Post Office: Pay Agreement 2025

I am pleased to advise Branches we have reached an Agreement with Post Office regarding Pay 2025/26 – the pay date is 1^stApril 2025.  The key features of the no-strings Pay Agreement (Pay Offer letter attached), which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive, are as follows:

• One year duration with the next Pay Review Date 1st April 2026
• No conditionality
• A minimum 3% pay increase (or £800 which is slightly above 3% for our lowest paid members, predominantly the PAs in Cash Centres) flowing through to all allowances, SA and overtime rates. Comparable increases also apply to London weighting.
• Annual leave entitlements improvedso that the maximum 30 days is obtained after two years’ service (previously five). This benefits c.30% of our members who have less than five years’ service
• Improved Employer Pension Contribution Rates – minimum of 9%. Removal of the two lowest Employer Contribution tiers, meaning the current 7% and 8% Employer Contribution tiers rise to 9% (which will become the new minimum).

This is the second year running we have concluded pay negotiations prior to the pay review date and our Senior Reps report that members will appreciate an early settlement.

Assuming ratification of the Pay Agreement via an individual members’ consultative ballot, the increase will be made with April salaries. The ballot papers will be dispatched later this week and the closing date is Thursday 10^thApril.

Branches are urged to bring this LTB to the attention of Post Office members.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Attachment 1: 25LTB055 – Post Office – Pay Agreement 2025

Attachment 2:  Pay Offer Letter

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Royal Mail Group: Special National Briefing & Postal Policy Forum – Wednesday 21^st & Thursday 22^ndMay 2025

Branches are advised that we are making plans for a combination of a Special National Briefing and Postal Policy Forum to be held on the following dates – Wednesday 21^st and Thursday 22^nd May 2025 at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, Portland Street, Manchester M1 4PH(in the International Suite).

The current thinking is as follows:

• The first day will be the Special National Briefing commencing at 09:30 until 17:30 and the purpose of this day will be to provide extensive updates on a range of key issues linked to the EP takeover, USO pilots, the plan to transform IR/ER in every workplace, and other important matters.
• The second day will focus on the Postal Policy Forum commencing at 09:30 until 17:00.

These are provisional plans as the situation is extremely fluid due to the delay linked to the Romanian Government.  The dilemma we are facing is the takeover transaction is taking longer than originally anticipated and potentially may not take place until late May, and this potentially could mean that an in-principle Agreement reached could be in breach of the takeover panel protocols as EP would not be the owners at that point.

All Branches will appreciate that the delay in the transaction has added more complexities to the way we had originally planned the Policy Forum. Our plan had been to produce an Agreement on all of the matters below and present this to Branches in advance.  If possible, we will still aim to present an in-principle Agreement linked to Section 5 of the Agreement.  In this regard, we are due to commence negotiations on pay and associated issues as follows from 31^st March:

• Pay
• The first step on equalisation of new entrants’ terms and the following stages
• Agreed steps to reduce agency
• Pathway to improve overtime/SA
• Improving sick pay first step
• Improved VR terms
• A proposed incentive scheme
• A pilot on new ways of working

Below is a list of Representatives invited to attend the two-day Event:

• Senior Field Officials:
  • Regional Secretaries
  • Divisional Representatives
  • Territorial Engineering Representatives
  • Parcelforce Regional Organisers
  • Fleet and Maintenance Service Territorial Representatives
  • RMPFS National Representatives (Cleaning and Engineering)
  • RMPFS Regional Cleaning and Engineering Representatives.
• Branches:
  • Branch Secretaries
  • All Royal Mail Area Representatives (Delivery, Processing, Distribution, including Network and Logistics, Health & Safety, Admin and Engineers)
  • Customer Experience Representatives
  • Two Unit Representatives, one of which must be a woman in line with our proportionality requirements.

Due to space constraints at the meeting venue, unfortunately we cannot accommodate visitors on this occasion.

