LTB 022/25 - USO PILOTS COMMUNICATION

No: 22/25

Dear Colleagues,

USO Pilots Communication

Please see attached a communication titled Universal Service Obligation Update.

We would ask all Branches to ensure that this communication is shared with every workplace within their Branch.  The CWU have not agreed to USO reform.  Instead, we have agreed to pilot in 37 sites Royal Mail’s preferred USO change which is called the Optimised Delivery Model.

The success criteria for these 37 pilot sites are clear.

1. They must achieve Ofcom’s quality of service targets.

2. They must provide fair manageable and achievable workload.

3. They must provide a solution for fatigue.

4. It must improve attendance patterns including working fewer Saturdays.

5. It must improve confidence, trust and morale in the workplace.

6. It must also provide a platform for sustainable growth.

   
   

The agreement we reached with EP in December 2024 also states that any final agreement with the CWU on USO reform is conditional on progress and implementation within agreed timelines of the issues set out in section 5.

Section 5 commits EP and Royal Mail to agree the following:

Equalising new entrants pay, terms and conditions over an agreed timeline with a first step within 3 months of the transaction.

• A pay rise.

• A review of scheduled attendance and overtime rates.

• Improving sick pay arrangements.

• A review of voluntary redundancy terms.

• A new performance incentive scheme.

• New improved ways of working.

• 
  

USO change will see the biggest change in deliveries within 50 years, it is essential that we pilot it to see its impact and potential benefits before we decide whether or not to support this model going forward.

For now, the CWU’s focus is on supporting the 37 pilot sites to ensure that each of the pilot units adhere to the overarching objectives, including fewer Saturdays, achieving Ofcom’s quality of service targets and delivering fair and manageable workload.

There is a desire for communications on this subject and therefore please ensure this LTB and the attached document are distributed to members in the workplace.

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

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 22/25 – USO Pilots Communication

LTB 22/25 – Attachment 1 – Universal Service Obligation Update