ROYAL MAIL: DRUGS & ALCOHOL – FOR-CAUSE TESTING PILOT EXTENSION

Further to LTB 001/25 dated 2^ndJanuary, we are pleased to report there have been no For-Cause tests in the first five weeks amongst the Pilot Group, which is limited to Drivers only in Wales.

As expected, due to the lack of data for analysis, Royal Mail proposed an extension to the geographical areas of the Pilot and the Postal Executive has consequently agreed that two new ROD areas will be included – Anglia & the South West, along with the English workplaces in the Wales ROD area (Chester, Shrewsbury & The Wirral).

In line with established Postal Executive policy, Royal Mail has agreed that the extension will apply to Drivers only.  We have also agreed the extended Pilot will run from Monday 11^th March until Friday 2^nd May (for Wales this will take the Pilot to 16 weeks in total).  It should be noted that the extended Pilot, in keeping with the Terms of Reference for Wales, does not include Drivers in Parcelforce.

The ToR previously agreed for Wales (attached) will be extended to include the Anglia and South West ROD areas.  In practice this means the full terms are applicable into the extended Pilot.  Crucially, there will be no discipline arising from positive tests during the Pilot, provided members in these circumstances agree to participate in the new Support and Rehabilitation programme.  In essence, this means that any member who fails a drugs or alcohol test during the Pilot and who takes up the offer of the Support and Rehabilitation service will not be taken down the Conduct route.  There are two caveats to this – a positive drug/alcohol test on the roadside following an accident/incident where the police are involved, or an individual being found in the possession of illegal drugs in the workplace.

Briefings for Anglia and South West Representatives

We will be holding two briefings for our Divisional Reps, Branch Secretaries, Area Reps and Area Safety Reps in Anglia and the South West ROD Areas as follows:

South West

Friday 28^th February – 11.30am – 2.30pm

Brunel’s Boardroom and Breakout Room

The Engine Shed, Station Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QH

 Anglia

 Monday 3^rd March – 11.30am – 2.30pm

M.G Hall

Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6AQ

We will be running through the full details of the ToR for the extended Pilot and the protections and safeguards we have secured for our members in both the ToR and the Colleague Framework document.  Obviously, there will be an opportunity for a Q&A session at the Briefings.

Andy Furey, Assistant Secretary, continues to lead on this matter, supported by Rob Wotherspoon, Postal Executive member, Ralph Ferrett (South Wales) and Paul Dugdale (North Wales).  One of our Anglia Div Reps will also take on a similar supporting role.  We meet with Royal Mail management on a weekly basis and this activity will be ongoing.

The Postal Executive will also be closely monitoring the Pilot and all Branches will be kept informed of any key developments as the extended Pilot progresses.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey                         

Assistant Secretary                                                                               

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary        

Tony Bouch

Assistant Secretary

LTB 035/25 – Royal Mail Drugs Alcohol Pilot – Extension

Attachment to LTB – Agreed Terms of Reference for the Drugs & Alcohol For-Cause Testing Pilot

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ROYAL MAIL LGV Apprentices 2025

We have been in discussions with Royal Mail regarding their decision to introduce 60 LGV Apprentices Nationwide. Colleagues will recall we had previously agreed and launched an LGV Driver Apprenticeship as part of the Driver Academy process in 2021. These roles are currently being advertised via Royal Mail Group Careers at https://jobs.royalmailgroup.com(keyword: Apprentice).

Through our discussions we have confirmed with the business they will follow the process covering the previously agreed LGV Recruitment defined in the Driver Academy activity in 2021, with the pay rates updated to the current levels, which are highlighted below:

Pay rates and grades below, Rates effective from 01^st April 2024National -LGA70  £22,455 (Basic £21,852 + meal relief £603)O/London – LGA72  £25,502 (Basic £24,818 + meal relief £684)I/London LGA73£26,590 (Basic £25,876 + meal relief £714)National -LGA70-A £28,333 (Basic £27,572 + meal relief £761)O/London – LGA72-A£32,178 (Basic £31,314 + meal relief £864)I/London LGA73-A£33,550 (Basic £32,649 + meal relief £901)

The LGV Apprenticeship Scheme will be open to external and internal candidates over 21 years of age and with 1 to 2 years driving experience and will offer the opportunity to join Royal Mail and attain the Apprentice qualification, a C&E Licence, DCPC and be ready to progress to a Professional Driver role within 13 months.

