POSTAL DEPARTMENT: NEWLY COMBINED OFFICER’S ROLE – RMG CENTRAL SERVICES, HR POLICIES & PROCEDURES, PENSIONS, POST OFFICE, CAPITA TVL

POSTAL DEPARTMENT: NEWLY COMBINED OFFICER’S ROLE – RMG CENTRAL SERVICES, HR POLICIES & PROCEDURES, PENSIONS, POST OFFICE, CAPITA TVL

Branches are advised that following the announcement of Andy Furey’s election to the combined PTCS and C&CH Officer role (refer to LTB 222/25), which commenced from 1^stDecember 2025, the two Departments, including Postal Executive members and staff have held a number of meetings to discuss the smooth integration to ensure our members are supported seamlessly wherever possible.

The Department will now be called RMG Central Services, HR Policies & Procedures, Pensions, Post Office, Capita TVL, which we realise is a lengthy name, but we wanted to make sure we covered off all of the areas and businesses, including minority grades.

For full clarity, Andy Furey will have responsibility for the following:Royal Mail Group HR Policies

Royal Mail & Post Office Pensions

Post Office

· Admin

· Supply Chain

Capita TVL

· Contact and Admin Centres (Darwen and Bristol)

· Field

Kings SecuritiesRoyal Mail Grades / Business Units:

· Admin Grades (LA1s)

· Customer Experience

· Finance Services

· Fleet

· HR Services

· Legal Services

· Mailscreeners

· National Returns Centre (NRC)

· PFSL Cleaners

· PFSL Engineers

· Stamps & Collectibles

In terms of Postal Executive members assigned to the Department, from 1^stDecember, Bobby Weatherall will be Andy’s substitute and will lead on day-to-day enquiries in respect of HR policies and will support Andy on all other matters within the Department as and when required. Alan Tate will support Andy on Fleet in the main and on HR policies when appropriate. Mole Meade will continue to provide support on Post Office and Royal Mail Admin matters.

Regular meetings will be scheduled by Andy for all Representatives from the various grade groups / companies.

Any queries in relation to the new Department should be addressed to Samantha Nicholas snicholas@cwu.org or Heidi Maughan – hmaughan@cwu.org

Lastly, on behalf of the Postal Executive, we would like to thank Bobby Weatherall for taking on the role of Acting Assistant Secretary for the PTCS Department for the last 21 months.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

LTB 264/25 – Newly Combined Department

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05/12/2025 0

BRANCH ELECTIONS 2026 – 2028 Set One Results 27/11/2025

Set Two Nominations closes 2 weeks after the Set One Elections results have been announced.

27/11/2025 0

Royal Mail – Use of Parcel Cubes in Delivery and Collection

Royal Mail – Use of Parcel Cubes in Delivery and Collection

Dear Colleagues,

The purpose of this LTB is to confirm to Branches and members that Royal Mail have officially launched the availability and use of Parcel Cubes for both delivery and collections. This information will be officially issued to RM Ops on Monday, 1^st December.

Branches will recall that, over a prolonged period of time, Royal Mail have undertaken several different trials covering the wider operational use of Parcel Cubes, mainly covering Dedicated Parcel Routes. They also, as far back as 2021, undertook a more bespoke trial of a Cube Trolley in the Manchester area. Whilst feedback in terms of the overall suitability and benefit of these Cubes for DPRs was mixed and Royal Mail have been reluctant to invest further in the use of these cubes over the years, the fact remains that there has been a growing use of third-party Parcel Cubes within many Delivery units, both for delivery and collections.

From a CWU perspective, we have seen the value of Parcel Cubes and have been arguing for Royal Mail to invest in them for several years. Particularly, for use of the cubes where multiple smaller parcels are delivered to a single location (i.e. mailroom or concierge desk) and for multiple occupant locations, such as student accommodations etc. Similarly, we have seen a benefit of the use of the cubes for collections where there are multiple smaller parcels to collect. Indeed, the use and benefit of the Parcel Cube is simply reflected by the number of third-party cubes which are now in use.