Branches are expected to cover delegates’ travel and subsistence costs associated with attendance at the Event in line with previous instructions and advice issued.

Once we have greater clarity on these matters, further details will follow.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey        

A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                   

Mick Kavanagh

Postal Executive Chair

LTB 054/25 – Special National Briefing Postal Policy Forum

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Royal Mail Collective Pension Plan – Member Nominated Director (MND) Election

Further to LTB049 dated 3^rd March, late last week it was reported to the Union that there are some issues regarding the current ballot with c.870 scheme members having incorrectly received the ballot paper for the Unite/CMA MND rather than the CWU.  It should be remembered this ballot is the responsibility of the Trustee of the Collective Plan (and is undertaken by Civica Election Services) and is NOT a CWU ballot.

I have spoken with Emma Weston-Green, Head of Executive/Scheme Secretary regarding this matter and it would appear this issue has emanated from the Royal Mail HR data.  A solution has been worked up in conjunction with Civica Election Services, which will involve the re-issue of correct ballot papers to those who have received the wrong version.  We are expecting these ballot papers to be issued tomorrow.  A letter of apology is also being sent by the Trustee to those scheme members who received the wrong ballot paper.

Naturally, if any of our members have received the incorrect ballot paper, they should be advised not to return it and to await a new ballot paper.  We are assured that the necessary arrangements have been put in place in order to protect the integrity of the ballots (CWU and Unite).

This is an unfortunate situation, that is not of the CWU’s making.  However, we have confidence that these matters will be satisfactorily corrected over the course of this week.

As a reminder, the ballot closes Monday 24^th March.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to afurey@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey 

Assistant Secretary

LTB 053/25 – RM Collective Pension Plan – Member Nominated Director (MND) Election

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Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – Health & Wellbeing communication

Dear Colleagues,

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a crucial period dedicated to raising awareness about prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men in the UK. The CWU recognises the importance of encouraging men to get tested for prostate cancer, as many diagnoses occur by chance. Lives can be saved through education, early detection, and support. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK, with over 52,000 men diagnosed each year; equivalent to one new diagnosis every 15 minutes with over 12,000 deaths annually, meaning one man dies from prostate cancer every 45 minutes.

Men over 50 should consider talking to their GP about a PSA blood test, which can help detect prostate cancer early, even before symptoms appear. As explained on the prostate cancer UK website, if you are a man over 50, there is currently a one-in-eight chance that you could develop this condition – and if you are a black man over 50, sadly, the danger doubles.

Prostate Cancer UK | Prostate Cancer UK

Bowel or Bladder disability and The RADAR Key Scheme

For those living with prostate cancer, treatment side effects can sometimes include urinary incontinence and other mobility-related issues. The RADAR Key Schemeprovides access to over 10,000 locked disabled toilets across the UK, ensuring that individuals who require quick and reliable access to facilities are not restricted.

The CWU encourages members who may benefit from this scheme to apply for a RADAR key through their local authority or Prostate Cancer UK.

We would also like to remind branches of the ‘Just Can’t Wait’ card scheme. Which has been used successfully in recent years by many outdoor colleagues and CWU members with prostate issues or any type of bowel or bladder disability.

The card is promoted on the prostate cancer research website below:

Managing Urinary Incontinence – Prostate Cancer Research

This card can also be used for conditions such as Crohn’s disease, Colitis, Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Menopause and other conditions that require urgent toilet access needs.

The ‘Just Can’t Wait’ card can be downloaded digitally also on Apple and Android phones and is now widely accepted at many cafés, shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and other businesses. 170,000 people carry the ‘Just Can’t Wait’ card across the country. There are over 14 million people in the UK living with a bladder condition and 6.4 million with a bowel condition.

