LTB 243/24 - Royal Mail Communication – Closure of Week 35 Annual Leave Period – W/C 25th November - 24th December 2024
No: 243/24
For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Delivery Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives
Area Processing Representatives
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail Communication – Closure of Week 35 Annual Leave Period – W/C 25th November – 24th December 2024
Branches and Representatives will be aware that Royal Mail issued a briefing by Ricky McAulay, UK Operations Director, on 10th July 2024 communicating Royal Mail’s unilateral decision to close week commencing 25th November 2024 (Week 35) for the purposes of annual leave, as well as closing off all annual leave up to Christmas.
The company had previously informed the CWU that they were considering doing so and a meeting took place on 1st July 2024.
During this meeting we raised significant concerns over the proposal, both in relation to the decision to change leave arrangements midway through a leave year (when leave had been selected and authorised) and with the suggestion that the agreed and authorised leave for Week 35 may be cancelled.
We further registered our opposition to the approach outlined by the business and proposed as an alternative that the process for reallocating leave be entirely voluntary for individuals and that leave already signed up to should be honoured.
The business agreed to reflect on their position. No further response was received until Royal Mail advised the union of its intention to press on with these plans and RM Coms were sent over immediately before they were issued to the field.
In a communication released to RODs, the following approach was outlined with regard to leave already booked for week 35:
People that already have that week booked off should be spoken to in person. Message is that week is now closed and can they move that week. Some will be travelling abroad/going on holiday/caring for people etc and say they cannot/don’t want to move that week. We have been clear that all travel will be honoured.
Where a person does not want to change their leave, you are asked to be sympathetic to their request.
In the view of the CWU, the Royal Mail position is completely unacceptable and the outlined request to ‘be sympathetic’ is certainly not reflected in the WTLL.
Briefing documents, which we have seen and which are being issued within workplaces. Accordingly, the union is now making representations at the highest level to address this Executive Action on the part of the company.
In the meantime, where any member wishes to volunteer to select an alternative leave week, as it is beneficial to them, then of course they are at liberty to do so.
However, we do not believe that any member approached about changing leave already booked for Week 35 is under any obligation to provide proof that they have booked a holiday or have made special arrangements for leave already authorised. Therefore, should members wish to retain authorised leave for that week, and up to Christmas, then they should be permitted to do so and this should be honoured by Royal Mail.
We would ask, where any request to retain authorised leave is refused, that these instances are highlighted to the respective department via the relevant CWU Representatives.
Further updates will be provided as high-level discussions progress.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:
Processing / Distribution –
Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: jrodrigues@cwu.org.
Delivery –
Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email: pharacz@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Mark
Baulch
Assistant Secretary
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