Accordingly, this decision by Royal Mail to now finally move forward with their own acquired Parcel Cubes is welcomed, even though we believe that the initial introduction of 2,000 cubes this side of the New Year will fall well short of applications for this equipment.

Attached to this LTB is a copy of the current SWI (Safe Working Instruction) version 2, which covers ‘usage of cubes for high-volume locations such as parcel lockers, parcel shops or central post rooms. They support safe and efficient transfer of small to medium parcels between vehicles and delivery/collection locations. Large parcels should be loaded directly into the vehicle.’

Also attached is a copy of the SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment) Huddle, which confirms that ‘non-branded cubes that are in good condition, have two handles, and meet the specified measurements may remain in use during the transition to new stock in 2026, but must be reported to your Line Manager to confirm ongoing suitability.’

As outlined above, the CWU welcomes this decision by Royal Mail to officially launch and invest in the availability and use of Parcel Cubes for both delivery and collections, for those members who wish to use them.

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 263/25 – RM Use of Parcel Cubes in Delivery and Collection

Att: SWI Parcel Cube

Att: SHE Huddle Parcel Cubes

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26/11/2025 0

REVISED NATIONAL RULEBOOK – NOVEMBER 2025

REVISED NATIONAL RULEBOOK – NOVEMBER 2025

Branches will recall LTB 179/25 issued in August. This contained a copy of the updated 2025 CWU Rule Book which incorporated the rule amendments as agreed at the Special Rules Revision Conference, held in Blackpool on 29^th June 2025.

Due to an oversight, an urgent consequential matter has been identified concerning Rule 10.5 and relating to Regional Sub Committees and the submission of motions to General Conference.

The rulebook allowed the Equality Sub-Committee and the Health & Safety Sub Committee to submit motions to Conference. (as well as Retired Members and Young Members through their Conferences). There was, however, no specific provision for the Regional Political Sub- Committee or the Education, Learning and Training Sub-Committees to submit a motion to the relevant policy section of General Conference.

Previously, motions would have previously been submitted via the Regional Committee, which has now been removed from the rulebook.

Branches and Regional Sub Committees clearly need a mechanism to submit motions related to politics and education and training matters to the relevant part of the General Conference. Therefore, at its meeting on 19^th/20^th November, the NEC agreed to a change to the rulebook in line with Rule 15.4.1.

The revised rule 10.5 means that going forward all of the Regional Sub Committees will be able to submit motions to the relevant policy section of General Conference.

The National Rule book has been amended accordingly and is attached for the information of Branches.

Any further enquiries with regards this please contact conferences@cwu.orgor Angela Niven on 020 8971 7237.

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 262/25

Rule-Book-2025-Updated-November 2025

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26/11/2025 0

CWU CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS 2024

CWU CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS 2024

The purpose of the LTB is to inform Branches that further to LTB 245/25 dated 7th November 2025 which invited questions to the 2024 CWU Accounts, that at the closing time for questions to be submitted, Friday 21^stNovember 2025 at 12 noon, no questions have been received.

Accordingly, there are no answers to be sent to Branches on this matter.

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 261/25

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25/11/2025 0

UPDATED REGIONAL SUB COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION

UPDATED REGIONAL SUB COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION

Branches will be aware that Rule 7 relating to our regional structure was updated, following our Special Rules Revisions Conference in June 2025. The rule now reflects our new regional structure and the implementation of our National Networks, designed to support our non-industrial work across the union. Branches will note that the rule refers to a Regional Sub Committee Constitution, which has to be updated following the changes endorsed by our Conference.

The NEC has now endorsed an updated Regional Sub Committee Constitution, which will be adopted by Regional Sub Committees going forward. Please find the Constitution attached.

The Constitution reflects the new regional structure and outlines how the Regional Sub Committee must consult branches when making important decisions and creating motions for Conference.

