USO Pilots Communication

Please see attached a communication titled Universal Service Obligation Update.

We would ask all Branches to ensure that this communication is shared with every workplace within their Branch.  The CWU have not agreed to USO reform.  Instead, we have agreed to pilot in 37 sites Royal Mail’s preferred USO change which is called the Optimised Delivery Model.

The success criteria for these 37 pilot sites are clear.

1. They must achieve Ofcom’s quality of service targets.
2. They must provide fair manageable and achievable workload.
3. They must provide a solution for fatigue.
4. It must improve attendance patterns including working fewer Saturdays.
5. It must improve confidence, trust and morale in the workplace.
6. It must also provide a platform for sustainable growth.

The agreement we reached with EP in December 2024 also states that any final agreement with the CWU on USO reform is conditional on progress and implementation within agreed timelines of the issues set out in section 5.

Section 5 commits EP and Royal Mail to agree the following:

Equalising new entrants pay, terms and conditions over an agreed timeline with a first step within 3 months of the transaction.

• A pay rise.
• A review of scheduled attendance and overtime rates.
• Improving sick pay arrangements.
• A review of voluntary redundancy terms.
• A new performance incentive scheme.
• New improved ways of working.

USO change will see the biggest change in deliveries within 50 years, it is essential that we pilot it to see its impact and potential benefits before we decide whether or not to support this model going forward.

For now, the CWU’s focus is on supporting the 37 pilot sites to ensure that each of the pilot units adhere to the overarching objectives, including fewer Saturdays, achieving Ofcom’s quality of service targets and delivering fair and manageable workload.

There is a desire for communications on this subject and therefore please ensure this LTB and the attached document are distributed to members in the workplace.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 22/25 – USO Pilots Communication

LTB 22/25 – Attachment 1 – Universal Service Obligation Update

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE ELECTION OF:

 CWU GENERAL SECRETARY AND CWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY (POSTAL)

FORMAL NOTICE

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE ELECTION OF:

 CWU GENERAL SECRETARY AND CWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY (POSTAL) 

Dear Colleague,

ELECTION OF CWU NATIONAL OFFICERS – 2025

The NEC is required to determine and publish to branches the procedures and regulations for the election of any CWU National Officer positions that are subject to the 5-year election criteria.

Accordingly, please find below the proposed timetable and regulations for the above elections which are due to be held in February – April 2025.

• General Secretary

       The General Secretary is the chief negotiator and principle spokesperson for the union.

•  Assistant Secretary (Postal)

       The above position is currently responsible for dealing with the following Royal Mail Group businesses; Mail Centres, Area Distribution Units, Royal Mail International, Air Network,   Parcelforce Worldwide, Compass, Logistics, RMSS, WBCs, Royal Mail RDCs and VOCs.

The timetable for the National Officer elections is as follows:

Nominations Open:                                    12 February 2025

Nominations Close:                                      5 March 2025 (14:00)                            

Dispatch ballot material from:                19 March 2025  

Close of ballot:                                              9 April 2025 (first post)

Result:                                                          10 April 2025

The election regulations stipulate that a copy of the regulations for these elections must be distributed to all branches in advance of the nomination process.  A copy of these is therefore attached and I would be grateful if you could ensure that the election timetable and regulations are brought to the attention of the members of your branch.

The regulations will also be published on the CWU website and a copy will be issued to all candidates nominated to stand in the Elections.

Further information regarding the election, including the Nomination Forms will be sent to all relevant branches during w/c 3rd February 2025.  However, branches are reminded that in order for nominations for the above positions to be valid, then they will need to be submitted on the appropriate CWU HQ issued nomination form(s).

Elections Prize Draws 

Branches are reminded that in order to protect the integrity of these very important national elections and more importantly, ensure that the union is legally compliant with the relevant legislation covering such elections, that election prize draws should not be conducted under any circumstances unless written authorisation has been given by the Senior Deputy General Secretary.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Senior Deputy General Secretary Department, CWU HQ, for the attention of David Wilshire, telephone: 0208 971 7368, or email: dwilshire@cwu.org;

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

25LTB021 – ELECTION OF CWU NATIONAL OFFICERS – 2025

Election Regulations and Candidates Guidelines 2025

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USO Pilots Communication

Please see attached a communication titled Universal Service Obligation Update.

