Sun Safety RMG Communication Issued 23^rd June

Further to LTB 120/25 issued to Branches on 20^th June, which sought to provide Branches and our Safety Reps 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.

This week, the Royal Mail Group SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) Team issued a WTLL Briefing on Sun Safety, attached, which highlights the following key messages:

• Cover Up – The most effective barrier
• Protect your head – Wear a wide brimmed hat
• Use sunscreen – Factor 30 or higher and reapply
• Seek shade – Take breaks in the shade
• Stay hydrated – Drink regularly and avoid caffeine
• Skin safe – Check for any changes

Additionally, this SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) WTLL has referred to the Health Passport, which was launched in November 2024, and as part of this Sun Safety communication, Royal Mail has highlighted the particular need to support individuals with health conditions and who may be at increased risk when working in extreme heat.

Importantly, the SHE WTLL Briefing invites members to approach their managers to highlight any such concerns linked to individual health conditions: ‘This is so you can plan for any duty adjustments required in the event of a severe weather warning for heat.’

Details on the Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement – Workplace Adjustments and Health Passport are set out in LTB 352/24, issued on the 6^th November with supplementary information set out in LTB 025/25, issued on the 5^th February.

The Briefing also confirms that water bottles and the RM Unisex Explorer Hat (RP08 wide brimmed hat) are available for members on outdoor duties via the Uniform Ordering Portal under Summer Accessories.  Alongside this, RMG have also confirmed that a Sun Safety App Message has been issued, the details of which are also attached.

ERRATA of details in LTB 120/25:

Following the issuing of LTB 120/25, Royal Mail has written to CWU Headquarters to advise that the Royal Mail Group Severe Weather Risk Assessment (SWRA) has been changed, in particular, those details set out in the extracts for actions in the case of a MET Office Weather ‘Yellow Warning’, ‘Amber Warning’ and ‘Red Warning’.

Attached is a copy of the current version of Royal Mail Group SWRA (which can also be downloaded from Royal Mail’s SHE SharePoint site):

To confirm, in the case of an ‘Amber Warning’ and ‘Red Warning’, managers/PiCs (Person in Charge) must: ‘You must complete the severe weather assessment and confirm which duty adjustments (and any other controls) you have implemented for the warning duration.’

In the case of a ‘Yellow Warning’, the managers/PiCs must: ‘If you have any individual who are at increased risk in extreme heat, you must make duty adjustments if appropriate i.e. following discussion of OHS advice (for warning duration) and complete the severe weather assessment.’ 

However, from a CWU perspective, we hold the very clear view that Severe Weather Risk Assessment should be undertaken in the case of a MET Office Weather ‘Yellow Warning’, noting that Royal Mail has listed this as ‘optional’ in the Severe Weather Risk Assessment process.  This, alongside some other points of difference between RMG and the CWU on the application of the SWRA, are now subject to further national level representation.

In outlining the above, it is relevant to summarise the following advice: –

• Ensure that individuals who may be at increased risk in extreme heat due to age, underlying health conditions or certain medications, speak to their manager to discuss whether any duty adjustments are required in the event of a MET Office ‘Yellow Warning’ (and before an ‘Amber Warning’ as previously communicated in LTB 120/25). These duty adjustments need to be made with the individual’s agreement and recorded on the Health Passport or Severe Weather Duty Adjustment Form.
• For individuals covered under the Equality Act and with a known disability, a required duty adjustment needs to be undertaken in line with and recorded on the Disability Risk Assessment Form.
• Colleagues who are pregnant also face an increased risk when working in extreme heat and should equally approach their manager. There is a separate Risk Assessment for these individuals.
• The use of the Health Passport should supplement and accompany the need to also undertake the relevant Risk Assessment. The use of the Health Passport does not replace the direct need to also undertake specific individual Risk Assessments.
• 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 again reminded 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. 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 who may be at increased risk in extreme heat due to age, underlying health conditions or certain medications and colleagues who are pregnant are aware that new or further duty adjustments may be needed to support them and that this should happen in the event of a MET Office ‘Yellow Warning’ (or higher warning) for heat. These duty adjustments need to be made with the individual’s agreement and recorded on the Health Passport and relevant Risk Assessment Form.

Where, despite representation made in the first instance, there remain failures and non-compliance in terms of this, these 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.

Where Branches and Safety Reps require any additional information on the above, or for any other enquiries in relation to this LTB, these should be referred to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)     

LTB 125-25 – Sun Safety RMG Communication – Issued 23rd June

Attachment 1 – SHE WTLL FY25 010 – Sun Safety

Attachment 2 – RM Sun Safety App Message

Attachment 3 – Severe Weather Guidance

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USO Pilot Office Update – CWU Report

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB 123/25 issued on Tuesday 24^th June, confirming that the CWU would be providing a full written update on the status of all pilot offices, which has been compiled with the assistance of our representatives across the UK.

You can access our 1^st Bulletin on the USO Pilots, which has been published on the CWU website via the link below. I hope you will find it useful and informative.

Click to access Update-on-the-USO-Pilot-Units-bulletin-1.pdf

Given the scale of the change and that all 37 pilot offices are continually learning from the activity and making changes via the PIR process, we will aim to issue these on a regular basis, in addition to any other updates circulated via the union’s regular channels.

Thank you to everyone taking part in the pilots and to the Reps involved for all their efforts into this activity.

Finally, in publishing the written update today I wanted to share a reminder of the CWU live show tonight at 5pm, which you can watch via the link below:

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 124/25 – USO Pilot Office Update – CWU Report

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EP GROUP/ROYAL MAIL NEGOTIATIONS AND THE FUTURE OF THE USO – ENGAGING CWU MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Following recent updates on the negotiations with EP Group/Royal Mail and the recent joint statement on the future of the USO we wanted to set out a range of communication plans where we will update CWU representatives and members on these issues.

USO  

• On Wednesday 25th June we will be issuing a full written update on the status of all pilot offices. This has been compiled with the assistance of our representatives across the UK.
• We will be meeting OFCOM during the course of this week to give further feedback on the USO pilots.
• On Thursday 26th June at 5pmNational Officer Tony Bouch will be joined live with CWU reps from pilot offices across the UK. You can watch the show via this link https://www.youtube.com/live/HqHW4RHmoeM?si=MhyB_YDj7C2Gy8Pk
• Following a visit to Hexham Delivery Office we have released this film covering members reactions to the USO trial and EP takeover https://youtu.be/lhqVPuDElbw?si=B5VY75XsFWXqcGIU

EP GROUP/ROYAL MAIL NEGOTIATIONS

• At the close of the Special Conference on Sunday 29th Junewe will hold an in person briefing for all postal delegates in attendance. We are also investigating whether it is possible to widen participation in this event by providing a virtual link for the event.
• By Monday 30th June at the latest we will provide CWU members with a full update on the status of negotiations with the employer.

We are fully aware of the intensity and urgency of the current situation – CWU members need a proper pay rise, new entrants deserve pay, terms and conditions parity and we must end the chaos culture and take serious steps towards repairing the damage done by the previous Royal Mail Board and senior management team.

To do this EP Group must honour the commitments made in the EP/CWU agreement of December 2024 and demonstrate to every postal worker that they are different and they want to rebuild Royal Mail together. The coming days and weeks will be a crucial test of this.

Yours sincerely                        

Dave Ward                  

General Secretary                                                                        

Martin Walsh 

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)   

LTB 123/25 – EP GROUP – ROYAL MAIL GROUP NEGOTIATIONS AND THE FUTURE OF THE USO – ENGAGING CWU MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES 

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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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