The Constitution also forms an integral part of the new approach to regional governance, including the introduction of the National Networks and the role of the Regional Sub Committees in developing these networks.

We urge all branches to familiarise themselves with the new Constitution.

If you have any questions, please contact aobrien@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

CWU Regional Sub Committees Constitution

1. Names

Each Region (please see the Regional Sub Committee Areas as defined in Point 2 below) shall retain the following Regional Sub Committees:

Regional Equality Sub Committee
Regional Education, Learning and Training Sub Committee
Regional Political Sub Committee^[1]
Regional Health & Safety Sub Committee
Regional Young Workers Committee
Regional Retired Members Committee

2. Regional Sub Committee Areas

The ten CWU Regional Sub Committee areas are as follows^[2]:

Eastern
Midlands
London
South-East
North-East
North-West
Northern Ireland
Scotland
South-West
Wales and the Marches

3. Membership of the Regional Sub Committee

The membership and boundaries of each CWU Regional Sub Committee will be in accordance with CWU Rule 7.5.

4. Primary Objectives

To support the CWU National Networks.

To liaise and work with the General Secretary, NEC, CWU HQ National Officials, Regional Official and branches in the development and implementation of CWU non-industrial and wider movement policies and campaigns in their respective region.

5. Regional Sub Committee Constitution

All Regional Sub Committees shall adopt and operate the Regional Sub Committee Constitution approved by the NEC.

6. Regional Sub Committee Leads

Each Regional Sub Committee shall elect a Lead representative who shall be the principal officer and will oversee the Regional Sub Committee^[3].

The term of office for the Regional Sub Committee Lead positions will be two years, commencing from 1 January 2026.

7. Regional Sub Committee Lead Responsibilities

Under the direction of the General Secretary and the NEC, the Regional Sub Committee Lead will be responsible for actively developing and implementing the CWU non-industrial and wider movement policies relevant to the Regional Sub Committee within their area of responsibility.
To assist and support branches regarding matters relevant to their Regional Sub Committee.
The Regional Sub Committee Lead will be required to provide regular updates on their work to the relevant CWU National/Regional Officials and to Branches within their area of responsibility.
The Regional Sub Committee Lead will be responsible for dealing with all correspondence relevant to their Regional Sub Committee.
The Regional Sub Committee Lead shall prepare an annual report that shall be placed before their Regional Sub Committee for approval.
It will be the responsibility of the Regional Sub Committee Lead to prepare the agenda and minutes of any Regional Sub Committee meetings and to circulate them to the members of the Regional Sub Committee and to Branch Secretaries to enable issues contained in the minutes to be pursued through the Branch and National Networks as necessary.

8. Regional Lead Elections

The Regional Sub Committee Lead shall be elected by and from all Branches within the Regional Sub Committee area boundaries (as of June 2025).

The elections for Regional Sub Committee Lead will be administered, on behalf of CWU HQ, by the relevant CWU Regional Official. The elections will be conducted in accordance with procedures and guidelines approved and issued by the NEC.

If ballots are required, then these will be conducted on a branch ballot basis of all branches within the respective Regional Sub Committee boundaries (as of June 2025).

Candidates will require the nomination of their own branch and the successful candidate shall be the individual who receives the highest number of votes cast.

9. Regional Sub Committee Meetings

The Regional Sub Committee will meet four times per year.

10. Regional Sub Committee Decisions

The majority of topics and information debated and discussed at Regional Sub Committees will not require a decision to be voted on by delegates. However, it is recognised that some decisions, such as where the Regional Sub Committee is entitled to submit motions to Conferences (s) etc, will require a formal decision to be made.

Therefore, where such decisions on motion(s) are required, all branches within the Regional Sub Committee area will need to be consulted on these matters ahead of the Regional Sub Committee meeting to agree the respective motion(s).

For the motion to be valid, it must have the endorsement of the majority of the votes cast by branches in the Regional Sub Committee area.

