CWU members within Royal Mail step up action against proposed modernization, pay and conditions

IN IN a long running dispute with management at Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over the company's modernisation plans, a new series of 48 hour strikes started over Wednesday, 30 November to Thursday, 1 December 2022. We are told that around 1,400 staff working at Crown Offices and in Admin functions are taking strike action, while supply chain members are also holding a 2 week overtime ban, in the run up to Christmas Eve, that is affecting postal deliveries across the UK. The firm says it will try to keep services going to some extent but disruption and delays are likely to be significant.

Back in November 2022, the 2 sides had hoped to de-escalate, with the Union pausing its action, but negotiations again broke down over what the Unios says is the firm's determination to turning its delivery network into an:- "Uber-style gig economy company." This lead to Union to hold a re-ballot to restart industrial action and its member's overwhelming endorsement to strike, with them returning an astonishing 91.24% "yes" vote to the Union's strike plan; as well as a similar 90% plus majority for action short of a strike. We are told that this was the 1st time in the CWU's history that the same group of members have returned consecutive "YES" votes within the same calendar year.

As the action as announced the Union's Acting DGSP, Andy Furey, said:- "After 9 bouts of strike action, in a dispute that's now gone on for nearly seven months, it really says something about the sheer determination of our members that they voted again in such enormous numbers for further walkouts. Hard working staff have been battling most of this year to win a fair pay rise and remain angry at the employer's decision to freeze pay for the 2021/22 period and offer an inadequate 5% increase for 2022/23. Despite it being higher than the 3% previously offered, it remains far, far below current inflation levels and this is despite the organisation posting profits of £74 million over the past 2 financial years. Nick Read needs to listen to his workforce and put more money on the table. He's got nearly two weeks before the action begins so he can still do this. But please don't be under any illusions here; if our members are forced to strike, they will strike. And keep on with this action right up until Christmas; and beyond if necessary. Everybody knows there's more than enough money for a reasonable pay rise and it's time for those at the top of the Post Office to show real respect for dedicated public servants who, as key workers, provided unprecedented customer service during the Pandemic. The determination of these people; whose efforts generated millions of pounds in profit; hasn't swayed, and they won't accept their living standards being smashed. We repeat our message to management; see sense, get back to the negotiating table and offer our members the fair deal they deserve."

The next 48 hours will be held on:-

►   Wednesday, 14 December 2022 to Thursday, 15 December 2022.

►   Friday, 23 December 2022 to Saturday, 24 December 2022.

Plus, Crowns and Admin members will commence strike action at or after 6am, on Monday, 12 December and before 8pm, on Tuesday, 13 December 2022.

Supply Chain members commence an overtime and scheduled attendance ban at midnight on the morning of Monday, 12 December until 1 minute before midnight on Saturday, 24 December 2022.

Home insurance expert at Confused.com gives to those affected by UK's postal worker's 48 hour walkouts

HOME insurance expert at Confused.com Jessica Willock, in a press release has outlined what you should do if your have problems with your online orders which might be affected by the The Royal Mail's 48 hour walkouts. Jessica Willock told us that:- "The Royal Mail's 48 hour walkouts are likely to lead to disruption across the whole UK network. Black Friday is 1 of the most popular times for buying online, and alone can result in delays even when there aren't any strikes. The strikes are expected to continue over the festive season, so there could be some worry around parcels arriving before Christmas. When ordering items online, the retailer is responsible for getting them to you and ensuring they arrive on time and in one piece. So if you experience any delays or receive items that are damaged, you should reach out to them directly. It's also a good idea to take photographic evidence if this happens so the retailer can investigate. And remember that these rules apply all year round, whether there are strikes or not. You may be tempted to claim for missing items on your home insurance, but you should always reach out to the retailer to resolve the issue. Making this unnecessary claim could affect your no claims bonus. Our online guide on lost parcel advice can advise you on what to do if your parcels ever end up lost, damaged or even stolen."
 

Rate of mental disorders among 17 to 19 year olds increased in 2022, new report shows

THE Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022 report, published by NHS Digital, showed that among:- 17 to 19 year olds, the proportion with a probable mental disorder1 increased from:- 17.4% in 2021 to 25.7% in 2022.

This report explores the mental health of children and young people in England in 2022 and how this has changed from 2017, 2020 and 20212. Views and experiences of:- family life, education, household circumstances, services and employment are examined.

In 2017, 10.1% of 17 to 19 years olds had a probable mental disorder; the rate increased to 17.7% in 2020, but remained stable between 2020 and 2021, when it was 17.4%.

Among 7 to 16 year olds, the proportion with a probable mental disorder was:- 18.0% in 2022; up from:- 12.1% in 2017, but a similar rate to 2020 when it was:- 16.7% and 2021 when it was 17.8%.

