TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE VISITORS – 19^TH – 20^THMAY 2026

The TUC Disabled Workers Conference 2026 is being held from Tuesday 19^th – Wednesday 20^th May 2026 at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Bournemouth.  The Conference sessions will be as follows:

• Tuesday 19^th May               10.00 – 18.00
• Wednesday 20^th May           09.30 – 17.30

The CWU are allowed a limited number of visitors to attend the above Conference and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Due to the need for extra security at all TUC Conferences, names and addresses of those wanting visitor tickets must be supplied and tickets are not transferable.

Anyone interested in attending will need to contact their Branch initially for funding, to include a £15 visitor ticket fee. The easiest way to pay the £15 fee will be for us to transfer it directly from your Branch’s account through the rebate system, therefore please contact Angela Niven by email to conferences@cwu.org with details of which Branch the individual belongs to on application.    This needs to be done by no later than midday on Friday 6^thFebruary 2026.

Branches will be required to arrange accommodation for the visitors they wish to send along with travel expenses and subsistence.

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

 Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education and Development

26LTB029

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IMPORTANT: ANTI-RACISM RALLY- SATURDAY 28^th MARCH, CENTRAL LONDON

Defeating the Narratives of Division Workshop, Birmingham, 19^thMarch, 2026

 The purpose of this LTB is to advise branches that the Anti-Racism Rally – Reject Narratives of Division and Racism is taking place on Saturday 28^th March in Central London.

The demonstration is being supported by the TUC and the CWU will be present on the day. The rally is also being supported by many other trade unions and community groups across the country.

Further information will follow regarding the CWU meeting point on the day. Anyone wishing to attend can also check the Together Alliance website for more details.

Branches will be aware that the CWU are strong supporters of the anti-racism movement. Therefore, in advance of this march in London we would like to provide a training opportunity for CWU representatives.

This one-day workshop ‘Defeating the narratives of Division’ will be facilitated by the Ella Baker School of Organising and will focus on the following topics:

What is the problem?  A quick-fire group-based session on ‘what are the narrative of division issues in your workplace’ followed by ‘what are the solutions?’

Class alternatives to narratives of division A review of the economic and political choices that have led us to a point where too many of OUR people are looking to the right for solutions.‘Story of Us’ Exploring what it means to feel like you are in a unionised workplace, how we actively create that sense of class solidarity, and its role in helping us win at work.

Workshop details:

Time: 09:30 – 15:30

Date: 19^th March 2026

Location: 47 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3TH

If you wish to attend the training, please contact your branch, applications should be made via the Portal by the 24^th February.
It is time for the trade union movement to stand together against racism and division and call for the real solutions to the problems facing working people – fixing wealth inequality, rebuilding our public services and building workplace power in every sector.

We encourage reps to attend this training and the rally on the 28th of March.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary                                                   

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 028/26 – IMPORTANT ANTI-RACISM RALLY- SATURDAY 28th MARCH CENTRAL LONDON

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Dispute Resolution Process, USO & Equalisation

We have today received formal notification from Royal Mail that they have activated the Dispute Resolution Process on Universal Service reform. Within their heads of disagreement they are stating they want to deploy the Optimised Delivery Model 4 into 3 duties method change. This is following a meeting we had yesterday with EP.

The Dispute Resolution Process now results in one month of negotiations to see if an agreement can be reached. After this month Royal Mail can give their intentions which could result in executive action and the CWU can decide to ballot nationally or locally for industrial action.

The CWU will not be supporting or agreeing to the Optimised Delivery Model as it has not worked within most of the pilot units. However, we will enter negotiations to try and persuade Royal Mail to adopt the heavy and light model which worked within a number of the pilot sites during peak.

Royal Mail’s communication also states that the CWU’s proposal on equalisation is unaffordable. The CWU position remains that EP agreed to equalise new entrants’ pay, terms and conditions over an agreed career path, including a first step backdated to September and we are insisting they honour this in full.

Royal Mail are communicating to all employees this lunch time and likewise the CWU will communicate to our members.  We will be giving a more detailed written update early next week.

We will also be holding an online National Briefing with our Branches next week. Details to follow.

Any enquiries should be referred to the DGSP Department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 27.26 Dispute Resolution Process USO and Equalisation

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Royal Mail Update

Dear Colleagues,

We have attached a letter that was sent to our Branches and Representatives last week which clearly set out CWU’s position in relation to the USO and our agreements with EP Group and Royal Mail.  

It is very important that our members take a moment to read the content of the attached communication.  

We are aware that Royal Mail is writing to employees today explaining that they have triggered our dispute resolution process over the issue of how USO reform is deployed.  This means that there will be a 4-week process of further talks between the company and the union with the aim of reaching an agreement.  

In the event that no agreement is reached by the end of this 4-week period – the company and CWU will be free to take whatever course of action they deem necessary.  

Our position as explained in last week’s communication to our representatives, remains that even if Royal Mail decide to take executive action and impose their version of USO Reform – we will not agree to that proposal.  

This is because all of the evidence from the pilot sites demonstrates conclusively that Royal Mail’s model is flawed and has not met any of the previously agreed success and evaluation criteria.  

If the company takes executive action, on top of the current quality of service failures, we all know it will be a disaster for customers and increase the likelihood of huge ongoing fines from Ofcom.  The CWU has put an alternative USO Reform proposal forward that we believe is the only realistic way of supporting our members and putting customers and the service first.   

The actions of the company now call into serious question whether EP Group and Royal Mail’s senior leadership are committed to the agreements they reached with both the union and the UK Government.  

It is important to remember that a key part of EP Group’s takeover with Royal Mail was conditional on the Government being given written guarantees and assurances to support and protect employees and the Royal Mail brand.  