11. Finance

In order to ensure financial compliance and accountability, where there is any matter that could have any significant implications or impact on branch finances then, prior to any decisions being made, all branches within the Regional Sub Committee area will need to be fully consulted on these matters.

12. Review of Constitution.

This constitution will be reviewed on an annual basis by the NEC.

^[1] Given there is no regional political fund in Northern Ireland and in accordance with long-standing union policy, there will be no Regional Political Sub Committee within Northern Ireland.

^[2] Please note these are based on the CWU boundaries of the CWU Regions as of June 2025.

^[3] With the exception of the Young Workers Sub Committees, who will continue to be represented by the two national representatives allocated to each region.

LTB 260/25 – UPDATED REGIONAL SUB COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION

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25/11/2025 0

ELECTION OF CWU REGIONAL SUB COMMITTEE LEAD POSITIONS

ELECTION OF CWU REGIONAL SUB COMMITTEE LEAD POSITIONS

As Branches will be aware, following the decisions taken at the Special Restructuring Conference in Blackpool in June 2025, it is now necessary to conduct elections for the Regional Sub Committee Lead positions.

The NEC have agreed the election arrangements and guidelines for the Regional Sub Committee position elections, which are attached to this LTB for your information.

For ease of reference, the respective regional Sub Committee areas and Sub Committee Lead positions are listed in the attached election guidelines. Please note that the Young Workers regional structure is staying as is, as stated within the policy paper agreed in at the Conference earlier this year and there is no Regional Political Sub Committee in Northern Ireland, so we will not be seeking nominations for those respective committees.

The term of office for the CWU Regional Sub Committee Lead positions will be two years, commencing on 1 February 2026 and concluding on 1 February 2028. A role description is attached to this LTB, to provide further information on the role of Regional Sub Committee Lead.

ELECTION TIMETABLE

The election timetable for the Regional Sub Committee Leads is as follows:

Nominations open: Tuesday 25 November 2025

Nominations close: Monday 22 December 2025

Ballot papers dispatched: Monday 5 January 2026

Ballots close: Monday 19 January 2026

Results announced: Tuesday 20 January 2026

In line with the terms of paragraph three of the attached guidelines, the elections will be administered by the relevant CWU Regional Official who covers the following Regional Sub Committee areas.

Craig Anderson(canderson@cwu.org) – Scotland and Northern Ireland Regional Sub Committees

Carl Webb (cawebb@cwu.org) – North-East and North-West Regional Sub Committees

Mark Harper (mharper@cwu.org) – Midlands and Eastern Regional Sub Committees

Kevin Beazer (kbeazer@cwu.org) – Wales & The Marches and South-West Regional Sub Committees

Winston Richards(wrichards@cwu.org) – London and the South-East Regional Sub Committees

ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS

Nominations

The elections will be administered by the relevant Regional Official. Branches can request a nomination form, by email, for all the Regional Sub Committee positions in their region from their Regional Official.

Branches should then return the completed nomination form, by email, to the Regional Official by 5pm on the 22nd of December. The forms must be completed digitally, returned in Word document format (i.e. not handwritten and scanned in) and physical forms will not be accepted.

Branches will then receive an email confirmation from the Regional Official confirming their nomination has been received. The Regional Official will contact the candidate to ask whether they accept their nomination by email.

At the close of nominations, the Regional Official will publish a list of the nominations received for each Regional Sub Committee Lead position to the branches within the Regional Sub Committee area.

Ballots

If ballots are required for any Regional Sub Committee Lead positions, then they will be conducted via branch ballot. Branches will be allocated a voting strength based on their membership size (excluding retired members) at the time of the ballot for all Regional Sub Committee Lead positions excluding the Retired Members Leads. However, the branch voting strengths for the Regional Sub-Committee Retired Members Lead will be inclusive of retired members in the branch.

Where ballots are required, copies of the candidate’s biographical details will accompany the branch ballot paper. The branch ballot paper will also list the branch’s voting strength.

