ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTES – OFCOM & THE USE OF ‘RYDE’ DELIVERY APP
Enquiries have been received from Branches in relation to the ‘Ryde App’ being used by Royal Mail Group to recruit couriers in their ongoing attempt to undermine the successful strike action that is still overwhelmingly supported by our members.
Concerns Raised with Ofcom
The attached correspondence has been sent to Dame Melanie Dawes – CEO Ofcom, and Lord Michael Grade the Chair, to raise our legitimate concerns about the risk of loss and theft of mail, as well as the increased possibility of identity theft and fraud from casual employees having access to the names and addresses of customers. Royal Mail Group has not provided any definitive insight or information as to what the training involves and there is the real concern that it will be insufficient to achieve the mail integrity obligations of Royal Mail as set out in ‘Essential Condition 1’ of their licence. In addition, it is questionable as to whether background checks on applicants are being completed thoroughly.
Ryde Courier App
In terms of Royal Mail Group employees applying for such ‘Ryde’ courier posts, below is the clause taken from the 2018 OPG contract, that still pertains and which you may be familiar with. This relates to employees taking other employment.
Your employment with Royal Mail is a full/part occupation. You must not engage in any other employment such that you would be unable to meet your contractual obligations to Royal Mail. Further, any additional hours of work you may perform for another employer aggregated with those that you perform under this contract must not exceed the limits that apply under the Working Time Regulations 1998 or any agreements that relate to working time. You must not be involved in or have an interest in the activities of any organisation whose business is in competition with that of Royal Mail or any of its business units or subsidiaries and must advise Royal Mail of any other employment which you hold or intend to take.
Branches and Representatives will recognise and appreciate that the union has not directly or indirectly encouraged members to disrupt Ryde’s activities. What is apparent however, is that if Royal Mail Group use ‘Ryde’ couriers to deliver letters this is a de facto contracting out of USO work and is something that we will continue to challenge via Ofcom and the media.
In closing we would like to express our thanks for the continued support of all Reps and members during this dispute. The success of the industrial strategy is despite the provocative stance taken by Royal Mail Group.
Further updates will be provided in due course.
Any enquiries on the above should be addressed to the General Secretary/Acting Deputy General Secretary at jdunn@cwu.org/hford@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward Andy Furey
General Secretary Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
22LTB485 ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTES OFCOM THE USE OF RYDE DELIVERY APP
7.12.22 CWU concerns about Royal Mails use of Ryde app and mail integrity
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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