LTB 102/25 - USO Reform – National Joint Statements/Updated Communication
- Angela Wright CWU Branch Communications Officer
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
No. 102/25
22 May 2025
Dear Colleagues,
USO Reform – National Joint Statements/Updated Communication
Further to LTB 098/25 regarding updates to Pay, Section 5 and the USO, in advance of the National Briefing for CWU Representatives and Branches.
As outlined in recent weeks numerous discussions have taken place with the business regarding seeking to provide clarification and resolutions to a number of areas linked to USO pilot activity, as well as additional pre-deployment activity across the remaining circa 1,200 delivery offices.
As a result, we have agreed a number of Joint Statements which are attached and outlined as follows:
National Talks Update
Confirmation that a full agreement on pay and Section 5 will be sought to be concluded by 30th
A full National Agreement on USO will be concluded by 30th
Additional protections in that the business have committed to honour the no compulsory redundancy commitment throughout USO implementation and deployment which is expected to conclude in 2028, and provide employee benefits.
Confirmation that the USO change will only be deployed if a decision has been made by Ofcom and a full National Agreement is in place with the CWU. Both parties will ensure that the issues on attendance patterns will be unlocked by 30th May 2025.
USO Pilot Offices
Includes an update in relation to improving attendance patterns and ensuring that better flexibility is applied against the 7 options within an agreed criteria linked to compliance with safety and working legislation, Saturday coverage, quality of service and the cost basis is the same, which will be reviewed by the National Delivery USO Group.
In addition, the ability to review reserve level coverage, including where absence rates need to be planned in.
Ensuring all offices review their resourcing base to establish the status of either surplus staffing and/or the need to increase PT employee hours or recruitment.
USO Work Package – Pre-Deployment Activity
A jointly agreed 12-part deployment planning process for each delivery office in the lead up to any potential ‘go live’ date and ensuring the status of resourcing/recruitment is reviewed and included in the attached flow charts (Resourcing & Recruitment).
In line with the agreed process for the 37 pilot offices, a need to complete agreed frame moves in all delivery offices before their scheduled deployment date, to make better use of the space available to be able to sort and store parcels more efficiently.
In preparation for the proposed changes, validation exercise to gather and better understand information on non-drivers across all delivery offices.
Agreed process for better strategic involvement across all levels and ensuring the suitable release for CWU representatives as part of planning arrangements, which will be agreed between RODs/General Managers (GMs) and Divisional Reps alongside the OPLs and Area Reps.
Clearly the ongoing Pay, Section 5 and the USO are crucial to both parties and the release of the attached joint statements and wider clarification is intended to assist and give those negotiations the freedom to continue.
Both parties have agreed to hold a joint session with Regional Operational Directors and CWU Divisional Reps next week to run through all of the above and ensure that the same information is cascaded down to all levels of both structures as part of the improving strategic involvement and ways of working.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be referred to the DGS(P) department.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary
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