Branches must decide on their vote, fill out the ballot paper and return this to the relevant Regional Official by 5pm on Monday 19th of January 2026.

The results of the ballot will be announced on Tuesday 20th of January with the positions taking effect on the 2nd of February 2026.

Branches should familiarise themselves with the contents of this LTB and the election process. If you have any questions, please email aobrien@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

LTB 259/25 – ELECTION OF CWU REGIONAL SUB COMMITTEE LEAD POSITIONS

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25/11/2025 0

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR RICHARD ISDELL

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR RICHARD ISDELL

We can now share details of the funeral arrangements for former CWU official Richard Isdell.

The service will be at 1pm on Wednesday 3^rd December at:
City Road Crematorium,
Sheffield
S2 1GD

The service will be followed with a wake at:
The Old Queens Head
40 Pond Hill
Sheffield
S1 2BG

The crematorium is a 10-minute taxi ride from Sheffield train station, and the Old Queens Head is a 5-minute walk to the train station.

Richard represented the members at Sheffield Mail Centre for decades and he did so with skill, strength, and ability.

He was also an industrial engineer, one of the unions most vocal supporters online and more importantly a brilliant human being with a great sense of humour.

Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with Richard’s daughter Leonie and Grandson Isaac.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

25LTB258 – Richard Isdell Funeral Arrangements

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21/11/2025 0

New Posting Peg Trial (Revised Version) Within Royal Mail – Background and Update

New Posting Peg Trial (Revised Version) Within Royal Mail – Background and Update

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB 184/25, issued on 26^thAugust, that sought to update Branches and members on the trial activity linked to a further prototype Posting Peg at the Ary, Ashford, Boole & Seaforth, Bury and Plymouth Delivery units, which followed two previous trials of new Posting Peg designs.

While a series of LTBs have been issued covering all trial activity to date, as a recap, Branches will remember that back in June 2024, Royal Mail started activity linked to trials on new prototype Posting Pegs, which have been overseen and supported by the RM / CWU National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group.

The first trial, which commenced in June of last year, was based on a revised version of the current Mk1 ‘Red’ Posting Peg, but longer, more flexible version and with greater capacity. This new design was simply entitled the White Peg. The trials were held at the Dore, Derby, and Swindon Delivery units and concluded around November 2024.

The feedback received was positive, with users reporting that it improved usability. The individual survey, which followed the trial, highlighted that 78% of users indicated they would be more likely to use this version of the Posting Peg compared to the current ‘Red’ version.

However, the agreed next steps were to develop and trial a completely new prototype introducing additional functionality to the Peg, such as a pen holder, P739 card holder and flat writing surface. This resulted in a new design called the Multi-purpose Posting Peg, which was subject to further trials that commenced in January 2025.

This new prototype design was also trialled at the Dore, Derby, and Swindon Delivery units and was also extended to Chippenham and Rye. Although there was some positive response to the new prototype Posting Peg, the overall feedback from this trial was clear that it could be further improved, particularly by making it smaller and slimmer. The individual survey, which followed the trial, highlighted that 39% of users indicated they would be more likely to use this version of the Posting Peg compared to the current ‘Red’ version.

This then resulted in the most recent trial of a revised version of the Multi-purpose Posting Peg (Mk2 design), which commenced in September and was reported in LTB 184/25. For reference, attached to this LTB are photos of all three trialled Posting Pegs.

Whilst there was some positive feedback following this latest trial, concerns were again raised about the Peg’s suitability and usability on delivery. The individual survey following the trial reported that only 23% of users were more likely to use this version of the Posting Peg compared to the current design.

Given this, further discussions are now planned with Royal Mail to review this feedback via the RM / CWU National Joint Dog Awareness Working Group and consider next steps based on these trials.

While we will continue to update and report to Branches and members alike on further developments surrounding a new Posting Peg design, I would like to again take this opportunity to thank all members and Reps for their time and assistance in these trials to date. This has been greatly appreciated.

