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At this year's Conference, General Secretary, Dave Ward presented Dave Joyce with the CWU Gold Badge Award, and Life Honorary Membership, for his outstanding career in the Union and for making the CWU Health & Safety policy stand-out on so many campaigns, and for making the Union a leading H&S policy advocate at the TUC.

Here, Jamie McGovern, CWU's Health & Safety Policy Adviser, reports on the event and in doing so, highlights the first-class health and safety work undertaken by Dave Joyce on behalf of the CWU for over 20 years:

This presentation was arranged by the London Regional MT and Scotland MT Branches is in recognition of the services of Dave Joyce and Crawford Johnstone, to the CWU and wider Labour and Trade Union Movement. It was held at the Hermitage Hotel, BH2 5AH, in Bournemouth on Wednesday 13th May.

Dave Joyce’s CWU role often included Political campaigning on Health, Safety & Environmental issues affecting CWU members, such as leading on the TYRED (safety/road safety campaign) for the CWU and campaigning for stronger Dog Safety laws and enforcement.

Dave was at the forefront of supporting CWU members and the CWU Safety Reps community during the Covid pandemic.

The maintenance of key worker status for many of our Postal workers was largely down to Dave reviewing a huge amount of national safe systems of work for workers whilst arranging national covid safe meetings in work places around the UK, plus online to ensure safety and infection controls were maintained.

He also maintained working partnerships through arrangement of organised meetings with National Covid compliance teams to keep our workplaces as Covid-Secure as possible.

Through Dave Joyce’s leadership, the CWU became the first Trade Union to win prestigious National Safety Award presented and sponsored by the IOSH (Institute of Occupational Safety & Heath), RoSPA (Royal Society for The Prevention of Accidents) and MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) England and the National ‘Inside-Out’ Mental Health Awards.

Dave Joyce led the CWU in the field of Mental Health with the ‘Inside Out Mental Health award for 2022 made in recognition of the union’s Mental Health Strategy and achievements & the significant work the union does in the field of mental health and workplace stress. Dave’s work and influence was instrumental in raising of the profile of the issue of mental health in the workplace, as well as securing various landmark agreements with major employers.

Paying his tribute to Dave, Jamie McGovern said:

"Dave Joyce has never undertaken anything for personal reward, and probably his biggest achievement in his LONG & SUCCESSFUL career; has been in helping to take the whole of the UK forward on the dangerous dogs issue.

Working with multiple police agencies, supporting prosecutions and trying to reduce an upward trend of serious & fatal dog attacks UK-wide, he did this through actively working with UK charities, devolved governments and bereaved parents; and by working with these groups as a leader of our union nationally.

Dave Joyce has influenced & contributed to changes in the laws regarding dangerous dogs through his steadfast commitment to creating safety communities. Dave has often been in working group meetings witnessing families recollecting heartbreaking and very emotive personal stories in relation to dog attacks events in the UK (especially involving children) the human stories and the psychological impact on life; can have long term drastic effects.

Dog attack risks for CWU members and all community workers have been hugely lessened because of the campaigning and awareness work that Dave has embarked on over the last 20 years."

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