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

Further to LTB 078/25 dated 16^thApril.  Branches are reminded that the Postal Executive agreed to extend the Drugs & Alcohol For-Cause Testing Pilot (for drivers only and excluding Parcelforce) until Friday 5^thSeptember and also to extend the geographical boundaries. The Terms of Reference (ToR) previously agreed with Royal Mail was extended to include South Central, South East and Northern Ireland ROD areas from the following dates:

• Monday 9^th June – South East
• Monday 16^th June – South Central
• Monday 23^rd June – Northern Ireland

The extension means the Pilot is now running in six ROD areas in total, including Wales, Anglia and South West.

We are pleased to report that at the time of writing there have been no further for-cause tests instigated since the most recent extensions.  Only two tests have been called for in total in the 23 weeks since the initial Pilot in Wales began on 13^th January, both of which had a negative outcome.  We will continue to monitor the progress of the Pilot and further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey       

Assistant Secretary                                             

Davie Robertson          

Assistant Secretary                                                    

Tony Bouch

Assistant Secretary          

LTB 121/25 – Royal Mail Drugs & Alcohol – For-Cause Testing Pilot

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ELECTION OF NATIONAL DELEGATIONS – 2025

 TUC Congress

• Labour Party Conference 

Further to LTB 104/25 dated 23^rd May 2025, please see below ballot results for the National Delegations which closed on the 19^th June 2025:-

TUC – Postal Constituency

Lay Members (5 Members to be elected)Adam AlarakhiaLeicestershire54,778*ElectedSteve CrokeSouth Midlands Postal50,045*ElectedPaul GillonGlasgow & District Amal35,905 Sajid ShaikhBirmingham District Amal54,648*ElectedTony SneddonScotland No 537,567  Lee Starr-ElliottBristol & District Amal43,746*ElectedTom WalkerNorthern Home Counties Postal46,331*Elected

LABOUR PARTY – Postal Constituency

Lay Members (4 Members to be elected)Paul BraithwaiteNorth Lancs & Cumbria43,923*ElectedHuw DaviesLondon Phoenix33,543 Hugh GaffneyGlasgow & District Amal45,425*ElectedLee Starr-ElliottBristol & District Amal36,356*ElectedTom WalkerNorthern Home Counties Postal39,417*Elected

Please find attached a branch analysis of the ballot results.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches 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 119/25 – Election of National Delegations – TUC & Labour Party Conference 2025

Appendix 1 – TUC Ballot Returns

Appendix 2 – Labour Party Ballot Returns

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Sun Safety and Severe Weather Risk Assessment Process RMG

The purpose of this LTB is to provide Branches and our Safety Reps, in particular, with the necessary communication materials and reaffirm the application of the Royal Mail Group Severe Weather Risk Assessment process as temperatures increase during the summer months.

We have seen over the years an ongoing rise in both average temperatures alongside some of the highest recorded daily temperatures in the UK.  This increase in temperature, intense sunlight and exposure to high UV ray levels bring with them real dangers and equally the need to be alert and aware of the risk to health.

‘Mandatory’ Severe Weather Risk Assessment process:

In line with previous years’ advice issued by RMG, managers must complete a Severe Weather Risk Assessment when temperatures reach the “high 20s” to record the controls that have been implemented.  This includes additional advice and support for managing the operation in the hot weather.

Under the Severe Weather Risk Assessment (SWRA) managers must:

• Carry out a SWRA daily and consult/involve the ASR.
• Suspend deliveries and collections if appropriate to do so.
• Communicate the SWRA results to all staff.
• Must not manipulate the SWRA to justify sending out deliveries or collections where it is clearly unsafe to do so.
• Managers must take whatever action is necessary to safeguard employees by removing risks and reducing risks to a tolerable level.

To assist, please find attached Severe Weather Risk Assessment extracts for actions in the case of a MET Office Weather ‘Yellow Warning’, ‘Amber Warning’ and ‘Red Warning’.

As we progress through summer, we expect RMG to issue further additional SHE Huddles and communications via their relevant platforms, which we will share, alongside other advice and communications from the Postal Department to support our Branches, Safety Reps and members and as temperatures continue to rise.

In the meantime, please find attached the following: –

• Royal Mail Group/CWU/IOSH poster.
• RMG/CWU ‘Stay Safe in the Sun’ pocket z-card/leaflet.

These former communications remain relevant, provide key messages and should still be available on the RMG ‘SharePoint’ site for downloading and printing and be displayed within all workplaces.