Equally, whilst on the surface it may seem somewhat disappointing that the Multi-purpose Posting Peg did not generate more positive feedback in the trials compared to the current ‘Red’ version, ensuring that the developed ideas and concepts, however well-intended, actually work in practice and for our members is, in short, the aim and reason for such trials.

Finally, in setting out the above, it is relevant to remind Branches that letterbox bites are reportable as an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act (Section 3), which followed the Court of Appeal decision in 2022 whereby postal workers do have applied access rights at letterboxes and as such are protected by the Act. Sadly, there remains some confusion in this regard and over trespassing laws, with even some Police Officers offering wrong advice on this issue, if hands / fingers accidentally enter the letterbox aperture. The full details of the Court of Appeal ruling were set out in LTB 220/22.

Further updates in terms of this wider subject matter will be issued in due course. In the meantime, 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 257/25 – New Revised Posting Peg Trial – Background and Update

Attachment – Three Posting Peg Trial Designs

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21/11/2025 0

Royal Mail Materials Handling Containerisation Update & Peak/Christmas Arrangements 2025 – Health & Safety Aspects

Royal Mail Materials Handling Containerisation Update & Peak/Christmas Arrangements 2025 – Health & Safety Aspects

Further to previous annual updates provided by the CWU, both Departments have engaged with Royal Mail to ensure that updated advice is available for Representatives and members in relation to Peak/Christmas arrangements for 2025 and set out below is a summary of these Materials Handling Containerisation Arrangements, the contents of which have been discussed and agreed with Royal Mail.

If any member has any questions or concerns about the details set out in this LTB, please raise these with your Line manager and speak to your local Rep or Workplace Safety Rep.

York Containers

Royal Mail have over 850,000 (Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3) York Containers in circulation that will be in service during the Peak/Christmas period.

The business will be looking for Yorks to be filled with the maximum 7 layers of 4 trays (28 Max), wherever possible, and subject to Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) weight constraints of the container. Equally vehicle weight limits of loaded Yorks will need to be monitored and adhered to in line with SSoW, Health and Safety requirements and Road Traffic Act Legislation.

The introduction of Correx Sleeves has led to some changes to the way we handle and repair Yorks, whether working with them in Delivery units, Mail Centre’s or Hubs. Therefore, it is important that all individuals in the operation are aware of the correct processes when it comes to nesting, handling and the repairing of Correx Sleeve and Yorks.

LTB 249/25, issued 14^th November, sought to update Branches in terms of recent developments regarding Correx Sleeves, including some recent design and operational changes now in place, alongside a revised SSoW issued by Royal Mail covering the use of Yorks and Mini-Yorks in the operation. The revised SSoW version 3.5 is attached.

York Containers – Use of Shrink-Wrap/Cling-Film

The current agreed national policy remains and there is no agreement in place to use ‘Shrink-Wrap/Cling-Film’ on York Containers under any circumstances. This was confirmed previously in Opsflash – CPC (2008) No 167 which instructs all sites that have received new trays delivered on pallets and shrink wrapped to remove and dispose of the shrink wrap immediately. There are no circumstances where the shrink-wrapping of Yorks is acceptable at any Royal Mail site.

Rigid Stackable Containers (RSCs)

RSCs are not intended for day-to-day or general use inside Mail Centres and Delivery units and are primarily for the Distribution Centres and Parcel Sorting Centres network. However, given the demand for Yorks in the operation during Peak/Christmas, there may be circumstances which require the use of RSCs on a contingency basis, and where there is sufficient space and where Risk Assessment and SSoW requirements apply. In respect of workplace transport hazards from Forklift Trucks and crush hazards etc, specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) regulations requirements also apply in these work environments, including, high visibility clothing and protective footwear. RSCs may only be used in risk controlled working environments as per the SSoW.

Folding Stackable Containers (FSCs)

As Above.

Safe information is located on a plate on the side of the container.

Mail Centre’s and Delivery units should not receive any FSCs. However, if an FSC is received, they should be returned to the local RDC as soon as possible.