The apprenticeship will include modular learning, Driver training and on the job training over the 13-month period.  The attainment of the LGV C&E Licence will be scheduled in the early months of the course.

• All Apprentices will be recruited on a 36.25 hour net contract in line with the terms and conditions for the LGV Professional Driver Grade. To confirm the additional 1 hour paid relief is included in the annual pay amount.
• Apprentices will also qualify for Underpin payments as appropriate.
• Pay rates will increase in line with future pay agreements.
• On attainment of the LGV C&E Licence and sign off from a Royal Mail Advanced Driver Coach pay will be varied to 75% of the National LGV C&E Pay along with this the OT rate will be increased
• Where applicable, the appropriate LGV OT rate will be applied for any extra duty performed, in accordance with apprenticeship, driver’s hours and working time guidelines.
• Apprentices who successfully complete their Royal Mail LGV Apprentice Scheme training will be offered permanent Royal Mail employment contracts at LGV grade. If the offer of permanent employment is accepted, the previous 12 months’ employment will be treated as service and qualify these individuals for sick pay, pension membership and all other entitlements linked to completing 12 months’ service.
• All other LGV terms and conditions of employment, except where amended by this agreement will continue to apply to all LGV Apprentices.

The department have sought clarification from the business as to whether the apprenticeship opportunity is open to current internal employees. It has been confirmed there is no reason why internal colleagues cannot apply for one of the LGV Apprenticeship roles, however it must be noted, should they apply and be successful they would be accepting the Driver Apprenticeship Scheme Terms and Conditions including Pay Rates.  

The LGV Apprenticeship scheme will be managed and monitored by GTG. For clarification the business has confirmed they will not be running an internal Driver Academy Training process.

The locations and numbers per VOC for the apprenticeship programme are below:VOCNumberVOCNumberSDC8SEDC4MSH10Woking4NWH10Coventry Hub5YDC8Swindon6EMA5  

We do believe the apprenticeship opportunity will be welcomed by our members many of whom would like to take the opportunity to progress to Professional Driver roles. Branches are asked to ensure that the contents of this LTB are brought to the attention of our members across Royal Mail Group.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: jrodrigues@cwu.org quoting reference LTB 034/25. 

Yours sincerely, 

Davie Robertson 

Assistant Secretary

LTB 034/25 – Royal Mail LGV Apprenticeships 2025

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THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE 2025 NATIONAL NETWORK (LINEHAUL) REVISION AND NATIONAL PAD REVISIONS

Branches and Representatives are informed that discussions have been taking place with the business in relation to progressing arrangements for the 2025 National Network (Linehaul) Revision activity and the 2025 National PAD Revisions.

Branches and Representatives are informed that unfortunately due to the ongoing resistance of the business to agree to Joint Statements we have not been able to secure the normal signed Joint Statement covering this activity. However, in line with the approach we have taken on other issues affected by this policy, we do however, have a letter from the business confirming the dates and the commitments to follow the established Nationally Agreed processes for this activity.    

This approach has today been endorsed by the Postal Executive and attached for the information of Branches and Representatives is the correspondence from Nick Dunn, National Distribution Director confirming the Royal Mail’s commitment to the established, agreed revision processes along with the detailed processes at Annexes A & B.

Additionally, the business has indicated the following will also be included or may influence the revision activity:

• The inclusion of container tracking data, which will be reviewed as part of the working group activity prior to data being shared with the sites.
• The current ongoing MPU programme may have an impact on Distribution duties. It is understood the timings of the two pieces of work may not align and it is understood the implementation of overlays/underlays prior to a PAD revision being implemented will take into account the impact of any CSS moves.
• Transfer in financial year 25/26 of up to 14m large parcels (F4 and above) from the RM network to PFWW, this may be via direct from customer or MC/HUB in line with the BRT&G commitment to the development of a single large Parcel Network

The business has also indicated they are reviewing agency use within the functions and they are looking to reduce this over the next few months, this activity is outside of the Revision process and is normal BAU activity.

As with the previous Network Review/PAD Joint Statements, the process fully recognises the role of the CWU at all levels and all activity will be overseen by the Network Working Group/Area Distribution Working Group.

Colleagues will note that the Stage 1 Data Gathering will commence on Monday 24^th February 2025 across both functions and representatives are therefore requested to engage with management accordingly in relation to the activity and release arrangements.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: jrodrigues@cwu.org quoting reference LTB 033/25. 

