JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND THE CWU REGARDING BANK HOLIDAY RESOURCING FOR LINEHAUL (NETWORK) PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS – CHRISTMAS 2021/22
Branches will recall that as an integral part of the 2007 Professional Drivers Agreement, Bank Holidays effectively became normal working days for Network LGV Drivers and while we have long had an understanding with the business that where possible attendance would be on a voluntary basis, in reality our members can be compelled to attend on those days where sufficient numbers fail to volunteer. In line with the PDA, all staff who attend are credited with a lieu day.
Branches and representatives will be aware that, in addition to the generic Christmas Arrangements Agreement, the department has since 2014 reached agreement with Royal Mail Distribution on specific guidelines covering the resourcing of Network LGV duties across the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.
In line with previous arrangements discussions have therefore taken place with the business and the attached Joint Statement has been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive.
As previously reported, this year has proved particularly challenging due to the uncertainty around the Ofcom consultation on the New Year Bank Holiday. Although the PDA dates back to 2007, and was in force the last time this pattern occurred in 2010/11 in reality Royal Mail was a very different organisation at that time, with no commitment to either test Kit or Sunday Delivery Operations or the parcel volumes that the company now handles.
Royal Mail have indicated that there is a substantial requirement for the business to run a service on Sunday, 26th December 2021(Boxing Day) and Saturday, 1stJanuary 2022 (New Year’s Day), neither of which are Bank Holidays this year as they fall at the weekend. As such discussions have focused on providing guidance on attendance of those days in addition to the now established commitments around mitigating the individual commitment of drivers over the Bank Holiday period.
With regard to Sunday, December 26th 2021 (Boxing Day) and Saturday, 1st January 2022 (New Year’s Day) attendance will prioritise volunteers, supported by the full range of mixed resourcing options. Attendance will attract Overtime rates of pay.
As detailed in the generic Royal Mail Peak Christmas Arrangements 2021 Document, circulated in LTB 530/21 on the 6th December 2021, in order to further incentivise attendance exceptionally both parties have agreed a one off lump sum will be applicable for Drivers that make a forward commitment to volunteer and attend on Sunday, 26thDecember 2021.
- Attendances up to eight hours will receive an additional lump sum payment of: £38.
- Attendances beyond eight hours will receive an additional lump sum payment of: £60.
In line with the commitments in the National Peak/Christmas Arrangements document further discussions will take place in relation to January 1st 2022.
In addition, the attached Joint Statement reaffirms the following commitments:
A wholly voluntary approach to any attendance on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
The use of the full range of resourcing options to reduce the burden on our members.
A commitment to only run essential services on Bank Holidays.
A commitment to minimise any mandatory attendance – no driver asked to attend on both the Monday, 27th December and 3rdJanuary Bank Holidays.
Local discussions on resourcing should be completed at the earliest possible juncture to give the maximum levels of certainty to all our drivers. Discussions should be progressed in line with the IR Framework and the Network Working Group will be available to assist should it become necessary.
This Joint Statement covers the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays only. Resourcing for all other Bank Holidays will continue to be progressed in line with the terms of the Professional Drivers Agreement.
As in previous years the department believes that the attached clarification provided in relation to the arrangements for 2020/21 will be welcomed by representatives and members.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 206A.15.
Yours sincerely
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Bank Holiday Resourcing for Linehaul (Network) Professional Drivers Christmas 2021-22 07.12.21
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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