Union Learning Case Study: Domestic Abuse

By Terry Henderson, Lead ULR, Eastern No 5

The first time I met Sharon Livermore was during an online Domestic Abuse session organised by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CAPCA) on the 31st of January 2023. I had managed to get an invite through my involvement in the Network for Addressing Isolation and Loneliness in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (NAILCAP) which I was the only member of from a Trade Union. I attended the one hour online session, during which Sharon spoke about her own shocking personal experience as a domestic abuse survivor and then talked about all aspects of domestic abuse, including what signs to look out for, statistics about all those affected. and where to find help.

After attending that session, I was invited to the Peterborough Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Conference held at the Allia Future Business Centre in Peterborough FC ground on the 22nd of June 2023. Once again, I found myself the only Trade Union Representative in the room, there were a number of local and national domestic abuse organisations and guest speakers. One of the speakers was Sharon, who did the hour long presentation to a silent room. During a break I was unable to talk to Sharon but managed to get her email address.

We arranged a virtual meeting using Teams on the 5th of July and set up a one hour webinar, subject to agreement of the Eastern No5 Branch Committee. The Branch agreed to meet the cost and the webinar was arranged for the 19th of September. The webinar was opened up to the whole of the CWU membership and was very successful and well received. Afterwards I discussed my plans to submit a motion to national conference, and Sharon gave me permission for her Workplace Domestic Abuse policy to be used as part of that.

Sharon and I kept in contact and arranged to meet online again to discuss how we could get as many members briefed as possible. I told Sharon about the 30 minute Royal Mail Work Time, Listening and Learning sessions that every member of staff should receive. I asked if it would be possible for her to do a bespoke presentation that could fit into that limited time, and still be effective and she kindly obliged. I then went and spoke to the Peterborough Mail Centre Manager Sarah O’Shaughnessy about moving the times and days of the WTLL sessions so as many staff could be briefed in one day. Sarah and I consulted with the Shift Managers and put a plan together. Sharon and I looked at our diary’s and, decided because of our work commitments that the sessions for the morning and late shift staff would take place on the 12th of January 2024.

The day of the sessions soon came around and Sharon arrived at the Mail Centre early so we could get set up in the room. We had planned four, 30 minute sessions over the day to allow for the different start and finish times of staff. The first session started at 11.30 and the last finishing at 18.30. All sessions were listened to intently by staff, and the sessions soon proved that they were needed, with staff coming to speak in confidence to Sharon and I after each session and advice and guidance as given. Sharon and I discussed planning more sessions covering the other shifts and to keep in touch to do the planning. Once again work commitments and conference meant that the planning was difficult, but we finally settled on doing the sessions over night in to the morning of the 18th-19th of July 2024. I made all the arrangements again with the Mail Centre Manager Sarah and the Delivery Lead Matt Boden to move the days and times of the WTLL sessions so we could reach as many staff as possible.

On the night I arrived at about 1.30am to set up the room and soon received a call from Sharon to let her into the building. The sessions with processing staff started at 2.30am and 3.00am. Both sessions went well and again we were approached by staff who wanted to talk through issues. We then went for a coffee break and did some work while waiting for the delivery staff sessions. 7.30am soon came around and the first of the two sessions was under way. These sessions were male dominated and there was some scepticism in the room. That soon changed as Sharon spoke how D.A. affects all sexes and genders, and this was backed up with the statistics. Once again, the need for staff to hear facts and figures was proven as we were again approached by members of staff that wanted to talk and get advice.

I will continue to keep in contact with Sharon and with the help and support of my Branch Secretary Andy Beeby and the rest of the committee, we will start the planning on how we can continue help Domestic Abuse survivors.