Yours sincerely, 

Davie Robertson 

Assistant Secretary 

LTB 033/25 – Network and PAD Revisions 2025

Attachment: NDunn Letter Network and PAD Revisions_

Attachment: Annex A Network Review Process 2025

Attachment: Annex B PAD Revisions 2025

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PFSL & CWU Joint Update – Vehicle Telematics (Trimble) 2024 

Branches will wish to know the introduction and roll out of the Masternaut Agreement with PFSL was endorsed in 2010 that only monitored vehicle speeding as opposed to the four principles of Acceleration, Braking, Cornering and Idling as found under the Trimble Technology in RMG.

The PTCS Department has recently concluded a refresh of the Masternaut Agreement with the introduction of Trimble Telematics.  The purpose of the technology remains purely to measure the principle of speeding and how this process is managed at local level.  The calculation of a vehicle speed is not clear to many, in how it is measured, other than the immediate data captured from the vehicle speedometer but should form part of a discussion between the manager and driver if this principle is breached on a regular basis.

The Vehicle Telematics or Trimble Agreement in PFSL, which governs the use and deployment of this technology, has been reviewed and therefore updated from the 2010 agreement which is in line with the company’s Data Protection and Privacy Policy. The draft document originally submitted by PFSL was heavily focused on performance and conduct, which the Department objected to on the grounds that Telemetry is primarily deployed as a means to improve fuel consumption as well as offering driver behaviour and training in real time.  The technology also improved the life of vehicle parts as a result of component parts such as steering, brakes and suspension application being applied less harshly and thereby saving on maintenance costs.

Branches will welcome the efforts made to remove the desire for performance measurement and conduct as the system is not designed or intended for use as a staff surveillance system.  If, however, there is a need to access or use additional vehicle telematics data to that contained in the weekly timesheet report i.e. Trip Detail Report, this will be done in line with the formal process and controls set out in the agreement.  If it is appropriate to access this additional data (i.e. an informal / formal conduct case) the relevant manager should firstly go through a formal review process to determine whether this is appropriate.

The agreement also references any attempts to gain unauthorised access to the system or the information derived from it being regarded as a disciplinary offence, thereby preventing any cause for ‘phishing’.  If a manager decides on the need to use any of the data provided in the Trip Detail Report as part of conduct investigations, this will be shared with the member concerned and a copy will be included as part of the case file on People Case Manager (PCM).

We believe this is a massive improvement on the Masternaut Agreement as previously there was greater emphasis on conduct and performance which has now been removed and completely watered down in the updated approach.

Please bring this LTB to the attention of our representatives and members, and any queries relating to this agreement should be forwarded to the PTCS Department , email address khay@cwu.org or hmaughan@cwu.org

Bobby Weatherall

Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 032/25

PFSL & CWU Trimble Update 2025 final

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Health & Safety Contact Details (Postal)

Branches and Representatives will recall that LTB 270/24 advised of the ongoing work at CWU HQ regarding the future structural changes required following the decisions at last year’s Annual Conference concerning the former Health, Safety and Environment Department.

Similarly, colleagues will be aware that LTB 27/25 issued on 10^th February confirmed that the CWU central services Health and Safety role has now been filled.

Following the integration of Health and Safety into the postal department, the purpose of this LTB is to confirm with Branches, and in particular our Safety Reps and Regional/Divisional structures, which departments will cover each core area of responsibility. Also listed are the initial points of contact.

Accordingly, enquiries concerning Health and Safety matters should be addressed as follows:Areas of ResponsibilityRelevant Officer/Department at CWU HQDelivery 

CollectionsTony Bouch 

Assistant Secretary

Email: tbouch@cwu.orgParcelforce (including Hub Engineers) 

Logistics

Distribution

Processing (including Mail Centre engineers)

International

EurestDavie Robertson 

Assistant Secretary

Email: drobertson@cwu.orgPost Office (Crowns, CViT and Admin) 

Capita

Admin

MDEC & Customer Experience

HR

Finance, Stamps & CollectablesAndy Furey 

Assistant Secretary

Email: afurey@cwu.orgFleet 

Engineering

RMPFSL – Cleaners and EngineersBobby Weatherall 

Assistant Secretary (Act)

Email: bweatherall@cwu.orgAny H&S workplace matters which are cross-functional or across the outlined areas of responsibility should in the first instance be directed to the DGS(P) Department.Martin Walsh 

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Email: mwalsh@cwu.org

Any general items or enquiries concerning Health and Safety, including legislative regulations and external relevant bodies and organisations, should in the first instance be directed to Jamie McGovern (contact details will be provided by the General Secretary’s Department in due course).