Finally, there is a simple and quick ‘risk checker’ option on the Prostate Cancer UK website, this online checker asks some simple questions about age, ethnicity and family history. It also offers helpful information and next steps advice if you might be at risk:

Check your risk in 30 seconds | Prostate Cancer UK

If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact jMcGovern@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary  

25LTB052 – PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – HEALTH WELLBEING COMMUNICATION

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ELECTION OF:  

•  CWU GENERAL SECRETARY
•  CWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSTAL 

 Further to LTB 021/25 re the Nominations for the above positions which closed at 14:00 on 5^th March 2025,

please find below the lists of accepted nominations and respective nominating branches.CWU GENERAL SECRETARY    Dave Ward, CWU Officers Branch*Elected

Nominating Branches: Algus NationalEastern No.4Birmingham and District AmalEastern No.5Bootle Financial ServicesEastern No.6Bournemouth and Dorset AmalEdinburgh, Dundee and bordersBristol and District AmalEssex AmalCapitalGlasgow and District AmalCheshire No.1 AmalGlasgow and MotherwellClyde Valley AmalGrampian and Shetland AmalColchester and District AmalGreat WesternCornwall AmalGreater Manchester AmalCroydon and Sutton AmalGwent AmalCWU OfficersHarrow and District AmalDarwen CapitaHighland AmalEast London PostalIsle of Man TelecomsEastern No.3JerseyKingston AreaPortsmouth, West Sussex and IOWLancs and CumbriaPreston, Brook and BuryLeeds No.1 AmalRomford AmalLincolnshire and South YorksScotland No.1London Parcels and Stations AmalScotland No.2London PhoenixScotland No.5London Postal EngineeringSomerset, Devon and CornwallLondon Regional MTSouth and East Thames AmalLondon South West PostalSouth East London Postal and CountersManchester CombinedSouth East No.5MeridianSouth Midlands PostalMerseySouth WalesMid Wales, the Marches and North StaffsSouth West MiddlesexMidland CountiesSouth West No.7Midland No.1South West Wales AmalMount Pleasant InternationalSouth YorkshireNewcastle AmalSouth Yorkshire and DistrictNorth AngliaSouthdowns, Weald and RotherNorth EastSuffolk AmalNorth Lancs and CumbriaTyne and Wear ClericalNorth Wales and Chester CombinedUTAWNorth West Central AmalWarrington Mail CentreNorth West No.1Wessex South CentralNorth/North West LondonWest London PostalNorthern Home Counties PostalWest YorkshireNorthern Ireland Postal AmalWestern CountiesNorthern Ireland TelecomsWolverhampton and District AmalNottingham and District AmalWorcester and Hereford AmalPlymouth and East Cornwall AmalYork and District AmalCWU ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSTAL    Davie Robertson, CWU Officers Branch*ElectedBirmingham and District AmalHarrow and District AmalBournemouth and Dorset AmalHighland AmalBristol and District AmalKent InvictaClyde Valley AmalLeeds No.1 AmalColchester and District AmalLondon Postal EngineeringCWU OfficersLondon Regional MTEastern No.3MeridianEastern No.5Newcastle AmalEastern No.6North Lancs and CumbriaEssex AmalNorth West Central AmalGlasgow and District AmalNorth West No.1Grampian and Shetland AmalNorthern Home Counties PostalGreater Mersey AmalNottingham and District AmalPlymouth and East Cornwall AmalSouth YorkshireRomford AmalSouth Yorkshire and District AmalScotland No.2Suffolk AmalScotland No.5Warrington Mail CentreSouth East No.5Wessex South CentralSouth East Wales AmalWestern CountiesSouth Midlands PostalWest London PostalSouth West MiddlesexWolverhampton and District AmalSouth West No.7Worcester and Hereford AmalSouth West Wales AmalYork and District Amal

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be directed to Senior Deputy General Secretary for the attention of Dave Wilshire on 0208 971 7368, or dwilshire@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 051/25 – Election of CWU General Secretary and Assistant Secretary Postal

Delivery Survey 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Branches will be aware that as part of the union’s Reconnect strategy, and within the context of a period of unprecedented change in our sector, we have significantly increased our regular engagement with members. With the takeover of Royal Mail Group becoming more likely, trials of potential USO reform under way, and national negotiations with the business on pay and many other associated issues on the agenda, it is vital that we step this up further.

