LTB 037/25 – TRANSFER OF ROYAL MAIL ENGINGEERING/FLEET & RMPFS MEMBERS CURRENTLY IN T&FS BRANCHES TO POSTAL BRANCHES
No. 037/25
19th February 2025
Dear Colleagues,
TRANSFER OF ROYAL MAIL ENGINGEERING/FLEET & RMPFS MEMBERS CURRENTLY IN T&FS BRANCHES TO POSTAL BRANCHES
Branches and Representatives will be aware that since the creation of the CWU in 1995 certain pockets of postal members have continued to sit in T&FS branches. These have predominantly been Postal Technical Services grades including 202 from RMPFS, coupled with some from Motor Transport (Fleet).
This has intermittently caused various organisational issues over the years and in particular most notably during the Royal Mail Group industrial action ballots in 2022. There have also been complications around access to workplaces for T&FS branch officials when dealing with those employed by Royal Mail Group.
As a consequence of the above, a Joint Working Group, with representations from both constituencies has been established to identify where best to place the PTS grades, in respect of transferring to postal branches. This approach was agreed by both DGS’s (Postal and T&FS) and has subsequently been endorsed at the NEC meetings on 19th December 2024 and 29th/30th January 2025.
The NEC, when considering this matter, decided it would be practical from an organising perspective to transfer those Royal Mail Group members currently sitting in T&FS branches into postal branches at the earliest opportunity, as this legacy issue needs to finally be resolved. The NEC therefore endorsed the transfer of c.750 postal members currently sitting in T&FS branches into postal branches.
These members are listed in number by branch as follows:
Central Counties & Thames Valley Branch 62
South-East Anglia Branch 18
North Anglia Branch 18
Midland No 1 Branch 63
Midland Counties Branch 92
South Yorkshire Branch 59
North-East Branch 33
West Yorkshire Branch 118
Northern Ireland Telecoms Branch 10
Lancs & Cumbria Branch 31
Glasgow & Motherwell Branch 27
Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders Branch 27
Meridian Branch 55
Somerset Devon & Cornwall Branch 20
Great Western Branch 76
Mid Wales the Marches & North Staffs Branch 7
South Wales Branch 27
Given the numbers and locations of these members, including itinerate workers, some of the transfers to postal branches are likely to be straight forward whilst others may be slightly more complex. In recognition of this fact, a working group led by Assistant Secretary Andy Furey, will oversee this activity and will act as a conduit between CWU HQ and the field officials for these grades. The other members of the working group are NEC members Alan Tate, Rob Wotherspoon and Andy Mercer.
To ensure this process takes account of the knowledge held by the IR Reps in the field, a briefing for Senior Field Officials has been arranged for Wednesday 26th February.
The arrangements described above in no way detracts or impacts on the Industrial Relations Framework and the Representative interfaces, which will continue following the transfer of members into the postal branches.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Karen Rose
Deputy General Secretary (T&FS)