Return to shared vans from *?????????* ***

[Woody Guthrie]

Joint Statement – Royal Mail and CWU, Return to Shared Van Working
No. 237/21


11th June 2021


Dear Colleagues,

Joint Statement – Royal Mail and CWU, Return to Shared Van Working

We have reached an agreement with Royal Mail on the potential return of shared vans – subject to the government announcement on June 14th and a number of safety considerations.


The joint statement and communications are attached, along with the appropriate Safety documents. We ask that you share these with our members.


We will also be holding a live Q&A on this issue on Monday 14th June at 4pm. This will be available via the CWU Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels.

Joint-Statement-Van-Sharing-10.06.21-final.pdf

Yours sincerely,


Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer


Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media

[Woody Guthrie]

Of course it all could depend on what Boris says on Monday.....

[POSTMAN]

LTB Here...
viewtopic.php?p=942862

Further Government announcements are due to be made to the UK public on the 14th June, both parties have arranged to meet and jointly review the Government advice on the 15th June to determine the next steps and any revised timeline in regards to
returning to shared vehicles along with any other operational impacts.

You know it's probably a NO then?

[Acca Dacca]

Looking like the new date is July 19th for the ''unlocking'' in England or 5th if hospitalisations stay low enough ( why do Royal Mail only go by England btw when it operates in Wales, Scotland and NI too? )

[Caesar]

Will this mean an end to compulsory mask wearing ?

[Acca Dacca]

Will this mean an end to compulsory mask wearing ?

No

[captain kaos]

Will this mean an end to compulsory mask wearing ?

Compulsory mask wearing. Where ?

[wookie]

Will this mean an end to compulsory mask wearing ?

Compulsory mask wearing. Where ?

Exactly, Managers have let all the requirements for distancing/mask wearing go to pieces. They are now looking at budgets/Lapsing at the detriment of the the guidelines they should be adhering to.

[ripio]

Don't see how they can possibly consider van sharing as anywhere near safe until everyone who is van sharing has been vaccinated twice, at the very least.
There is currently exponential growth in cases of the Indian/Delta variant.
The Astra Zeneca vaccine is only 30% effective at preventing infection from this variant with one dose, rising to 60% two weeks after the second dose.
If this covid variant gets into a delivery office it will spread among staff, particularly the younger members who have had one or no vaccinations yet.
Long Covid affects between 10% and 15% of those who contract it so although most might have a mild illness, should we be taking the risk of many employees becoming long term sick?

[iHateD2Ds]

My concern is how many peoples life this decision will wreck ?
Hey, you are probably unlikely to die but this disease can certainly give long term health problems.!
Like a previous post says 10-15% of Covid survivors have long Covid and many are unable to work One year on.

The vaccine does not stop you from getting Covid but may give you protection.

The Government has failed to contain the Delta mutation which is 40 - 60 % more transmissible than the Original Wuhan variant.


Until a vaccine is found to nail Covid I’m afraid we are all at risk.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Can't really add much to the last couple of posts, besides mentioning that so many van duty rotas mean that many OPGs don't just work with a single colleague week in week out, day off covers and reserves will ordinarily be sharing vans with various colleagues. All at various stages of having had their full quota of a vaccine plus having had three weeks after the final jab to be as protected (which isn't 100%) as they will get, all with different approaches on how much effort they are still trying to "stay safe."

All while the Delta variant is much more transmittable than the Alpha Kent strain that ripped through the UK from around September last year, with cases rising to 8000+ on the day of this RM news, infecting some individuals who have even had their full vaccine quota.

Another awfully timed Covid announcement by Royal Mail, with the blessing of our union.

[Phantom]

Can't wait for shared van, it will mean leaving even more of the workload in for this stupid organisation.
Bring it on.

[ripio]

Can't wait for shared van, it will mean leaving even more of the workload in for this stupid organisation.
Bring it on.

What about the covid you might contract as a result?
Happy with that?

[cliffeyhez]

I
Despite having both vaccines, I'm still classed as being Extremely Vulnerable due to Leukemia and being on Chemotherapy.
Cases of the Delta Coronavirus variant are steadily rising in my region, and throughout the country.
I will not be van sharing just yet.

[HTPostman]

Can't really add much to the last couple of posts, besides mentioning that so many van duty rotas mean that many OPGs don't just work with a single colleague week in week out, day off covers and reserves will ordinarily be sharing vans with various colleagues. All at various stages of having had their full quota of a vaccine plus having had three weeks after the final jab to be as protected (which isn't 100%) as they will get, all with different approaches on how much effort they are still trying to "stay safe."

Fully agree, in the last 10 working days I’ve been on 10 different rounds, and used 10 different vans. I’m awaiting my 2nd jab but there’s quite a big chunk (I’d estimate 20%) who think it’s a conspiracy and refuse to get theirs.

I’ll wait to hear what Uncle Boris says in the days ahead.