Branches will have seen these subjects highlighted in much of the union’s recent output – on our regular weekly broadcasts and on our social media platforms as well as our more formal communications to you – and Delivery Survey 2025 is intended as an important addition to this. The survey aims to gather in as much feedback from delivery members on these key subjects as possible and also to spark debate and initiate discussion among members in workplaces across the UK.

Delivery Survey 2025 opens today and closes in two weeks’ time on Monday 18^th March. 

It is being sent out by email to those delivery members for whom we have email addresses, while those whose email addresses we don’t have are able to access and complete the survey via the CWU website here. The website version includes a ‘required’ field asking for the member’s name and email address, which is necessary to try to ensure that people outside of the CWU and outside of Royal Mail do not participate.  No names will be published, or given to anybody outside the union and this is purely a measure intended to help ensure the credibility and security of the survey.

We would greatly appreciate your help and support in seeking to ensure the widest possible engagement with this survey. Please promote and circulate this communication to your area delivery reps, ask them to promote and circulate to their delivery unit reps and to encourage as many delivery members as possible to take part.

Any enquiries to the content of this LTB should be directed to the Outdoor Department Pharacz@cwu.org and/or to the Communications Department MMurray@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary Postal Outdoor

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

LTB 050/25 – Delivery Survey 2025

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Royal Mail Collective Pension Plan – Member Nominated Director (MND) Election

Further to LTB004/25 and LTB007/25, Branches will be aware that in January, it was announced that nominations were being sought for the Member Nominated Director (MND) vacancies on the Royal Mail Collective Pension Plan (the ‘Collective Plan’) Trustee Board (‘RMCPP Trustees Ltd’).  We were pleased to learn there was a positive level of interest in filling the three CWU MND vacancies and that there are nine candidates in total.

The ballot to elect the three CWU MNDs will now take place and closes on 24^thMarch 2025 using Civica Election Services on behalf of RMCPP Trustees Ltd.  CWU members of the Collective Plan will receive a ballot paper allowing them to vote for up to three candidatesfrom the CWU-represented grade candidates.

Ballot papers, which will include a personal statement from each candidate, will be posted to active members of the Collective Plan from 3^rdMarch 2025. The three successful candidates will be determined by a simple majority (i.e., the candidates with the highest number of votes will be appointed as MNDs).

Branches are urged to encourage members to vote in this important election. Scheme members can vote online or by post (a pre-paid envelope will be provided), with instructions on how to do so included in the ballot paper. If members have any questions about the voting process, they are advised to contact Civica on 0208 889 9203 or by email at takepart@cesvotes.com.

Scheme Members will be notified of the ballot outcome at the end of March 2025 via the Collective Plan website http://www.rmcollectiveplan.com.  We will also issue an LTB with the result. Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to afurey@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey 

Assistant Secretary

Attachment LTB 049/25 – RM Collective Pension Plan – Member Nominated Director (MND) Election

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Update on the USO Pilots

All Branches will be aware that the CWU published two agreed-upon statements on the USO pilots before Christmas.  We have now agreed on a further addendum which will apply to all 37 USO pilot sites.

The addendum and flowchart provide the parameters which all pilot sites should adopt to ensure they achieve the overarching objectives, which are:

• Pilot sites must achieve Ofcom’s quality of service target.
• On deployment, the workload must be fair, manageable and achievable, and solutions must address fatigue.
• There must be an opportunity to improve attendance patterns, including fewer Saturdays.
• There must be an improvement in confidence, trust and morale.

To ensure the above happens within each of the pilots, the union has agreed to the following:

1. Agreed an addendum to the original Terms of Reference.
2. A flowchart for resourcing the pilot unit before deployment.
3. The option of seven attendance patterns.

