Communication Workers Union - Postal

Communication Workers Union - Postal

6/13/2025, 1:30:39 PM

Royal Mail Group negotiations  Dear colleagues  We are writing to confirm that as of this week EP Group are now formally engaged in the negotiations between Royal Mail Group and the CWU.  This means we are working closer to deliver on all of the commitments provided by the EP Group / CWU agreement of December 2024.  We recognise and fully understand the level of interest in the outcome and crucially when that will be. The EP Group / CWU agreement committed to several key agreements being reached within 3 (September) or 6 (December) months post transaction. All parties agree there is an absolute need to accelerate this timeframe where possible - particularly around pay equalising new entrants' terms and conditions.  Getting the right agreement is more important than getting a quick agreement. EP Group became the owners of Royal Mail Group on June 2nd. We have been working together at pace ever since.  Turning around the chaos created by the previous Board and senior leadership will not happen overnight, but we are confident this agreement will lead to a fundamental change in the whole ethos of Royal Mail Group.  We can confirm the following: * Any pay settlement reached will be backdated to April 1st 2025.  * Talks are continuing.  * On USO reform we have had a good discussion and are awaiting a response from EP Group on a more pragmatic way of moving this forward. * We will deliver an extensive package of communications as soon as an agreement is reached.  Martin Walsh Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Dave Ward General Secretary

Communication Workers Union - Postal

6/6/2025, 2:35:16 PM

At 4pm members will be able to watch a video interview where we put key questions to Dave Ward and Martin Walsh. We cover pay, new entrants terms, USO change, management behaviours, mail failures, VR terms and much more. You can watch from 4pm via this link https://youtu.be/xuVq8IEPV6o

Communication Workers Union - Postal

6/2/2025, 10:09:43 AM

Resignations from Royal Mail Group Board The news that members of the Royal Mail Group Board have resigned today following the completion of the takeover of EP Group will come as welcome news to postal workers across the UK. Led by chairman Keith Williams, the previously senior leadership team have overseen the gross mismanagement of one of the UK’s most important companies, they have destroyed the service provided to millions of customers and businesses and they have callously targeted their own workforce in the attempt to create a low wage, gig economy style employer. Keith Williams and many of his colleagues represent everything that is wrong with modern business leaders: paid and rewarded for failure whilst having zero vision. The CWU will now work with the new Board members to ensure the full terms of our groundbreaking agreement with EP Group are upheld. We have to rebuild Royal Mail and that starts with rebuilding trust with its workforce and customers. Dave Ward General Secretary Martin Walsh Deputy General Secretary Postal

Communication Workers Union - Postal

6/6/2025, 1:57:26 PM

Royal Mail Group Negotiations – Update for CWU Members   It is encouraging that we can inform members that the negotiations with Royal Mail Group continue to progress with the support of EP Group representatives.   We understand members will be frustrated by the fact no full agreement has yet been reached and deadlines have been shifted for this on multiple occasions.   The truth is these are an extremely complex set of negotiations where we are attempting to shift the whole ethos of the company, end workplace chaos, deliver a good settlement on pay, start to undo the damage done by the company during the 2022 dispute and agree a fresh USO that the company actually abides by on a day to day basis in every workplace. All of this is set against the background of a challenging financial reality for Royal Mail.   The first Board meeting of the EP Group ownership era is on Monday 9th June. All parties have agreed to work over this weekend so progress can be presented to this meeting. From there we would want to sign off a full agreement that can be put to the CWU Postal Executive and then voted on by our members.   Today we wanted to give you a fuller update on negotiations. We have to be clear that we are working on the principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. This is why we have not and cannot put individual elements of the negotiations (such as pay) out to members.   PAY We have rejected multiple pay offers from the employer. The latest being around 4% from April this year. We believe we can achieve more than this. These negotiations continue.   We are also in negotiations over an incentive scheme that could deliver real and tangible financial benefits for members.   NEW ENTRANTS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS In line with our agreement with EP Group we have words drafted which would create a pathway to equalising new entrants' terms and conditions with our legacy members. These are extremely complex and challenging talks and remain an outstanding issue. We will end two-tier working and reverse the damage done by the previous Board and management team.   VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY TERMS In line with our agreement with EP Group we have been discussing an enhancement to the current VR terms which were unilaterally imposed by Royal Mail during the last dispute. We are confident we can improve these – whilst balancing this against the claim we are making on pay and other benefits.   USO NEGOTIATIONS As part of our agreement with EP Group we are committed to reaching a settlement on USO reform as part of an overall national agreement. Just this week, OFCOM have publicly rebuked Royal Mail for publishing start dates for USO change on their website. OFCOM are making it clear that any decision on the USO will be made in the Summer of 2025 and Royal Mail have no remit to move ahead of this. Equally, we have made it clear that the current USO pilots must be completed, assessed and any fixes put in place before we reach a wider agreement. We have words on the USO drafted and will be engaging the employer and EP Group on this over the weekend.   A COMPLETE RE-SET Our agreement with EP Group commits to rebuilding Royal Mail. The only way this can happen is through re-setting relations in every workplace in the UK. Everything we have seen – daily breaches of the USO, the continued prioritisation of parcels and the general chaos culture must end.   This is a major first test of EP Group and the way they want to run Royal Mail.   IMPROVING SICK PAY / REDUCING AGENCY WORKERS / IMPROVING SA AND OVERTIME RATES Our agreement with EP Group gave clear timelines on the above issues and we are putting in place processes to ensure these are abided by and that fresh settlements are delivered in all these areas.   WHO WOULD BE COVERED BY THE AGREEMENT IF AND WHEN REACHED? All Royal Mail Group grades.   SUMMARY The weekend and early part of next week is crucial. We will do everything possible to reach a full national agreement that can be voted on by the membership.   We hope the detail contained within this update gives you a greater understanding of the situation and the moment we have more news we will share it with you.   There is an urgent need to deliver an agreement. There is an even more urgent need to deliver the right agreement.   Martin Walsh Deputy General Secretary Postal Dave Ward General Secretary

