FURTHER UPDATE ON CONSULTATIVE BALLOT PROCESS FOR RESOLUTION OF THE TWO DRPS ON USO & EQUALISATION

Further to the LTB 124/26 this LTB provides additional information for Branches and members.

Ballot papers will be dispatched by 1^st class post to all members’ home addresses who are eligible to vote from 11^th May 2026.

Voting will be conducted via the online electronic voting system, and members will receive personalised correspondence enabling them to cast their vote.

The online voting process uses a secure voting site administered by Civica (independent scrutineers) specifically for this ballot.  This voting process was used for last year’s Rebuilding Royal Mail Part 1 & 2 agreements. The process is based on a simple, easy-to-use format that other unions and the Labour Party routinely use.

In advance of the ballot we will share example ballot papers and instructions for Branches and members on how to complete their vote.

Information on the Additional Vote for New Entrants

We have received enquiries about the two votes and whether one depends on the other.  The resolutions to the two DRPs were mutually dependent; hence, they are in one agreement, as we both agreed that we would not agree to one without the other party agreeing to the other.

However, we wanted to provide new entrants with a vote on the additional pay rise of 1.75% whilst also allowing all members to vote on endorsing the policy of equalisation within the main agreement.

Any enquiries relating to the content of this LTB should be referred to the DGSP department hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 130.26 FURTHER UPDATE ON CONSULTATIVE BALLOT PROCESS FOR RESOLUTION OF THE TWO DRPS ON USO AND EQUALISATION

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RM and CWU Joint Statement Covering Scanning Away from Location on Collection

Dear Colleagues,

Following trials in the Anglia division for enhanced PDA features using location information to prompt users to sense check the scan location when on collection, we have agreed a joint communication with Royal Mail covering this process, as the business seek to reduce scanning in the wrong location.

The enhanced feature issues a notification to the user when they attempt to scan a COLLOD or collection point barcode whilst the PDA location is away from the registered location by more than 100 meters. The notification says ‘You are scanning in the wrong location, do you want to proceed?’ giving the user an option to select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

It is recognised that there might be differing reasons for the notification appearing, for example GPS issues or the collection point being recorded incorrectly in Route Manager, which should be corrected as this is highlighted. It is also recognised that this could occur as a result of staff knowingly scanning away from the location i.e. from a photo of the barcode on their mobile phone. CWU and the business are aware that this is not solely proportioned to OPG grade.

We trialled this update in Norwich DO and the Collections Hub at Norwich MC with an agreed amnesty on conduct. There were no issues during the trial from management or CWU representatives and any base data anomalies were corrected as a result of the trial.

The trial was then expanded to the wider Anglia division and due to increased visibility, we have received reports from management regarding staff scanning away from location, which could have resulted in conduct without the amnesty in place.

The joint aim is to see improved quality as a result of the new feature. Protection of a further National amnesty period for additional 3 months will be in place to reduce the potential for conduct cases going forward, with the focus being on coaching rather than conduct. This is captured in the joint statement and Royal Mail are now looking to deploy this upgrade nationally on Monday, 11^th May.

In addition, the business has agreed that all required training and coaching will be given by Workplace Coaches to support OPGs as required, with all data on the deployment of Collection Proximity feature to be regularly shared with the National Collections JWG.

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 125/26 – JS Scanning Away from Location on Collection

Scanning away from Location agreement

Collection Proximity WTLL final v2

ROYAL MAIL: EX “SAFENET” MEMBERS – CONFIRMATION OF PAY INCREASE FROM 1^STAPRIL 2026

Branches may recall that we have a number of members (c.130) who were redeployed from Post Office “Safenet” duties back into the Royal Mail operation under MTSF in 2009.

Following our representations, Royal Mail management have now formally confirmed that these ex-Post Office members have either received or will shortly receive the Post Office pay increase of 3.24% as per year one of the two year pay agreement (for the comparable Post Office Crew grade) from 1st April 2026.  Refer to LTB 094/26 dated 30th March for full details of the Post Office Pay Agreement.

I would be grateful if Branches could bring this positive development to the attention of our ex-Post Office members working in Royal Mail.

