Ballot Timetable / USO update

Ballot Timetable / USO update

We wanted to update representatives and members on both the Royal Mail Group Pay Ballot and USO Negotiations.

We are meeting with the independent scrutineers who will run the ballot on Monday and will publish a timetable next week. We will also announce a range of membership communication plans.

On the USO, negotiations have continued this week as we aim to reach a National Agreement.

These meetings have covered a range of important issues, including the priority of ensuring the pilots are evaluated and where necessary fixed ahead of any further deployment. This is absolutely crucial if we are to build confidence in both the pilot units and the wider membership.

These negotiations were never going to be easy. There are issues which have led to some of the pilot units not achieving either quality of service or a fair and achievable workload. We will not reach an agreement until these issues are resolved.

Talks will continue next week and we are meeting with our Postal Executive and Divisional Reps on Monday to give them a full update. They will then be charged with ensuring meetings are taking place across the UK to update members.

Whilst OFCOM have made a decision on the change to the USO, it does not alter the fact that any USO change can only be deployed through a National Agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU. It is vital every CWU Branch is making this clear to our members in the workplace.

Any agreement on the USO will be voted on by the CWU membership.

We will give you a further update later next week.

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary Postal