LTB 001/25 – Royal Mail: Drugs & Alcohol Support & Rehabilitation Services and For-Cause Testing Pilot for Drivers in Wales

No.001/25

2^nd January 2025

Dear Colleague

Royal Mail: Drugs & Alcohol Support & Rehabilitation Services and For-Cause Testing Pilot for Drivers in Wales

Further to LTB 343/24 dated 25^th October. The Postal Executive has given serious and careful consideration to these matters over the last few weeks and has now endorsed three documents which included the following agreements:

Colleague Guide: Support and Rehabilitation Service
Agreed Terms of Reference for the For-Cause Drugs and Alcohol Pilot for Royal Mail Drivers in Wales
Colleague Framework: For-Cause Testing Pilot Approach (containing 34 agreed Q&As, designed to ensure that where For-Cause testing takes place during the Pilot, it is done in a consistent and empathetic way)

The For-Cause Pilot will commence on Monday 13^th January 2025 for eight weeks and will be applicable to Drivers only, in Wales (excluding Parcelforce). We have built into the ToR joint weekly checkpoints with management and a mid-pilot joint review on Monday 17^th February.

Royal Mail Group would ultimately like to roll out Drugs & Alcohol For-Cause testing across all grades in the UK. In these circumstances the Postal Executive felt that a Pilot was the best way to deal with these matters, supported by an agreed Terms of Reference with proper safeguards.

Crucially, for the Pilot, there will be no discipline arising from positive tests, providing members in these circumstances agree to participate in the new Support and Rehabilitation programme. In essence, this means that any member who fails a drugs or alcohol test during the Pilot and who takes up the offer of the Support and Rehabilitation service will not be taken down the Conduct route. There are two caveats to this – a positive drug/alcohol test on the roadside following an accident/incident where the police are involved, or an individual being found in the possession of illegal drugs in the workplace.

We are sure Branches will recognise the above was a key safeguard for the union to secure, to enable the Pilot to take place with our co-operation. It should also be noted that we have a Postal Executive policy surrounding our opposition to Random Testing for drugs & alcohol and we have informed Royal Mail management of this position.

We recognise the Pilot will be an extremely complex activity and we therefore felt it was appropriate to have a Postal Executive member overseeing the Pilot and to be the liaison point for Branches and Representatives. Rob Wotherspoon has agreed to undertake this commitment. Also, there will be a dedicated go-to Divisional Rep who will assist and support Reps. Ralph Ferret (South Wales) and Paul Dugdale (North Wales) will undertake these roles and will work in conjunction with Rob Wotherspoon.

Briefing of Representatives in Wales

There will be a briefing of our Branch Secretaries and Area Representatives in Wales, including Areas Safety Representatives on Wednesday 8^th January, during which we will run through the full details of the Terms of Reference for the Pilot and the protections and safeguards we have secured for our members in both the ToR and the Colleague Framework document. Obviously, there will be an opportunity for a Q&A session at the Briefing.

Finally, without wishing to prejudge the success or otherwise of the Pilot. If Royal Mail seeks to roll out For-Cause testing on a National basis (for Drivers-only), we would naturally aim to secure a suitable National Agreement with appropriate safeguards for our members and this would be placed before the Postal Executive for consideration.

The Postal Executive will be closely monitoring the Pilot and all Branches will be kept informed of any key developments as the Pilot progresses.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh

Deputy General Secretary (P)

Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

Bobby Weatherall

Acting Assistant Secretary

Tony Bouch

Assistant Secretary