LTB 109/25 – USO Ofcom Update
No. 109/25
6th June 2025
Dear Colleagues,
USO Ofcom Update
Please see attached a letter sent by Natalie Black – the Group Director of Ofcom.
This letter, which is published on Ofcom’s website, is a direct response to a communication Royal Mail sent to all businesses and organisations who hold an account with them.
The CWU raised this with Royal Mail and Ofcom as it indicated that Royal Mail were simply going to impose USO reform. We have had assurances from Royal Mail that there will be no further deployment of the USO outside of the pilot units without a full national agreement with the CWU and without the agreement of Ofcom.
We also met with Ofcom this week and they reconfirmed that they intend to make their decision on USO in the summer.
Royal Mail and the CWU have agreed that each unit should continue to ensure that all necessary data validation and planning is undertaken in line with the joint statements issued within LTB 102/25 and in advance of any decision by Ofcom. This includes where frames need to be moved.
It is important to re-emphasise that the CWU’s support for USO reform is conditional on securing a pay agreement and a resolution to section 5.
In addition, the pilots will need to be working and meet the agreed four overarching objectives for the Optimised Delivery Model, which are:
- Must achieve all of Ofcom’s quality of service targets, alongside all commercial targets.
- Must deliver fair, manageable and achievable workload and introduce a reduction in fatigue
- Must introduce improved attendance patterns with fewer Saturdays.
- Must improve morale and confidence within the workplace.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
