LTB 698/16 – National Postal Workers Day – Monday 12th December
No. 698/16
1st December 2016
To: All Branches with Postal members
Dear Colleague,
National Postal Workers Day – Monday 12th December
The purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches of major forthcoming initiatives on National Postal Workers Day on 12th December and to ask for your support.
Workplace Mailing – Next Week
All workplaces will receive a mailing next week with a pamphlet setting out our plans for National Postal Workers Day on 12th December.
In essence, we are hoping to make 12th December (traditionally the highest posting day of the year) a celebration of the role postal workers play in delivering the universal postal service six days a week, every week of the year to 29 million addresses across the UK.
How CWU Members Can Help
The pamphlet itself is designed to be used as a poster publicising National Postal Workers day and we are asking members to take selfies with the poster in their office and with customers and share these via social media. We are also asking CWU members to come up with their own innovative ideas to publicise the day and the importance of their role and postal services.
Post Office Campaign
National Postal Workers Day represents an ideal opportunity to increase the level of postcard returns for our Post Office campaign. With this in mind, we are extending the deadline for returning cards to CWU HQ to Wednesday 14th December.
We ask that alongside the workplace photoshoots, Branches organise the signing of postcards in all large and medium sized units – if you have not already done so.
Any Branches requiring additional postcards to carry out this activity should contact Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org as a matter of urgency.
Media Coverage
The union has worked hard to secure a number of national press articles on the day and these will be shared with Branches electronically as they are published. We have also taken adverts out in The New Statesman and several local publications. Additionally, a number of high profile figures and MPs have pledged their support for National Postal Workers Day and we will be sharing their videos, messages and tweets on the day.
The General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary (Postal) will also be visiting workplaces on the day to further raise the profile. Next week we will be working to increase the opportunity for media coverage, although as everybody knows, this will ultimately depend on the news agenda for that day.
What We Need From Regions, Divisions, Branches and Members
We understand that National Postal Workers Day falls at a very busy time of the year for our Branches and members – but it also presents a real opportunity for publicity given the Christmas pressure period. Ultimately, we want to maximise support from all sections of the CWU and our members to make the day a success.
We are therefore asking Representatives, Branches, Divisions and Regions to help support our initiative and undertake the following activities in support of the campaign:
1. We ask that Regions/Branches send out a press release to all local media contacts in their area – we haveattached a draft to assist you with this.
2. We request Regions/Branches give consideration to taking out adverts in local publications. A version of the national advert is attached and we are happy for Branches to use this at local level.
3. Branches should organise photoshoots on the day with members holding their National Postal Workers Day posters. These should be shared via Twitter and Facebook using #PeoplesPost
4. We believe that our members are an underused resource for us as a union. We ask that members find innovative and exciting ways of getting our messages out on the day. Prizes will be provided for the best photos by members, Branches and Regions.
To support Branches and CWU Representatives we have attached to this LTB the following documentation:
- An advance copy of the CWU poster – not the printed version (Attachment 1)
- A model press release for Branches to use with their local media (Attachment 2)
- A copy of an advert that can be used by Branches in local publications (Attachment 3)
Conclusion
It is essential that all Branches and Representatives play an active part and do what they can to make the day a success.
We would urge Branches to select a manageable number of units and focus their efforts on these.
We would also ask you to ensure the content of this LTB and in particular the CWU Poster is provided to all Representatives as soon as possible. Please consider supplementing our national message with your own tailored Branch message in your workplaces.
The external pressures brought about by the privatisation and unfair regulation of the Postal Industry is having a direct impact on the issues we are dealing with in offices across the UK. National Postal Workers Day offers us an opportunity to celebrate the role of postal workers and raise the profile of our campaign.
Please do everything that you can to support National Postal Workers Day.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward Terry Pullinger
General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (P)