In setting out the above, it should be noted that we have now completed all arrangements in terms of aligning the nominated Area Safety Reps to act as support for the various postal departments. This is alongside the full integration of Health and Safety into our mainstream IR field structures covering Divisions, Parcel Regions and Engineering and Fleet Territorial Committees. These are all further measures in addition to the current Health and Safety Regional Forums which are cross-functional and include Safety Reps from the Postal and Telecoms & Financial Services Constituencies of the CWU.

Whilst all the necessary and important steps needed to integrate Health and Safety into our postal departments and mainstream IR field structures have been undertaken, it is equally understood that this is still a new way of working for the union and therefore remains subject to ongoing review as necessary.

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

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 31.25 -Health & Safety Contact Details (Postal)

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Dog Customer Postcards – RM/CWU National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group

Branches and members will be aware of several current initiatives reported in previous LTBs around seeking to reduce dog attacks and incidents, including those developed by the RM/CWU National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group.

Another area that the Joint Working Group have been working on has been the development of a Dog Customer Postcard which can be delivered alongside the normal mail and is designed to help dog owners identify steps they can take to provide a safer delivery point. On one side of the postcard, the customer is asked to support some simple steps to provide a safe delivery point, and the reverse side can be used to notify anyone delivering to their address that they have a dog.

These postcards have been in use within Royal Mail for some time now and have been communicated by various channels within the workplace, but the purpose of this LTB is to now seek to promote the wider use of the Dog Customer Postcard across all delivery units.

A copy of the Dog Customer Postcard is attached, and the simple steps to provide a safe delivery point are set out here:

By following the advice below, then together we can make sure that your dog is kept safe, and I am too….

• Please don’t open the door until your dog is safely secured. Please put them in another room or behind a gate first and don’t worry, I will wait! You can stick the other side of this postcard to your door to remind others to wait too.
• PS did you know you can now buy gates that open with your front door?
• Close gates and doors to stop your dog getting loose. If you have a back or side garden, please make sure your dog can’t get out and gates and doors are closed.
• Install a letter box cage. Sometimes dogs attack or snatch mail from the letterbox and this can cause serious injuries to a postie’s hands, including amputation of fingers, as well as causing injuries to the dog. If you can install a letter box cage at the back of your door it will protect your post, your dog, and the postie’s fingers.
• Provide an alternative delivery point. If you are struggling to do any of the above, then please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property that I can deliver safely to.

The Dog Customer Postcard has received positive feedback from both OPGs and indeed customers with Royal Mail now confirming that there are some cases of customers displaying the postcard at their property and near to the front door to advise: Please wait whilst I secure my dog before opening the door.

This is another initiative that I have no hesitation in supporting and would encourage all of our representatives, in particular, our Workplace Safety and Area Safety Reps to make contact with their relevant managers to ensure these postcards are readily available in delivery units. Royal Mail has advised that the postcards can be secured through OPL supports, who should maintain an adequate supply.

Royal Mail has also confirmed that the postcard will shortly be translated into the Welsh language and made available within the next couple of weeks. This is to further build on particular activity within Wales which recently culminated in the Wales Dog Safety Partnership Event held in January and which was reported to branches in ODM 006/24, issued on 16^th January.

The postcard is designed to help dog owners identify steps they can take to provide a safer delivery point, and if displayed by customers should also offer OPGs a useful visual prompt that there is a dog on the premises. Where a situation arises where the deliveries may need to be halted for safety reasons, the P6705 stickers (a copy also attached) should be used on all returned mail items to identify the unsafe reason(s) that prevented any delivery attempt.

Any enquiries to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department, email address: Pharacz@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary

LTB 030/25 – Dog Customer Postcards

Att: LGH_Dog-Postcard-English (Door Drop) 16.07.24 v1.p1

Att: LGH_Dog-Postcard-English (Door Drop) 16.07.24 v1.p2

Att: Royal Mail P6705 Sticker

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PALESTINE DEMONSTRATION – SATURDAY 15^TH FEBRUARY

As branches will be aware, the CWU has joined other trade unions and millions of people in standing against ethnic cleansing and calling for a peaceful resolution to the war in Palestine. Trade unions and their members have a long history of standing side-by-side with oppressed people and of defending the right to protest against apartheid and genocide.

