LTB 224/24 - Royal Mail/CWU National Trial Covering Short Notice/Odd Days Leave Requests
No: 224/24
26th June 2024
For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Delivery Representatives
Area Processing Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail/CWU National Trial Covering Short Notice/Odd Days Leave Requests
Attached for the information of Branches, Representatives and members is a Terms of Reference covering trial activity on the ability to access Annual Leave at short notice and for odd days.
The difficulties faced by many members across all operational functions to secure short notice and odd days leave has been well documented and continues to remain a deeply frustrating issue. In line with wider commitments set out in the Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth (BRT&G) Agreement, we have been in discussions with Royal Mail on this issue. These talks have now concluded with the attached Terms of Reference which has been endorsed by the Postal Executive.
To confirm, this trial activity is aimed at improving access to short notice and odd days leave requests and is not designed in any way to seek to reduce overall leave ceilings within a unit or location. It is also agreed that as part of the trial all up to date annual leave plans will be displayed within the unit/location, as this will aim to aid in terms of granting leave wherever possible and will further assist in responding to individuals requesting leave at the earliest opportunity. The trial activity also includes the ceasing of the current process, whereby individuals who have had a request for annual leave refused, are then granted unpaid leave for the same dates.
The normal safeguards on joint involvement have been agreed, including the full involvement of the reps within the units included in this trial activity. They will also be involved in the review of the trial activity through their feedback of how the process worked for them and what impact it had on improving annual leave locally.
When the trial has concluded the joint evaluation will include the following:
Short notice / ad hoc annual leave approach has acted as an effective method of reviewing (approved or rejected) short notice / ad hoc annual leave requests;
Volume of requests for short notice / ad hoc annual leave approved / rejected have:
Positively impacted sick absence;
Reduced special leave or urgent domestic distress absences;
Met universal service obligation (USO) requirements;
Not impacted on colleague earnings and attendance patterns;
Trial has not replaced / been used to circumvent the attendance procedure.
The units involved in the trial activity are listed below:
Processing Units | Delivery Units |
ROD South Central – Southampton MC | ROD Greater London – South Tottenham |
ROD Yorkshire – Sheffield MC | ROD Yorkshire – Goole |
ROD Greater London – Jubilee MC | ROD NI & Northeast – Redcar |
ROD South Midlands – South Midlands MC | ROD NI & Northeast – Wear Valley |
ROD Northwest – Warrington | |
Distribution Units | ROD Scotland – Falkirk |
Midland Hub | ROD South Central – Oxford East |
Yorkshire Distribution Centre | ROD Wales – Rhy |
We believe this trial and its outlined aims to try and improve members’ access and ability to take short notice and odd days leave will be welcomed by members and representatives alike, as this sadly remains a consistently raised and reported issue within the workplace.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: sbanbury@cwu.org quoting reference: 703.01.
Yours sincerely
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary
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