Important advice to all CWU Members working outside:

It is important to:

• Cover Up – wear loose clothing, minimise skin exposure, avoid sunburn.
• Protect Your Head – wear a hat with a broad rim, wear sunglasses.
• Take Regular Breaks – preferably in the shade.
• Use Sunscreen/Sunblock – with a minimum SPF 30 and reapply frequently.
• Be Skin Safe – report any mole changes or any other skin concerns to your GP.
• Stay Hydrated – drink plenty of fluids and plan refills.

Sunburn – is painful and hurts you in more ways than one.  The danger goes far beyond any short-term pain, redness and discomfort because after the sunburn fades, lasting damage remains.  Sunburn accelerates skin ageing and is a leading cause in the majority of skin cancer cases.  A suntan is not a sign of good health; it’s a sign of serious skin damage.

Heatstroke – can quickly damage the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles.

Skin cancer – is the most common form of cancer in the UK and rates continue to rise with 100,000 new cases diagnosed each year and 2,500 deaths.  The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Dehydration – can cause organ damage and failure, seizures, fainting, heatstroke and shock.

Important advice for CWU Members with underlying health conditions and pregnant colleagues:

Individual members who have pre-existing and underlying health conditions, who take medication, and colleagues who are pregnant face an increased risk when working in extreme heat.  It is therefore advisable that these members approach their relevant manager to discuss any concerns they currently have.  These discussions should cover any current concerns and what individual support or duty adjustments might be needed in the event of a MET Office weather ‘Amber Warning’ (or higher warning) for heat.

Discussion on needed duty adjustments must be made with the individual’s agreement and be confidential.  Additionally, any agreed adjustment should be recorded on the Severe Weather Duty Adjustments Form.

For members who require these measures, it is vitally important that they also seek CWU support and assistance.

Area Safety Reps (ASRs) and Workplace Safety Reps Actions:

Area and Workplace Safety Representatives are requested to: –

• Work with Operational Managers and SHE Team Management to raise awareness about Sun Safety amongst all members who work outdoor across Royal Mail Group.
• Ensure that Severe Weather Risk Assessments are carried out in hot, heatwave weather conditions. This should start now, if not already underway, with all managers/PiCs (Person in Charge) familiarising themselves with the Severe Weather Risk Assessment process in order to ensure that they are prepared for high summer temperatures.
• Ensure that individuals with pre-existing and underlying health conditions, who take medication, and colleagues who are pregnant are aware that new or further duty adjustments may be needed to support them in the event of a MET Office ‘Amber Warning’ (or higher warning) for heat. These duty adjustments need to be made with the individual’s agreement and recorded on the Severe Weather Duty Adjustments Form.

Any failures and non-compliance should be reported to senior management, recorded on health and safety inspections, raised at health and safety committees, and, as necessary, escalated through the SHE Disputes Resolution process.

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

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)     

LTB 120/25 – Sun Safety and Severe Weather Risk Assessment Process RMG
SWRA Yellow Warning
SWRA Yellow Warning Actions
SWRA Red Warning
SWRA Red Warning Actions
SWRA Amber Warning
SWRA Amber Warning Actions
RMGCWUPoster
RMG CWU Stay-Safe-in-the-Sun-zcard leaflet

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Royal Mail: Pensions Presentation at the Special Restructuring Conference in Blackpool

Branches and Representatives are advised we are planning to launch a number of information booklets (six in total) in respect of the various pension schemes that our Royal Mail members are in.  This activity is in keeping with Motion 11 carried at the 2024 Postal Group Conference, and follows on from the one-day training sessions delivered by Paul Kennedy, RMPP Trustee and Divisional Rep last summer (refer to LTB 188/24).

The six booklets have been constructed in conjunction with Lane, Clark & Peacock (LCP) LLP, an external pensions specialist and the aim is for these to be used as a go-to reference for all enquiries received by Branches/Reps from members of any of the Royal Mail pension schemes.

We will be presenting an overview of the six Pensions information booklets to our Postal Delegates at the Special Restructuring Conference in Blackpool.  The plan is to hold this presentation during the lunch break on Saturday 28^th June, in the Conference Hall.

To support the presentation, Chris Webb, Head of Communications will producing a leaflet with a QR code that will allow our Branches and Reps to download all six of the Pensions booklets.  The intention is for this leaflet to be available at Conference and the Comms team will also be producing a short video.

Postal Branches and Representatives are encouraged to attend this important fringe event at Conference.  Please note that delegates will need to make their own arrangements for lunch, which we are unable to provide.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
DGS(P)      

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 25LTB118 -RM – Pensions Presentation – Restructuring Conference in Blackpool

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ROYAL MAIL: BONUS PAYMENTS 2024/25 FOR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, FINANCE, HR & LEGAL SERVICES

Branches are reminded that the arrangements for the bonus schemes for our members working in Customer Experience, Finance and HR/Legal Services are based on Royal Mail’s overall business performance.

