CWU Celebrates Landmark Low Level Letter Box Victory 

‎The Communication Worker’s Union is today celebrating a landmark victory for its postal worker members.

After years of campaigning to ban Low Level Letter Boxes the Union intensified it’s campaign earlier this year lobbying MPs, government minister, local authorities and developers.

The issue rose to prominence in January when a Private Members Ten Minute Rule Bill sponsored by the CWU and Royal Mail was presented to a packed House of Commons by Chelmsford MP Vicky Ford received the support of all political parties.

CWU National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce explained that “Bending or stooping to deliver to clusters of Low Level Letter Boxes presents many potential problems to postmen and women with the risk of back, arm and joint injuries, repetitive strain injuries, trapped fingers, and dog bites as well as the risk of damage to packets and the risk of theft for customers.”

He added that back injury is the primary cause of sickness in the Royal Mail which recorded nearly 17,000 back related absence spells last year.‎”

Dave Joyce added that “the Government has this target of a million new homes to be completed by the end on 2020 and large developments with Low Level Letter Boxes are a nightmare for postal workers.”

“The Union has had to tackle the problem by challenging builders piecemeal when they instal low level letterboxes in big numbers without the force of law behind us and today’s news couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“The housing Minister Kit Malthouse has also indicated to us his support for the change and we hope it can be pushed through quickly.”

“This is an extremely important change for the health and safety of postal workers out on deliverers six days a week, 52 weeks of the year and a huge step forward for sensible change.”

-ENDS