who need carers The cuts have already predict- Lobby your MP or write to us and have to claim benefits. ed one million more unem- giving us your experiences. These entitlements have been ployed in both public and pri- put in place to help families Contact Us: and members who suffer, get the financial help needed to Eric Parker: Chelmsford Tel: 07904 009342 live a regular life. Branch Treasurer / Equality Chairperson for all Equality issues Neil Cocks: Essex Distribution Centre Tel: 07985 713781 The Chancellor stated that Branch Equality Officer for all Equality issues people who suffer from mental illness would be protected, but Fran Saunderson: Chelmsford Mail Centre Tel: 01245 234500 further stated there will be a Branch Women’s Officer new cap on future benefits. Barry Patel: Southend Mail Centre Tel: 01702 356244 For all ethnic minority issues Announced welfare cuts are being analysed further. Some Sam Makwana: Chelmsford Mail Centre Tel: 01245 234500 key facts have come to light For all ethnic minority issues and disabled people plan to Carl Abbott: Southend Mail Centre Tel: 01702 356244 loose the most. Ministers’ plan Youth Officer to move disabled people on to Job Seekers Allowance will Dave Parry: Chelmsford Tel: 07904 009342 account for half these losses. For all Retirement and Pension issues

13 In Spotlight www.cwuessex.org

Keep the Post Public Campaign Backed by Dennis Skinner MP Written by Richard Wood CWU Distribution Rep With the 3rd reading of the Postal Services Bill looming it is a very worrying time for us all in the postal industry, but there are voices, some very loud, which back our cam- Dennis Skinner MP paign. In Spotlight At a recent CWU briefing in the House of Commons, running Highlighting how privatisation as with the pits, where the least alongside the 2nd reading of had led to great British indus- profitable mines were closed the Bill, the voice of Dennis tries being owned by foreign down after privatisation, the Skinner M.P. was very loud. investors, and how he saw the universal service would be wrongdoings of privatising the under threat with a private Dennis Skinner was born coal pits bearing similarities to company. February 1932 in Clay Cross, the Postal industry. Derbyshire. Dennis is the 3rd Dennis gave a speech that was of 9 children of the miner During that time there were bold and uplifting. He has been Edward Skinner. He worked as some pits that made a lot of suspended from Parliament at a miner for 20 years, in the profit (mainly the open seam least 10 times from using 'un- course of which he became an pits) and some pits that carried parliamentarily language' and NUM leader and Clay Cross just a small profit. Overall the amusingly during this speech Labour Party Councilor. He big moneymakers carried the described Vince Cable 'as a has been MP for Bolsover small moneymakers. man who has been in more since 1970 and was Chairman parties than Paris Hilton!'. of the Labour Party 1988/89. He said that our universal serv- ice is like this i.e. where big city So, this is a worrying time but Dennis delivered a speech to postings give us huge profits with voices being heard every- everyone that literally raised carrying the cost of people where, about the movement of the roof. He certainly didn't posting across the country, the Coalition Government, the need a microphone! which run at a loss. He warned, battle is not lost! 14 www.cwuessex.org health & safety HEALTH & SAFETY WRAP... SAFETY IS A CONSTANT PRIORITY Coming to your office... Soon... Written by: Marcus Szabo What Constitutes as a Hazard on Delivery? .There may be a very aggressive dog at a house you deliver to? .A footpath that is regularly slippery from drains problems in icy winter? .Hazardous slippery metal or wooden steps? .What happens when you are on leave and a colleague has to cover your delivery duty? .How would your colleague be able to determine whether a house has a slippery floor in snowy conditions? .How would they know that dog is aggressive? .More importantly a dog at an address could attack them if they are unaware of its existence! We all experience some form be assessed. The WRAP sys- of hazard out on delivery. One tem gives managers clear of the best ways of avoiding guidelines on how to proceed these is to be actively aware of with the hazard in question, but what a hazard pertains to? your Health & Safety Rep and Line Manager might need to The best way to be safe is to work together to find a conclu- read the Walk Log on the deliv- sion for serious hazards or ery frame. This will give staff a attacks. clear indication of where all hazards exist on a delivery Not only does the WRAP sys- round. To make Walk Logs tem inform your manager of clearer to understand Royal guidelines and procedures he Mail is in the process of updat- has available to carry out, it ing all delivery OPGs Walk also assists in printing out tem- Logs using a new delivery tool plate letters to difficult cus- known as WRAP (Walk Risk tomers or organizations where Assessment Platform). a hazard exists.

So how does this system As the Health & Safety Rep (for work? Firstly, you will be able CM & SS) I will be coming to to complete a simple Hazard your office with Steve Card highlighting the hazard. McMahon, Deputy Area H&S Pass this to your Line Manager Rep, to speak to you about who has to enter the informa- what constitutes as a hazard tion into the WRAP system and on your delivery round and print out a copy for your Walk how implementing hazards on Log on your delivery frame. the WRAP system will ultimate- ly help you in the future and This hazard will then need to help make your delivery safer. 15 Quiz www.cwuessex.org

Well, Christmas is approaching once QUIZ PAGE more, and as you all sit down to watch your favourite movies and TV shows, here’s a film/TV themed crossword to test your on-screen for Fun knowledge. Just

Down: 1 A. A. Milne's Famous bear (4) 2 Dale's rodent car- toon partner (4) 3 '______Kiss', Film starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline (6) 4 TV Detective, famous for his mac & hunched back (7) 5 Liza Minelli's most famous musical (7) 6 Thespians do this in front of the camera (6) 7 Tragic Shakespear- ian King (4) 8 Presenter of Deal or no Deal (4) 11 Cruella kidnapped some of these spotty animals (7) 13Disney animated film featuring the song 'A whole new World' (7) 20Foghorn ______, Cartoon Rooster (7) 21______Place, defunct TV show starring Heather Locklear (7) Across: 23 Street from Neighbours (6) 1 'South ______', Musical (7) edy film featuring Michael 24 A state you shouldn't be in 5 He was a famous silent Palin (5) when you meet Freddy movie actor (7) 19 John Wayne defended this Krouger! (6) 9 Stan's sister in 'On the fort! (5) 26 A type of long adventure Buses' (5) 22 O'Toole, TE Laurence actor, film (4) 10 Macbeth was one of these also in High Spirits. (5) 27 ____ Rabbit: Famous for before he became king (5) 24 Leader of the Chipmunks! (5) finding his happy place. (4) 12 James ______, director 25 '______Ashes', popular film 28 Marvel Comic book hero, of The Abyss (7) and novel (7) also a Norse god (4) 14 Sundance's partner (5) 30 'We'll always have _____', 29 2009 film depicting Ivan the 15 Clark _____, 'King of famous Casablanca line (5) terrible; Also the title of a Hollywood' (5) 31 Basis of morals (5) Russian king (4) 16 'Berty ____' Every Flavor 32 Series of British Comedy Beans', from the books & films starring Sid James, films of Harry Potter (5) Barbra Windsor, Kenneth 17 Leonard Nimoy's pointy Connor etc... (5,2)

eared character (5) 33 The Mummy: Tomb of the 18 'A fish called _____', com- Dragon ______(7) 4 page on Solution Crossword