We therefore encourage all branches to ensure the CWU has a good turnout at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration in London on Saturday the 15th of February. The march will leave from Whitehall at 12 noon. We encourage members to join the ‘trade union bloc’ of the march, where many of our members have been marching in recent months, which will assemble from 11:30amnear the Women of World War 2 memorial on Richmond Terrace.

You can find out more information about the national demonstrations organised by the PSC here. Please circulate this information to members and if you have any further questions, please contact dlynch@cwu.org.

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary 

LTB 029-25 PALESTINE DEMONSTRATION SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY

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RMPFS Engineering Grades – CWU Officials Elections

We are obliged to inform you that nominations are being sought for the following positions.

The term of office for all these positions is a period of 2 years in line with the CWU Recognition & Industrial Framework Agreement 2021.

A nomination form for all positions is attached to this LTB and are available on request from the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department.  All Candidates must have the nomination of their own branch which must be agreed at a branch meeting.  Completed nomination forms must be signed by the Branch Secretary and Branch Chair (or accredited deputies) and the nominee.

The nomination form should then be returned to the Senior Deputy General Secretary, on the following email elections@cwu.org  by 26^thFebruary 2025 (14.00)

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 

 North: (1 Position)

South: (1 Position)

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

North                                        (2 Positions)

North West /Central                (3 Positions)

South East/South West          (3 Positions)AREASPCPOSTCODENORTH501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 

601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606,

301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306,

401, 402, 403, 404, 405 ,406AB, DD, G, HS, IV, KW, PA, PH, ZE, 

DG, EH, KA, KY, ML, TD, FK, BT, CA, BD, BB, LA, HD, HX, WF, LS, NE, DH, HG, HU, SR, DL, TS, YO, L, WA, WN, BL, PR, FY, BBNORTH WEST/CENTRAL507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512 ,525, 

607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612,

307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312,

407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412CW, DE, M, OL, SK, ST, DN, LN, S, 

CH, LL, SY, TF, CV, LE, NG, B, DY, WR, WS, WV, MK, NNSOUTH EAST/SOUTH WEST513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524 

613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624,

313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324

413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424CB, IP, NR, PE, AL, EN, HP, LU, SG, WD, CM, CO, E, IG, RM, SS, EC, N, W, WC, NW, HA, KT, TW, UB, SM, SW, BR, CR, DA, ME, SE, CF, HR, LD, NP, SA, BS, GL, OX, SN, GU, RG, SL, EX, PL, TA, TQ, TR, BA, BH, DT, PO, SO, SP, BN, CT, RH, TN

The timetable for the nominations is as follows:

Nominations open:   12^th February 2025

Nominations close:  26^th February 2025 (14.00)

Any ballots will be run in accordance with the CWU guidelines for Regional Engineering/Admin Representatives, which are attached for your information.  In the event that a ballot is required a timetable will be notified to branches in due course.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Bobby Weatherall, Acting Assistant Secretary, email: khay@cwu.org or hmaughan@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Bobby Weatherall

Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 028/25 – RMPFS Engineering Grades – CWU Officials Elections
Election Guidelines 2025
National Representative Nom Form
Regional Representative Nom Form

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CWU HQ APPOINTMENT – HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY ADVISOR 

We can advise Branches that CWU HQ have completed the process of recruitment to the position of Policy Advisor Health & Safety working to the Central Services Department. Mr Jamie McGovern has accepted the new position and will take up the role as from 26^thFebruary 2025.

We can also confirm that the new position will operate in line with the terms of the Policy Paper 2 – “Restructuring CWU’s Approach to our Health & Safety Work” endorsed at our Conference held in 2024.

Contact information, mobile phone and email address will be provided to Branches and Health & Safety Representatives in due course.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary  

25LTB027 – CWU HQ APPOINTMENT HEALTH SAFETY POLICY ADVISOR (003)

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SPECIAL RESTRUCTURING CONFERENCE AND SPECIAL RULES REVISION CONFERENCE 2025 – ACCOMMODATION

Further to LTB 018/25 we advised Branches that we would provide a booking platform where Branches could secure accredited accommodation in Blackpool.    The link to access the booking platform is as follows:

Special Restructuring Conference and Special Rules Revision Conference 2025

The system will update automatically with any changes. If you do have any problems or need to speak with someone please contact bookings@meetblackpoolres.com or you can call on +44(0)1253 384459.  The offices are open Monday-Friday 0900am – 5.00pm.

Branches are of course entitled to make their own accommodation arrangements if that is what they would like to do.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 026/25 – Special Restructuring Conference and Special Rules Revision Conference – Accommodation

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