Royal Mail and CWU Joint Communication Covering CSP, Delivery Support & Indoor Tasks (People Support Process)
Branches, Representatives and members will recall LTB 116/24 (Letter To Branches) issued on 5th April regarding the Royal Mail and CWU Joint Communication Covering CSP, Delivery Support and Indoor Tasks.
In line with that previous Joint Communication, we have continued to engage with Royal Mail on the need to have in place a clear and supportive process for those Delivery units that will have a resultant surplus staffing situation linked to this review and realignment of Delivery Support and Indoor tasks. Accordingly, we have now agreed a further Joint Communication regarding the necessary People Support Process, which is attached.
The Joint Communication confirms:
- There will be no compulsory redundancies in line with the job security aspect of the BRT&G Agreement.
- The direct application of the MTSF Agreed principles, assessing employee aspiration on the full range of redeployment, buy-down and VR options. Also including options for ‘bumping’ in nearby units where appropriate and feasible.
- That a surplus staffing situation will only be defined in a Delivery unit with more than 15 hours per week of surplus hours linked to indoor roles.
- The necessary provisions and safeguards for members with health-related circumstances that may be within the Equality Act 2010 or DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) in the case of Northern Ireland. Confirming that no changes should be applied locally until all required actions are undertaken, including person-specific Risk Assessments for vulnerable and disabled employees.
- The agreed approach also facilitates the retrospective application of compensation/buy-downs, where such changes took place following the CSP (Customer Service Point) opening time changes back in June 2023.
- Impacted employees will have the opportunity to have CWU representation throughout the process, including 121s.
The Joint Communication also details that the overall process will be subject to national, fortnightly meetings to review the key principles and confirm its application is in line with that agreed.
Equally, the Joint Communication confirms that any further Redeployment Programme, where required and needed to support unresolved surplus staffing situation, will be communicated by both parties going forward.
Alongside this Joint Communication, additional documentation will be issued to Branches and Representatives shortly to directly assist those units that face a surplus staffing situation.
In setting out the above, it is necessary to be clear that these have proven to be extremely difficult talks, even by current standards, and have been run up to the wire, reflected in the timelines now set out. This, in fairness, has been reflected in the overall nature of our talks and engagement with Royal Mail surrounding CSP arrangements and the methodology recently used to drive and establish these reviews of indoor hours covering Delivery Support tasks.
There is no attempt to soften what is, and is going to be, a difficult undertaking at those Delivery units where there is a surplus staffing situation, in particular given the nature of indoor roles. However, our members are always best served by our agreements and the process outlined ensures that the resultant surplus staffing from this business-driven change will be managed and dealt with fully in line with our collective job security agreements.
It is also appropriate to again draw Branches’ and Reps’ attention to the further and particular advice that can be given by the CWU Equality, Education, Training & Development Department in terms of members with caring, family, medical or other personal considerations, including those covered under the Equality Act (or DDA in Northern Ireland). They can be contacted by email: equality&education@cwu.org.
Any enquiries to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department reference 532, email address: Pharacz@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary
LTB 170/24 – JC Covering CSP Delivery Support and Indoor Tasks – People Support Process
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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