These assurances formed part of an agreement between the Government and EP Group and were also summarised (in the Government’s own words) as a section of the CWU/EP agreement that became the Rebuilding Royal Mail Agreement Part 1 that was endorsed by our members.  

Our objective is still to reach an agreement and we will be engaging in the dispute resolution process in a constructive way.  However, we simply cannot accept that a model that has proven not to work is the answer for customers, our members and the future of the company.  

Neither can we accept that EP Group and the company do not have the finances to honour all of the commitments they made to our members, including the full equalisation of new entrant’s terms and conditions.  The CWU will now trigger the dispute resolution process on this issue

In the coming weeks the union will be communicating further with our representatives and members and we will explain in more detail our response to dealing with this serious situation.  

In the meantime, it really is important that you read the attached communication and going forward we will be holding briefings with our representatives and asking them to hold subsequent meetings with our members in the workplace.  

Finally, we are also taking steps to hold the Government to account and will ask you soon to take steps to support us in this objective.

Yours in solidarity. 

Dave Ward                                                              

General Secretary                                              

Martin Walsh  

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Attached Communication – Letter to Branches 019/26 – Royal Mail Update

Election of:

Parcelforce Worldwide Area Health & Safety Representative/Substitute Area Health & Safety Representative 2026

Further to LTB 04/026 dated 5^th January 2026 at the close of nominations the following have been received.

AREA HEALTH & SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES

 North, Scotland & Northern Ireland Region Paul DevlinGlasgow & District Amal*Elected

Central Region Jaspreet SinghSouth Midlands Postal Branch*Elected

South West Region Simon WareingBristol & District Amal*Elected 

South East Region Huw Glyne-ThomasSouth & East Thames AmalBALLOT REQUIREDAaron GreenRomford Amal 

SUBSTITUTE AREA HEALTH & SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES

North, Scotland & Northern Ireland Region Simon SmithYork & District Amal*Elected

 Central Region Daniel MaherSouth Midlands Postal Branch*Elected

South West Region Adrian BoyesPlymouth & East Cornwall Amal*Elected

 South East Region  Aaron GreenRomford Amal*Elected

The timetable for the ballot will be notified to branches in due course.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Lisa Parrett on telephone number 020 8971 7222, or email address lparrett@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)

26LTB026 – Election of PFW Area H&S Rep – Substitute Area H&S Rep 2026

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CAPITA TVL: BBC CONTRACT EXTENSION

Capita has announced today that it has agreed with the BBC to extend its partnership by a further three years.  This contract extension means Capita will continue to deliver TVL services until June 2030.  The communication from Capita is attached.

This extension builds on the current contract and will provide our TVL members with continuity and a reasonable level of comfort, knowing that their jobs will not be subject to TUPE over the next few years, as the BBC has clearly taken a decision that its preference is for the TVL work to remain with Capita.

Our members can rightly be proud of the quality job they perform, and no doubt this would have been a significant factor in the BBC’s decision to extend the contract.  Indeed, I’m pleased to see this is recognised by Faris Gharab, Managing Director, BBC (Interim) who states in his comms:

“This is a testament to the incredible work you’ve all contributed and the strong relationship we’ve built together…This could not have been achieved without your continued hard work and dedication.”

Consequently, in the forthcoming pay negotiations, we will be pursuing an agenda that not only recognises the excellent contribution of our members but also ensures that they share in the success of this contract extension.  Clearly, our TVL members deserve a decent Pay Agreement that rewards them in a very meaningful way.  This is necessary as the BBC wouldn’t have extended the contract had it not been for the ongoing efforts of our members.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary  

Attachment 1: 26LTB023 – Capita TVL – BBC Contract Extension

Attachment 2: Attachment to 26LTB023 – Capita TVL Comms                                

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Just a reminder that set 2 nominations will now close on 10^th February 2026, positions in set 2 are

 

Substitute Area Representatives

 

Unit / Shift Representative

 

Substitute Unit / Shift Representatives

 

Unit / Shift Safety Representatives

 

Substitute Unit / Shift Safety Representatives

Contact the Branch Secretary for further information on branch.secretary@cwue5.org

Election of:

Parcelforce Worldwide Regional Organiser, Parcelforce Worldwide Substitute Regional Organiser, Parcelforce Worldwide Regional Chair and Parcelforce Worldwide Area Organiser 2026

Further to LTB 05/026 dated 5^thJanuary 2026 at the close of nominations on the 26^th January 2026, the following have been received.

REGIONAL ORGANISERS

 South East Region David BanburyKent Invicta*Elected

Central Region Christopher JohnsonNottingham & District Amal*Elected

Scotland & NI Region John MeehanGlasgow & District Amal*Elected

Northern Region Mark WalshGreater Mersey Amal*Elected

South Central Wales & South West Region Martin BurgessPlymouth & East Cornwall*Elected

SUBSTITUTE REGIONAL ORGANISERS

South East Region Andrew ClarkKent Invicta*Elected

Central Region Peter ConroySouth Midlands Postal*Elected

Scotland & NI Region Mark RichardsScotland No 5*Elected

Northern Region Ian SchofieldNorth Lancs & Cumbria*Elected

South Central Wales & South West Region Gary CooperSouth East No 5*Elected

REGIONAL CHAIRS

South East Region Neville LamkinSouth & East Thames Amal*Elected

Central Region No Nomination Received 

Scotland & NI Region Graeme KiddNorth Lancs & Cumbria*Elected

Northern Region No Nominations Received 

South Central Wales & South West Region No Nominations Received

AREA ORGANISER Stephen GribbenNorthern Ireland WestBALLOT REQUIREDMichael MezzaNorthern Ireland Postal Amal 

The timetable for the ballot will be notified to branches in due course.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Lisa Parrett on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address lparrett@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)

LTB 025/26 -PFW-Elections-2026

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