‘A’ Frame Roll Containers

As previously reported, Royal Mail still retain a level of supermarket type ‘Roll Cage’ Containers which were introduced back in 2006. They are intended for internal use (inside Offices) and for storage purposes only, in order to free up much needed York Containers. Where on-site, the use of these Containers should be supported by a local Risk Assessment.

Loose Loading of Mail Bags – Christmas 2025

As previously reported, Royal Mail has confirmed that it will be taking a number of steps to ensure that loose loading of mail should only take place in exceptional circumstances, as a last resort due to container supply shortages.

If loose loading must occur, the Manual Handling/Loose Loading SSOW will be adhered to.

Clear instructions have been issued by Royal Mail that should any service which is normally containerised have to be loose loaded, then the dispatching unit must inform the receiving unit in advance so that they can provide any additional staff resources and working arrangements which may be necessary to ensure health and safety standards are maintained.

Extract from Loose Loading Core Risk Assessment:

It is a Royal Mail goal that no manual handling task will exceed risk level 2. Mail Bags average 7kg, maximum gross weight 11kg. Lifting frequency up to 7 bags/minimum over a 30 min period (then rest). Vehicle doors are adequately maintained and must be in good working order.

Priority Services bags could exceed 11kgs, but they should be clearly labelled with the weight so that special consideration can be given to lifting. NB: No Priority Services Bag exceeding 11kgs should contain more than 1 item. All equipment is used in accordance with the appropriate Safe System of Work. All staff to have received manual handling training and instruction or refresher training during the past 3 years. All staff to understand and operate the appropriate Safe System of Work. If there are any tasks that are not listed, the manager must consult the safety team for further advice. No pregnant worker or person under 18 should undertake tasks greater than risk level 1.

Plastic Letter Trays

Royal Mail has purchased 650,000 additional trays for 2025/6, these are already in production and will be delivered directly from suppliers during November and December.

Mail Bags:

RM International MB4L Bags for Automation (Blue)

Royal Mail International use a larger blue bag for use within its Automation Streams, known as the MB4L. These bags are not to be used in the domestic operation and are designed for export only and are for use within Royal Mail International Sites.

New RM MB66 Bags for Automation (Yellow)

Royal Mail has a variation of the Parcel Sort Machine (PSM) known as the Solystic phase 2b within some of its Mail Centres, which allows for the use of MB66 Bags. Where these bags are used on the machine, the 11kg weight limit must apply. They are a slightly larger bag, with a wider neck to allow greater parcel automation efficiency for larger parcels. They should not be used on Drop Bag Fittings (DBFs) for manual sortation. They will be yellow in colour.

Amazon Gaylord Pallets

Amazon Gaylord pallets will once again be used on Parcel Hubs, Super Hubs and PSCs and some Inward Mail Centre traffic streams for Direct Injection traffic and approved flows. For the agreed use and safety information on Amazon Gaylord Pallets, please reference the attached SSoWs.

Repatriation of York Containers, Trays and Cardboard

To ensure sites are safe and clear throughout Peak/Christmas with the largest volume of containers in use within the network, Delivery units are to ensure that container repatriations regularly take place and are returned to the agreed locations. Repatriated Yorks should be fully nested and consolidated in line with the York SSoW, as well as being identified on the units’ Yard Risk Assessment. This will ensure congestion and potential safety issues are avoided, as well as ensuring Royal Mail can maintain its York Containers supply circulation.

Keeping Yorks moving through Peak/Christmas is a business priority.

Issues regarding York repatriation services are to be reported via reporting@royalmail.com
Issues regarding York misuse by customers or internally are to be reported via misuse@royalmail.com

Contingency Arrangements:

Pallets – Transportation, Processing, Unloading and Stacking of Pallets

This year, Royal Mail has again faced an increased requirement from bulk customers to accept and process palletised loads, including shrink/stretch wrapped palletised traffic and Cardboard Pallet Boxes from Amazon known as Gaylords.