The addendum covers the following:

1. Mail Centres must ensure work compliance, including product segregation.
2. It is expected that there will be minimal impact on Mail Centres or Distribution. Any change required will be dealt with through normal weekly resourcing meetings.
3. The USO pilots must cover all daily duties, including having the appropriate reserve levels, with full-time reserves covering full time duties, and they must achieve Ofcom’s regulatory targets.
4. A total data verification process within the unit to ensure duties are achievable.
5. The opportunity to rotate from combined and all mail deliveries (core) can be introduced to reduce fatigue.
6. All employees will be encouraged to drive, but non-drivers will still have a full role. Non-drivers will still work on Saturdays against the scheduled workload within any of the listed attendance menu options.
7. There should be one overall office attendance as the USO pilots will be introduced based on a method change approach rather than a structural revision.

The method change principles are:

• Rurals will retain one-to-one deliveries Monday through Friday, with only Saturday’s schedule changing based on 1^st class, parcels and tracked items.
• Firm deliveries will retain one-over-one Monday through Friday, with only Saturday’s schedule changing based on 1^st class, parcels and tracked items.
• On all mail days (core), town and city routes will have two over-one deliveries Monday through Friday.
• Town and city will have two over 1^stclass routes (combined Monday to Saturday).

8. We also agreed that each pilot site could select from seven different attendance patterns. The Optimised Delivery Model reduces the number of people working on a Saturday. Any duty pattern with just one day off per week must change to one of the attendance patterns below.

The duty patterns available to select are:

• Two Saturdays off in any six weeks (in addition to a regular rest day during the week). Extra 8 Saturdays off per year.
• Two Saturdays off in any five weeks (in addition to a regular rest day during the week). Extra 10 Saturdays off per week.
• 9-day fortnight.
• 4-day week option.
• Wallington, plus an extra Saturday off.
• 13 working days out of 18 (Monday to Saturday) with 1 Saturday off every 3 weeks (only available to drivers).
• 17 working days every 24 (Monday to Saturday) with 2 Saturdays off every 4 weeks.

Each pilot site will understand the start and finish times before their vote, this means that individuals will be working their contracted hours over fewer days, so the days they work will be slightly longer depending on which options they select.

9. The agreed Terms of Reference ensure that no individual will be asked to move units during the pilot. Currently, there will be a surplus in 22 of the 37 sites.

The sites in which there will not be a surplus will need to ensure any vacancies are filled before the pilot goes live. This will allow part-timers to increase their contracted hours, including up to full-time on their existing terms and conditions. This will be done based on seniority, but it will also recognise that a non-driver cannot increase their contracted hours on a duty they cannot perform, such as a driving duty.

10. A temporary resign will be available before the pilot goes live, and a full resign will be available when Ofcom makes its formal decision.
11. Once the pilot has been deployed there will be an ongoing review to ensure that each pilot achieves the four overarching principles.
12. It also lists the interfaces that will be fully involved within the pilot units.

It is important to remember that the CWU has not agreed to full USO reform. If we eventually decide this is the best option, there will be a national agreement covering this. Despite speculation, the only pilot site deployed is Newton Mearns DO in Scotland. Cumbernauld DO will go live on March 17^th.

The other pilot sites will be phased in from late March until the middle of May. The sites are being phased in because the flowchart attached to this LTB requires an 8-week process starting with data verification and concluding with the actual deployment.

Newton Mearns went live this week. The unit’s members chose to opt for two Saturdays off in five. They also introduced a further duty into the unit.

Whilst it is early days, the initial observation is that all the core mail walks have cleared with indoor support and very high call rates.  This higher call rate, some above 90%, is down to the sequencing machine releasing work which should have been held upstream in the Mail Centre. Further work is being carried out in Glasgow Mail Centre to remedy this.

The combined 1^st class/parcel routes on Monday and Tuesday completed the planned delivery spans early.