We would ask all Branches to ensure that this communication is shared with every workplace within their Branch.  The CWU have not agreed to USO reform.  Instead, we have agreed to pilot in 37 sites Royal Mail’s preferred USO change which is called the Optimised Delivery Model.

The success criteria for these 37 pilot sites are clear.

1. They must achieve Ofcom’s quality of service targets.
2. They must provide fair manageable and achievable workload.
3. They must provide a solution for fatigue.
4. It must improve attendance patterns including working fewer Saturdays.
5. It must improve confidence, trust and morale in the workplace.
6. It must also provide a platform for sustainable growth.

The agreement we reached with EP in December 2024 also states that any final agreement with the CWU on USO reform is conditional on progress and implementation within agreed timelines of the issues set out in section 5.

Section 5 commits EP and Royal Mail to agree the following:

Equalising new entrants pay, terms and conditions over an agreed timeline with a first step within 3 months of the transaction.

• A pay rise.
• A review of scheduled attendance and overtime rates.
• Improving sick pay arrangements.
• A review of voluntary redundancy terms.
• A new performance incentive scheme.
• New improved ways of working.

USO change will see the biggest change in deliveries within 50 years, it is essential that we pilot it to see its impact and potential benefits before we decide whether or not to support this model going forward.

For now, the CWU’s focus is on supporting the 37 pilot sites to ensure that each of the pilot units adhere to the overarching objectives, including fewer Saturdays, achieving Ofcom’s quality of service targets and delivering fair and manageable workload.

There is a desire for communications on this subject and therefore please ensure this LTB and the attached document are distributed to members in the workplace.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 22/25 – USO Pilots Communication

LTB 22/25 – Attachment 1 – Universal Service Obligation Update

MPU Consolidation – CSS Machine Moves

 Further to the update provided in LTB 012/25 on the process for the progression of discussions on MPU consolidation, the department have received enquiries from the field in relation to the process and criteria relevant to consideration on the relocation and installation of CSS Machines within the Mail Centre Estate.

While all MPU Consolidation proposals and discussions should be progressed in line with the processes within the Joint Working Group Approach detailed in the 2021 National Agreement on Letter Automation Review, for the guidance of Safety and IR Representatives in any group discussions, please see attached the following documents:

• Updated National SAC1 – MPU CSS Removal Install
• Mail Centre and Hub Space Standards 2022
• Operation and Use of CSS – SWI
• CSS Footprint and Dimensions documentation

We trust that the documentation will provide the necessary guidance to assist in progressing discussions.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to jrodigues@CWU.org quoting LTB No. 019/25.

Yours sincerely

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 019/25 – MPU Consolidation – CSS Machine Moves

National SAC 1 Template – MPU CSS Removal Install v3 (spreadsheet download)

Mail Centre and Hub Space Standards 2022 V1

Operation and Use of CSS SWI v1.1

CSS Footprint_250129_070751

2010-04-14 CSS 65 sqm_250129_070644

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SPECIAL RESTRUCTURING CONFERENCE AND SPECIAL RULES REVISION CONFERENCE 2025

Following the decision of the National Executive Council at the meeting held on 29^th and 30^th January 2025, it has been agreed that a Special Restructuring Conference and Special Rules Revision Conference will be held on the weekend of 28^th and 29^th June 2025 at the new Conference and Exhibition Centre, Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

We are currently liaising with the venue to provide a booking platform link where Branches can secure accredited accommodation in Blackpool.   We have been advised that this should be available early next week and once the details are known, a further LTB containing this information will be published.    Branches are advised to book as early as possible due to the time of year and the school holidays in Scotland commencing around this period.

Talks are ongoing in relation to the exact split of business between the two days in terms of the possible time needed for each Conference and more information will be provided to Branches and representatives in due course.

Branch delegation sizes will be in line with national rule 10.3. Further details will be issued regarding registration and the submission of motions and rule changes.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven in the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 89717237 or by e-mail to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

25LTB018 – Special Restructuring Conference and Special Rules Revision Conference 2025

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OFCOM ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE 

All branches will have seen that OFCOM has announced their expected consultation today on the future of the USO.

The Unions response is attached to this LTB and we would ask all branches to ensure that this is conveyed to all CWU Representatives and every workplace.

The Unions position on the USO has also been explained previously and is set out in both the trial agreement and the recent agreement reached with EP Group.  This positions us strongly to deal with the issues of job security, benefits for our members and the need to fully restore Quality of Service.

