Royal Mail Uniform Update – September 2026
Dear Colleagues,
Branches will recall LTB 090/26 Royal Mail Uniform Update, which was issued on 26th March 2026.
The CWU has continued to engage the business on all associated issues linked to Uniform, as part of the quarterly review meeting with the company’s national uniform manager and a representative from the supplier company Dimensions. The latest meeting, as usual, included a general update, review and discussion of all uniform matters. The topics discussed covered:
- Changes to clothing, new items of kit, trials under way or pending;
- Awareness campaigns and initiatives;
- Other business.
Relating to the first of the above bullet points, a new cagoule and hi-viz vest are being introduced and becoming available to order, along with three different trainer styles.
Trials are under way on two hats, a wide brim and a baseball cap, as well as a round-neck T-shirt. Further trials are also planned for a new storm coat with a Gore-Tex fabric that according to its manufacturer ‘blocks liquid water while allowing water vapour to pass through’ and a new design for male and female fit trousers.
In relation to the forthcoming trials, the storm coat is to be tested in North West England, Scotland and Ireland and we are seeking to contact CWU Reps in those areas to gather volunteers to be involved in the trial.
A key priority for the CWU, which was expressed during the meeting, was the issue of uniform compliance and advising that managers are being urged to ensure uniforms are being returned by workers who leave.
A further initiative aimed at raising uniform awareness in workplaces was noted and there was concern at a report that, as of June 2026, only 55% of current allocation is being worn and that the non-worn, non-ordered allocation is at a high rate.
While uniform is clearly a subject of major importance to postmen and postwomen, as it is the most often selected item on the company’s Robin app, it is also clear that too many of our members do not have sufficient information and may not be aware of what their full allocation is and / or may be struggling with the ordering system. This led to an agreement around these issues and the need for improvement.
As such, the output from the meeting was that the business would produce a proposed pocket-sized fold-out information booklet called a ‘Z-Card’, which has been presented to us by the company as intended for general distribution.
The general intention, as a handy source of useful advice on the uniform available and how to place orders, is of course something we would welcome and support. However, we have expressed a specific concern, which related to the uniform issue for new starters and not compliant with the Uniform Agreement.
The 2018 National Uniform Agreement is quite clear that ‘new starters are entitled to basic uniform from Day One’ (Paragraph 2, Bullet One in the attached national agreement). The section relating to new starters in the Z-Card states that this is ‘after four weeks’ rather than ‘from Day One’. The point was made by CWU at the meeting that this was a breach of the National Agreement.
Royal Mail have stated that managers could order uniform before the four-week period via an ‘exceptions process’, however Day One allocation is the norm and not an exceptional circumstance. This was made clear to the business and we confirmed we would subsequently update Branches to ensure full compliance with the 2018 National Uniform Agreement, as outlined below:
- New starters are entitled to basic uniform from Day One. This consists of: shoes x1, tops x 5, bottoms x 2, fleece jacket x1, hi-viz waistcoat x1 (plus storm-proof coat x1, if the role involves outdoor working). They will receive information on how to order uniform in their ‘welcome pack’ and their full allocation can be ordered after six weeks.
- Casual and temporary employees are provided with a hi-viz waistcoat (and safety footwear, if appropriate).
- Nobody should go out / be sent out on a Royal Mail delivery without any Royal Mail apparel.
- Uniform items are Royal Mail property and should be returned if you leave the business and also when uniform items are renewed / replaced.
Given there are significant issues around attrition rates and the treatment of new entrants, we are asking Branches and Representatives to familiarise yourselves with the 2018 National Uniform Agreement, particularly the key aspects highlighted above and to challenge any breaches of this agreement. Please report any such instances to Angela Whitter (awhitter@cwu.org), the CWU Postal Executive National Uniform Lead.
Your support and assistance in this are much appreciated. 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 246-26 – RM Uniform Update – September 2026
Uniform 2018 National Agreement
Z-Card
Z-Card Section in disagreement
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