I am pleased to report the bonus for 2024/25 will be paid at the maximum for the respective Business Units.  The total amounts payable are as follows:Business UnitBonus Payment 2024/25HR/Legal Services£1,500CE£2,000Finance£2,000

Additionally, LA1s within Logistics are also entitled to an annual bonus and will receive the maximum amount of £650.

All of these payments (pro-rata for part-timers) will be made with June salaries to those who have been in post since 1^st January 2025 and who are still employed at the payment date.

These bonus payments have arisen from agreements the union has reached on behalf of the members concerned.  Therefore, Branches and Representatives with members in these Business Units are encouraged to reinvigorate recruitment activities by focusing on this positive news which should aid recruitment amongst Admin grades.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 25LTB116 RM – Bonus Payments 2024-25 for CE, Finance, HR & Legal Services

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RMG/CWU National Dog Awareness Week (DAW) – Advance SHE Huddle: Scotland

Branches will recall several recent LTBs issued in terms of the wider work of the CWU around seeking to reduce dog attacks and incidents including joint work with Royal Mail via the National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group.

In line with this, it can now be reported that this year’s RMG/CWU National Dog Awareness Week (DAW) is planned from Monday 30^th June to Sunday 6^th July.

Whilst further communications and relevant materials linked to DAW will be issued to Branches and our Safety Reps in the coming weeks, it has been acknowledged that the national launch of DAW, which is designed to coincide with the bulk of when schools break up for the summer term holiday, does not reflect when schools in Scotland break up, which is normally two weeks earlier than the rest of the UK.

Accordingly, this year, Royal Mail has produced the attached SHE Huddle, which will be issued this week across Royal Mail and Parcelforce within Scotland and is designed to highlight that the school holiday period can increase the risk and chance of dog attacks.

The SHE Huddle repeats the following core messages:

• Remember to report significant dog hazards and inform the manager of any increase in risk/changes. This needs to be captured on ORA (Offsite Risk Assessment).
• Mark your frame with a yellow dot where there is a significant dog hazard. Remove any yellow dots on frames no longer appropriate e.g., Dog no longer resides there.
• Be more vigilant when approaching a delivery point where a known dog is.
• Have a posting peg with you always; never put fingers through the letterbox.
• Never accept a customer’s assurance that the dog won’t bite.

• Look for the presence of dogs. Signs on gates, walls and windows, cages in vehicles, toys in gardens.
• Rattle the gate to warn a potential dog of your presence.
• When calling with an item, ask the customer to put their dog away and step well back from the doorstep to maintain a safe distance. If the customer needs to leave the doorstep to fetch ID or another item, politely ask them to close the door/secure the dog.
• Do not enter if a dog is loose. Ask the customer to secure their dog.
• Do not carry dog biscuits/treats, do not feed or pet animals.
• When passing dogs on leads, give the dog a wide berth or where possible cross over.
• Put D on the envelope and parcels to remind yourself of known dog hazards when you are out on your route.

Whilst Royal Mail have issued this SHE Huddle to operational managers; can we equally ask Branches and our Safety Representatives to encourage the communication of this SHE Huddle 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 115-25 – RMG CWU National Dog Awareness Week (DAW) – Advance SHE Huddle Scotland

SHE Huddle FY25 020 Dog Awareness Summer Holidays Scotland

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Royal Mail Group Dog Attack Compensation Scheme – A reminder of the Scheme

Branches will recall several recent LTBs issued in terms of the wider work of the CWU around seeking to reduce dog attacks and incidents, including joint work with Royal Mail via the National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group.

Whilst the union’s focus remains on seeking to prevent dog attacks on our members, and we will shortly be reporting to Branches on this year’s Royal Mail/CWU Dog Awareness Week and linked activity planned for late June, we are also mindful that many of our Branch Reps and members are unaware of the RMG Dog Attack Compensation Scheme.

If an individual is sadly injured and off work sick as a result of a dog attack, benefits are available under the compensation scheme, which applies to all within Royal Mail and Parcelforce. The scheme pays compensation amounting to the difference between full rate sick pay and an individual’s average weekly earnings over the previous 13 weeks prior to the dog attack incident.

This is paid out regardless of any personal injury litigation compensation which may be recovered by the union’s solicitors acting for the member.

The current Dog Attack Compensation Scheme claim form is attached.

The RMG Dog Attack Compensation Scheme conditions are:

 1 week minimum sick absence must be incurred in order to qualify to submit a claim.

• A maximum of 13 weeks average earnings will be paid out whilst an individual is off work sick following a dog attack.
• Christmas and summer pressure periods and annual leave periods will be excluded from the average earnings calculation.
• Applications under the compensation scheme need to be submitted within a month of the dog attack.