The SSoWs are in place to ensure sufficient up-to-date information and instruction is available to allow sites and managers/PICs (Person In Charge) to control safety risks for the specific tasks and ensure the correct safe work methods are adopted and materials handling equipment is deployed for this increasing area of activity during Peak/Christmas. The SSoW and associated embedded SSoWs are attached. This includes the attached documents of Pallet Truck SSoW; DDT (Operating Double Deck Trailers) SSoW; Palletising of Trays SSoW; and Manual Handling SSoW.

Cardboard RSCs/Cardboard Euro Pallet Boxes/Amazon Gaylord Pallets/Shrink Wrapped Pallets

As originally reported in LTB 632/05, these types of containers have been successfully utilised during successive Peak/Christmas periods since then and were introduced to provide a contingency ‘back-up’ of additional container types as York Container use is maximised. These are used primarily in the RDC, PSC network, RM International BAU streams and used as a ‘contingency measure’ for when demand outstrips supply of Yorks and RSCs for agreed flows and as an alternative.

These variant containers are folding, heavy-duty cardboard containers with the base fixed to a standard wooden Euro Pallet.

For 2025 Royal Mail has purchased and will deploy Cardboard RSCs (C-RSCs) during the Peak/Christmas period for the intended use of:

For use anywhere in Royal Mail’s network and at large customer premises.
For storage of empty bags and trays to release RSCs into the network.
For conveyance of Customer Parcel Returns.
For conveyance of Customer Collections.
For conveyance of parcels within the RM network (Parcel Hubs, MCs, PSCs & Customers).
For use in RM International BAU flows.
For conveyance of empty bags to customers.
For empty bags, empty trays, and bags of mail.

C-RSCs boxes are intended to be:

A reusable container and serviceable for over 8 trips per usage.
Used indoors and in the network, but not for external storage where they may get wet.
Folded flat when being stored empty.

For the agreed operational use and safety information on CRSCs, Euro Pallet Boxes, Pallets and loads, please reference the attached SSoWs.

Operational Waste Management

Operational waste, such as cardboard, shrink wrapping, will increase over the Peak/Christmas period within the operation and as a result of increased volumes of parcels and packets from customers. The business-as-usual process for managing this within the operational sites remains unchanged, with an uplift in collections by Royal Mail waste providers in line with forecasted volumes. Additional site clearances can be requested should they be required through the RMPFSL helpdesk. Details of the process have been attached to this LTB.

Contacts & Phone Numbers

Should Area Safety Representatives wish to discuss any issues or questions in relation to Container Control or Container Equipment, the following field managers can be contacted for all Royal Mail container related issues:

National Team Contacts

Head of Assets: Gary Yeo – 07872 636 537

Asset Supply Chain Manager: Julie Brown – 07553 379 256

Asset Supply Design Manager: Martin Taylor – 07841 076 428

Asset Operations Manager: Clare Smith – 07872 816 461 (All sites below)

Belfast, SDC, Edinburgh, Perth, Inverness Aberdeen, Warrington, Chester, NWDC, NWPSC, Tyneside, Darlington, Preston, Chorley, Carlisle, Manchester, Stockport, Leeds, Bradford, York, YDC, Sheffield, Doncaster and Hull, Nottingham, NEPSC, East Midlands Airport, Crewe, Shrewsbury, HCN, NHCDC, Greenford, PRDC, Jubilee, Guilford and Woking, Derby, Coventry, Leicester, Peterborough, Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich, Chelmsford, Southend, Medway, SEDC, Canterbury, Tonbridge, Croydon, Gatwick, London Central, South Warwick, Victoria, Romford, and Whitechapel

International Container Manager: Nalin Mandalia – 07715480197 (All sites below)

HWDC LAMU & ILC,

Health & Safety Processes

From a Health and Safety point of view, both Assistant Secretary Departments will continue our joint work with Royal Mail and the RMPFSL Property Safety and Compliance Team to monitor health and safety throughout the Peak/Christmas Operation.

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