OFCOM ANNOUNCEMENT ON ROYAL MAIL USO: UNION RESPONSE

[Acca Dacca]

I wonder if we will now see a differently phased introduction of the ODM. Instead of going straight in with 2nd class only every other day, they might revert to the parcels and 1st class only Saturdays that we had before.

Theyve previously said, both the CWU and RM, that they wont get the savings they need just dropping the Saturday

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-141-25-ofco ... so-reform/

LTB 141/25 – OFCOM ANNOUNCEMENT – USO REFORM
No. 141/25

10th July 2025

TO ALL POSTAL BRANCHES

Dear Colleagues

OFCOM ANNOUNCEMENT – USO REFORM

All branches will be aware that earlier today Ofcom has announced the outcome of their latest consultation is that Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation will be reformed as follows:

• First Class items and all parcels will continue to be delivered every day, Monday to Saturday (RMG will continue to deliver parcels on a Sunday).

• Non First Class letter items will be delivered every other weekday, Monday to Friday (not on Saturdays).

• For First Class mail, the target will be moved from 93% of mail delivered next-day to 90% and for Second Class the target will be moved from 98.5% delivered within three days to 95%. Ofcom are also introducing new ‘back-stop’ targets, where 99% of mail must be delivered no more than two days late.

The CWU recognises that Royal Mail now operates in a permanently changed world of communications and that these reforms are necessary to build a sustainable future for employees and the business, alongside enabling investment in new growth areas and delivering major improvements to quality of service.

Now that Ofcom have confirmed these changes, how and when they are implemented will now be subject to negotiations with the company, in line with the rebuilding Royal Mail part 1 and 2 agreements.

Branches are also aware that the Union has highlighted our concerns over the problems that our members have experienced in the pilot sites with Royal Mail’s current approach. Therefore, we have made it clear that the evidence of the pilots demonstrates that Ofcom’s and Royal Mail’s targeted savings are totally unrealistic and will not be achieved at the levels stated.

Ultimately the financial savings that will arise from these changes will depend on the ability of our members to have an achievable daily workload and the need for Royal Mail to finally step up and deliver on the new quality of service targets that have been set by Ofcom. Making both of the above points a reality will be integral to any agreement that the CWU reaches with the company and is also the only way that Royal Mail can be successful in the future.

We are confident that our recent agreements will allow us to fix these issues and ensure that USO change can now be delivered in a more pragmatic way with additional benefits for employees, customers and the company.

We can also go into these negotiations knowing that we have secured important commitments on job security that guarantees no compulsory redundancies will arise from USO Reform.

Finally, we have attached our press release issued earlier today which also makes the point that the Government now need to intervene and change the way that Ofcom regulates the post and logistics sector, to ensure there is a level playing field with our competitors. We know that the new owners are also committed to this objective and the union will now make the case politically for regulatory reform and we look forward to working with the new owners to achieve this.

Please ensure that this LTB is distributed into all workplaces as soon as possible.

Any enquiries regarding Ofcom’s announcement should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office, Dawn Lynch on dlynch@cwu.org and enquiries on the negotiation with Royal Mail and the operational aspects of this change should be addressed to Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Department, Hayley Ford on hford@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

[heraldmoth]

Changes can be brought in from the 28th July.

I would say they will now be brought in adhoc accross the board as soon as it suits….bank holiday in NI this weekend I wouldn’t be surprised to see Saturday packets and 1st class only

What has bank hol in ni got to do with uso changes.be very little delivered in ni most offices have day off.

Depends what the day off is, if it’s Monday it makes sense to fail Saturday and put that budget into Tuesday….this is all about saving money no making work easier

[Deadly]

Honestly, they need to clear out management first. They are destroying this company. Most and I truly mean most are feckless idiots not up to the task.

100% correct, they make David Brent look professional.

[Perseus]

I wonder if we will now see a differently phased introduction of the ODM. Instead of going straight in with 2nd class only every other day, they might revert to the parcels and 1st class only Saturdays that we had before.

Theyve previously said, both the CWU and RM, that they wont get the savings they need just dropping the Saturday

That's why I say phased.

[Acca Dacca]

I wonder if we will now see a differently phased introduction of the ODM. Instead of going straight in with 2nd class only every other day, they might revert to the parcels and 1st class only Saturdays that we had before.