Communication Workers Union - Postal

6/6/2025, 1:57:56 PM

https://www.cwu.org/royal-mail-group-negotiations-update-for-cwu-members/

Communication Workers Union - Postal

5/22/2025, 3:25:32 PM

Update on Royal Mail Group pay, new entrants terms, sick pay, USO, VR’s and more | 5pm TODAY. https://youtu.be/UfnxBFlKAjE?si=gckh9z9M71u-n41z

Communication Workers Union - Postal

5/16/2025, 1:57:21 PM

*UPDATE FOR ROYAL MAIL GROUP MEMBERS* Over the last three weeks Royal Mail and the CWU have been in intensive and complex negotiations covering commitments contained within the agreement with EP Group.   These cover:  1️⃣ A long term pay deal. 2️⃣ The pathway to equalisation of new entrants pay, terms and conditions including a first step within three months of the takeover. 3️⃣ Reducing reliance on agency which will create more jobs and opportunities for part timers to increase their hours. 4️⃣Reviewing overtime and scheduled rates. 5️⃣Introducing a performance incentive scheme which is payable based on local targets. 6️⃣ Improvements in sick pay. 7️⃣ Introducing new ways of working which includes a new more supportive approach to my performance. We have made progress on a number of these issues over the last three weeks. These negotiations are challenging when set against the financial position of the company, but we are determined to reach an agreement that re-sets Royal Mail and gives it a platform to grow as well as ending the chaos culture in units across the UK.   Over the last three weeks the CWU negotiators have rejected three separate pay offers all of which were above inflation.   We have also a plan in place for new entrants to reduce the working week and introduce paid meal reliefs. Further discussions are taking place on other parts of the equalisation pathway.   Alongside reaching agreement on all of the above we are in negotiations on the future of the Universal Service Obligation – something crucial to both the future of the company and long term job security.   Royal Mail have expressed their desire to reach an agreement, and we will continue with negotiations next week and our aim is to reach an overall agreement by the time the transaction completes on 30th May 2025.   We fully recognise the urgency of delivering an agreement – in terms of bringing stability to workplaces but we also know our members need and deserve a pay rise. We must balance this against reaching the right agreement for you. We will provide further updates and host engagement sessions with members in the coming weeks.   *Martin Walsh* *Deputy General Secretary Postal*

Communication Workers Union - Postal

5/29/2025, 4:58:02 PM

Our members in Santander need your support. They have faced outsourcing, offshoring and technology is being used to negatively impact our members futures. They are now fighting back with a joint campaign with Advance Union. All CWU members, family members, friends and the wider public can help us by signing and sharing this petition. Every signature counts. https://cwu.eaction.org.uk/cwuadvancepetition

Communication Workers Union - Postal

2/6/2025, 4:09:35 PM

*PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL CWU MEMBERS IN ROYAL MAIL* The USO Pilots - What has been agreed and what protections and gains have we achieved.