LTB 229/25 - JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL NATIONAL LOGISTICS AND THE CWU REGARDING BANK HOLIDAY RESOURCING FOR NETWORK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, CHRISTMAS 2025/26
- Angela Wright CWU Branch Communications Officer
- 19 minutes ago
- 2 min read
No. 229/25
24th October 2025
For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives
LGV Representatives
Dear Colleagues,
JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL NATIONAL LOGISTICS AND THE CWU REGARDING BANK HOLIDAY RESOURCING FOR NETWORK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, CHRISTMAS 2025/26
Colleagues will recall that as an integral part of the 2007 Professional Drivers Agreement, Bank Holidays effectively became normal working days for Network LGV Drivers and while we have long had an understanding with the business that, where possible, attendance would be on a voluntary basis, in reality our members can be compelled to attend on those days where sufficient numbers fail to volunteer. In line with the PDA, all staff who attend are credited with a lieu day.
Branches and representatives will be aware that, in addition to the generic Christmas Arrangements Agreement, the department has in previous years reached agreement with Royal Mail Logistics on specific guidelines covering the resourcing of Network LGV duties across the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.
In line with previous arrangements, discussions have therefore taken place with the business and the attached Joint Statement has been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive.
The Joint Statement reaffirms the following commitments:
Advance planning;
A wholly voluntary approach to any attendance on Christmas Day;
The use of the full range of resourcing options to reduce the burden on our members;
A commitment to only run essential services on Bank Holidays;
A commitment to minimise any mandatory attendance – no driver asked to attend on both the Boxing Day and New Year Bank Holidays.
Additionally, we have also secured wording concerning the business decision to offer a temporary minimum 8-hour paid shift for LGV external resource during the period 27th October until 21st December. Royal Mail stated that they have had to do this to secure sufficient additional resource to cover increased workload during the peak period.
The department argued that Royal Mail was treating Agency drivers more favourably than employed drivers and following discussions we have secured the extension of the minimum attendance of 8-hours to Royal Mail Drivers performing duties less than 8-hours, subject to full compliance with Driver Hours and Working Time restrictions.
For Royal Mail Drivers any extension to 8 hours will be voluntary and will be dependent on coverage of available workload during the extended hours. To confirm, this is a temporary arrangement that does not alter any existing terms and conditions and applies only within the specified dates.
Much like in previous years, the department believes that the attached clarification provided in relation to the arrangements for 2025/26 will be welcomed by representatives and members.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: jrodrigues@cwu.org quoting reference LTB 229/25.
Yours sincerely,
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
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