The trials are an essential next step and will assist in testing Royal Mail’s assumptions, particularly on the operational impact and whether or not workload will be manageable for our members.

As part of this consultation we will ensure that feedback from our members is put in front of OFCOM and we will be encouraging the regulator to visit sorting offices and talk directly to the members involved in the Pilots.

During the consultation, we will also be making strong points that OFCOM’s own promotion of artificial competition has contributed to Royal Mail’s financial position.  We will continue to make the point that Royal Mail has been grossly mismanaged and that whilst we recognise that the company now operates in a permanently changed of world of communications, there needs to be a completely fresh approach to the way the company is run and a new vision that sets out a serious growth strategy in the development of new products and services.  In our view, this should include tailored services to the NHS and greeting card industry.  Further information will be provided in due course.

Yours sincerely                                                                                                                                             

DAVE WARD
GENERAL SECRETARY                             

MARTIN WALSH
DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY (POSTAL)

25LTB017 OFCOM ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE

CWU RESPONSE TO OFCOM ANNOUNCEMENT ON FUTURE OF ROYAL MAIL USO

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Below is the CWU press release in response to the OFCOM announcement on the future of the USO this morning.

Tonight’s CWU Live show is timed so well. National Officer Tony Bouch will join us live at 5pm to talk all things USO.

Please join the show and put your questions directly to Tony.

CWU RESPONSE TO OFCOM ANNOUNCEMENT ON FUTURE OF ROYAL MAIL USO.

Responding to today’s announcement, CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said “We recognise Royal Mail now operates in a permanently changed world of communications. The mix of letter decline and parcel growth does present a legitimate challenge to securing the future of the universal service obligation – something that remains a crucial part of our national infrastructure and a major contributor to the UK economy.

However, it’s also true that Royal Mail has been grossly mismanaged in recent years and the Board have deliberately manufactured circumstances to make a purely financial case for change. This includes abandoning customer quality, attacking postal workers terms and conditions and pursuing a pricing strategy designed to accelerate letter decline in favour of parcels.

The role of the regulator, OFCOM, must also be exposed. They have pursued a relentless drive to promote artificial competition in a declining market, allowing competitors to cherry pick profits through downstream access of Royal Mail’s network, thus inflating the cost of the last mile delivery.

In this environment, it is only the strength and support of our members that has defended the service and moved the company away from a 3 or 4 day uso proposal which would have devastating results for customers and jobs. The proposal being trialled in the UK sees first class letters and parcels continue to be delivered six days a week and second class delivered to the current specification, with the exception of Saturdays

The trials that we have agreed with Royal Mail are strictly conditional on the basis that we see a significant improvement in service reliability for customers, the terms and conditions for postal workers are improved – including improved attendance patterns and more Saturdays off, long term job security is agreed and a genuine platform for growing the company is created. Any failure to abide by these conditions will see our support withdrawn. This moment is a real test for many groups. OFCOM need to step up and allow Royal Mail to build innovation into this proposal that would include bespoke and advanced letter delivery services (The NHS and card industry as examples). Our members also want to see the Labour government take a real oversight and involvement to ensure that a key part of the UK infrastructure is protected. The prospective owners of Royal Mail – EP Group – have committed to restoring faith in the UK postal service – we will hold them to this.”

TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE VISITORS – 3^RD – 4^THJUNE 2025

The TUC Disabled Workers Conference 2025 will be held from Tuesday 3rd – Wednesday 4^th June 2025 at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Bournemouth.

The Conference sessions will be as follows:

Tuesday 3 June 2025                   10:00 am to 18:00pm  

Wednesday 4 June 2025              09.30 am to 17.30pm

The CWU are allowed a limited number of visitors to attend the above Conference and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Due to the need for extra security at all TUC Conferences, names and addresses of those wanting visitor tickets must be supplied and tickets are not transferable.

Anyone interested in attending will need to contact their Branch initially for funding, to include a £15 visitor ticket fee. The easiest way to pay the £15 fee will be for us to transfer it directly from your Branch’s account through the rebate system, therefore please contact Angela Niven on conferences@cwu.org  with details of which Branch the individual belongs to on application.  Alternatively you can send a cheque (made payable to ‘CWU’) addressed to Angela Niven at CWU HQ with a covering letter.  Please note that places will not be reserved until the £15 fee is received.