Also attached is the RMG ‘Victim Support Guide’, which sets out help at hand for individuals who are attacked by a dog, alongside other information on options available to the Police to deal with the crime.

We have also included with this LTB a leaflet entitled ‘Help! I’ve been bitten by a dog!’,which was jointly produced by the CWU together with Liverpool University and the NHS, under the heading of the Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership. This leaflet was first published back in 2021, but it remains relevant and seeks to offer some additional advice following a dog attack.

The final attachment is the CWU LS3 Form, and the accompanying LS18 document. If a member is injured following an attack, the LS3 Form can be completed and submitted to the union’s Legal Services Department, who will instruct the union’s lawyers to investigate and consider making a compensation claim.

Alongside the above, the following further steps need to be taken following a dog attack: –

• Report all dog attacks to your local manager (so the relevant actions can be taken, including the suspension of deliveries, and so that the Offsite Risk Assessment (ORA) is updated).
• Record all dog attack injuries on ‘ERICA’.
• Report all dog attacks to the Police and get a ‘Crime Number’.
• Report all dog attacks to the Local Authority Dog Warden or officer responsible for Dog Nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour issues.

In setting out the above, we would further advise that if victims are asked by the Police to agree that the dog owner can be dealt with via an ‘Informal Warning’ or ‘Community Resolution’ without recourse to formal criminal justice sanctions, they should not agree to this. This advice is based on a number of members who have agreed to such sanctions shortly after a dog attack but have later changed their mind and have been prevented from allowing the matter to be taken further via a formal prosecution of the dog owner.

Being subject to a dog attack is a very distressing matter and undertaking the above may equally seem daunting, so members are reminded to always seek the direct support and assistance from their Branch, including their local Workplace Safety Rep and Area Safety Rep.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGSP Department.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 113.25 Royal Mail Group Dog Attack Compensation Scheme – A reminder of the Scheme

LTB 113.25 Attachment 1 Claim Form

LTB 113.25 Attachment 2 RMG Victim Support Guide v1.2

LTB 113.25 Attachment 3 Help_I’ve been bitten by a dog MDSP Final 2021

LTB 113.25 Attachment 4 LS3 Claim Form and LS18

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Royal Mail Group negotiations 

Dear colleagues 

We are writing to confirm that as of this week EP Group are now formally engaged in the negotiations between Royal Mail Group and the CWU. 

This means we are working closer to deliver on all of the commitments provided by the EP Group / CWU agreement of December 2024. 

We recognise and fully understand the level of interest in the outcome and crucially when that will be.

The EP Group / CWU agreement committed to several key agreements being reached within 3 (September) or 6 (December) months post transaction. All parties agree there is an absolute need to accelerate this timeframe where possible – particularly around pay equalising new entrants’ terms and conditions. 

Getting the right agreement is more important than getting a quick agreement. EP Group became the owners of Royal Mail Group on June 2nd. We have been working together at pace ever since. 

Turning around the chaos created by the previous Board and senior leadership will not happen overnight, but we are confident this agreement will lead to a fundamental change in the whole ethos of Royal Mail Group. 

We can confirm the following:

• Any pay settlement reached will be backdated to April 1st 2025. 
• Talks are continuing. 
• On USO reform we have had a good discussion and are awaiting a response from EP Group on a more pragmatic way of moving this forward.
• We will deliver an extensive package of communications as soon as an agreement is reached. 

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 112/25 – CWU Conference 2025 – Standing Order Reports 

 No. 112/25

 13^th June 2025

 TO:   

ALL BRANCH SECRETARIES

REGIONAL SECRETARIES

DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

SUB DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

FLEET TERRITORIAL REPRESENTATIVES

RM ENGINEERING REPRESENTATIVES

RMPFS REPRESENTATIVES

RMPFS CLEANER REPRESENTATIVES

REGIONAL PARCEL ORGANISERS

Dear Colleagues,

CWU Conference 2025 – Standing Order Reports

Please find attached the following for the Special Restructuring Conference and Special Rules Revision Conference:

• Special Restructuring Standing Orders Report Supplementary No.1
• Special Rules Revision Standing Orders Report Supplementary No.1

Branches are reminded that credentials and voting cards and any further Standing Order Reports will be available to collect from the registration desk in the Foyer of the Winter Gardens Conference and Convention Centre from 3.30pm – 6.00pm on Friday 27^th June 2025.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by telephoning 020 8971 7237 or by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 112/24 – CWU Conference 2025 – Standing Order Reports

Att: SGC SOR 1 2025

Att: RR SOR1 2025

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