Cumbernauld is scheduled to go live on March 17^th. They have also selected two Saturdays off every five weeks. Two duties have been put back into the unit, the indoor layout changes have been fully deployed and local parties are working together to continue to review the operation ahead of the go live date.

We intend to provide regular updates on the pilots moving forward, including members’ feedback from the pilots.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) department.

Yours sincerely,                                    

Martin Walsh                                                        

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)    

Davie Robertson     

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                

Tony Bouch

Assistant Secretary           

LTB 48/25 – Update on the USO Pilots

LTB 48/25 Attachment 1 USO pilot addendum

LTB 48/25 Attachment 2 – Flowchart

LTB 48/25 Attachment 3 – USO Agreed Duty Options (1of2)

LTB 48/25 Attachment 4 – USO Agreed Duty Options (2of2) 

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RMPFS Engineering and Admin Grades – CWU Officials Elections 

Further to LTB 028/24 dated 11th February 2025 regarding the nominations for the RMPFS Engineering Field Officials, at the close of nominations on the 26th February 2025 the following were received: –NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES NORTH REGIONBrian SouthernGreater Manchester*ELECTED SOUTH REGION Chris CoatesGreat Western Branch*ELECTED  REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES  NORTH (2 Positions) Chris EnglishGreater Mersey Amal*ELECTEDThomas ToddGlasgow & Motherwell*ELECTED NORTH WEST/CENTRAL (3 Positions)Lee HaydenGreater Manchester*ELECTEDStephen MurphyNorthern Ireland Telecom*ELECTEDAdam ParkinSouth Yorkshire*ELECTED  

SOUTH EAST/SOUTH WEST (3 Positions)No Nominations Received

Please bring this LTB to the attention of our representatives and members. Any queries should be forwarded to the PTCS Department, email address khay@cwu.org or hmaughan@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Bobby Weatherall

Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 047/25

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My Experience Survey

Branches will recall that the CWU were jointly involved in the Pathway to Change Big Trust Survey in 2022, and the work that took place to try to ensure that RMG was a better place to work. However, we had no involvement in The Big Trust Survey in 2023 and participation from our members was at an all-time low. No employee survey took place in 2024.

We put to Royal Mail that the previous survey and the Big Trust branding had been completely discredited by its links to former CEO Simon Thompson and his broken promises around managerial bonuses.

Royal Mail has now taken on a new survey partner called Peakon and will be launching a survey of all employees from 3^rd March – 23^rd March 2025.

This survey can be completed through the People App. The small number of employees (circa 3000) who do not have access to the People App will be written to by Royal Mail and supplied with a unique URL that will allow them to complete the survey.

Royal Mail have confirmed that like previous surveys, comments and responses will be presented to Royal Mail anonymously and are not linked to individuals. In addition, no comments will be visible to any managers other than those in agreed ‘test’ areas which are Commercial, Central Functions and the Anglia Region and Parcelforce Worldwide.

As in the years prior to the national dispute, Royal Mail have genuinely engaged with the CWU on issues such as the questions, access to the survey and how the survey will work.

This year questions on workload, fairness, mental health and the relationship between CWU Reps and Managers will feature.

Royal Mail have confirmed that following the survey the relevant results will be shared at each level, i.e. local unit with Local Reps, OPL level with Area Reps, divisional with Divisional Reps and the national data nationally. Members will be able to view their own office Dash Board on the People App if they wish to.

Of course, the key issue is not just what the results of the survey are but what work can take place jointly to improve employees’ experience in the workplace. Further discussions are scheduled with the business regarding joint working on local action plans and how the information gathered can be used to form part of the IR/ER reset as part of the Rebuilding Royal Mail agreement. Updates will be reported to Branches.

The CWU believe that the information that is gathered from My Experience will be very helpful to us when we commence the IR and ER Reset in the workplace.

The survey is entirely voluntary and employees will be given time within the working day to complete it. We would encourage members to take part in the survey to give a true reflection of the reality of working life at the frontline of Royal Mail.

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

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 46/25 – My Experience Survey

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