Please let me know if you would like to attend the Conference as a visitor by no later than midday on Monday 10^thFebruary 2025

Any further enquiries with regards this please contact conferences@cwu.org or Angela Niven on 020 8971 7237.

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 016/25 – TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE – 3RD – 4TH JUNE 2025

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Health, Safety and Wellbeing Planner 2025

Branches, Representatives and members will be aware that the former Health, Safety and Environment Department traditionally issued LTBs throughout the year to highlight the appropriate external health, safety and wellbeing campaigns, activities and conference events.

Following the changes to the Union’s internal structures covering the work of the Health, Safety and Environment Department agreed at last year’s Annual Conference, going forward, it will now be the responsibility of the relevant departments within the union, in conjunction with the Central Services’ Health and Safety role, to review how best to communicate particular external health, safety, and wellbeing campaigns and activities.

The purpose of this LTB is to provide Branches and in particular our Regional and Divisional Safety Forums with an advanced index of external campaigns and events outlined for 2025 to assist in planning any activities and membership engagement in this area.  Also attached are some brief background details of each of the listed campaigns and activities.

Whilst the below is not in itself an exhaustive list, it nonetheless highlights the bulk of health, safety, and wellbeing campaigns and activities previously covered and communicated by the Health, Safety and Environment Department alongside others now added.

Index of Health, Safety and Wellbeing Activities/Campaigns in 2025:

•  Time to Talk Day – 6^th February
• Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – March
• Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – April
• Stress Awareness Month – April
• International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) – 28^th April
• Skin Cancer Awareness Month – May
• World Ovarian Cancer Day – 8^thMay
• No Falls Week – 12^th to 16^th May
• Mental Health Awareness Week – 12^th to 18^th May
• NHS National Blood Donation Week – TBC but normally held in June.
• World Environment Day – 5^thJune
• Men’s Health Week – 9^th to 15^thJune
• National Clean Air Day – 20^thJune
• Talk To Us Month – July
• Alcohol Awareness Week – 7^th to 13^th July
• Scottish Hazards Conference – TBC but normally held in August
• National Financial Awareness Day – 14^th August
• NHSBT National Organ Donation Week – TBC but normally held in September
• World Suicide Prevention Day – 10^th September
• Pension Awareness Day – 15^thSeptember
• National Hazards Conference – 5^th to 7^th September
• Gas Safety Week – 9^th to 15^thSeptember
• MacMillan Coffee Morning – 27^thSeptember
• World Heart Day – 29^thSeptember
• Menopause Awareness Month – October
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October
• Stoptober – October
• ADHD Awareness Month – October
• Back Care Awareness Week – 7^thto 11^th October
• World Mental Health Day – 10^thOctober
• Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day – 15^thOctober
• UK National Work Stress Network Conference – TBC but normally held in November
• Movember – November
• National Stress Awareness Day – 1^st November
• Talk Money Week – 3^rd to 7^thNovember
• Road Safety Week – 17^th to 23^rdNovember
• National Grief Awareness Week – 1^st to 7^th December
• Christmas Jumper Day – 11^th

It should be noted that many of the above activities and events are collaborations between different organisations and groups and are sponsored and promoted by government, local and other government bodies and in some cases international organisations such as the UN.  As such, few are supported by a generic website or source of further information.  Therefore, where Branches, Regional and Divisional Safety Forums are seeking additional information and supporting materials regarding any of the outlined activities and campaigns above, can they please contact Louise Pietrzykowska lpietrzykowska@cwu.org

It is hoped that sharing this advanced index will be of direct use and assistance to Branches and Safety Forums in terms of any pre-planning in this area.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 015/25 – Health, Safety and Wellbeing Planner 2025

Attachment to LTB 015-25 HSW Planner 2025

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Important: Anti-Racism Rally Saturday 1^stFebruary, Central London

Branches should note that Stand Up to Racism has called an anti-racist/anti far right (TUC supported) Rally for Saturday 1^stFebruary 2025 in Central London. This is a counter demonstration to one being organised by supporters of Tommy Robinson.

We thank those who attended the last rally and call on Branches to demonstrate again a show of strength against racism and the politics of division. We know there is so much more that unites us than divides us.

Stand Up to Racism are organising coaches from all over the UK – 34 different coach points – and we would encourage anyone interested in attending to check the SUTR website.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

25LTB014 – Important – Anti-Racism Rally Saturday 1st February Central London

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