If you have any queries in relation to this LTB, please contact Samantha Nicholas at snicholas@cwu.org or Heidi Maughan at hmaughan@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: LTB129.26 RM Ex “Safenet” Members – Confirmation of Pay Increase

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ROYAL MAIL: RAISING CONCERNS NATIONAL AGREEMENT – KEY STATISTICS

Further to LTB 041/26 dated 10^th February.  Earlier this week, Bobby Weatherall and Alan Tate, PE members, met with Karen McKay, Head of HR Policy as part of the ongoing engagement and review of key statistics arising from the application of the Raising Concerns National Agreement.

The data shown on the attached slide deck is for a full year from April 2025 to April 2026.  In this period, there were 4,721 Raising Concern cases, although this does not include cases at the Appeal stage.  Since the Raising Concerns Agreement was launched, there have been 7,332 cases in total.

Key Statistics from the latest data (April to April)

• Of the 4,721 cases, 4,248 cases have been concluded (90%). 10% of cases remain open

• 70% of outcomes are informally resolved, upheld or partially upheld

• 548 Appeals have been raised and 447 have been concluded. Of the 447, 29% are upheld or partially upheld

• The highest reason for raising a concern is “Poor behaviour or treatment” at 30%

• Bullying, discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment) is a combined 17%.

If you have any queries in relation to this LTB, please contact Samantha Nicholas at snicholas@cwu.org or Heidi Maughan at hmaughan@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: LTB128.26 RM – Raising Concerns National Agreement – Key Statistics

Attachment 2: Attachment to LTB128.26 – Slide Deck, Raising Concerns

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ROYAL MAIL: CHANGE FOR GOOD PROGRAMME – CWU INVOLVEMENT

Further to LTB 207/24 dated 14^th June 2024 which advised Branches of a Royal Mail Sexual Harassment Initiative which had been developed under a programme called Change for Good (CFG).

Recently we been in discussions with Royal Mail in regard to the current status of the CFG programme and specifically the Union’s involvement in this initiative.  As a consequence of these discussions, we have received the attached correspondence from Dahlia Basrawi, HR Director, Performance & Capability, which confirms that Royal Mail is supportive of the Union engaging in various supporting activities, including the creation of a Shadow National Steering Committee for CFG.  Specifically, the correspondence from Royal Mail notes that the surest way for CFG to succeed is through “our shared ambition to create safe, inclusive and welcoming workplaces throughout Royal Mail”.

The Postal Executive has been documented a couple of times this month on the CFG programme and has now established supporting policy regarding the CFG initiative, with the specific aim of ensuring that via engagement with Royal Mail, we have the opportunity to pursue our policies and strategy in regard to eradicating bullying & harassment in the workplace.  Kate Hudson, Head of Equality, Education & Development, has been consulted over this matter, and is fully supportive of the approach we are taking and as such Kate will be heavily involved in the activities going forward.

Branches will be aware that the Union has proactively engaged in this type of programme in the past, such as the Dignity & Respect at Work (DRAW) project.  Accordingly, the Postal Executive considers it important that the Union is fully involved and helps to influence and shape the ongoing initiatives surrounding CFG.

Royal Mail National Steering Committee and Joint Shadow National Steering Committee

Under the auspices of ongoing involvement, Royal Mail has invited the CWU to form a Shadow National Steering Committee that will meet every six weeks and just prior to the Royal Mail National Steering Committee meetings.  The Postal Executive will engage in the construction of the SNSC with the involvement of myself, Kate Hudson, Bobby Weatherall and Katrina Quirke, PE members and Officer Substitutes, and Jamie McGovern, Health & Safety Policy Assistant.

Postal Executive Working Group 

To support the activities of the SNSC, we will also instigate a Postal Executive Working Group consisting of everyone involved in the SNSC, along with Angela Whitter, Steve Halliwell and Darren Glebocki, PE Members. This will ensure that we regularly invest decent time to scrutinise and review the overall direction and thrust of CFG and what it means for our members whilst ensuring that all areas of the Postal Department are involved.

Lastly, arrangements are being made for Dahlia Basrawi and Lizz Lloyd, Group Health & Safety Director, to present the CFG programme and associated activities to the Postal Executive.  Following this, we will also ensure that a similar event is held for our Senior Field Officials.

Further developments will be reported.

If you have any queries in relation to this LTB, please contact Samantha Nicholas at snicholas@cwu.org or Heidi Maughan at hmaughan@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey                                    Kate Hudson
Assistant Secretary                    Head of Equality, Education & Development

Attachment 1: LTB 126.26 – Royal Mail Change for Good Programme – CWU Involvement

Attachment 2: Attachment to LTB 126.26 -Letter D. Basrawi

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