In 2022, among those aged 7 to 10, prevalence of a probable mental disorder was nearly twice as high in boys (19.7%) as in girls (10.5%)Rates of a probable mental disorder were similar in boys (18.8%) and girls (22.0%) aged 11 to 16. Among 17 to 24 year olds, the prevalence was much higher in young women (31.2%) than young men (13.3%).

The findings draw on a sample of 2,866 children and young people who are now aged between 7 and 24 years old3, while information was also provided by parents for children aged 7 to 16. This publication is part of a series of follow up reports to the 2017 Mental Health of Children and Young People in England survey4.

The survey, commissioned by NHS Digital, was carried out earlier this year by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen)5, University of Cambridge and University of Exeter.

Other topics covered in the report include:-

►   Household circumstances... Children with a probable mental disorder were more likely than those without to live in a home experiencing financial strain:-

   ►   Among 17 to 22 year olds with a probable mental disorder, 14.8% reported living in a household that had experienced not being able to buy enough food or using a food bank in the past year, compared with 2.1% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder.

   ►   19.9% 7 to 16 year olds lived in households that experienced a reduction in household income in the past year. This was 28.6% among children with a probable mental disorder.

   ►   17.8% of children aged 7 to 16 with a probable mental disorder lived in a household that had fallen behind with bills, rent or mortgage, compared with 7.6% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder.

   ►   13.6% of children with a probable mental disorder lived in a household where they could not afford to keep the house warm enough, compared with 6.0% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder.

►   School... Children with a probable mental disorder were more likely than those without to report negative views and experiences at School:-

   ►   11 to 16 year olds with a probable mental disorder were less likely to feel safe at School (61.2%) than those unlikely to have a mental disorder (89.2%). They were also less likely to report enjoyment of learning or have a friend they could turn to for support.

   ►   School absence rates were higher in children with a probable mental disorder; 12.6% missed more than 15 days of School compared with 3.9% of those unlikely to have a mental disorder.

   ►   Looking at all 11 to 16 year olds surveyed, regardless of whether they had a likely mental disorder, 38.6% were worried about the impact Covid19 has had on their School work and 43.5% were worried about the effect on their future exam results.

►   Social media... Children and young people with a probable mental disorder were more likely than those without to experience bullying online:-

   ►   12.6% 11 to 16 year old users of social media reported that they had been bullied online. This was 29.4% among those with a probable mental disorder.  

   ►   11 to 16 year old social media users with a probable mental disorder were less likely to report feeling safe online (48.4%) than those unlikely to have a disorder (66.5%).

   ►   Among all 17 to 24 year old social media users surveyed, regardless of whether they had a likely mental disorder, young women were almost twice as likely to report having been bullied online (19.5%) compared with 11.3% of young men.

►   Eating problems... The report includes data on possible problems with eating, which indicates an increased likelihood of problems or broader difficulties with eating. It does not mean that the child or young person had an eating disorder.

   ►   12.9% of 11 to 16 year olds; 60.3% of 17 to 19 year olds and 62.2% of 20 to 23 year olds had a possible eating problem in 2022.

   ►   Across all age groups, the rate of possible eating problems was higher in girls than boys: for children aged:- 11 to 16, the rate was 17.8% in girls compared with 8.1% in boys. For young people aged:- 17 to 19, the rate was 75.9% in young women, compared with 45.5% in young men.

   ►   In children aged 11 to 16, the rate of possible eating problems rose between 2017 (6.7%) and 2021 (13.0%), and then remained stable between 2021 and 2022 (12.9%). 

   ►   In young people aged 17 to 19, the prevalence of possible eating problems rose from:- 44.6% in 2017 to 58.2% in 2021. Rates remained stable between:- 2021 (58.2%) and 2022 (60.3%).  

►   Sleep problems... Sleep problems were more common in children and young people with a probable mental disorder than in those unlikely to have a disorder:- 34.0% of 7 to 16 year olds and 64.0% of 17 to 23 year olds were affected by problems with sleep 3 or more times over the previous 7 nights. Of those with a probable mental disorder, this rose to 72.3% in 7 to 16 year olds and 89.5% in 17 to 23 year olds.

►   Loneliness... Loneliness was more common among children and young people with a probable mental disorder:- 5.2% of 11 to 16 year olds and 12.6% of 17 to 22 year olds said they often or always felt lonely. Loneliness was higher among those with a probable mental disorder, with:- 18.0% of 11 to 16 year olds and 28.9% of 17 to 22 year olds reporting often or always feeling lonely.

►   Self harm... Children and young people with a probable mental disorder were more likely to report self harm:- 28.3% of 7 to 16 year olds and 68.6% of 17 to 24 year olds with a probable mental disorder had ever tried to harm themselves. Of those unlikely to have a mental disorder, 2.5% of those aged:- 7 to 16 and 17.8% of 17 to 24 year olds had tried to harm themselves.