Theyve previously said, both the CWU and RM, that they wont get the savings they need just dropping the Saturday

That's why I say phased.

sorry youre right I misread that

[Perseus]

I wonder if we will now see a differently phased introduction of the ODM. Instead of going straight in with 2nd class only every other day, they might revert to the parcels and 1st class only Saturdays that we had before.

Theyve previously said, both the CWU and RM, that they wont get the savings they need just dropping the Saturday

That's why I say phased.

sorry youre right I misread that

It can’t just be me that sees that though?
Such a massive change and done all at once within an office . Why not do it in stages so that you can see where it goes wrong and rectify it. This is happening one way or the other, despite calls to scrap it and keep the status quo. With the ofcom statement today, that isn’t happening.

[TopperGas]

Is the press release and its tone really the way the CWU is talking to the industry? However Ward spins it workers are having to give up 25% of their jobs. Can the industry really achieve what's being asked of it with 25% less jobs? 7 billion letters don't just deliver themselves. Don't let the CWU get away with it.

It's really OFCOM letting RM call the shots, it's pretty clear the trials/pilots are a total disaster but instead of informing RM they want proof the ODM is actually workable they've rubber stamped the changes whilst claiming RM will save up to £425m p.a. which is equivalent of upwards of 20,000 job losses, OFCOM must think the letters will deliver themselves in future as I doubt the number of people required to deliver parcels will be reduced.

[Hyrrokkin]

Ofcom/CWU/RM all as corrupt as each other

[qwerty2]

Ofcom/CWU/RM all as corrupt as each other

You missed out the Government

[SpacePhoenix]

Changes can be brought in from the 28th July.

I would say they will now be brought in adhoc accross the board as soon as it suits….bank holiday in NI this weekend I wouldn’t be surprised to see Saturday packets and 1st class only

The MC side of things will probably go live everywhere within the next couple of weeks. The labels for 2C manual letters and flats are ready to go, it'll be down to any tweaks being made to the DTS algorithm

[tramssirhc]

Is the press release and its tone really the way the CWU is talking to the industry? However Ward spins it workers are having to give up 25% of their jobs. Can the industry really achieve what's being asked of it with 25% less jobs? 7 billion letters don't just deliver themselves. Don't let the CWU get away with it.

It's really OFCOM letting RM call the shots, it's pretty clear the trials/pilots are a total disaster but instead of informing RM they want proof the ODM is actually workable they've rubber stamped the changes whilst claiming RM will save up to £425m p.a. which is equivalent of upwards of 20,000 job losses, OFCOM must think the letters will deliver themselves in future as I doubt the number of people required to deliver parcels will be reduced.

Only workers can save jobs and the postal service. The CWU is not going to do it. The CWU could have but chose to adopt corporatism, or collaboration if you prefer, because it's leadership at every level has no understanding of how to fight or how to operate as a stand alone union. The CWU is finished. The bag avoiding full time release mob killed it. The first step now for workers to save the industry is for us to found a new union. Then we save the postal service, then we save jobs.

[claretandblue]

Changes can be brought in from the 28th July.

I would say they will now be brought in adhoc accross the board as soon as it suits….bank holiday in NI this weekend I wouldn’t be surprised to see Saturday packets and 1st class only

The MC side of things will probably go live everywhere within the next couple of weeks. The labels for 2C manual letters and flats are ready to go, it'll be down to any tweaks being made to the DTS algorithm

MW mentioned that it won't be rolled out until all the pilots are working, I E. In the new year.

[Sean06]

Changes can be brought in from the 28th July.

I would say they will now be brought in adhoc accross the board as soon as it suits….bank holiday in NI this weekend I wouldn’t be surprised to see Saturday packets and 1st class only

What has bank hol in ni got to do with uso changes.be very little delivered in ni most offices have day off.

Depends what the day off is, if it’s Monday it makes sense to fail Saturday and put that budget into Tuesday….this is all about saving money no making work easier

Saturday is the bh day off an monday is a non service day.but only in del.mc working as normal on saturday.bt 47@48 are in as usual delivering on the 12th july an few other offices have a skeleton staff in.mc staff get the mon as a bank hol.

[hazzeem025]

I don't think there'll be many left in my D.O when these new changes come in. We've got a dozen or so people on 4 day weeks whose hours range from 28-35 per week. Also 3 day weeks on 8hr days to cover days off. As I understand it they'll be made to go onto a 5 day week but can't be forced to go from PT to FT? So how does someone on a 24 hour contract do 24 hours over 5 days?